Coaxial cable tap

• US 4,738,009 A
• Filed: 07/02/1986
• Issued: 04/19/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LRC Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LRC Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Down, William J., Acker, Melvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Desmond, Eugene F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Howell, Daniel W.
• Application Number:
  US06/881,590
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 29/33 R, 29/33 M, 408/72 R, 408/72 B, 408/103, 408/109, 408/115 R, 408/115 B, 408/241 B, 408/241 G, 339/96, 339/97 R, 439/391, 439/425
• US Class Current: 29/33.00M
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors of trolley lines B60M1/28
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0509 Tapping connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/085 for coaxial cables or hollow conductors plug and socket connections between HF conductors H01P1/04; plug and socket connections per se H01R24/38
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5193 Electrical connector or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/55 with work-engaging structure other than Tool or tool-support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/563 Work-gripping clamp
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/97 Drill bushings

Abstract

A connector and cable preparation fixture to provide a coaxial cable tap while the cable continues to pass signals. The apparatus of the present invention attaches the cable tap without shorting the conductors and without significantly changing the coaxial cable parameters which would affect the data flow therein. The fixture described herein provides a guide for a cutting operation and for the subsequent assembly of the finished connector. The connector includes a cable tap which mounts on the coaxial cable in a perpendicular manner, and a center pin which attaches to the coaxial cable center wire along the axis of the cable tap. The center pin has two prongs spaced apart in opposition to straddle the center conductor. The connector is easily installed with no measurements. The resultingconnection has a long and reliable life without causing an interruption to information or signal flow on the cable at any time.

Claims

1. For use in providing electrical connection to a coaxial cable without signal interruption thereto and wherein the coaxial cable has a center conductor, an outer conductor and a dielectric therebetween, and said cable has a longitudinal axis, apparatus comprising:

a cable connector clamp including;

a base plate;

a lower shoe removably disposed in the base plate;

the base plate and lower shoe having an elongated recess for acceptance of a coaxial cable therealong;

first and second end pieces removably attached to the base plate in spaced relation for retaining the coaxial cable in the elongated recess;

the portion of the coaxial cable between the end pieces being disposed for access;

a cutting block disposable in the portion between the end pieces and including fastener means for removably securing the cutting block to the base plate;

the cutting block having a transverse opening therethrough, extending along an axis orthogonal to the axis of the coaxial cable disposed in the cable connector clamp, and intersecting the outer conductor of the coaxial cable and a portion of the dielectric material between the outer conductor and the center conductor of the coaxial cable;

the transverse opening of the cutting block being operative to receive and guide a cutting tool insertable through the opening and operative to remove a portion of the outer conductor and a portion of the dielectric between the outer conductor and center conductor of the coaxial cable without contacting the center conductor of the coaxial cable;

a top piece disposable in the portion between the end pieces of the connector clamp after removal of the cutting block and including fastener means for securing the top piece to the lower shoe for retention of the coaxial cable between the top piece and lower shoe, said top piece including means for providing electrical connection to the outer conductor;

a coaxial connector fitting secured to the top piece and having a center pin extending through the dielectric in the removed area of the cable to radially engage the center conductor of the cable;

the base plate and end pieces being removable from the cable after securing the top piece and lower shoe to the cable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

said transverse opening and cutting tool each have a surface curved about an axis offset from the center conductor of the coaxial cable for removing a concave portion of said dielectric.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the base plate has a centrally disposed opening configured to receive the lower shoe;

the end portions of the base plate and lower shoe having elongated recesses therealong which form a continuous recess with the lower shoe disposed in the base plate for acceptance of the coaxial cable.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the lower shoe includes one or more threaded openings disposed outwardly of the recess;

wherein the cutting block includes one or more openings therethrough cooperative with the threaded openings of the lower shoe for acceptance of threaded fasteners; and

wherein the top piece includes one or more openings therethrough in alignment with the threaded openings of the lower shoe for acceptance of threaded fasteners.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coaxial connector fitting includes a threaded outer portion for mating with a standard coaxial connector.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coaxial connector fitting includes a center pin having at the distal end thereof a pair of spaced tips spaced to engage the center conductor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the tips of the center pin are operative to displace the dielectric material of the coaxial cable.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the tips of the center pin each have plural knife edges to mechanically and electrically engage confronting portions of the center conductor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the tips of the center pin are operative to provide self-aligning of the center pin to the center conductor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the top piece has a plurality of outwardly extending pins operative to pierce the outer conductor of the coaxial cable retained between the top piece and lower shoe for providing electrical connection to the outer conductor.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coaxial connector fitting includes a first portion threaded to mate with a threaded opening through the top piece.

12. Apparatus for providing connection to a coaxial cable, comprising:

a lower shoe permanently retaining a longitudinal portion of said coaxial cable;

a cutting block temporarily mating with said lower shoe to retain said cable therebetween, the cutting block having a transverse opening therethrough, extending along an axis orthogonal to the axis of the coaxial cable disposed in the lower shoe, and intersecting the outer conductor of the coaxial cable and a portion of the dielectric material between the outer conductor and the center conductor of the coaxial cable, the transverse opening of the cutting block being operative to receive a cutting tool insertable through the opening and operative to remove a portion of the outer conductor and a portion of the dielectric between the outer conductor and center conductor of the coaxial cable without contacting the center conductor of the coaxial cable;

means for temporarily retaining said lower shoe and said cutting block in mating relationship; and

a top piece disposable to permanently mate with said lower shoe after removal of the cutting block, and including fastener means for securing the top piece to the lower shoe for retention of the coaxial cable between the top piece and lower shoe, said top piece including means for providing electrical connection to said outer conductor and means for providing electrical connection to said inner conductor.

13. A coaxial cable connector for providing electrical connection to a coaxial cable without signal interruption thereto, comprising:

a cable cutter guide having an elongated recess which peripherally intersects the coaxial cable and through which a cable cutter moves to remove a peripheral portion of said coaxial cable;

a cable shoe;

means for retaining said cable shoe in alignment with said cable cutter guide;

a connector top piece for matingly engaging said cable shoe about the cable; and

a cable center conductor tap retained by said connector top piece to radially engage the center conductor of said coaxial cable at an angle orthogonal to said recess.