Coaxial cable connector with inner sleeve ring

• US 7,794,275 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2008
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Rodrigues, Julio Filipe
• Primary Examiner(s): HARVEY, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US12/077,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20080274644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439/583, 439/584
• US Class Current: 439/584
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/05 for coaxial cables

Abstract

A coaxial cable connector includes a connector body having a rearward cable receiving end, a locking sleeve movably coupled to the rearward cable receiving end of the connector body and a sleeve ring movably disposed within a rearward sleeve ring receiving end of the locking sleeve. The sleeve ring has a forward end for retaining a cable within the connector upon forward insertion of the sleeve ring within the locking sleeve. The connector further preferably includes an annular post disposed within the connector body, wherein the forward end of the sleeve ring urges the cable against the post upon forward insertion of the sleeve ring within the locking sleeve.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body having a rearward cable receiving end, a first engagement portion having a first internal diameter and a second engagement portion having a second internal diameter, said second internal diameter being smaller than said first internal diameter;

a locking sleeve movably coupled to said rearward cable receiving end of said connector body, said locking sleeve having a rearward sleeve ring receiving end;

a sleeve ring movably disposed within said rearward sleeve ring receiving end of said locking sleeve, said sleeve ring having a forward end adapted for retaining a cable within the connector upon forward insertion of said sleeve ring within said locking sleeve; and

a cable gripping ferrule disposed in said first engagement portion of said connector body forward of said locking sleeve, said cable gripping ferrule being forced into said second engagement portion of said connector body upon forward insertion of said locking sleeve within said connector body, wherein said gripping ferrule compresses in a radially inward direction for engaging a cable inserted in the connector, wherein said cable gripping ferrule is an integral forward portion of said locking sleeve, said portion having at least one slot formed therein to facilitate said radially inward compression.

2. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, further comprising an annular post disposed within said connector body, said forward end of said sleeve ring urging the cable against said post upon forward insertion of said sleeve ring within said locking sleeve.

3. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said locking sleeve comprises a sleeve flange formed on an inner surface thereof, said sleeve flange including a flexible skirt, said forward end of said sleeve ring engaging said flexible skirt upon forward insertion of said sleeve ring within said locking sleeve to deflect said flexible skirt radially inward whereby said skirt engages the cable to retain the cable within the connector.

4. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 3, wherein an annular gap is formed between said flexible skirt and said inner surface of said locking sleeve, and wherein said forward end of said sleeve ring is formed with a forward facing ramp portion, said ramp portion being received in said annular gap and deflecting said flexible skirt radially inward upon forward insertion of said sleeve ring within said locking sleeve.

5. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, further comprising a cable engaging O-ring disposed within said locking sleeve, said forward end of said sleeve ring compressing said O-ring upon forward insertion of said sleeve ring within said locking sleeve to expand said O-ring radially inward whereby said O-ring engages the cable to seal the cable within the connector.

6. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 5, wherein said locking sleeve comprises a flange formed on an inner surface thereof, said flange having a rearward facing wall, said O-ring being compressed against said rearward facing wall by said forward end of said sleeve ring upon forward insertion of said sleeve ring within said locking sleeve.

9. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said locking sleeve comprises a sleeve flange formed on an inner surface thereof, said sleeve flange including a ramped portion, and wherein said forward end of said sleeve ring includes a deformable edge portion, said deformable edge portion engaging said flange ramped portion upon forward insertion of said sleeve ring within said locking sleeve, whereby said deformable edge portion is deflected radially inward to engage the cable and retain the cable within the connector.

7. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body including a rearward cable receiving end, a first engagement portion having a first internal diameter and a second engagement portion having a second internal diameter, said second internal diameter being smaller than said first internal diameter;

a locking sleeve movably coupled to said rearward cable receiving end of said connector body; and

a cable gripping ferrule disposed in said first engagement portion of said connector body forward of said locking sleeve, said cable gripping ferrule being forced into said second engagement portion of said connector body upon forward insertion of said locking sleeve within said connector body, wherein said gripping ferrule compresses in a radially inward direction for engaging a cable inserted in the connector, wherein said cable gripping ferrule has a length, a first substantially constant outer diameter along its entire length when said gripping ferrule is disposed in said connector body first engagement portion and a second substantially constant outer diameter along its entire length when said gripping ferrule is disposed in said connector body second engagement portion, said second substantially constant outer diameter being smaller than said first substantially constant outer diameter.

8. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 7, further comprising a sleeve ring movably disposed within a rearward sleeve ring receiving end of said locking sleeve, said sleeve ring having a forward end adapted for retaining a cable within the connector upon forward insertion of said sleeve ring within said locking sleeve.

10. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 8, further comprising a cable engaging O-ring disposed within said locking sleeve, said forward end of said sleeve ring compressing said O-ring upon forward insertion of said sleeve ring within said locking sleeve to expand said O-ring radially inward whereby said O-ring engages the cable to seal the cable within the connector.

11. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 10, wherein said locking sleeve comprises a flange formed on an inner surface thereof, said flange having a rearward facing wall, said O-ring being compressed against said rearward facing wall by said forward end of said sleeve ring upon forward insertion of said sleeve ring within said locking sleeve.

14. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 7, wherein said cable gripping ferrule is a split ring formed separate from said locking sleeve, said ring having an outer diameter substantially equal to said first internal diameter of said connector body first engagement portion.

19. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 8, wherein said locking sleeve comprises a sleeve flange formed on an inner surface thereof, said sleeve flange including a ramped portion, and wherein said forward end of said sleeve ring includes a deformable edge portion, said deformable edge portion engaging said flange ramped portion upon forward insertion of said sleeve ring within said locking sleeve, whereby said deformable edge portion is deflected radially inward to engage the cable and retain the cable within the connector.

20. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 8, wherein said locking sleeve comprises a sleeve flange formed on an inner surface thereof, said sleeve flange including a flexible skirt, said forward end of said sleeve ring engaging said flexible skirt upon forward insertion of said sleeve ring within said locking sleeve to deflect said flexible skirt radially inward whereby said skirt engages the cable to retain the cable within the connector.

22. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 7, wherein said cable gripping ferrule is an integral forward portion of said locking sleeve, said portion having at least one slot formed therein to facilitate said radially inward compression.

23. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 8, further comprising an annular post disposed within said connector body, said forward end of said sleeve ring urging the cable against said post upon forward insertion of said sleeve ring within said locking sleeve.

24. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 20, wherein an annular gap is formed between said flexible skirt and said inner surface of said locking sleeve, and wherein said forward end of said sleeve ring is formed with a forward facing ramp portion, said ramp portion being received in said annular gap and deflecting said flexible skirt radially inward upon forward insertion of said sleeve ring within said locking sleeve.

12. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body including a rearward cable receiving end, a first engagement portion having a first internal diameter and a second engagement portion having a second internal diameter, said second internal diameter being smaller than said first internal diameter;

a locking sleeve movably coupled to said rearward cable receiving end of said connector body; and

a cable gripping ferrule disposed in said first engagement portion of said connector body forward of said locking sleeve, said cable gripping ferrule being forced into said second engagement portion of said connector body upon forward insertion of said locking sleeve within said connector body, wherein said gripping ferrule compresses in a radially inward direction for engaging a cable inserted in the connector, wherein said cable gripping ferrule is an integral forward portion of said locking sleeve, said portion having at least one slot formed therein to facilitate said radially inward compression.

13. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 12, wherein said connector body further includes a ramp portion disposed between said first engagement portion and said second engagement portion, said ramp portion facilitating forward movement of said gripping ferrule from said first engagement portion into said second engagement portion.

15. A method for terminating a coaxial cable in a connector comprising the steps of:

inserting an end of a cable into a rearward cable receiving end of a connector body;

axially moving a locking sleeve coupled to said connector body in a forward direction; and

axially moving a sleeve ring within said locking sleeve in a forward direction, said sleeve ring having a forward end adapted for retaining a cable within the connector upon forward insertion of said sleeve ring within said locking sleeve,

wherein said locking sleeve further comprises a forward cable gripping portion, said cable gripping portion being an integral forward portion of said locking sleeve and having at least one slot formed therein to facilitate said radially inward compression, and

wherein said step of axially moving said locking sleeve comprises the step of compressing said forward cable gripping portion of said locking sleeve in a radially inward direction whereby said cable gripping portion engages the cable to retain the cable within the connector.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the connector further comprises an annular post disposed within said connector body, and wherein said step of axially moving said sleeve ring comprises the step of urging the cable with said forward end of said sleeve ring against said post.

17. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said locking sleeve comprises a sleeve flange formed on an inner surface thereof, and said sleeve flange includes a flexible skirt, and wherein said step of axially moving said sleeve ring comprises the step of engaging said flexible skirt with said forward end of said sleeve ring to deflect said flexible skirt radially inward whereby said skirt engages the cable to retain the cable within the connector.

18. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the connector further comprises a cable engaging O-ring disposed within said locking sleeve, and wherein said step of axially moving said sleeve ring comprises the step of compressing said O-ring with said forward end of said sleeve ring to expand said O-ring radially inward whereby said O-ring engages the cable to seal the cable within the connector.

21. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said locking sleeve comprises a sleeve flange formed on an inner surface thereof, said sleeve flange including a ramped portion, and wherein said forward end of said sleeve ring includes a deformable edge portion, said deformable edge portion engaging said flange ramped portion upon forward insertion of said sleeve ring within said locking sleeve, wherein said deformable edge portion is deflected radially inward to engage the cable and retain the cable within the connector.