Compression connector for cables

• US 8,591,254 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2013
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Llc
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Llc
• Inventors: Chawgo, Shawn, Montena, Noah
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US13/963,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20130323966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 109 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439583-585
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/38 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/56 specially adapted to a specific shape of cables, e.g. corrugated cables, twisted pair cables, cables with two screens or hollow cables
• 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 connector for cables has a plurality of components including a first connector structure, a second connector structure, and a conductive pin. The components cooperate to engage an end of a cable.

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

a first component having a conductive pin configured to engage an inner conductor of a cable so as to result in an initial contact force between the conductive pin and the inner conductor;

a second component having a prepared portion and defining a first perimeter;

a third component defining a second perimeter, the second perimeter being greater than the first perimeter, the third component being configured to define a space between the first component and the third component and to receive the prepared portion of the second component in the space;

a fourth component configured to receive at least part of the third component;

wherein the first, second and third components are configured so as to allow the conductive pin to apply a force to the inner conductor;

wherein the fourth component is configured to be moved relative to an end of the cable so as to compress the prepared portion of the second component against the first component, and increase from the intial contact force the force applied to the inner conductor by the conductive pin of the first component.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second component includes a clamp support, and the third component includes a clamp, at least one of the second and third components having a tapered configuration.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first component comprises an internal structure.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first component comprises a mandrel.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second component comprises a prepared end of the cable.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the third component comprises an external structure.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the third component comprises a clamp.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the prepared portion of the second component comprises a cored-out section.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein the prepared portion of the second component comprises a widened section.

10. The connector of claim 1, wherein the prepared portion of the second component is configured to be widened before being received in the space.

11. The connector of claim 1, wherein the prepared portion of the second component has a cylindrical shape.

12. The connector of claim 1, wherein the prepared portion of the second component has a constant diameter.

13. The connector of claim 1, wherein the prepared portion of the second component is configured to be widened.

14. The connector of claim 1, wherein the conductive pin is configured to be radially expanded so as to radially engage the inner conductor of the cable.

15. The connector of claim 1, wherein the third component is configured to move from an open position to a closed position.

16. The connector of claim 15, wherein the closed position is axially spaced from the open position.

17. The connector of claim 15, wherein the third component is configured to non-rotationally move from the open position to the closed position.

18. The connector of claim 15, further comprising a seal configured to engage a portion of the cable when the third component is moved between the open position and the closed position.

19. A connector comprising:

a mandrel;

a clamp configured to engage the mandrel so as to define a gap arranged to receive a prepared portion of an outer conductor of a cable; and

a conductive pin configured to engage an inner conductor of the cable so as to result in an initial contact force between the conductive pin and the inner conductor;

wherein the clamp is configured to engage the prepared portion of the outer conductor so as to exert a force between the conductive pin and the inner conductor of the cable; and

wherein the connector is configured to increase the force between the conductive pin and the inner conductor when the connector is moved between a first position and a second position.

20. The connector of claim 19, wherein the prepared portion of the outer conductor comprises a cored-out section.

21. The connector of claim 19, wherein the prepared portion of the outer conductor comprises a widened section.

22. The connector of claim 19, wherein the prepared portion of the outer conductor is configured to be widened before being received by the gap.

23. The connector of claim 19, wherein the prepared portion of the outer conductor has a cylindrical shape.

24. The connector of claim 19, wherein the prepared portion of the outer conductor has a constant diameter.

25. The connector of claim 19, wherein the prepared portion of the outer conductor is configured to be widened.

26. The connector of claim 19, wherein the clamp is configured to move from an open position to a closed position when the connector is moved between the first position and the second position.

27. The connector of claim 26, wherein the closed position is axially spaced from the open position.

28. The connector of claim 26, wherein the clamp is configured to non-rotationally move from the open position to the closed position when the connector is moved between the first position and the second position.

29. The connector of claim 19, further comprising a seal configured to engage a portion of the cable when the connector is moved between the first position and the second position.

30. The connector of claim 19, wherein the cable includes a prepared end located adjacent to the prepared portion of the outer conductor, and the connector is configured to seal the prepared end when the connector is moved between the first position and the second position.

31. A connector comprising:

a plurality of components configured to be coupled to an end of a cable, the cable comprising an inner conductor and an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor, the components comprising;

a first component comprising a pin configured to engage the inner conductor so as to result in an initial contact force between the pin and the inner conductor;

a second component defining a perimeter;

a third component defining a larger perimeter, the third component being configured to receive at least part of the second component so as to define a space between the second and third components; and

a fourth component configured to engage the third component, wherein;

(a) the first, second and third components are engagable with the end of the cable to enable;

(i) the space to receive at least part of the outer conductor; and

(ii) the pin to apply a force to the inner conductor; and

(b) the fourth component is configured to be moved relative to the end of the cable, the movement resulting in;

(i) radial compression of the received part; and

(ii) an increase from the initial contact force in the force applied to the inner conductor.

32. The connector of claim 31, wherein the second component comprises a clamp support, and the third component includes a clamp, at least one of the second and third components having a tapered configuration.

33. The connector of claim 31, wherein the outer conductor comprises a plurality of sections comprising one of the sections comprising a diameter and another one of the sections comprising a larger diameter, the received part comprising the another section.

34. The connector of claim 31, wherein the movement comprises a sliding movement along an axis.

35. The connector of claim 31, wherein the movement comprises a non-rotational movement along an axis.

36. The connector of claim 31, wherein the connector comprises a seal, the movement causing the seal to engage a portion of the cable.

37. A connector comprising:

a first connector component comprising a first surface;

a second connector component comprising a second surface, wherein the first connector component cooperates with the second connector component to define a space between the first surface and the second surface configured to receive a portion of an outer conductor of a coaxial cable, and wherein the first connector component and the second connector component are configured to compress the received portion of the outer conductor between the first surface and the second surface when the connector is moved from a first position to a second position, wherein the connector is configured to move from the first position to the second position as a sliding movement along an axis of the connector; and

a conductive pin configured to engage an inner conductor of the coaxial cable so as to result in an initial contact force between the conductive pin and the inner conductor in the first position, wherein a contact force between the conductive pin and the inner conductor increases from the initial contact force when the connector is moved from the first position to the second position, and wherein the conductive pin is configured to be radially expanded as the connector moves from the first position to the second position to radially engage the inner conductor.

38. The connector of claim 37, wherein connector further comprises a seal, wherein the seal is configured to engage a portion of the coaxial cable when the connector is moved from the first position to the second position.

39. The connector of claim 37, wherein the first surface of the first connector component is internal to the coaxial cable in the second position.

40. The connector of claim 37, wherein the second surface of the second connector component is external to the coaxial cable in the second position.

41. The connector of claim 37, wherein the first connector component and the second connector component are configured to radially compress the received portion of the outer conductor between the first surface and the second surface when the connector is moved from the first position to the second position.

42. The connector of claim 37, wherein the first surface is parallel to the second surface.