Coaxial cable connector with threaded outer body

• US 7,144,272 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Corning Gilbert Incorporated (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lutz, William B., Burris, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imas, Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US11/273,813
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439/585, 439/63
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/03 characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/59 Threaded ferrule or bolt operating in a direction parallel to the cable or wire
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/28 for wire processing before connecting to contact members, not provided for in groups H01R43/02 - H01R43/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/05 for coaxial cables

Abstract

A connector for coaxial cable is disclosed herein that has an outer body, the outer body has at least one thread on a rearward portion thereof, and tubular post having at least one projection thereon. The outer body and the tubular post are movable relative to one another to compress a portion of the coaxial cable in the connector and to draw the braided shield of the coaxial cable into the connector. The present coaxial connector accommodates coaxial cables with larger amounts of braided shielding. A related method for connecting the coaxial cable and connector is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to a terminal, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, at least one braided shield surrounding the dielectric, and a jacket surrounding the at least one braided shield, the connector comprising:

an outer body comprising a rear end, a front end, a longitudinal axis, and an internal surface extending between the rear and front ends of the body, the internal surface defining a longitudinal opening and having a threaded region with at least one thread on at least a portion of the internal surface adjacent the rear end of the outer body;

a tubular post disposed at least partially within the longitudinal opening of the outer body, the tubular post comprising a rear end, an inner surface and an outer surface, the rear end of the tubular post having at least one protrusion on the outer surface, and wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the tubular post and at least a portion of the internal surface of the outer body define an annular cavity therebetween; and

a hollow body comprising a rear end, a front end, and an internal surface extending between the rear and front ends of the hollow body, the internal surface defining a longitudinal opening, wherein at least a portion of the tubular post is disposed in the longitudinal opening of the hollow body, and the tubular post is mounted to the hollow body;

wherein, in a first position, the outer body is in contact with the hollow body and the threaded region is longitudinally offset from the tubular post, and wherein the outer body and tubular post are movable relative to one another along the longitudinal axis to permit the threaded region of the outer body, in a second position, to surround at least part of the tubular post and to compress at least a portion of the coaxial cable in the connector between the tubular post and the outer body.

2. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising a pin inserted into a longitudinal opening defined by the inner surface of the tubular post, the pin configured to engage a portion of the inner conductor of the coaxial cable and to move axially in the connector relative to the tubular post.

3. The connector according to claim 1, the hollow body having a deformable portion proximate the rear end, the deformable portion being deformed radially inward by the axial movement of the outer body from a rearward position to a forward position.

4. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising a coupler disposed proximate the front end of the hollow body.

5. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising a coupler disposed proximate the front end of the connector.

6. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion on the outer surface of the tubular post comprises at least one thread.

14. The connector according to claim 1 wherein the outer body surrounds and contacts an outer surface of the hollow body.

7. A connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to a terminal, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, at least one braided shield surrounding the dielectric, and a jacket surrounding the at least one braided shield, the connector comprising:

an outer body comprising a rear end, a front end, a longitudinal axis, and an internal surface extending between the rear and front ends of the body, the internal surface defining a longitudinal opening and having a threaded region with at least one thread on at least a portion of the internal surface adjacent the rear end of the outer body;

a tubular post disposed at least partially within the longitudinal opening of the outer body, the tubular post comprising a rear end, an inner surface and an outer surface, the rear end of the tubular post having at least one protrusion on the outer surface, and wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the tubular post and at least a portion of the internal surface of the outer body define an annular cavity therebetween; and

a hollow body comprising a rear end, a front end, a deformable portion proximate the rear end of the hollow body and an internal surface extending between the rear and front ends of the hollow body, the internal surface defining a longitudinal opening, wherein at least a portion of the tubular post is disposed in the longitudinal opening of the hollow body, and wherein the tubular post is mounted to the hollow body;

wherein in a first position, the outer body is in contact with the hollow body and the threaded region is longitudinally offset from the tubular post, and wherein movement of the outer body and tubular post relative to one another along the longitudinal axis causes the threaded region of the outer body, in a second position to surround at least part of the tubular post and causes the deformable portion to deform radially inward toward the longitudinal axis sufficient to compress at least a portion of the coaxial cable between the deformable portion and the tubular post.

8. The connector according to claim 7, further comprising a pin inserted into a longitudinal opening defined by the inner surface of the tubular post, the pin configured to engage a portion of the inner conductor of the coaxial cable and to move axially in the connector relative to the tubular post.

9. The connector according to claim 7, further comprising a coupler disposed proximate the front end of the hollow body.

10. A combination of a coaxial cable and a connector for coupling an end of the coaxial cable to a terminal, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, at least one braided shield surrounding the dielectric, and a jacket surrounding the at least one braided shield, the connector comprising:

an outer body comprising a rear end, a front end, a longitudinal axis and an internal surface extending between the rear and front ends of the body, the internal surface defining a longitudinal opening and having at least one thread proximate the rear end;

a tubular post disposed at least partially within the longitudinal opening of the hollow body, the tubular post comprising a rear end, an inner surface and an outer surface, the rear end of the tubular post having at least one projection on the outer surface, and wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the tubular post and at least a portion of the internal surface of the hollow body define an annular cavity therebetween, wherein the inner surface of the tubular post is configured to allow the dielectric and the inner conductor to enter the tubular post and to allow the at least one braided shield and the jacket to enter the annular cavity over the at least one projection;

a hollow body comprising a rear end, a front end, and an internal surface extending between the rear and front ends of the hollow body, the internal surface defining a longitudinal opening, wherein at least a portion of the tubular post is disposed in the longitudinal opening of the hollow body, and the tubular post is mounted to the hollow body; and

a pin disposed in the tubular post to engage the inner conductor;

wherein, in a first position, the outer body is in contact with the hollow body and the threaded region is longitudinally offset from the tubular post, and wherein the outer body and tubular post are movable relative to one another along the longitudinal axis to permit the threaded region of the outer body, in a second position, to surround at least part of the tubular post and to compress at least a portion of the coaxial cable in the connector between the tubular post and the outer body.

11. The connector according to claim 10, the hollow body having a deformable portion proximate the rear end, the deformable portion being deformed radially inward by the axial movement of the outer body from a rearward position to a forward position.

12. A method of coupling a coaxial cable to a terminal, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, a braided shield surrounding the dielectric, and a jacket surrounding the braided shield, the method comprising:

providing a coaxial connector comprising a hollow body, an outer body in contact with the hollow body, and a tubular post mounted to the hollow body, the tubular post having at least one projection on an outer surface, the outer body being axially moveable relative to the hollow body and the tubular post and having a threaded region with at least one thread on an internal surface proximate a rear end of the outer body;

engaging the coaxial cable with the threaded region of the outer body of the connector while rotating the outer body with respect to the coaxial cable while the threaded region is longitudinally spaced away from the tubular post, wherein the at least one thread draws the braided shield and jacket into an annular opening between the outer body and the outer surface of the tubular post, thereby longitudinally advancing the coaxial connector onto the coaxial cable; and

moving the outer body and the tubular post together to cause the threaded region of the outer body to surround at least part of the post and to grip the coaxial cable within the connector.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the coaxial connector further comprises a hollow body having a deformable portion adjacent a rear end, and wherein the step of moving the outer body causes the deformable portion of the hollow body to deform radially inward, thereby causing the deformable portion of the outer body and the tubular post to engage a portion of the coaxial cable.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the moving step causes a portion of the coaxial cable to be sandwiched between the outer body and the rear end of the tubular post.

16. The method according to claim 12 wherein the moving step causes a portion of the coaxial cable to be sandwiched between the hollow body and the rear end of the tubular post.

17. The method according to claim 12 wherein the moving step causes a portion of the hollow body to deform radially inwardly.

18. The method according to claim 12 wherein, during the moving step, the tubular post moves axially relative to the hollow body.