Coaxial cable connector

• US 6,123,567 A
• Filed: 07/07/1998
• Issued: 09/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: McCarthy, Dale C.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US09/111,019
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 439/427, 439/504, 439/578-583, 439/585, 29/33 M, 29/747, 29/748, 29/866, 29/857
• US Class Current: 439/427
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/5033 using wedge or pin penetrating into the end of a wire in axial direction of the wire
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/053 using contact members penetrating insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/932 Heat shrink material

Abstract

An electrical connector for coupling to a coaxial cable of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The connector has a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. An electrically conductive pin has one end protruding axially into the housing bore and the second prong end extending in an opposite direction within a second housing bore. One or more conductive arms are electrically connected to the conductive housing portion and insulated from the electrical conductive prong and having pointed ends sized for driving the clamp into the outer insulation and into the conductive sheath without contacting the center conductor. A closure member for enforcing engagement of the pointed ends of the conductive arms into the outer insulation.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for coupling to an electrical conductor of the type having an inner conductor enclosed with an inner insulation and a generally concentric conductive sheath around said inner insulation and enclosed in an outer insulation, said electrical connector comprising:

a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein;

at least one electrically conductive prong having two end portions, said conductive prong attached to said housing and having an portion protruding axially into said housing bore piercing into an end of the electrical conductor and making electrical contact with the inner conductor of the electrical conductor;

an electrically conductive clamp electrically connected to, and extending outwardly from a front end of, said electrically conductive portion of said housing and insulated from said electrically conductive prong, said electrically conductive clamp having a pointed end sized for driving through the outer insulation of the electrical conductor and making electrical contact with the conductive sheath without contacting the inner conductor;

a generally cylindrically shaped housing cap member attachable to said housing and having means for driving said electrically conductive clamp through the outer insulation of the electrical conductor to make electrical contact with the conductive sheath when said cap member is attached to said housing to thereby form a conductive path between the conductive sheath and the electrically conductive portion of said housing.

2. An electrical connector for coupling to an electrical conductor in accordance with claim 1 in which said cap member has a tapered portion therein for driving said electrically conductive clamp through the outer insulation of the electrical conductor and making electrical contact with the conductive sheath.

3. An electrical connector for coupling to an electrical conductor in accordance with claim 1 in which said cap member is threaded for threaded attachment to said housing.

4. An electrical connector for coupling to an electrical conductor in accordance with claim 3 in which said cap member has a generally cylindrical portion having internal threads and said housing having a generally cylindrical portion having external threads whereby said cap member can be threaded onto said threaded housing portion.

5. An electrical connector for coupling to an electrical conductor in accordance with claim 1 in which said electrical connector has a plurality of electrically conductive clamps.

6. An electrical connector for coupling to an electrical conductor in accordance with claim 5 in which said electrically conductive prong is attached to an electrically insulated housing portion.

7. An electrical connector for coupling to an electrical conductor in accordance with claim 6 in which said housing comprises a second housing and said electrically conductive prong has a second end portion extending into said second housing bore.

8. An electrical connector for coupling to an electrical conductor in accordance with claim 7 in which said housing has an attaching portion adjacent said second bore for attaching second end portion of said prong to another electrical connector.

9. An electrical connector for coupling to an electrical conductor in accordance with claim 8 in which said housing attaching portion includes a threaded portion for threadably attaching said electrical connector to the other electrical connector.

10. An electrical connector for coupling to an electrical conductor in accordance with claim 9 in which said housing comprises an insulating plate having said prong attached therethrough attached inside said housing between said first and second bores, each bore extending from an end of said housing.

11. An electrical connector for coupling to an electrical conductor in accordance with claim 10 in which said housing is generally cylindrical shaped.

12. An electrical connector for coupling to an electrical conductor in accordance with claim 10 in which said conductive clamps are metal clamps attached to a metal housing portion.

13. An electrical connector for coupling to an electrical conductor in accordance with claim 10 in which said housing bore has an electrically insulating lining therein.

14. A connector attachable to a coaxial cable having an inner central conductor and an outer concentrically disposed conductor separated by a concentrically disposed insulation layer and enclosed in an outer insulation, said connector comprising:

a housing having a central, substantially cylindrical opening, a wall separating said opening to define first and second chambers, and a conductive arm extending outwardly from a front end of said housing at said first chamber;

said conductive arm having an end contact portion extending substantially radially inwardly and including a piercing structure;

an axially extending pin member and an insulating body secured to said pin member, said insulating body being secured centrally in said housing in abutment with said wall, said pin extending into said first and second chambers;

said pin member having a pointed end portion for piercing into an end of the electrical conductor and making electrical contact with the inner central conductor; and

a generally cylindrically shaped cover member, surrounding and extending beyond the cylindrical opening of said housing at said first chamber, said cover member having means for abutting said conductive arm and urging said arm radially inwardly to cause said contact portion to pierce the outer insulation of the coaxial cable and establish electrical contact with the outer concentrically disposed conductor when the coaxial cable is positioned in said first chamber.

15. A method of coupling an electrical connector to a coaxial cable of the type having an inner conductor enclosed with an inner insulation and a conductive sheath around the inner insulation and enclosed in an outer insulation wherein:

the electrical connector includes;

a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore portion;

an electrically conductive pin, said electrically conductive pin attached to said housing such as to be electrically isolated from said electrically conductive housing portion and protruding into said housing bore for contacting the inner conductor of the electrical conductor;

an electrically conductive arm electrically connected to said electrically conductive housing portion and insulated from said electrically conductive pin, said electrically conductive arm extending outwardly from a front end of said housing and having a pointed end adapted for driving into an outer insulation of the electrical conductor and making electrical contact with the conductive sheath of the electrical conductor; and

a generally cylindrically shaped cover member, having an aperture for receiving a coaxial cable and which is attachable to the housing, said cover member having means for engaging the electrical conductive arm and maintaining the arm in contact with the conductive sheath of the cable;

said method comprising the steps of;

a. inserting the coaxial cable through the aperture in the cover member;

b. threading the coaxial cable past the electrically conductive arm and into electrically conductive engagement at the inner conductor with the end of the electrically conductive pin protruding into the housing bore;

c. driving the pointed end of the electrically conductive arm through the outer insulation and making electrical contact with the conductive sheath of the coaxial cable; and

d. attaching the cover member to the housing and over the conductive arm so as to maintain the electrically conductive arm in electrical contact with the conductive sheath through the outer insulation of the coaxial cable;

whereby the coaxial cable is secured in place with the connector and electrical contact is made with the cable at the inner conductor and at the conductive sheath.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein:

the step of driving the pointed end of the electrically conductive arm through the outer insulation and making electrical contact with the conductive sheath of the coaxial cable is accomplished manually.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein:

the cover member is a housing cap.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein:

the housing cap includes an internal annular wedging portion adapted for engaging the electrically conductive arm, wherein the means for engaging the electrical conductive arm and maintaining the arm in contact with the conductive sheath of the cable is the internal annular wedging portion of said housing cap and wherein;

the step of driving the pointed end of the electrically conductive arm through the outer insulation and making electrical contact with the conductive sheath of the coaxial cable is accomplished manually, and wherein;

the step of attaching the housing cap to the housing includes the internal annular wedging portion of the housing cap forcibly engaging the electrically conductive arm.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein:

said housing cap includes an internal annular wedging portion adapted for engaging the electrically conductive arm, wherein the means for engaging the electrical conductive arm and maintaining the arm in contact with the conductive sheath of the cable is the internal annular wedging portion of said housing cap and wherein;

the step of driving the pointed end of the electrically conductive arm through the outer insulation and making electrical contact with the conductive sheath of the coaxial cable comprises moving the housing cap toward the housing thereby engaging the internal annular wedging portion against the outer surface of the electrically conductive arm and driving the pointed end of the electrically conductive arm through the outer insulation and making electrical contact with the conductive sheath of the coaxial cable.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein:

the housing cap and housing are threaded so as to receive one another and wherein;

the step of attaching the housing cap to the housing includes threading the housing cap onto the housing.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein:

the housing cap and housing are sized so as to provide a locking fit when mutually engaged and wherein;

the step of attaching the housing cap to the housing includes forcing the housing cap and housing into mutual engagement so as to form a locking fit.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein:

the step of attaching the housing cap to the housing includes the internal annular wedging portion of the housing cap forcible engaging the electrically conductive arm.

23. The method according to claim 15, wherein:

the cover member is a heat shrink sleeve having an aperture for receiving a coaxial cable and being of a dimension to fit over the housing and over the electrically conductive arm, and wherein the means for engaging the electrical conductive arm and maintaining the arm in contact with the conductive sheath of the cable is the shrinking action of the heat shrink sleeve upon heat treating of the heat shrink sleeve.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein:

the step of driving the pointed end of the electrically conductive arm through the outer insulation and making electrical contact with the conductive sheath of the coaxial cable is accomplished manually, and wherein;

the step of attaching the heat shrink sleeve to the housing includes placing the heat shrink sleeve over the housing and over the electrically conductive arm and heat treating the heat shrink sleeve so as to shrink the sleeve into engagement with the housing and with the electrically conductive arm.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein:

the step of driving the pointed end of the electrically conductive arm through the outer insulation and making electrical contact with the conductive sheath of the coaxial cable comprises placing the heat shrink sleeve over the housing and over the electrically conductive arm and heating the sleeve so as to shrink the sleeve on the conductive arm and drive the pointed end of the electrically conductive arm through the outer insulation and make electrical contact with the conductive sheath of the coaxial cable, and wherein;

the step of attaching the heat shrink sleeve to the housing and over the conductive arm so as to maintain said arm in electrical contact with the conductive sheath through the outer insulation of the coaxial cable comprises further heating the heat shrink sleeve so as to shrink and attach the sleeve to the housing, conductive arm, and cable and to maintain the conductive arm in electrical contact with the conductive sheath through the outer insulation of the coaxial cable.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein:

the step of driving the pointed end of the electrically conductive arm through the outer insulation and making electrical contact with the conductive sheath of the coaxial cable and the step of attaching the heat shrink sleeve to the housing are combined and include placing the heat shrink sleeve over the housing and over the electrically conductive arm and heat treating the heat shrink sleeve so as to shrink the sleeve into engagement with the housing and with the electrically conductive arm.