Axial compression electrical connector

• US 6,939,169 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Islam, Nahid, Lee, Joon, Thorburn, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, PHUONG K
• Application Number:
  US10/708,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20050026496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439/583, 174/75.C
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5205 Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet H01R13/5221 takes precedence
• 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

An electrical connector adapted for interconnection with a helically corrugated outer conductor coaxial cable via axial compression. Threads formed in an interior bore of the connector body threadably engage helical corrugations of the outer conductor. Upon axial compression of an interface into an interference fit with the body, a leading edge of the outer conductor is deformed, creating a high quality uniform electrical interconnection and preventing unthreading of the cable from the connector. Gaskets environmentally sealing the various entry paths into the connector are also sealably compressed by the axial movement of the various connector components during axial compression.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for coaxial cable having a helically corrugated outer conductor, comprising:

a cylindrical body having an inner interface mounting surface adapted to threadably receive the outer conductor; and

an interface adapted to couple with a connector end of the body in an interference fit via application of axial compression;

the interface having an angled guide surface projecting towards the body to form an outer conductor groove;

the application of axial compression operating to deform a leading edge of the outer conductor within the outer conductor groove, preventing unthreading of the outer conductor, thereby retaining the outer conductor within the electrical connector.

2. The connector of claim 1, further including a coupling nut with an inner retaining shoulder adapted to rotatably retain the coupling nut on the connector between the body and interface.

3. The connector of claim 2, further including a gasket located in a groove in an outer diameter of the body whereby the gasket seals between the coupling nut and the body.

4. The connector of claim 1, further including a sleeve adapted to couple to a cable end of the body in an interference fit via application of axial compression.

5. The connector of claim 4, further including a gasket located in an internal groove between the sleeve and the body;

axial compression of the sleeve and the body compressing the gasket to form a seal between the cable end of the body and the coaxial cable.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is adapted to interface with a Type F female connector.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the interface mounting surface has a pair of threads, each of the threads oriented 180 degrees from each other.

8. The connector of claim 4, further including a ridge formed around the body against which the sleeve bottoms upon axial compression of the body and the sleeve.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein the interference fit between the body and the interface is formed between an interface mounting surface located on an outside diameter of the connecter end of the body and a body coupling surface on an inside diameter of a cable end of the interface.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein an interface mounting guide surface having a smaller diameter that the interface mounting surface is located adjacent the interface mounting surface, proximate the connector end of the body.

11. An electrical connector for coaxial cable having a helically corrugated outer conductor, comprising:

a cylindrical body having an inner interface mounting surface adapted to threadably receive the outer conductor; and

an interface adapted to couple with a connector end of the body in an interference fit via application of axial compression;

the axial compression of the interface and the body together deforming a leading edge of the outer conductor, coupling the outer conductor to the connector.

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein the interface has a center contact pin located coaxially within the interface by an insulator.

13. The connector of claim 11, wherein the interface has at least one access port interconnecting an outside diameter of the interface with an inside diameter.

14. The connector of claim 11, further including a coupling nut adapted to mount rotatably upon an outside of the interface.

15. The connector of claim 14, further including a cable end facing retention groove formed in the interface with an outside edge that is deformable in a radial direction to form a projection which retains the coupling nut upon the interface.

16. The connector of claim 11, further including a gasket adapted to thread upon the helical corrugations of the outer conductor and seal against the body upon threading of the cable into the body.

17. An electrical connector for coaxial cable having a helically corrugated outer conductor, comprising:

a cylindrical body having an inner interface mounting surface adapted to threadably receive the outer conductor; and

an interface adapted to couple with a connector end of the body in an interference fit via application of axial compression;

the interface having an angled guide surface projecting towards the body to form a cable end facing outer conductor groove between the angled guide surface and the interface;

the application of axial compression operating to deform a leading edge of the outer conductor within the outer conductor groove, preventing unthreading of the outer conductor, thereby retaining the outer conductor within the electrical connector.

18. The connector of claim 17, further including a center contact pin positioned coaxially within the interface by an insulator.

19. The connector of claim 18, further including a plurality of spring fingers on a cable end of the center contact pin;

the spring fingers biased radially inward to grasp a center conductor of the cable upon axial compression of the connector.

20. The connector of claim 19, wherein the insulator extends over at least a portion of an outer radius of the spring fingers.