COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTORS

• US 3,683,320 A
• Filed: 05/08/1970
• Issued: 08/08/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Corporation
• Original Assignee: Agincourt Robert Weaver, Gerald F. Woods, King
• Inventors: Gerald F. Woods, King, Robert Weaver, Agincourt
• Primary Examiner(s): Marvin A. Champion
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lawrence J. Staab
• Application Number:
  US05/035,715
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 339/60C,89C,90C,91P,94C,95R,97R,97C,103R,103B,126J,177R,177E,273R,273F
• US Class Current: 439/198
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/05 for coaxial cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0521 Connection to outer conductor by action of a nut

Abstract

Coaxial cable connectors in which a clamping member is carried within a cap member and is arranged to cam wall means of a central conductor, supported within a body member, into engagement with an end portion of a cable center conductor when the cap member is moved in a connecting direction relative to the body member. In one embodiment, a ferrule member within the cap member has a plurality of finger portions cammed by cam means within the cap member into engagement with the outer surface of the cable, an inner wall portion of the ferrule member being fitted within an end portion of the cable outer conductor.

Claims

1. In a connector for use with a cable having inner and outer conductors, a hollow cap member arranged to be disposed on said cable, a hollow body member, said members having end portions arranged to telescope one within the other when said cap member is moved in a connecting direction toward said body member, a ferrule disposed within said cap member and having inner and outer walls, contact means on said outer wall for engaging the outside of the cable, the outside diameter of said inner wall being greater than the normal inside diameter of the cable outer conductor, said inner wall and the cable outer conductor being stressed to obtain a tight frictional engagement therebetween, said contact means comprising a plurality of resilient finger portions, and camming means defining cam surfaces on said cap member for urging said fingers radially inwardly into tight engagement with said cable when said cap member is moved in said connecting direction.

2. In a connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the cable has a sheatH portion around said outer conductor intermediate said outer conductor and said outer wall of said ferrule.

3. In a conductor as defined in claim 1, said ferrule including a generally cylindrical wall formed with axially extending angularly spaced slots to define said fingers.

4. In a connector as defined in claim 1, each of said fingers having an in-turned end portion for biting engagement with the cable.

5. In a connector as defined in claim 1, further including interengageable thread means on said end portions of said members.

6. In a connector as defined in claim 5, said camming means comprising an annular cam member within said cap member having a generally frusto-conical inner surface cammingly engageable with said fingers, said annular cam member and cap member having mating bearing surfaces permitting rotation of said cap member relative to said annular cam ring and the cable.

7. In a connector as defined in claim 1, said cap and body members having interengageable stop surface portions to limit movement of said cap member relative to said body member in said connecting direction and a resilient seal ring on the outer surface portion of the inner one of said end portions, said cap and body members having surface portions engageable with said seal ring and operable to compress said seal ring to a predetermined extent upon engagement of said stop surface portions.

8. In a connector as defined in claim 1, a central conductor supported within said hollow body member for electrical connection to the cable inner conductor with there being an open space within said body member around said central conductor, first seal means operative between said cap member and the outside of said cable, second seal means operative between said cap and body members, and means for allowing introduction of a pressurized gaseous medium through the wall of said body member and into said open space.

9. In a connector for use with a cable having inner and outer conductors, a hollow cap member arranged to be disposed on said cable, a hollow body member, said members having end portions arranged to telescope one within the other when said cap member is moved in a connecting direction toward said body member, a ferrule disposed within said cap member and having inner and outer walls and means on said outer wall for engaging the outside of the cable, the outside diameter of said inner wall being greater than the normal inside diameter of the cable outer conductor, said inner wall and the cable outer conductor being stressed to obtain a tight frictional engagement therebetween, means for establishing an electrical connection between said ferrule and said hollow body member, a central conductor supported within said body member and having radially deflectable wall means defining an opening for receiving the cable inner conductor, and clamping means carried by and within said cap member and being arranged to cam said wall means radially inwardly into tight engagement with said end portion of the cable inner conductor when said cap member is moved in said connecting direction, said clamping member being withdrawn by said cap member when said cap member is moved in a disconnecting direction away from said body member.

10. In a connector as defined in claim 9, said clamping member and said body member having surface portions interengageable to limit movement of said clamping member in said connecting direction.

11. In a connector as defined in claim 9, the support of said central conductor being such as to provide an open space within said body member and around said central conductor, first seal means operative between said cap member and the outside of said cable, second seal means operative between said cap and body members, and means for allowing introduction of a pressurized gaseous medium through the wall of said body member and into said open space.

12. In a connector for use with a cable including a center conductor having an end portion projecting from one end of saiD cable, a hollow cap member arranged to be disposed on said cable, a hollow body member, said members having end portions arranged to telescope one within the other when said cap member is moved in a connecting direction toward said body member, a central conductor supported within said body member and having radially deflectable wall means defining an opening for receiving said cable center conductor, and a clamping member carried by and within said cap member and arranged to cam said wall means radially inwardly into tight engagement with said end portion of said center conductor when said cap member is moved in said connecting direction, said clamping means being withdrawn by said cap member when said cap member is moved in a disconnecting direction away from said body member, said clamping member having a central opening receiving said wall means and defining an inwardly facing surface for camming engagement with said wall means, said clamping member being separate from said cap member and being moveable axially relative thereto, said body member and said clamping member having generally cylindrical surface portions in facing relation when said clamping member is engaged with said wall means, the spacing and length of said generally cylindrical surface portions being such as to prevent canting of said clamping member until after said clamping means is disengaged from said wall means when said cap member is moved in said disconnecting direction.