Compression connector for cables

• US 8,602,818 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2013
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• 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:
  US13/963,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20130323968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 123 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 connector members including a first connector member, a second connector member, and a conductive pin. The connector members cooperate to engage an end of a cable.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector for terminating a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, an insulating layer surrounding the inner conductor, and an outer conductor surrounding the insulating layer, the coaxial cable connector comprising:

an inner connector member;

an outer connector member configured to engage the inner connector member so as to define a gap arranged to receive a prepared portion of the outer conductor of the coaxial cable; and

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

wherein the outer connector member is configured to clamp the prepared portion of the outer conductor against the inner connector member and exert a contact force between the conductive pin and the inner conductor of the coaxial cable; and

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

2. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the prepared portion of the outer conductor comprises a cored-out section.

3. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the prepared portion of the outer conductor comprises a widened section.

4. The coaxial cable connector of claim 3, wherein the prepared portion of the outer conductor is configured to be widened before being received by the gap.

5. The coaxial cable connector of claim 3, wherein the prepared portion of the outer conductor has a cylindrical shape.

6. The coaxial cable connector of claim 3, wherein the prepared portion of the outer conductor has a constant diameter.

7. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the prepared portion of the outer conductor is configured to be widened.

8. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the outer connector member includes an outwardly-tapering inside surface.

9. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the outer connector member includes an inwardly-tapering outside transition surface.

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

11. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein:

the inner connector member includes an outer surface with a radial width that is greater than an average radial width of the outer conductor;

the outer connector member includes an inner surface that is configured to surround the outer surface of the inner connector member and cooperate with the outer surface of the inner connector member so as to define the gap; and

the inner surface of the outer connector member is configured to clamp the prepared portion of the outer conductor against the outer surface of the inner connector member when the coaxial cable connector is moved from the first position to the second position.

12. The coaxial cable connector of claim 11, wherein the outer surface of the inner connector member includes a radial width that is greater than a smallest radial width of the outer conductor member.

13. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the inner connector member further has an inwardly-tapering outside surface.

14. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the outer connector member is configured to move from an open position to a closed position when the coaxial cable connector is moved between the first position and the second position.

15. The coaxial cable connector of claim 14, wherein the closed position is axially spaced from the open position.

16. The coaxial cable connector of claim 14, wherein the outer connector member is configured to non-rotationally move from the open position to the closed position when the coaxial cable connector is moved between the first position and the second position.

17. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, further comprising a seal configured to engage a portion of the coaxial cable when the coaxial cable connector is moved between the first position and the second position.

18. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the coaxial cable includes a prepared end located adjacent to the prepared portion of the outer conductor, and the coaxial cable connector is configured to seal the prepared end when the coaxial cable connector is moved between the first position and the second position.

19. A connector comprising:

a first connector member;

a second connector member configured to engage the first connector member so as to define a gap shaped to receive a prepared portion of an outer conductor of a cable;

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; and

wherein the second connector member is configured to compress the prepared portion of the outer conductor of the cable between the first and second connector members such that a contact force between the conductive pin and an inner conductor of the cable is increased from the initial contact force when the connector is moved from a first position to a second position.

20. The connector of claim 19, wherein the first connector member comprises an internal structure.

21. The connector of claim 19, wherein the second connector member comprises an external structure.

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

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

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

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

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

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

28. The connector of claim 19, wherein the second connector member includes an outwardly-tapering inside surface.

29. The connector of claim 19, wherein the second connector member includes an inwardly-tapering outside transition surface.

30. The connector of claim 19, wherein the conductive pin is configured to be radially expanded so as to radially engage the inner conductor of the cable.

31. The connector of claim 19, wherein:

the first connector member includes an outer surface with a radial width that is greater than an average radial width of the outer conductor of the cable;

the second connector member includes an inner surface that is configured to surround and cooperate with the outer surface of the first connector member so as to define the gap; and

the inner surface of the second connector member is configured to clamp the prepared portion of the outer conductor against the outer surface of the first connector member when the connector is moved from the first position to the second position.

32. The connector of claim 19, wherein the outer surface of the first connector member includes a radial width that is greater than a smallest radial width of the outer conductor member.

33. The connector of claim 19, wherein the first connector member includes an inwardly-tapering outside surface.

34. The connector of claim 19, wherein the second connector member 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.

35. The connector of claim 34, wherein the closed position is axially spaced from the open position.

36. The connector of claim 34, wherein the second connector member 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.

37. 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.

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

39. A connector attachable to an end of a cable, the cable comprising an inner conductor and an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor, the connector comprising:

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

a second connector member defining a perimeter;

a third connector member configured to receive at least part of the second connector member so as to define a gap between the second and third connector members; and

a fourth connector member configured to receive at least part of the third connector member, wherein;

(a) the first, second and third connector members are configured to be interfaced with the end of the cable to enable;

(i) the gap 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 connector member is configured to be moved relative to the end of the cable, the movement resulting in;

(i) compression of the received part, the compression being directed along a radius of the outer conductor; and

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

40. The connector of claim 39, wherein the second connector member includes a clamp support, and the third connector member includes a clamp, at least one of the second and third connector members having a tapered configuration.

41. The connector of claim 39, wherein the received part of the outer conductor comprises a widened section.

42. The connector of claim 39, wherein the movement comprises a sliding movement along an axis.

43. The connector of claim 39, wherein the movement comprises a non-rotational movement along an axis.

44. The connector of claim 39, wherein the connector comprises a seal, the movement causing the seal to engage a portion of the cable.

45. The connector of claim 39, wherein the compression includes a radial compression force applied to the compressed part after the movement occurs.

46. A connector for terminating a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, an insulating layer surrounding the inner conductor, and an outer conductor surrounding the insulating layer, the connector comprising:

a first connector member comprising a first surface;

a second connector member comprising a second surface, wherein the first connector member cooperates with the second connector member to define a space between the first surface and the second surface configured to receive a portion of the outer conductor, and wherein the first connector member and the second connector member 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; and

a conductive pin configured to engage the inner conductor 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.

47. The connector of claim 46, 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.

48. The connector of claim 46, wherein the connector is configured to move from the first position to the second position as a non-rotational movement along an axis of the connector.

49. The connector of claim 46, 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.

50. The connector of claim 46, 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.

51. The connector of claim 46, wherein the first surface of the first connector member is internal to the coaxial cable in the second position.

52. The connector of claim 46, wherein the second surface of the second connector member is external to the coaxial cable in the second position.

53. The connector of claim 46, wherein the first connector member and the second connector member 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.

54. The connector of claim 46, wherein the first surface is parallel to the second surface.