Insulators for coaxial cable connectors

• US 5,259,790 A
• Filed: 02/02/1990
• Issued: 11/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications RF, LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gilbert Engineering Company Incorporated (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hayward, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Hien D.
• Application Number:
  US07/474,160
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 439/545, 439/578, 439/580, 439/546, 439/548, 439/562, 439/566, 439/705, 439/89
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/52 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/05 for coaxial cables

Abstract

Improved insulator configurations are provided for retarding corrosion of the central conductor pin of a coaxial cable connector. In a first embodiment of the invention, the distal end of the dielectric which surrounds the pin is provided with a domed protuberance which deflects liquid away from the pin. As a result, there is no surface tension to hold droplets of liquid at the distal end of the connector, and no chance of electrolytic bridging between the conductor pin and the outer body of the connector when the connector extends horizontally through the entry port of a electrical device. In a second embodiment, the dielectric is provided with a tubular extension portion which forms an insulator sheath around the central conductor pin, thus preventing bridging even when the connector is oriented vertically and the distal end of the outer body is submerged in liquid.

Claims

1. A cable-to-housing connector for mechanically and electrically connecting the end of a coaxial cable to a housing enclosing a space subject to accumulation of moisture, having an entry port, said connector comprising:

a tubular outer body formed of electrically conductive material, said outer body having a proximal end and a distal end;

first fastening means formed on the proximal end of said outer body for securing said outer body to the end of said cable;

second fastening means on the distal end of said outer body for securing said outer body to the entry port of said housing adjacent said space;

a central conductor pin spaced inwardly of and coaxial with said outer body, said conductor pin having a distal end projecting beyond the distal end of said outer body and through said space; and

a non-complaint dielectric disposed between said outer body and said central conductor pin, said dielectric having a substantially dome-shaped distal end protruding beyond the distal end of said outer body into and surrounded by said space for deflecting moisture, collecting in said space, away from said central conductor pin toward the outer circumference of said tubular outer body to prevent the accumulation of moisture between said outer body and said central conductor pin and a tubular extension portion extending from the apex of said dome-shaped distal end, said extension portion forming an insulator sheath surrounding said conductor pin.

2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the apex of said distal end of said dielectric is located beneath the distal end of said conductor pin.

3. In a cable-to-housing connector for mechanically and electrically connecting the end of a coaxial cable to a housing having an entry port, which connector includes

a tubular outer body formed of electrically conductive material, said outer body having a proximal end and a distal end,

first fastening means formed on the proximal end of said outer body for securing said outer body to the end of said cable,

second fastening means on the distal end of said outer body for securing said outer body to the entry port of said housing,

a central conductor pin spaced inwardly of and coaxial with said outer body, said conductor pin having a distal end projecting beyond the distal end of said outer body and extending into the interior of said housing for electrical connection therewith, and

a non-compliant dielectric disposed between said outer body and said central conductor pin, said dielectric having a distal end,

the improvement for preventing liquid bridging between said outer body and said central conductor pin when said housing is oriented such that said entry port is the lowest point of the device and said connector extends vertically through said entry port with the distal end of said outer body submerged in liquid, the level of said liquid being less than or equal to a predetermined maximum tolerable level, wherein said dielectric comprises:

a tubular extension portion projecting axially from the distal end of said dielectric to form an insulator sheath surrounding said conductor pin, said extension portion having a distal end located above said predetermined maximum tolerable level and below the distal end of said conductor pin; and

a domed upper surface which slopes downwardly from a maximum height at the base of said tubular member to a minimum height at the outer perimeter of said dielectric.

4. The improvement of claim 3, wherein said dielectric and said tubular extension portion are integrally formed.