End connector and crimping tool for coaxial cable

• US 6,089,913 A
• Filed: 09/09/1998
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Randall A. Holliday
• Inventors: Holliday, Randall A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US09/150,154
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 439/584, 439/578, 439/583, 439/585, 439/320, 439/321, 439/461, 439/462
• US Class Current: 439/584
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/10 inserting fittings into hoses
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0503 Connection between two cable ends
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0521 Connection to outer conductor by action of a nut

Abstract

A fitting for connecting a coaxial cable to a terminal or to another coaxial cable is made up of a connector body, an outer sleeve extending from one end of the connector body for insertion of an end of the cable, and a crimping member is loosely connected to the outer sleeve and has a tapered annular portion which in response to engagement by a compression tool will undergo axial movement with respect to the outer sleeve member and impart inward radial deformation to the outer sleeve member into sealed engagement with an external surface of the cable. In a modified form for splicing two cables together, the connector body is provided with outer sleeve members at opposite ends into which the ends of the coaxial cables are inserted and crimping members for crimping both of the sleeve members into sealed engagement with each of the respective cables.

Claims

1. A fitting for connecting a cable having an electrically conductive member to a second electrically conductive member, said fitting comprising:

a connector body;

a thin-walled outer sleeve member extending from one end of the connector body, said sleeve member sized for insertion of an end of said cable therethrough; and

a crimping member having a tapered annular portion extending from a first diameter at least as great as a diameter of said outer sleeve member to a second diameter less than the diameter of said outer sleeve member, wherein axial movement of said crimping member along an outer surface of said outer sleeve member causes said tapered annular portion to impart inward radial deformation to said outer sleeve member into sealed engagement with an external surface of said cable.

2. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein said crimping member includes an internal at one end thereof engageable with a first external groove at one end of said outer sleeve member and movable into engagement with a second external groove on said outer sleeve member in response to axial movement of said crimping member along said outer surface of said outer sleeve member.

3. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein said crimping member includes a cylindrical portion extending from an inner diameter of said tapered annular portion and having a diameter substantially equal to said second diameter.

4. A fitting according to claim 3, wherein said second diameter substantially corresponds to an outer diameter of said cable.

5. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein said crimping member includes a leading cylindrical portion extending forwardly of said tapered annular portion and having a diameter at least as great as said first diameter, said leading cylindrical portion slidable over said outer sleeve member.

6. A fitting according to claim 5, wherein said crimping member is composed of a plastic material of limited compressibility and an outer metal reinforcing band.

7. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein said means for axially advancing said crimping member with respect to said outer sleeve is defined by a compression tool having compression members movable toward and away from one another.

8. A fitting according to claim 7 wherein one of said compression members is engageable with said connector body and the other of said compression members is engageable with said crimping member.

9. A fitting according to claim 8 wherein said compression tool includes handle means for advancing said compression member between an extended position and a retracted position.

10. A fitting for electrically and mechanically connecting a coaxial cable having an electrically conductive member to a second electrically conductive member, said fitting comprising:

a connector body;

a thin-walled outer sleeve member of substantially uniform thickness extending from one end of the connector body, said sleeve member sized for insertion of an end of said cable therein; and

a crimping member including a main body portion of limited compressibility and an outer thin-walled reinforcing band, said main body portion having a tapered annular portion extending from a first diameter greater than a diameter of said outer sleeve member to a second diameter less than the diameter of said outer sleeve member, and wherein axial movement of said crimping member along an outer surface of said outer sleeve member causes said main body portion to impart inward radial deformation to said outer sleeve member into sealed engagement with an external surface of said cable.

11. A fitting according to claim 10, wherein said main body portion includes a leading cylindrical portion extending forwardly of said tapered annular portion and having a diameter substantially equal to said first diameter, said leading cylindrical portion slidable over said outer sleeve member.

12. A fitting according to claim 10, wherein said crimping member includes an internal rib at one end thereof engageable with a first external groove at one end of said outer sleeve member and movable into engagement with a second external groove on said outer sleeve member in response to axial movement of said crimping member along said outer surface of said outer sleeve member.

13. A fitting according to claim 10, wherein said main body portion includes a cylindrical portion extending from an inner diameter of said tapered annular portion and having a diameter substantially equal to said second diameter.

14. A fitting according to claim 13, wherein said second diameter substantially corresponds to an outer diameter of said cable.

15. A fitting according to claim 10, wherein said main body portion is composed of a plastic material of limited compressibility and said reinforcing band is composed of metal.

16. A fitting according to claim 15, wherein means are provided for axially advancing said crimping member with respect to said outer sleeve.

17. In a fitting for connecting a coaxial cable having inner and outer electrically conductive portions to another electrically conductive portion and wherein said fitting is provided with a connector body having inner and outer concentric sleeve members at one end for insertion of said spaced electrically conductive portions, the improvement comprising:

a crimping member including a main body portion of limited compressibility and an outer reinforcing band, said main body portion having a tapered annular portion extending from a first diameter at least as great as the diameter of said outer sleeve member to a second diameter less than the diameter of said outer sleeve member, and an internal rib at one end of said crimping member engageable with a first external groove at one end of said outer sleeve member and movable into engagement with a second external groove on said outer sleeve member in response to axial movement of said crimping member along an outer surface of said outer sleeve member; and

means for axially advancing said crimping member with respect to said outer sleeve.

18. In a fitting according to claim 17, wherein said crimping member includes a leading cylindrical portion extending forwardly of said tapered annular portion and having a diameter at least as great as said first diameter, said leading cylindrical portion slidable over said outer sleeve member.

19. In a fitting according to claim 17, wherein said crimping member includes a cylindrical portion extending from an inner diameter of said tapered annular portion and having a diameter substantially equal to said second diameter.

20. In a fitting according to claim 19, wherein said second diameter substantially corresponds to an outer diameter of said cable.

21. In a fitting according to claim 17, wherein said means for axially advancing said crimping member with respect to said outer sleeve is defined by a compression tool having compression members movable toward and away from one another.

22. In a fitting according to claim 21, wherein one of said compression members is engageable with said connector body and the other of said compression members is engageable with said crimping member.

23. In a fitting according to claim 22 wherein said compression tool includes handle means for advancing said compression member between an extended position and a retracted position.