CO-AXIAL CONNECTOR INCLUDING POSITIVE CLAMPING FEATURES FOR PROVIDING RELIABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO THE CENTER AND OUTER CONDUCTORS OF A CO-AXIAL CABLE

• US 3,761,870 A
• Filed: 07/26/1972
• Issued: 09/25/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alfred E. Ericson, Edward C. Quackenbush, Gary D. Drezin
• Original Assignee: Alfred E. Ericson, Edward C. Quackenbush, Gary D. Drezin
• Inventors: Drezin, Gary D., Quackenbush, Edward C., Ericson, Alfred E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Champion, Marvin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Staab, Lawrence J.
• Application Number:
  US05/275,424
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 339/177,273 174/75C,88C,89
• US Class Current: 439/584
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0503 Connection between two cable ends
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0521 Connection to outer conductor by action of a nut

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a co-axial connector assembly especially adapted to provide electrical contact to both the center and outer conductors of a co-axial cable. The connector assembly employs a clamping arrangement for both the outer and center conductors of the co-axial cable which utilizes spring tension in order to follow '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'cold flow'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' changes and maintain good electrical connection to both the outer and center conductors of the co-axial cable.

Claims

1. A co-axial connector assembly especially adapted to provide electrical contact to both the center and outer conductor of a co-axial cable comprising, in combination, center conductor gripping means for applying continuous, positive gripping action to the center conductor of a co-axial cable;

dielectric spring means including gripping means for transmitting an inward force to the center conductor gripping means in response to axial movement and a radially extending, flexible flange for axially biasing said camming portion into engagement with said center conductor gripping means despite cold flow effects exhibited by said center conductor;

outer conductor gripping means for both applying continuous, positive gripping action to the outer conductor of a co-axial cable and for deforming said radially extending flexible flange to thereby actuate said center conductor gripping means into gripping said center conductor, said outer conductor gripping means comprising a hollow, tubular shaped membeR having flexible first end means for contracting inwardly into engagement with the outer conductor of said co-axial cable, and actuating means for causing said flexible first end means of said outer conductor gripping means to apply a continuous inward, spring-loaded force on said outer conductor to maintain continuous electrical contact with said outer conductor despite cold flow effects exhibited by said outer conductor.

2. A co-axial connector assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said dielectric spring means comprising a dielectric mushroom-shaped member.

3. A co-axial connector assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said flexible first end means of said outer conductor gripping means comprising a slotted, annular ring.

4. A co-axial connector assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said flexible first end means of said outer conductor gripping means comprising a slotted, annular ring.

5. A co-axial connector assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said center conductor gripping means having means for preventing said center conductor from being pulled out of said co-axial connector and for increasing the gripping action on said center conductor during extraction of said center conductor from said co-axial connector assembly, said flexible first end means of said outer conductor gripping means having means located thereon for causing said flexible first end means to contract inwardly into engagement with the outer conductor of said co-axial cable if a force is applied to extract said outer conductor from said co-axial conductor assembly.

6. A co-axial connector assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said center conductor gripping means having means for preventing said center conductor from being pulled out of said co-axial connector and for increasing the gripping action on said center conductor during extraction of said center conductor from said co-axial connector assemblies, said flexible first end means of said outer conductor gripping means having means located thereon for causing said flexible first end means to contract inwardly into engagement with the outer conductors of said co-axial cable if a force is applied to extract said outer conductor from said co-axial conductor assembly.

7. A co-axial connector assembly especially adapted to provide electrical contact to both the center and outer conductors of two co-axial cables comprising, in combination, a first center conductor gripping means for applying continuous, positive gripping action to a first center conductor of a first co-axial cable, first dielectric spring means including a first camming portion contacting said first center conductor gripping means for transmitting an inward force to the first center conductor gripping means in response to axial movement and a first radially extending, flexible flange for axially biasing said first camming portion into engagement with said first center conductor gripping means despite cold flow effects exhibited by said first center conductor;

a first outer conductor gripping means for applying continuous, positive gripping action to a first outer conductor of said first co-axial cable and for deforming said first radially extending flange to thereby actuate said first center conductor gripping means into gripping said first center conductor, said first outer conductor gripping means comprising a hollow, tubular shaped member having flexible first end means for contracting inwardly into engagement with said first outer conductor of said first co-axial cable, first actuating means for causing said flexible first end means of said first outer conductor gripping means to apply a continuous inward, spring-loaded force on said first outer conductor to maintain continuous electrical contact with said first outer conductor despite cold flow effects exhibited by said first outer conductor, a second center conductor gripping means for applying continuous, positive gripping action to a second center conductor of a Second co-axial cable, second dielectric spring means including a second camming portion contacting said second center conductor gripping means for transmitting an inward force to the second center conductor gripping means in response to axial movement and a second radially extending, flexible flange for axially biasing said second camming portion into engagement with said second center conductor gripping means despite cold flow effects exhibited by said second center conductor;

a second outer conductor gripping means for applying continuous, positive gripping action to a second outer conductor of said second co-axial cable for deforming said second radially extending flange to thereby actuate said second center conductor gripping means into gripping said second center conductor, said second outer conductor gripping means comprising a hollow, tubular shaped member having flexible first end means for contracting inwardly into engagement with said second outer conductor of said second co-axial cable, second actuating means for causing said flexible first end means of said second outer conductor gripping means to apply a continuous inward, spring-loaded force on said second outer conductor to maintain continuous electrical contact with said second outer conductor despite cold flow effects exhibited by said second outer conductor.

8. A co-axial connector assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said first and second dielectric spring means comprising a dielectric mushroom-shaped member.

9. A co-axial connector assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said flexible first end means of said first and second outer conductor gripping means comprising a slotted, annular ring.

10. A co-axial connector assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein said flexible first end means of said first and second outer conductor gripping means comprising a slotted, annular ring.

11. A co-axial connector assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said first and second center conductor gripping means having means for preventing said center conductors from being pulled out of said co-axial connector assembly and for increasing the gripping action on said center conductors during extraction of said center conductors from said co-axial connector assembly, said flexible first end means of said first and second outer conductor gripping means having means located thereon for causing said flexible first end means to contract inwardly into engagement with the outer conductors of said co-axial cables if a force is applied to extract said outer conductors from said co-axial conductor assembly.

12. A co-axial connector assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first and second flexible dielectric spring means having means cooperatively associated with said center conductor gripping means for preventing said center conductors from being pulled out of said co-axial connector and for increasing the gripping action on said center conductors during extraction of said center conductors from said co-axial connector assemblies, said flexible first end means of said outer conductor gripping means having means located at one end thereof for causing said flexible first end means to contract inwardly into engagement with the outer conductors of said co-axial cable if a force is applied to extract said outer conductors from said co-axial conductor assemblies.