Bulge-type coaxial cable termination assembly

• US 20060063425A1
• Filed: 10/29/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Randall A. Holliday
• Inventors: Holliday, Randall A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,410,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/048 using presses for radially crimping tubular elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0527 Connection to outer conductor by action of a resilient member, e.g. spring

Abstract

A cable termination assembly is made up of a connector body having a thin-walled outer sleeve with generally convex surface portion toward its entrance end which enables its use with a number of different compression member configurations to effect positive sealed engagement with one end of a cable, exemplary compression members including an inner connector sleeve-engaging wall surface which is of uniform diameter throughout its substantial length, one with a slight concavity at its leading end to facilitate preassembly onto the connector sleeve, and one with a combination of concave and convex surface portions.

Claims

1. A cable termination assembly for connecting a cable having an electrically conductive member to another electrically conductive member comprising:

a connector body having a sleeve member of a generally cylindrical configuration sized for insertion of an end of said cable therein, said sleeve having an external wall surface portion of generally convex configuration adjacent to one end thereof; and

a cylindrical compression member having an inner annular surface dimensioned to advance over said sleeve member, said inner annular surface portion engageable with said convex external surface of said sleeve member wherein axial advancement of said compression member along said sleeve member will impart inward radial deformation to said sleeve member into engagement with an external surface portion of said cable.

2. A cable termination assembly according to claim 1 wherein said inner annular surface is of uniform diameter.

3. A cable termination assembly according to claim 1 wherein said sleeve member is of increased thickness toward an entrance end thereof.

4. A cable termination assembly according to claim 1 wherein said inner annular surface includes a concave surface portion complementary to said convex surface portion.

5. A cable termination assembly according to claim 4 wherein said crimping member includes an inner convex surface portion in axially spaced relation to said concave surface portion.

6. A cable termination assembly according to claim 1 wherein said crimping member includes releasable locking means having a first locking member projecting radially inwardly from said crimping member and a second complementary locking member projecting radially inwardly from an external wall surface of said sleeve member.

7. A cable termination assembly according to claim 1 wherein said crimping member includes an inner concentric plastic crimp ring and an outer metal crimp ring.

8. A cable termination assembly according to claim 4 wherein said crimping member has a plastic ring and an outer concentric metal ring partially overlying said plastic ring.

9. A cable termination assembly according to claim 8 wherein said inner concentric ring includes said concave and convex surface portions, and said outer concentric metal ring overlies said convex surface portion.

10. A cable termination assembly according to claim 1 wherein said inner annular surface includes an inner convex surface portion projecting radially inwardly therefrom whereupon axial advancement of said crimping member along said sleeve member will cause said inner convex surface portion to impart inward radial deformation to said convex external surface into sealed engagement with an external surface portion of said cable.

11. A fitting for connecting a cable having an electrically conductive member to another electrically conductive member, said fitting comprising:

a thin-walled sleeve member of a continuous cylindrical configuration sized for axial insertion of an end of said cable therein, said sleeve member provided with an external convex surface portion thereon and internal sealing rings; and

a cylindrical crimping member having an inner concave annular surface portion adapted to overlie said external convex surface portion in preassembled relation to said sleeve member, and said crimping member further having a first inner surface portion of substantially uniform diameter in trailing relation to said concave surface portion wherein axial advancement of said crimping member along said sleeve member causing said first inner surface portion to move into engagement with said external convex surface portion will impart inward radial deformation to said sealing ribs into sealed engagement with said cable.

12. A fitting according to claim 11 wherein said crimping member includes a second inner surface portion is of generally convex configuration.

13. A fitting according to claim 11 wherein said sleeve member is of uniform thickness throughout and has an entrance end, said external convex surface portion extending away from said entrance end for a distance corresponding to the length of said inner concave annular surface portion, and said sealing rings being axially spaced from one another and extending radially inwardly from said convex surface portion for a distance greater than the thickness of said sleeve member.

14. A fitting according to claim 13 including a first catch defined by a rib at a leading end of said crimping member, and a second catch extending radially inwardly from a trailing end of said liner.

15. A fitting according to claim 14 wherein said rib is composed of a material of limited resiliency which will compress as it advances along said outer convex surface portion and will expand after it clears said external shoulder.

16. A fitting according to claim 11 wherein said sleeve member includes a thin-walled portion extending between said entrance end and said convex surface portion.

17. A fitting according to claim 12 wherein said crimping member includes an inner liner having said inner concave annular surface portion and said first inner surface portion of uniform diameter and an outer concentric band overlying at least said first inner surface portion of uniform diameter.

18. A cable termination assembly for connecting a coaxial cable to a terminal wherein said cable has an outer resilient jacket, inner and outer spaced electrically conductive portions and wherein a connector body has a fastener for connection to said terminal and inner and outer concentric sleeve members with axially spaced sealing ribs on an inner surface of said outer sleeve member for insertion of said inner electrically conductive portion within said inner sleeve member and insertion of said outer electrically conductive portion between said inner sleeve member and said outer sleeve member, the improvement comprising:

said outer sleeve having a first external wall surface portion of a uniform diameter and a second external wall surface portion of generally convex configuration substantially coextensive with said sealing ribs; and

an annular crimping member having an inner liner of a substantially uniform diameter corresponding to the first diameter of said outer sleeve member wherein slidable axial advancement of said crimping member with respect to said outer sleeve member will impart inward radial deformation to said outer sleeve member into sealed engagement with an external surface of said cable.

19. A cable termination assembly according to claim 18 wherein said crimping member has a circular rib projecting radially inwardly from said liner.

20. A cable termination assembly according to claim 19 wherein said crimping member has an outer concentric metal band.

21. A cable termination assembly according to claim 20 wherein said outer concentric metal band is axially slidable with respect to said liner.

22. A cable termination assembly according to claim 21 wherein said liner includes an inset portion to receive a leading end of said band having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of said inset portion, and said band including a thickened trailing end portion stepped inwardly from said leading end so as to be of a reduced inside diameter.

23. A cable termination assembly according to claim 22 wherein axial advancement of said band with respect to said liner causes said liner to advance from a position in which said thickened portion abuts an end of said liner to a closed position in which said leading end moves into engagement with said external shoulder on said liner.

24. In a connector for connecting a coaxial TV cable to a terminal wherein said cable has an outer resilient jacket, a dielectric layer, inner and outer spaced concentric electrically conductive portions, an extension tip on said inner spaced electrically conductive portion, and wherein said connector has a fastener for connection to said terminal and a body provided with an annular centering guide and inner and outer concentric sleeve members with axially spaced sealing rings on an inner surface of said outer sleeve member for insertion of said inner electrically conductive portion and dielectric layer within said inner sleeve member and insertion of said outer electrically conductive portion in said jacket between said inner and outer sleeve members, the improvement comprising:

said outer concentric sleeve member being of substantially uniform diameter and terminating in a generally convex surface portion projecting radially outwardly adjacent to an entrance end thereof, said sealing rings projecting radially and inwardly from said generally convex surface portion in axially spaced relation to one another; and

a crimping member having an inner annular surface portion of a diameter substantially corresponding to said outer sleeve member and movable into surrounding relation to said entrance end of said outer sleeve member and whereupon axial advancement of said crimping member along said outer sleeve member will impart inward radial deformation to said generally convex surface portion whereby to force said sealing rings into sealed engagement with said jacket after said extension tip has advanced into engagement with said centering guide.

25. In a connector according to claim 24 including a compression tool for axially advancing said crimping member over said outer sleeve member.

26. In a connector according to claim 24 wherein said outer sleeve member is of uniform thickness throughout and increased in diameter adjacent to said entrance end to define said convex external wall surface portion.

27. In a connector according to claim 24 wherein said entrance end of said outer sleeve member is tapered away from said convex surface portion.

28. In a connector for connecting a coaxial TV cable to a terminal wherein said cable has an outer resilient jacket, a dielectric layer, inner and outer spaced concentric electrically conductive portions, an extension tip on said inner spaced electrically conductive portion, and wherein said connector has a fastener for connection to said terminal and a body provided with an annular centering guide and inner and outer concentric sleeve members with axially spaced sealing rings on an inner surface of said outer sleeve member for insertion of said inner electrically conductive portion and dielectric layer within said inner sleeve member and insertion of said outer electrically conductive portion in said jacket between said inner and outer sleeve members, the improvement comprising:

said outer concentric sleeve member being of substantially uniform diameter and terminating in a generally convex surface portion projecting radially outwardly adjacent to an entrance end thereof, said sealing rings projecting radially and inwardly from said generally convex surface portion in axially spaced relation to one another; and

a cylindrical crimping member having an inner concave annular surface portion adapted to overlie said external convex surface portion in preassembled relation to said sleeve member, and said crimping member further having a first inner surface portion of substantially uniform diameter in trailing relation to said concave surface portion whereupon advancement of said extension tip into said centering guide and axial advancement of said crimping member along said sleeve member will cause said first inner surface portion to move into engagement with said external convex surface portion to impart inward radial deformation to said sealing rings into sealed engagement with said cable.

29. In a connector according to claim 28 wherein said sleeve member is of uniform thickness throughout and has an entrance end, said external convex surface portion extending away from said entrance end for a distance corresponding to the length of said inner concave annular surface portion, and said sealing rings being axially spaced from one another and extending radially inwardly from said convex surface portion for a distance greater than the thickness of said sleeve member.

30. In a connector according to claim 28 including a first catch defined by a rib at a leading end of said crimping member, and a second catch extending radially inwardly from a trailing end of said liner.

31. In a connector according to claim 30 wherein said rib is composed of a material of limited resiliency which will compress as it advances along said outer convex surface portion and will expand after it clears said external shoulder.

32. In a connector according to claim 28 wherein said sleeve member includes a thin-walled portion extending between said entrance end and said convex surface portion.

33. In a connector according to claim 28 wherein said crimping member includes an inner liner having said inner concave annular surface portion and said first inner surface portion of uniform diameter and an outer concentric band overlying at least said first inner surface portion of uniform diameter.