Coaxial cable connector with mandrel spacer and method of preparing coaxial cable

• US 5,342,218 A
• Filed: 12/17/1992
• Issued: 08/30/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raychem Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Raychem Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Mattis, John S., McMills, Corey
• Primary Examiner(s): PIRLOT, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/994,061
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578-585, 439/675, 439/374, 439/378, 29/828
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0521 Connection to outer conductor by action of a nut

Abstract

The invention describes a method of preparing a cable, a coaxial cable mandrel guide/spacer, and a plurality of coaxial cables capable of accepting flexible coaxial cable without the requirement or folding back the conductive shielding braid material to form a connection to the cable. The guide/spacer is also useful with other nonbraided type connectors to avoid the need for a multilevel stripping of the coaxial cable. Avoiding the need for braid rollback eliminates a potential leak path and creates an improved sealed connector.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector for forming a connection to a flexible coaxial cable having at least one outer shielding layer of conductive braiding material, the coaxial cable is prepared to have an exposed center conductor and a substantially perpendicular ±

45°

angle of cable materials away from the center conductor by the removal of the inner and outer dielectric and the outer shielding material, the center conductor comprises a section of the connector capable of forming a contact to a cable splice or cable tap port and a section opposite thereto including a tubular mandrel for contacting the cable, the tubular mandrel including a centrally located dielectric conductor guide/spacer capable of fitting within the mandrel, the guide/spacer capable of moving through the tubular mandrel towards the section of the connector contacting the cable splice or cable tap port upon the insertion of the cable conductor through the guide/spacer and into the connector, the dielectric conductor guide/spacer includes a conical entrance for the cable conductor to facilitate the passage of the central conductor therethrough and a beveled surface opposite thereto on a peripheral portion of the dielectric conductor guide/spacer to assist insertion into the tubular mandrel; and

a securing means for securing the cable around the tubular mandrel.

2. The connector according to claim 1 wherein the connector is selected from a group of tubular mandrel connectors consisting of coaxial crimp connectors, coaxial connectors including compression sleeve members, and coaxial connectors including a central helical knife edge mandrel.

3. The connector according to claim 1 wherein the guide/spacer is a plastic material.

4. The connector according to claim 3 wherein the guide/spacer has outer lobes providing an interference fit with the mandrel and a central hole sized to provide an interference fit with the center conductor.

5. The connector according to claim 4 wherein the guide/spacer has a shape selected from the group consisting of conical, polygonal, square, cylindrical rectangular, lobed circular, or triangular.

6. The connector according to claim 5 further including a gel sealing material on at least one side of the guide/spacer abuting either the coaxial cable, or the cable splice or tap port.

7. The connector according to claim 6 including gel sealing means on both sides of the guide/spacer.

8. The connector according to claim 1 wherein the cable is prepared to have an exposed center conductor and a substantially perpendicular angle of the cable materials away from the center conductor by the removal of the inner and outer dielectric and the shielding material.

9. The connector according to claim 8 wherein the outer edges of the guide/spacer are chamfered and the guide/spacer includes conical facing entrance and exit portions for the cable conductor.

10. A coaxial cable center conductor guide/spacer capable of fitting into a tubular coaxial cable mandrel to obviate the requirement of shielding brain rollback of a prepared coaxial cable having an exposed center conductor, the guide/spacer comprising:

a dielectric shape of material sized to fit within a tubular cable mandrel, the shape having at least one outer chamfered portion to facilitate the insertion into the tubular mandrel and at least one centrally located conical portion opposite thereto but in communication with a central passage to assist the insertion of the center cable conductor into and through the central passage in the shaper of material, the dielectric shape of material further including tab members to assist the retaining of the shape of material in the mandrel, the tab members providing an outer diameter of the dielectric shape of material which is initially greater than the inside diameter of the mandrel, the tabs members fold over upon insertion of the dielectric shape of material into the mandrel to provide a stabilizing means to avoid creep of the guide/spacer.

11. The article according to claim 10 further including a second chamfered outer portion opposite to the at least one outer chamfered portion.

12. The article according to claim 11 further including a second centrally located conical portion opposite to the at least one centrally located conical portion and in communication with the passage.

13. The article according to claim 12 wherein the shape of material is cylindrical with a plurality of lobes to provide an interference fit with the tubular mandrel and the central passage is sized to provide a cleaning action by interference fit with the center cable conductor.

14. The article according to claim 13 wherein the tab members between at least two of the lobes to assist the retaining of the shape of material in the mandrel, the tabs being greater in length than the lobes.