Coaxial electrical connector

• US 3,936,132 A
• Filed: 09/06/1974
• Issued: 02/03/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bunker Ramo Corporation
• Inventors: Hutter, Harold Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Lake, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bicks, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US05/503,948
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 339/130, 339/177, 339/218
• US Class Current: 439/551
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency

Abstract

This invention relates to a coaxial connector having an injection molded dielectric. The preferred embodiment of the invention is an improved insulated-from-ground panel connector having a onepiece molded body of an insulating material. The molded body has a rear portion shaped to coact with a suitable element for mounting the connector (for example a screw thread) and a forward portion shaped to form the mating face dielectric for the connector. An inner contact of a conductive material passes through the center of and is molded into the body. The connector also has an outer contact over which a forward portion of the insulating body is molded. The outer contact extends over and beyond the mating face dielectric and has a conductive lead molded in, extending through, and projecting from the rear of the body.

Claims

1. A coaxial electrical panel connector adapted to be mounted in a panel having opposite surfaces with an opening communicating said opposite surfaces for supporting another coaxial connector from said panel and for enabling the extension of an electrical connection from the inner conductor and outer conductor of said other coaxial connector through said panel without electrical engagement with said panel, the improvement comprising:

an outer annular contact having a terminating annular rear end and a forward portion for engagement with the outer conductor of said other coaxial connector;

a conductive lead of substantially smaller cross section than said outer contact connected to said terminating rear end and extending rearwardly therefrom for passage through said opening;

an inner contact extending axially of said outer annular contact in radially spaced relationship to said outer contact and conductive lead with one end of said inner contact arranged for engagement with the inner conductor of said other coaxial connector and the other end of said inner contact arranged for passage through said opening;

a one piece body of insulating material passing through said opening and molded in encircling fixed relationship about both said inner contact and said conductive lead with said body having an integral outer forward portion in molded engagement with the outer periphery of said terminating rear end and an integral inner forward portion in molded engagement with the inner periphery of said terminating annular rear end to secure and support said outer contact from said panel with a dielectric mating face on said body extending into said outer contact and the forward portion of the outer contact extending forwardly of both the outer forward portion and the inner forward portion of said body, a continuous annular radial shoulder intermediate the ends of said body integrally interconnecting said outer annular forward portion and said inner annular forward portion,

and a flange integrally formed on said body extending radially outwardly of said outer conductor for abutment with one surface of said panel to prevent engagement between said panel and outer contact.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lead is spot welded to said outer contact.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lead is attached to an inner surface of said outer contact.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lead is formed as an integral part of said outer contact.

6. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body is injection molded of a thermoplastic material.

7. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for locking the outer contact on said body includes an annular groove in the external surface of said terminating rear end of said outer contact, and the outer annular portion of said molded body includes a ridge received in said groove for preventing relative axial movement between said contact and said body.

8. A connector as claimed in claim 7 wherein said radially outwardly extending flange integrally formed on said body is located in an axial position overlapping the reduced diameter portion of the outer contact to prevent physical and electrical contact between the outer contact and the panel.

9. A connector as claimed in claim 8 wherein said rear portion of said molded body includes an outer surface having a screw thread.

10. A connector as claimed in claim 9 wherein said outer surface of said rear portion of said molded body includes a flat section axially coincident with said screw thread, whereby a predetermined angular orientation is established between said panel and said connector.

11. A connector as claimed in claim 10 wherein said inner contact has a knurled surface which is adapted to coact with the molded body to retain the contact in the body.

2. A coaxial panel electrical connector adapted to be mounted in a panel having opposite surfaces with an opening communicating said opposite surfaces for supporting another coaxial connector from said panel and to enable the extension of a respective electrical connection from the inner conductor and outer conductor of said other coaxial connector through said panel opening without electrical engagement with said panel, the improvement comprising:

a one-piece integrally molded body of electrically insulating material, said body having a rear portion shaped and sized to pass through said opening in said panel and a forward inner annular portion on said molded body shaped to form a dielectric mating face with an outer annular forward portion spaced radially outwardly from said inner annular portion and integrally interconnected with said inner annular portion by a continuous annular shoulder intermediate the ends of said body;

an inner contact of a conductive material passing longitudinally through the center of said body from said forward inner annular portion and through said rear portion with said body fixedly molded about said inner contact, said inner contact having one end for engagement with the inner conductor of said other coaxial connector and another end extending from the rear portion of said body and passing through said opening with said rear portion;

an outer annular contact having a terminating annular rear end of reduced diameter located between the inner annular forward portion and outer annular forward portion of said one-piece integrally molded body with said inner annular portion and said outer annular portion molded in continuous fixed annular engagement with the internal surface and external surface respectively of said terminating annular rear end, said terminating annular rear end having a continuous rear end edge seated in continuous engagement with said continuous radial shoulder intermediate the ends of said body, said outer contact having a forward portion in overlapping relationship to said dielectric mating face and extending axially forwardly of said dielectric mating face and the inner and outer forward portions of said body with the forward portion of said outer contact having a rear radial shoulder adjacent said terminating rear end extending radially outwardly of said terminating rear end and in abutment with one axial end of said outer annular forward portion;

a conductive lead having a cross-sectional area less than said inner contact fixed in said one-piece body and electrically secured adjacent one end of said lead to said outer annular contact with said conductive lead extending through the rear portion of said body for passage through said opening in radially spaced apart relationship to said panel and to said inner contact and projecting from the rear portion of said body;

means integrally formed on the body in molding said body and on the outer contact locking the outer contact on the body against movement axially of said body;

means on the forward portion of said outer contact for securing said outer contact to said other coaxial connector with the outer contact engaged with the outer conductor of said other connector to extend a respective electrical connection from the outer conductor to said conductive lead extending through said panel opening and from the inner conductor engaged with the inner contact through said panel opening;

a radially outwardly extending flange integrally formed on said body at an axial position overlapping said terminating rear end for engaging one surface of said panel;

and means on said rear portion of said body for securing said body in said opening with said flange engaged against said one surface to support said panel connector and said other connector secured on the forward portion of said annular contact from said panel with said conductive lead and inner contact passing through said opening and spaced from said panel to pass through said panel without electrical engagement with said panel.