Compact compression connector for spiral corrugated coaxial cable

• US 7,070,447 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Montena, Noah
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta, Tho D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIRARDI, VANESSA MARY
• Application Number:
  US11/260,428
• Time in Patent Office: 250 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439/583, 439/584, 439/840, 439/841
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/564 Corrugated cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/5083 using a wedge
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0518 Connection to outer conductor by crimping or by crimping ferrule

Abstract

A compression connector for the end of a spiral corrugated coaxial cable is provided wherein one or more contact forces are provided between the connector and the cable by driving a coiled element of the connector into a groove within the corrugations of the cable and/or by causing an element of the compression connector to radially deform inward against the outer jacket of the cable.

Claims

1. A spiral corrugated coaxial cable compression connector, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer being surrounded by a plurality of conductive corrugations, wherein a continuous groove is defined between the corrugations, and wherein the corrugations are at least partially surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the compression connector comprising:

a body defining an internal passageway and including a proximal end and a distal end;

a compression member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the compression member is in tactile communication with the body;

a coiled element within the internal passageway of the body and adapted for engagement within the groove;

a clamping element in communication with the coiled element, whereby upon sliding advancement of the compression member the clamping element is caused to be compressed radially to an extent whereby the coiled element is driven into the groove so as to provide at least one contact force between the compression connector and the spiral corrugated coaxial cable;

a driving member located between a shoulder of the compression member and the clamping element, whereby upon sliding advancement of the compression member the shoulder contacts and applies sufficient axial force to the driving member such that the driving member contacts the clamping element and causes the clamping element to be compressed radially to an extent whereby the coiled element is caused to be driven into the groove so as to provide at least one contact force between the compression connector and the spiral corrugated coaxial cable.

2. The compression connector of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the body is tapered and wherein at least a portion of the clamping element has a substantially matching taper.

3. The compression connector of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the compression member is flanged.

4. The compression connector of claim 3, further comprising a grommet in tactile communication with the flanged proximal end of the compression member, whereby upon sliding advancement of the compression member the grommet is compressed radially against the protective outer jacket of the spiral corrugated coaxial to provide a contact force between the compression connector and the spiral corrugated coaxial cable.

5. The compression connector of claim 4, wherein the grommet is made of rubber.

6. The compression connector of claim 5, wherein the distal end of the body includes a connector interface selected from the group of connector interfaces consisting of a BNC connector, a TNC connector, an F-type connector, an RCA-type connector, a DIN male connector, a DIN female connector, an N male connector, an N female connector, an SMA male connector and an SMA female connector.

7. The compression connector of claim 1, wherein the driving member is a washer.

8. The compression connector of claim 1, further comprising an anchor for anchoring the coiled element in place.

9. The compression connector of claim 8, wherein the spacer is an insulator.

10. The compression connector of claim 1, further comprising a collet disposed within the internal passageway of the body and adapted to receive the center conductor of the spiral corrugated coaxial cable and thereby establish electrical connectivity between the collet and the center conductor.

11. The compression connector of claim 10, further comprising a spacer disposed between the collet and the body, the spacer engaging both the collet and the body and holding each apart from one another in a predetermined position whereby the center conductor is electrically isolated from the conductive corrugations and from the body.

12. The compression connector of claim 1, wherein the clamping element includes an internal bore having a predetermined diameter, and wherein the coiled element is at least partially disposed within the internal bore.

13. The compression connector of claim 12, wherein the clamping element further includes a first end, a second end, and a discontinuity area between the first end and the second end, and wherein the discontinuity area is reduced as the clamping element is compressed radially such that the diameter of the internal bore is reduced to an extent whereby the coiled element is caused to be driven into the groove so as to provide at least one contact force between the compression connector and the spiral corrugated coaxial cable.

14. A spiral corrugated cable compression connector, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer being surrounded by a plurality of conductive corrugations, wherein a continuous groove is defined between the corrugations, and wherein the corrugations are at least partially surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the compression connector comprising:

a body defining an internal passageway and including a flanged proximal end and a distal end;

a compression member having a proximal end, a distal end in tactile communication with the body, and a shoulder located between the proximal end and the distal end;

a coiled element within the internal passageway of the body and adapted for engagement within the groove;

a clamping element in communication with the coiled element; and

a driving member located between a shoulder of the compression member and the clamping element, whereby upon sliding advancement of the compression member the shoulder of the compression member contacts and applies sufficient axial force to the driving member such that the driving member contacts the clamping element and causes the clamping element to be compressed radially to an extent whereby the coiled element is driven into the groove to provide at least one contact force between the compression connector and the spiral corrugated coaxial cable.

15. The compression connector of claim 14, wherein the proximal end of the compression member is flanged, further comprising a grommet in tactile communication with the flanged proximal end of the compression member, whereby upon sliding advancement of the compression member the grommet is compressed radially against the protective outer jacket of the spiral corrugated coaxial to provide a contact force between the compression connector and the spiral corrugated coaxial cable.

16. The compression connector of claim 15, wherein the grommet is made of rubber.

17. The compression connector of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the body is tapered and wherein at least a portion of the clamping element has a substantially matching taper.

18. The compression connector of claim 14, wherein the grommet is made of rubber.

19. The compression connector of claim 14, further comprising an anchor for anchoring the coiled element in place.

20. The compression connector of claim 14, further comprising a collet disposed within the internal passageway of the body and adapted to receive the center conductor of the spiral corrugated coaxial cable and thereby establish electrical connectivity between the collet and the center conductor.

21. The compression connector of claim 20, further comprising a spacer disposed between the collet and the body, the spacer engaging both the collet and the body and holding each apart from one another in a predetermined position whereby the center conductor is electrically isolated from the conductive corrugations and from the body.

22. The compression connector of claim 21, wherein the spacer is an insulator.

23. The compression connector of claim 14, wherein the clamping element includes an internal bore having a predetermined diameter, and wherein the coiled element is at least partially disposed within the internal bore.

24. The compression connector of claim 23, wherein the clamping element further includes a first end, a second end, and a discontinuity area between the first end and the second end, and wherein the discontinuity area is reduced as the clamping element is compressed radially such that the diameter of the internal bore is reduced to an extent whereby the coiled element is caused to be driven into the groove so as to provide at least one contact force between the compression connector and the spiral corrugated coaxial cable.

25. The compression connector of claim 14, wherein the distal end of the body includes a connector interface selected from the group of connector interfaces consisting of a BNC connector, a TNC connector, an F-type connector, an RCA-type connector, a DIN male connector, a DIN female connector, an N male connector, an N female connector, an SMA male connector and an SMA female connector.

26. A spiral corrugated cable compression connector, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer being surrounded by a plurality of conductive corrugations, wherein a continuous groove is defined between the corrugations, and wherein the corrugations are at least partially surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the compression connector comprising:

a body defining an internal passageway and including a flanged proximal end and a distal end;

a compression member having a proximal end, a distal end in tactile communication with the body, and a shoulder located between the proximal end and the distal end;

a grommet in tactile communication with the flanged proximal end of the compression member;

a coiled element within the internal passageway of the body and adapted for engagement within the groove;

a clamping element in communication with the coiled element; and

a driving member located between a shoulder of the compression member and the clamping element, whereby upon sliding advancement of the compression member contact forces are provided between the compression connector and the spiral corrugated coaxial cable due to at least;

(a) the grommet being compressed radially against the outer jacket of the spiral corrugated coaxial; and

(b) the shoulder of the compression member contacting and applying sufficient axial force to the driving member such that the driving member contacts the clamping element and causes the clamping element to be compressed radially to an extent whereby the coiled element is driven into the groove.