Compression connector for coaxial cable

• US 7,131,868 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RF Industries, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Montena, Noah
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarroli, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US11/375,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20060172571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 238 Days
• Field of Search: 439578-585, 439/91
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/623 Casing or ring with helicoidal groove
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/562 Cables with two screens
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/5016 using a cone
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0518 Connection to outer conductor by crimping or by crimping ferrule
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0524 Connection to outer conductor by action of a clamping member, e.g. screw fastening means H01R9/0515 takes precedence

Abstract

A compression connector for the end of a coaxial cable. The coaxial cable has a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer being surrounded by a conductive grounding sheath, and the conductive grounding sheath being surrounded by a protective outerjacket. The compression connector includes a body, a post and a compression member. The body and/or the compression member can have various shapes and orientations to enable the compression connector to readily accommodate coaxial cable having various thicknesses, due to, for example, being made by different manufacturers.

Claims

1. A compression connector for the end of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer being surrounded by a conductive grounding sheath, and the conductive grounding sheath being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the compression connector comprising:

a body having a first end and a second end, and defining an internal bore, said first end including an internal groove therein;

a post configured for engagement with said internal bore from the first end of said body, said post configured to engage a portion of the conductive grounding sheath; and

a compression member having a first end and a second end, an outer surface and an inner surface,

said outer surface including

a ridge for engagement with said internal groove of the body to define a first position of said compression member wherein a prepared end of a coaxial cable can be inserted through the compression member and engage said post; and

a channel dimensioned and configured to enable said compression connector to accommodate greater variations in the thickness of the conductive grounding sheath and protective outer jacket of the coaxial cable;

said inner surface including a ramped portion configured to grasp at least the protective outer jacket between the compression member and the post upon axial advancement of the compression member.

2. The compression connector of claim 1, wherein the channel has side walls with a shape selected from the group consisting of inclined, perpendicular and radiussed.

3. The compression connector of claim 1, wherein the compression member includes a flanged portion to act as a positive stop adapted to engage the first end of the connector body for preventing further advancement of the compression member.

4. The compression connector of claim 1, wherein the second 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.

5. The compression connector of claim 1, wherein the post includes a plurality of serrations for improved engagement with the coaxial cable.

6. The compression connector of claim 1 wherein said internal bore includes a step adapted to engage said post.

7. A compression connector for the end of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer being surrounded by a conductive grounding sheath, and the conductive grounding sheath being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the compression connector comprising:

a body including a first end and a second end, the body defining an internal bore;

a post sized and configured for engagement with the internal bore of the body, said post having a sleeve and being configured for engagement with a portion of the conductive grounding sheath;

a collet disposed within the internal bore at the second end of the body, the collet adapted to receive the center conductor of the coaxial cable and thereby establish electrical connectivity between the collet and the center conductor; and

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 central conductor is electrically isolated from the conductive grounding sheath and the body,

a compression member having a first end and a second end, the first end including an outer surface and an inner surface; and

a housing member in communication with and at least partially housing the compression member, whereby upon sliding advancement of the compression member the first end of the body is caused to advance between the compression member and the housing member whereby the compression member is inwardly radially deformed against the outerjacket of the coaxial cable.

8. The compression connector of claim 7 wherein said internal bore includes a step adapted to engage said post.

9. The compression member of claim 7, wherein the first end of the body is tapered.

10. The compression connector of claim 9, wherein the compression member includes a taper configured to mate with the tapered first end of the body.

11. The compression connector of claim 7, wherein the housing member has a first end and a second end, and wherein the second end includes an inward flange that covers at least a portion of the compression member.

12. The compression connector of claim 7, wherein the body includes an external surface having a shoulder, and wherein the shoulder acts as a positive stop to limit the axial advancement of the housing member and the compression member.

13. The compression connector of claim 7, wherein a channel is defined within the external surface of the compression member, said channel being dimensioned and configured to enable said compression connector to accommodate greater variations in the thickness of the conductive grounding sheath and protective outer jacket of the coaxial cable.

14. The compression connector of claim 13, wherein the channel has side walls with a shape selected from the group consisting of inclined, perpendicular and radiussed.

15. The compression connector of claim 7, wherein the post includes a plurality of serrations for improved engagement with the coaxial cable.

16. The compression connector of claim 7, wherein the second 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.

17. A compression connector for the end of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer being surrounded by a conductive grounding sheath, and the conductive grounding sheath being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the compression connector comprising:

a body including a first end, a second end and a cylindrical sleeve, the body defining an internal bore;

a post sized and configured for engagement with the body at a portion of the internal passageway, said post having a sleeve and being configured for engagement with a portion of the conductive grounding sheath;

a compression member having a first end and a second end, the second end including an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface having a plurality of distinct regions wherein at least one of the distinct regions includes a ramped surface, whereby upon sliding advancement of the compression member the ramped surface of the compression member radially inwardly deforms the sleeve at the first end of the body against the outer jacket of the coaxial connector;

a collet disposed within the internal bore at the second end of the body, the collet adapted to receive the center conductor of the coaxial cable and thereby establish electrical connectivity between the collet and the center conductor; and

a spacer disposed between the collet and the body, the spacer electrically isolating the central conductor and collet from the body.

18. The compression connector of claim 17, wherein the second 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.

19. The compression connector of claim 17, wherein the post includes a plurality of serrations for improved engagement with the coaxial cable.

20. The compression connector of claim 17, wherein the body includes an external surface having a shoulder, and wherein the shoulder acts as a positive stop to limit the axial advancement of the compression member.

21. The compression connector of claim 17, wherein at least one of the other distinct regions is substantially cylindrical.

22. A coaxial cable compression connector comprising:

a body having a first end and a second end, said body defining an internal bore;

a compression member further comprising means for engaging the first end of the body, means for grasping an outer layer of a cable, and channel means for accommodating a wider variety of sizes of the cable;

means for electrically engaging an outer conductor of the cable to the connector body;

means for electrically isolating a center conductor of the cable from the body; and

interface means for fastening the body to a port.

23. The connector of claim 22, wherein the means for grasping the cable includes a tapered inner surface on the compression member.

24. The connector of claim 23, wherein the channel means includes a channel on an outer surface of the compression member having side walls with a shape selected from the group consisting of inclined, perpendicular and radiussed.

25. The connector of claim 24, wherein the means for electrically engaging the outer conductor includes a post disposed within the internal bore of the body, said post having a cylindrical sleeve that is inserted under a conductive grounding sheath.

26. A method of forming a connection between a port and a coaxial cable comprising:

providing a connector body including a first end and a second end, said body defining an internal bore therebetween;

disposing a post within the internal bore dimensioned and configured to engage an outer conductor of the cable;

providing a compression member including a first end adapted to engage the first end of the body, a second end adapted to engage a compression tool, a tapered internal surface, and an external surface including a channel adapted to accommodate a variety of sizes of said cable;

providing an interface between the body and the port;

placing the compression member in a first position engaging the first end of the body;

inserting a prepared end of the coaxial cable through the compression member and into the first end of the connector body; and

axially compressing the compression member further into the connector body whereby the tapered inner surface grasps an outer layer of the cable and the channel accommodates engagement to a larger variety of sizes of cable; and

engaging the interface with a port.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of providing a contact pin for electrically engaging an inner conductor of the coaxial cable.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of providing an insulator for electrically isolating the contact pin from the body.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of providing a collet on an end of the contact pin.