Inner Conductor Sealing Insulator for Coaxial Connector

• US 20100087090A1
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Islam, Nahid
• Granted Patent: US 7,798,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/03 characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/52 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/62 Connections between conductors of different materials; Connections between or with aluminium or steel-core aluminium conductors H01R4/68 takes precedence

Abstract

An insulator for supporting an inner contact within a coaxial cable connector; the coaxial cable connector for coupling with a coaxial cable having an outer conductor and an inner conductor. The insulator formed as a monolithic dielectric body provided with a mounting portion proximate a connector end, the mounting portion dimensioned to seat within a connector body of the coaxial cable connector. A bore through the dielectric body dimensioned to seat the inner contact therein provided with an annular first seal groove in an inner diameter of the bore proximate a cable end, an inner conductor seal disposed in the first seal groove. The inner conductor seal dimensioned to seal between the insulator and the inner conductor when the inner conductor is coupled to the inner contact.

Claims

1. An insulator for supporting an inner contact within a coaxial cable connector;

the coaxial cable connector for coupling with a coaxial cable having an outer conductor and an inner conductor;

the insulator comprising;

a monolithic dielectric body provided with a mounting portion proximate a connector end, the mounting portion dimensioned to seat within a connector body of the coaxial cable connector;

a bore through the dielectric body dimensioned to seat the inner contact therein;

an annular first seal groove in an inner diameter of the bore proximate a cable end; and

an inner conductor seal disposed in the first seal groove;

the inner conductor seal dimensioned to seal between the insulator and the inner conductor when the inner conductor is coupled to the inner contact.

2. The insulator of claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the bore increases between a connector end and the cable end.

3. The insulator of claim 2, wherein the increase of the inner diameter of the bore between the connector end and the cable end is via a step.

4. The insulator of claim 1, wherein the inner conductor seal is over-molded upon the first seal groove.

5. The insulator of claim 1, further including a surface sealant.

6. The insulator of claim 5, wherein the surface sealant is applied to the inner conductor seal.

7. The insulator of claim 5, wherein the surface sealant is applied to the first seal groove.

8. The insulator of claim 5, wherein the surface sealant is applied to the cable end of the bore.

9. The insulator of claim 1, further including an outer diameter aligning portion of the dielectric body proximate the cable end;

the outer diameter aligning portion including an annular second seal groove in an outer diameter; and

an outer conductor seal disposed in the second seal groove dimensioned to seal between the insulator and an inner diameter of the outer conductor when the outer conductor is coupled to the connector body.

10. The insulator of claim 9, further including a surface sealant.

11. The insulator of claim 9, wherein the surface sealant is applied to the outer conductor seal.

12. The insulator of claim 9, wherein the surface sealant is applied to the second seal groove.

13. The insulator of claim 9, wherein the outer conductor seal is over-molded upon the second seal groove.

14. The insulator of claim 9, further including a material reduction groove between the mounting portion and the aligning portion.

15. The insulator of claim 9, wherein the mounting portion has a smaller outer diameter than the aligning portion.

16. The insulator of claim 9, wherein the insulator extends beyond the connector body at the cable end.

17. An insulator for supporting an inner contact within a coaxial cable connector;

the coaxial cable connector for coupling with a coaxial cable having an outer conductor and an inner conductor;

the insulator comprising;

a monolithic dielectric body provided with a mounting portion proximate a connector end, the mounting portion dimensioned to seat within a connector body of the coaxial cable connector;

a bore through the dielectric body dimensioned to seat the inner contact therein;

an annular first seal groove in an inner diameter of the bore proximate a cable end;

an inner conductor seal disposed in the first seal groove;

the inner conductor seal dimensioned to seal between the insulator and the inner conductor when the inner conductor is coupled to the inner contact;

an outer diameter aligning portion of the dielectric body proximate the cable end;

the outer diameter aligning portion including an annular second seal groove in an outer diameter; and

an outer conductor seal disposed in the second seal groove dimensioned to seal between the insulator and an inner diameter of the outer conductor when the outer conductor is coupled to the connector body;

a surface sealant applied to the inner conductor seal and the outer conductor seal; and

a material reduction groove between the mounting portion and the aligning portion.

18. A method for sealing the connection between an inner contact and an inner conductor within a coaxial cable connector;

comprising;

providing a monolithic dielectric body with a mounting portion proximate a connector end, the mounting portion dimensioned to seat within a connector body of the coaxial cable connector;

a bore through the dielectric body dimensioned to seat the inner contact therein;

an annular first seal groove in an inner diameter of the bore proximate a cable end;

an inner conductor seal disposed in the first seal groove;

applying a surface sealant to at least one of proximate the bore and upon the inner conductor; and

inserting the inner conductor into the cable end of the bore past the inner conductor seal into coupling engagement with the inner contact;

the inner conductor sealing against the inner conductor seal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the surface sealant is applied to the inner conductor seal.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the surface sealant is applied to the first seal groove.