Coaxial cable connector

• US 8,956,184 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Llc
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Llc
• Inventors: Chawgo, Shawn M., Montena, Noah P.
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US14/200,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20140213106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439/583, 439/584, 439/585
• 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 coaxial cable connector includes, in one embodiment, a coupler, a body, an inner conductor engager and an outer conductor engager. The connector also includes a driver configured to axially move along an axis as a result of at least one axial installation force.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a coupler comprising a first coupler end and a second coupler end;

a component configured to extend along an axis and at least partially receive an inner conductor of a cable end of a coaxial cable, having an insulator surrounding the inner conductor, and a corrugated outer conductor surrounding the insulator, the corrugated outer conductor including an end section having an outer surface region and an inner surface region located opposite of the outer surface region, the inner surface region defining a first space, the component comprising a support surface configured to be at least an inner conductor engager defining a second space configured to at least partially receive the inner conductor, the inner conductor engager comprising a plurality of fingers surrounding the second space;

an outer conductor engager including a first portion extending along a first direction parallel to the axis and a second portion extending along a second direction that is not parallel to the axis, the first portion being configured to at least partially receive the end section as the end section is non-rotatably slid along the axis relative to the outer conductor engager; and

a compressor configured to at least partially receive the component, the compressor having a first compressor end and a second compressor end, the first compressor end configured to be located closer to the coupler than the second compressor end,

wherein the coupler and the compressor are configured to be arranged so that there is a first distance between the first coupler end and the second compressor end,

wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured to enable the compressor to axially move along the axis relative to the coupler as a result of at least one axial installation force acting along the axis, and

wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured so that;

the second space at least partially receives the inner conductor resulting from the axial movement;

the fingers engage the inner conductor resulting from the axial movement;

at least part of the end section is compressed between the outer conductor engager and the support surface resulting from the axial movement,

wherein the support surface abuts the inner surface region when at least one of the portions of the outer conductor engager abuts the outer surface region;

the compression applies a force to the outer conductor resulting from the axial movement, wherein at least part of the force acts in a radial direction, and

also resulting from the axial movement, the coupler and the compressor move closer together along the axis so that there is a second distance between the first coupler end and the second compressor end, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance.

2. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises a threaded nut.

3. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the fingers are configured to flex.

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

5. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the compressor has a substantially tubular shape.

6. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the compressor comprises a compression sleeve.

7. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the component comprises a tubular shape.

8. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the coaxial cable connector comprises a body configured to be rotatably coupled to the second coupler end, the body being extendable along the axis, the body configured to at least partially receive the inner conductor, the body also configured to at least partially receive the component.

9. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the support surface comprises an inwardly tapered outside surface.

10. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the support surface and one of the portions of the outer conductor engager extends in a first plane that is parallel with a second plane through which the end section extends.

11. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the corrugated outer conductor comprises a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys, the compressed part extending at least partially from one of the peaks or valleys, the compressed part extending to a terminal edge of the end section.

12. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured so that, as a result of the axial movement, the compressed part is clamped between the support surface and one of the portions of the outer conductor engager so as to eliminate a conduction disruption gap between the support surface and the inner surface region of the corrugated outer conductor.

13. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured so that, as a result of the axial movement, the support surface abuts the inner surface region when the first portion of the outer conductor engager abuts the outer surface region.

14. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured so that, as a result of the axial movement, the corrugated outer conductor is prevented from being disengaged from the outer conductor engager without application of a disengagement force that is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a disengagement force that, when applied to the coaxial cable connector, would exceed a strength limit of the coaxial cable; and

(b) a disengagement force that, when applied to the coaxial cable connector, would cause the coaxial cable connector to become unassembled from an assembled, compressed state, and wherein a process other than a screwing process would be required to return the coaxial cable connector to the assembled, compressed state.

15. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the corrugated outer conductor has a corrugation selected from the group consisting of an annular corrugation and a helical corrugation.

16. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the outer conductor engager comprises a clamp.

17. The coaxial cable connector of claim 16, wherein the corrugated outer conductor comprises a maximum diameter, and the first portion of the outer conductor engager has a minimum diameter that is no less than the maximum diameter.

18. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the coaxial cable comprises a jacket surrounding the corrugated outer conductor, the coaxial cable connector comprises a jacket seal configured to engage the jacket, and wherein as a result of the axial movement, the jacket seal is engaged with the jacket.

19. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18, wherein the coaxial cable connector comprises a compression member configured to compress the jacket seal.

20. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18, wherein a portion of the coaxial cable connector is configured to receive the jacket and to define, as a result of the axial movement, a third space between the jacket and the portion, and wherein the jacket seal is at least partially positioned within the third space.

21. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a coupler;

a component extendable along an axis, the component configured to receive an inner conductor of an end of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable comprising a corrugated outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor, the corrugated outer conductor comprising an end section, the end section defining a first space, the component comprising a support surface configured to be at least partially inserted into the first space;

an inner conductor engager defining a second space configured to at least partially receive the inner conductor;

an outer conductor engager configured to at least partially surround the corrugated outer conductor, the outer conductor engager comprising a plurality of portions, at least one of the portions extending parallel to the axis, the at least one portion configured to at least partially receive the end section when the end section non-rotatably slides along the axis relative to the outer conductor engager; and

a compressor configured to be coupled to the component;

wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured to have a first length when the coaxial cable connector is in an uninstalled state,

wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured to enable the compressor to axially move along the axis relative to the coupler as a result of at least one axial installation force acting along the axis, and

wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured so that;

the second space at least partially receives the inner conductor resulting from the axial movement;

at least part of the end section is clamped between the support surface and one of the portions of the outer conductor engager resulting from the axial movement;

the clamping of the at least part of the end section applies an engagement force to the at least part resulting from the axial movement, wherein the engagement force acts at least partially in a radial direction; and

also resulting from the axial movement, the coaxial cable connector has a second length when the coaxial cable connector is in an installed state, wherein the second length is less than the first length.

22. The coaxial cable connector of claim 21, wherein the coupler comprises a threaded nut.

23. The coaxial cable connector of claim 21, wherein the inner conductor engager comprises a plurality of flexible fingers.

24. The coaxial cable connector of claim 21, wherein the outer conductor engager comprises a clamp.

25. The coaxial cable connector of claim 21, wherein the component comprises a mandrel.

26. The coaxial cable connector of claim 21, wherein the coaxial cable connector comprises a body configured to be rotatably coupled to the coupler to extend along the axis, to at least partially receive the inner conductor, and to at least partially receive the component.

27. The coaxial cable connector of claim 21, wherein the support surface comprises an inwardly tapered outside surface.

28. The coaxial cable connector of claim 21, wherein at least one of the support surface and one of the portions of the outer conductor engager extends in a first plane that is parallel with a second plane through which the clamped part of the end section extends.

29. The coaxial cable connector of claim 21, wherein the corrugated outer conductor comprises a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys, wherein the clamped part extends at least partially from one of the peaks or valleys and extends to a terminal edge of the end section.

30. The coaxial cable connector of claim 21, wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured so that, as a result of the axial movement, the clamping eliminates a conduction disruption gap between the support surface and the clamped part of the end section of the outer conductor.

31. The coaxial cable connector of claim 21, wherein the end section comprises an outer surface region and an inner surface region opposite of the outer surface region, wherein the inner surface region defines the first space, wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured so that, as a result of the axial movement, the support surface abuts the inner surface region when the at least one portion of the outer conductor engager abuts the outer surface region.

32. The coaxial cable connector of claim 21, wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured so that, as a result of the axial movement, the corrugated outer conductor is prevented from being disengaged from the outer conductor engager without application of a disengagement force that is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a disengagement force that, when applied to the coaxial cable connector, would exceed a strength limit of the coaxial cable; and

(b) a disengagement force that, when applied to the coaxial cable connector, would cause the coaxial cable connector to become unassembled from an assembled, compressed state, and wherein a process other than a screwing process would be required to return the coaxial cable connector to the assembled, compressed state.

33. The coaxial cable connector of claim 21, wherein the corrugated outer conductor has a corrugation selected from the group consisting of an annular corrugation and a helical corrugation.

34. The coaxial cable connector of claim 21, wherein the coaxial cable comprises a jacket surrounding the outer conductor, wherein the coaxial cable connector comprises a jacket seal configured to engage the jacket, and wherein as a result of the axial movement, the jacket seal is engaged with the jacket.

35. The coaxial cable connector of claim 34, wherein the coaxial cable connector comprises a compression member configured to compress the jacket seal.

36. The coaxial cable connector of claim 34, wherein a portion of the coaxial cable connector is configured to receive the jacket, wherein, as a result of the axial movement, the portion defines a third space between the jacket and the portion, and wherein the jacket seal is at least partially positioned within the third space.

37. The coaxial cable connector of claim 21, wherein the corrugated outer conductor has a maximum diameter, and wherein the at least one portion of the outer conductor engager comprises a minimum diameter that is greater than the maximum diameter of the corrugated outer conductor.

38. The coaxial cable connector of claim 37, wherein the component comprises a mandrel.

39. The coaxial cable connector of claim 21, wherein the compressor has a substantially tubular shape.

40. The coaxial cable connector of claim 39, wherein the compressor comprises a compression sleeve.

41. A connector for a coaxial cable having an inner conductor and a corrugated outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor, the corrugated outer conductor including an end section having an outer surface region and an inner surface region located opposite from the outer surface region, and the inner surface region defining a first space, the connector comprising:

a coupler configured to extend along an axis;

a component configured to extend along the axis and to at least partially receive the inner conductor, the component having a tubular shape and a support surface configured to be at least partially inserted into the first space;

an inner conductor engager defining a second space configured to at least partially receive the inner conductor;

an outer conductor engager configured to at least partially receive the corrugated outer conductor and non-rotatably slide along the axis relative to an end section of a corrugated outer conductor of a coaxial cable, the outer conductor engager comprising a plurality of inner surfaces, at least one of the inner surfaces configured to extend parallel to the axis and to at least partially receive the end section when the outer conduct engager non-rotatably slides along the axis relative to the end section of the corrugated outer conductor; and

a sleeve configured to at least partially receive the component;

wherein the connector is configured to allow the sleeve to axially move along the axis from a first position, where the second space receives part of the inner conductor, where the inner conductor engager engages the received part of the inner conductor, and where the outer conductor engager receives at least part of the end section, to a second position, where the outer conductor engager applies a radial force to the received part of the end section, where the received part of the end section is compressed between the outer conductor engager and the support surface, and where the support surface abuts the inner surface region of the received part of the end section when the at least one inner surface of the outer conductor engager abuts the outer surface region of the end section; and

wherein a length of the connector is reduced when the connector moves from the first position to the second position.

42. The connector of claim 41, wherein the coupler comprises a threaded nut.

43. The connector of claim 41, wherein the inner conductor engager comprises a plurality of fingers.

44. The connector of claim 41, wherein the outer conductor engager comprises a clamp.

45. The connector of claim 41, wherein the corrugated outer conductor comprises a maximum diameter, and the at least one inner surface of the outer conductor engager has a minimum diameter that is no less than the maximum diameter.

46. The connector of claim 41, wherein the component comprises a mandrel.

47. The connector of claim 41, wherein the sleeve comprises a compression sleeve.

48. The connector of claim 41, comprising a body configured to be rotatably coupled to the coupler, to extend along the axis, to at least partially receive the inner conductor, and to at least partially receive the component.

49. The connector of claim 41, wherein the support surface comprises an inwardly tapered outside surface.

50. The connector of claim 41, wherein at least one of the support surface and the at least one inner surface of the outer conductor engager extends in a first plane that is parallel with a second plane through which the received part of the end section extends.

51. The connector of claim 41, wherein the corrugated outer conductor comprises a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys, wherein the received part of the end section extends at least partially from one of the peaks or valleys, and wherein the received part of the end section extends to a terminal edge of the end section.

52. The connector of claim 41, wherein the connector is configured to clamp the received part of the end section between the support surface and the at least one inner surface of the outer conductor engager when the connector moves from the first position to the second position so as to prevent a gap from disrupting conduction between the support surface and the inner surface region of the corrugated outer conductor.

53. The connector of claim 41, wherein the connector is configured to be non-rotatably moved from a uncompressed state to a compressed state such that the connector cannot be rotatably returned to the uncompressed state.

54. The connector of claim 41, wherein the connector is configured to be non-rotatably moved from a uncompressed state to a compressed state such that the connector cannot be rotatably returned to the uncompressed state during normal operating conditions of the connector and without applying excessive force to the connector.

55. The connector of claim 41, wherein the connector is configured to be non-rotatably moved from an assembled, uncompressed state to an assembled, compressed state such that the connector cannot be returned to the assembled, uncompressed state by unscrewing the connector.

56. The connector of claim 41, wherein the corrugated outer conductor has a corrugation selected from the group consisting of an annular corrugation and a helical corrugation.

57. The connector of claim 41, wherein the connector is configured to be non-twistably moved from a uncompressed state to a compressed state such that the connector cannot be twistably returned to the uncompressed state during normal operating conditions of the connector and without applying excessive force to the connector.

58. The connector of claim 41, wherein the connector is configured to be non-twistably moved from an assembled, uncompressed state to an assembled, compressed state such that the connector cannot be returned to the assembled, uncompressed state by untwisting the connector.

59. The connector of claim 41, wherein the connector is configured to prevent the corrugated outer conductor from being disengaged from the outer conductor engager without applying a disengagement force when the connector moves from the first position to the second position.

60. The connector of claim 59, wherein the disengagement force comprises a force that would exceed a strength limit of the coaxial cable when applied to the connector.

61. The connector of claim 59, wherein the disengagement force comprises a force that would cause the connector to become unassembled from an assembled, compressed state when applied to the connector.

62. The connector of claim 41, wherein the coaxial cable comprises a jacket surrounding the corrugated outer conductor, wherein the connector comprises a jacket seal configured to engage the jacket, and wherein the jacket seal is configured to engage the jacket when the connector moves from the first position to the second position.

63. The connector of claim 62, wherein the connector comprises a compression member configured to compress the jacket seal.

64. The connector of claim 62, wherein a portion of the connector is configured to receive the jacket and define a third space between the jacket and the portion when the connector moves from the first position to the second position, and wherein the jacket seal is configured to be at least partially positioned within the third space.