Connector for coaxial cable having corrugated outer conductor

• US 5,435,745 A
• Filed: 05/31/1994
• Issued: 07/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.), Howard L. Rosenmayer
• Original Assignee: Andrew Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Booth, Kevin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): PIRLOT, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US08/251,571
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578-585, 439/675
• US Class Current: 439/584
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/564 Corrugated cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0521 Connection to outer conductor by action of a nut

Abstract

A connector assembly for a coaxial cable with an inner conductor and a corrugated outer conductor. The connector assembly comprises an inner contact adapted to engage the end of the inner conductor of the coaxial cable, a body member in the form of a hollow cylinder with a threaded inside surface at one end, and an attachment nut in the form of a hollow cylinder with a threaded outside surface for threadingly engaging the threaded inside surface of the body member, and a threaded inside surface for threadingly engaging the corrugated outer conductor of the cable. The attachment nut also forms a barrel projecting longitudinally from one end of the threaded outer surface and along the corrugated outer conductor. The barrel has a non-circular inside surface with a minimum inside dimension at least as large as the maximum outside diameter of the outer conductor of the cable. A bushing engages the outer surface of the barrel and deforms the barrel into the outer conductor of the cable in response to telescoping advancement of the body member onto the attachment nut.

Claims

1. A connector assembly for a coaxial cable having an inner conductor and a corrugated outer conductor, said connector assembly comprising:

an inner contact adapted to engage the inner conductor of the coaxial cable,

a body member in the form of a hollow cylinder having a threaded inside surface at one end,

an attachment nut in the form of a hollow cylinder having a threaded outside surface for threadingly engaging said threaded inside surface of said body member, and a threaded inside surface for threadingly engaging the corrugated outer conductor of said cable, and forming a barrel projecting longitudinally from the threaded outer surface and extending along the corrugated outer conductor, said barrel having a non-circular inside surface with a minimum inside dimension at least as large as the maximum outside diameter of the outer conductor of the cable, and

a bushing for engaging the outer surface of said barrel and deforming said barrel into the outer conductor of the cable in response to telescoping advancement of said body member onto said attachment nut.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said barrel includes a plurality of longitudinal slots dividing said barrel into a plurality of fingers that can be deformed inwardly into the outer conductor.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said bushing is a hollow cylindrical bushing shaped to fit between the outside surface of said barrel and the inside surface of said body member for forcing said barrel inwardly into the corrugated outer conductor of the cable as the bushing is advanced along the barrel, and including means for advancing said bushing over said barrel in response to the threading of said attachment nut into said body member.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the engaging surfaces of said barrel and said bushing is tapered so that relative longitudinal movement of said bushing along said barrel applies compressive radial forces on the outside surface of said barrel.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said bushing includes an inwardly extending flange for abutting the end of said barrel and thereby limiting the longitudinal movement of said bushing relative to said barrel.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1 which includes a dielectric spacer between said inner contact and said body member.

7. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said body member includes an internal shoulder so that the threading of said attachment nut into said body member causes said body member to force said bushing onto said barrel.

8. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein an end portion of said barrel at the free end thereof has a reduced outside diameter to facilitate the entry of said barrel into said bushing.

9. In combination, a connector assembly and a coaxial cable having a helically corrugated outer conductor, the connector assembly comprising:

an inner contact adapted to engage the end of the inner conductor of the coaxial cable,

a body member in the form of a hollow cylinder having a threaded inside surface at one end,

an attachment nut in the form of a hollow cylinder having a threaded outside surface for threadingly engaging said threaded inside surface of said body member, and a threaded inside surface for threadingly engaging the corrugated outer conductor of said cable, and forming a barrel projecting longitudinally from the threaded outer surface and extending along the corrugated outer conductor, said barrel having a non-circular inside surface with a minimum inside dimension at least as large as the maximum outside diameter of the outer conductor of the cable,

a bushing for engaging the outer surface of said barrel and deforming said barrel into the outer conductor of the cable in response to telescoping advancement of said body member onto said attachment nut, and

a dielectric spacer between said inner contact and said body member.

10. The connector assembly of claim 9 wherein said barrel includes a plurality of longitudinal slots dividing said barrel into a plurality of fingers that can be deformed inwardly into the outer conductor.

11. The connector assembly of claim 9 wherein said bushing is a hollow cylindrical bushing shaped to fit between the outside surface of said barrel and the inside surface of said body member for forcing said barrel inwardly into the corrugated outer conductor of the cable as the bushing is advanced along the barrel, and including means for advancing said bushing over said barrel in response to the threading of said attachment nut into said body member.

12. The connector assembly of claim 9 wherein at least one of the engaging surfaces of said barrel and said bushing is tapered so that relative longitudinal movement of said bushing along said barrel applies compressive radial forces on the outside surface of said barrel.

13. The connector assembly of claim 9 wherein said bushing includes an inwardly extending flange for abutting the end of said barrel and thereby limiting the longitudinal movement of said bushing relative to said barrel.

14. The connector assembly of claim 9 wherein said body member includes an internal shoulder so that the threading of said attachment nut into said body member causes said body member to force said bushing onto said barrel.

15. The connector assembly of claim 9 wherein an end portion of said barrel at the free end thereof has a reduced outside diameter to facilitate the entry of said barrel into said bushing.