CATV environmental F-connector

• US 5,083,943 A
• Filed: 11/16/1989
• Issued: 01/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Corporation
• Original Assignee: Amphenol Corporation
• Inventors: Tarrant, Dennis E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCGLYNN, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US07/437,162
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578-585
• US Class Current: 439/583
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5205 Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet H01R13/5221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0518 Connection to outer conductor by crimping or by crimping ferrule

Abstract

An F-type coaxial cable connector includes a tapered interface surface for even compression of the interface gasket and prevention of shearing. The cable is retained in the connector by a crimping arrangement including a cylindrical outer ferrule designed with a series of protruding ridges and an inner body of the connector which has a series of V-shaped ridges, the size and shape of the ridges being optimized for both cable retention and waterproofing. The interface is also part of inner body, thus minimizing the number of the loose or secondary parts required for installation. A groove in the inner body accomodates a second o-ring located between a coupling nut and the inner body.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector, comprising:

a coupling member including an outer shell having coupling means for coupling the coaxial cable connector to a corresponding second coupling means on a second connector;

a generally cylindrical inner body disposed within said coupling member and including an annular interface surface arranged to mate with a correspondingly interface surface in said second connector, said interface surface lying generally in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the connector, said inner body also including a second surface extending from the perimeter of said interface surface at an oblique angle from said plane;

an o-ring disposed between said coupling means and said inner body at the intersection between said interface surface and said second surface, said o-ring forming an environmental seal when said coupling member is coupled with said corresponding second coupling means on said second connector;

an engaging portion of said inner body, said engaging portion including cable retention means extending around the circumference of said cylindrical inner body for securing said cable within said connector; and

an outer ferrule disposed between said coupling member and said inner body, said ferrule and said engaging portion of said inner body cooperating to provide both cable retention and prevention of moisture infiltration when crimped.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second o-ring retained between said outer ferrule and said coupling member.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second o-ring is seated in a groove in said outer ferrule.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cable retention means comprises triangular projections, one side of each triangular projection extending from said engaging portion at a right angle and a second side intersecting said one side to form a barb, the one side facing the interface side of said inner body.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein said coaxial cable includes an inner conductor, an outer conductor, a dielectric member between said inner conductor and said outer conductor, and an insulating jacket surrounding and outer conductor, said triangular projections having a height of less than the thickness of said outer conductor.

6. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer ferrule includes ridges located around the circumference of said ferrule and arranged to facilitate engagement between said ferrule and said cable when crimped.

7. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer ferrule extends further from said interface than said engaging portion of said inner body.

8. A cable connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises internal threads adapted to threadingly engage external threads of said second connector.

9. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coaxial cable connector is an F-type connector.

10. A coaxial cable including a coaxial connector, said connector comprising:

a coupling member including an outer shell having coupling means for coupling the coaxial cable connector to a second connector;

a generally cylindrical inner body disposed within said coupling member and including an annular interface surface arranged to mate with a corresponding interface surface in said second connector, said interface surface lying generally in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the connector, said inner body also including a second surface extending from the perimeter of said interface surface at an oblique angle from said plane;

an o-ring disposed between said coupling means and said inner body at the intersection between said interface surface and said second surface, said o-ring forming an environmental seal when said coupling member is coupled with said corresponding second coupling means on said second connector;

an engaging portion of said inner body, said engaging portion including cable retention means extending around the circumference of said inner body for securing said cable within said connector; and

an outer ferrule disposed between said coupling member and inner body, said ferrule being crimped by a circular crimping tool to retain said cable within said connector in cooperation with said retention means on said inner body.

11. A cable as claimed in claim 10, said connector further comprising a second o-ring retained between said outer ferrule and said coupling member.

12. A cable as claimed in claim 11, wherein said o-ring is seated in a groove in said outer ferrule.

13. A cable as claimed in claim 10, wherein said connector retention means comprises triangular projections, one side of each triangular projection extending from said engaging portion at a right angle and a second side intersecting said one side to form a barb, the one side facing the interface side of said inner body.

14. A cable as claimed in claim 13, wherein said connector includes an inner conductor, an outer conductor, a dielectric member between said inner conductor and said outer conductor, and an insulating jacket surrounding said outer conductor, said triangular projections having a height of less than the thickness of said outer conductor.

15. A cable as claimed in claim 10, wherein said outer ferrule include ridges located around the circumference of said ferrule and arranged to facilitate uniform contact between said ferrule and said cable when crimped.

16. A cable as claimed in claim 10, wherein said outer ferrule extends further from said interface than said engaging portion of said inner body.

17. A cable as claimed in claim 10, wherein said coupling means comprises internal threads adapted to threadingly engage external threads of said second connector.

18. A cable as claimed in claim 10, wherein said connector is an F-type connector.