Coaxial cable connector with independently actuated engagement of inner and outer conductors

• US 7,458,851 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2007
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Montena, Noah P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; T C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imas; Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US11/709,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20080207051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 439/584, 439/578, 439/583
• US Class Current: 439/584
• 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

A connector for the end of a segment of coaxial cable is provided wherein the compression connector includes a clamp that is engageable to the outer conductor of the segment of coaxial cable and a collet that can seize the center conductor of the cable, wherein the engagement of the outer conductor and the seizure of the center conductor can occur as separate steps and the center conductor can be prevented from being seized until after the outer conductor has been engaged.

Claims

1. A method of connecting a connector to a segment of coaxial cable, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a connector that includes an opening and that comprises;

a body having a first end, a second end and a bore defined therebetween;

a clamping element disposed within the bore of the body; and

a collet having a first collet end and a second collet end and being disposed within the bore of the body;

(b) inserting a segment of coaxial cable into the connector, the segment of coaxial cable including an outer conductor and a center conductor, wherein following the completion of step (b) the outer conductor of the cable segment is at least partially surrounded by the clamping element, and wherein the center conductor of the coaxial cable segment is at least partially disposed within the collet;

(c) causing the clamping element to engage at least a portion of the outer conductor of the coaxial cable segment; and

(d) after step (c) is completed, causing the collet to engage at least a portion of the center conductor of the coaxial cable segment.

2. The method 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.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the connector further comprises:

a nut surrounding the second end of the body.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the nut is hex-shaped.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the body includes an outwardly protruding ridge, and wherein the nut is disposed against the protruding ridge.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the clamping element is caused to engage at least a portion of the outer conductor of the coaxial cable segment by applying a first axial force onto the connector in a direction toward the opening of the connector and by applying a second axial force onto the connector in a direction away from the opening of the connector.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first axial force and the second axial force are applied substantially simultaneously.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the collet is caused to engage at least a portion of the center conductor of the coaxial cable segment by applying an axial force onto the connector in a direction toward the opening of the connector.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first end of the collet forms a plurality of flexible fingers, and wherein at least one of the flexible fingers engages at least a portion of the center conductor during step (d).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the connector further comprises:

a guide element having a first end, a second end and a bore disposed therebetween, wherein the guide element is disposed within the body.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of flexible fingers has a varied diameter, including an enlarged portion having an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the bore of the guide element.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the enlarged portion is located outside of the bore of the guide element prior to the completion of step (d) and is located within the bore of the guide element following the completion of step (d).

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the segment of coaxial cable includes a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys and the clamping element includes a plurality of peaks and a plurality of recesses, and wherein during step (c) at least some of the plurality of peaks of the coaxial cable segment are engaged within at least some of the plurality of recesses of the clamping element and at least some of the plurality of peaks of the clamping element are engaged within at least some of the valleys of the coaxial cable segment.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the bore of the body includes a sloped surface having an angle of taper and the clamping element includes a second sloped surface having an angle of taper, and wherein the angle of taper of the sloped surface of the bore of the body substantially matches the angle of taper of the second sloped surface of the clamping element.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the connector further comprises:

a driving member having a first end, a second end and a bore defined therebetween, wherein the driving member is disposed within the bore of the body and in tactile communication with the body.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the driving member includes a protruding ridge positioned so as to act as a stop for the first end of the body.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the bore of the driving member includes a sloped surface having an angle of taper and the clamping element includes a first sloped surface having an angle of taper, and wherein the angle of taper of the bore of the driving member substantially matches the angle of taper of the first sloped surface of the clamping element.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the clamping element is formed from a blend of an elastomeric material and at least one conductive material.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the elastomeric material is silicone rubber.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the at least one conductive material is in a form selected from the group consisting of a metal filament, a metal powder, and a nanomaterial.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the clamping element is formed from an elastomeric material that has been coated with at least one conductive material.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein each of the at least one conductive material is in a form selected from the group consisting of a metal filament, a metal powder, and a nanomaterial.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the clamping element has an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end and a second end, the inner surface having an inner diameter defined by a bore of the clamping element.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein each of the inner surface, the outer surface, the first end and the second end of the clamping element is at least partially coated with the at least one conductive material.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one, but fewer than each of the inner surface, the outer surface, the first end and the second end of the clamping element is at least partially coated with the at least one conductive material.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of the inner surface and at least a portion of the second surface are coated with at least one conductive material.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein substantially the entire second surface is coated with at least one conductive material.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the segment of coaxial cable includes an outer protective jacket, and wherein upon insertion of the segment of coaxial cable into the connector, the inner surface of the clamping element is in tactile communication with at least a portion of the outer conductor of the segment of coaxial cable and at least a portion of the outer protective jacket of the segment of coaxial cable.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein the inner diameter of the inner surface of the clamping element is substantially constant.

30. The method of claim 18, wherein the inner diameter of the inner surface of the clamping element is varied.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein the inner surface of the clamping element includes a first segment and a second segment.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first segment and the second segment of the inner surface have at least one of a different inner diameter and a different length.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the inner diameter of the second segment is less than the inner diameter of the first segment.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first segment has a substantially constant inner diameter and the second segment has a substantially constant inner diameter less than the inner diameter of the first segment.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the length of the first segment is less than the length of the second segment.

36. A method of connecting a connector to a segment of coaxial cable, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a connector that includes an opening and that comprises;

a body having a first end, a second end and a bore defined therebetween;

a clamping element disposed within the bore of the body; and

a collet having a first end and a second end and being disposed within the bore of the body;

(b) inserting a segment of coaxial cable into the connector, the segment of coaxial cable including an outer conductor and a center conductor, wherein following the completion of step (b) the outer conductor of the cable segment is at least partially engaged to the clamping element, and wherein the center conductor of the coaxial cable segment is at least partially disposed within the collet;

(c) applying at least one axial force onto the connector effective to cause the clamping element to engage at least a portion of the outer conductor of the coaxial cable segment;

(d) applying at least one axial force onto the connector effective to cause the collet to engage at least a portion of the center conductor of the coaxial cable segment; and

(e) preventing step (d) from occurring until step (c) is completed.

37. The method of claim 36, 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.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the connector further comprises:

a nut surrounding the second end of the body.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the nut is hex-shaped.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the body includes an outwardly protruding ridge, and wherein the nut is disposed against the protruding ridge.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the clamping element is caused to engage at least a portion of the outer conductor of the coaxial cable segment by applying a first axial force onto the connector in a direction toward the opening of the connector and by applying a second axial force onto the connector in a direction away from the opening of the connector.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the first axial force and the second axial force are applied substantially simultaneously.

43. The method of claim 36, wherein the collet is caused to engage at least a portion of the center conductor of the coaxial cable segment by applying an axial force onto the connector in a direction toward the opening of the connector.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein the first end of the collet forms a plurality of flexible fingers, and wherein at least one of the flexible fingers engages at least a portion of the center conductor during step (d).

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the connector further comprises:

a guide element having a first end, a second end and a bore disposed therebetween, wherein the guide element is disposed within the body.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the plurality of flexible fingers has a varied diameter, including an enlarged portion having an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the bore of the guide element.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the enlarged portion is located outside of the bore of the guide element prior to the completion of step (d) and is located within the bore of the guide element following the completion of step (d).

48. The method of claim 36, wherein the segment of coaxial cable includes a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys and the clamping element includes a plurality of peaks and a plurality of recesses, and wherein during step (c) at least some of the plurality of peaks of the coaxial cable segment are engaged within at least some of the plurality of recesses of the clamping element and at least some of the plurality of peaks of the clamping element are engaged within at least some of the valleys of the coaxial cable segment.

49. The method of claim 36, wherein the bore of the body includes a sloped surface having an angle of taper and the clamping element includes a second sloped surface having an angle of taper, and wherein the angle of taper of the sloped surface of the bore of the body substantially matches the angle of taper of the second sloped surface of the clamping element.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the connector further comprises:

a driving member having a first end, a second end and a bore defined therebetween, wherein the driving member is disposed within the bore of the body and in tactile communication with the body.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the driving member includes a protruding ridge positioned so as to act as a stop for the first end of the body.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the bore of the driving member includes a sloped surface having an angle of taper and the clamping element includes a first sloped surface having an angle of taper, and wherein the angle of taper of the bore of the driving member substantially matches the angle of taper of the first sloped surface of the clamping element.

53. A method of connecting a compression connector to a segment of coaxial cable, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a compression connector, comprising;

a body having a first end, a second end and a bore defined therebetween;

a clamping element disposed within the bore of the body;

a driving member having a first end, a second end and a bore defined therebetween, wherein the driving member is disposed within the bore of the body and in tactile communication with the body;

a collet having a first end and a second end and being disposed within the bore of the body; and

a guide element having a first end, a second end and a bore disposed therebetween, wherein the guide element is disposed within the body;

(b) inserting a segment of coaxial cable into the compression connector, the segment of coaxial cable including an outer conductor and a center conductor, wherein following the completion of step (b) the outer conductor of the cable segment is at least partially engaged to the clamping element, and wherein the center conductor of the coaxial cable segment is at least partially disposed within the collet;

(c) applying at least one axial force onto the compression connector effective to cause the clamping element to be radially forced, by at least one of the body and the driving member, against at least a portion of the outer conductor of the coaxial cable segment;

(d) applying at least one axial force onto the compression connector effective to cause at least a portion of the collet to be forced into the guide element so as to cause the collet to engage at least a portion of the center conductor of the coaxial cable segment; and

(e) preventing step (d) from occurring until step (c) is completed.