Connector for hard-line coaxial cable

Details Connector for hard-line coaxial cable Connector for hard-line coaxial cable

2001-07-11

2001-12-18

Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

Including or for use with coaxial cable

Having screw-threaded or screw-thread operated cable grip

Reexamination Certificate

active

06331123

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to axially compressible connectors for hard-line or semi-rigid coaxial cables.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED TECHNOLOGY
Coaxial cables are commonly used in the cable television industry to carry cable TV signals to television sets in homes, businesses, and other locations. A hard-line coaxial cable may be used to carry the signals in distribution systems exterior to these locations and a flexible coaxial cable is then often used to carry the signals within the interior of these locations. Hard-line or semi-rigid coaxial cable is also used where a high degree of RF shielding is required.
The hard-line cable includes a solid wire core or inner conductor, typically of copper or copper-clad aluminum, surrounded by a solid tubular outer conductor. The outer conductor is usually made of copper or aluminum. Dielectric material or insulation separates the inner and outer conductors. The outer conductor is covered with a cable jacket or sheath of plastic to provide protection against corrosion and weathering.
One type of connector for semi-rigid coaxial cables includes direct solder attachment of the connector to the outer conductor of the cable. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,921,447 and 5,232,377. The solder attachment provides, in part, mechanical attachment of the connector to the outer conductor. Such direct solder attachment, however, has often been a production problem because of the complex equipment required for soldering and the difficulty in operating complex equipment.
Another type of cable connector for hard-line cable employs radial compression crimping to electrically and mechanically connect parts of the connector to the cable. Typically, a sleeve within the connector is compressed by a crimping tool. The sleeve may have slots, flutes, threads and the like to assist in the mechanical connection between the sleeve and the outer conductor of the cable. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,408,821; 4,469,390; 5,120,260 and 6,042,422. The radial crimping, however, often does not apply compressive force evenly to the outer conductor or alternatively to outer tubular jacket of the outer connector. Such uneven compression can form channels for infiltration of moisture into the coaxial cable connection and consequently leading to the degradation of the signal carried by the cable.
Threaded cable connectors have been employed to provide more even compression of the connector. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,352,134 and 6,019,636. Threaded connectors, however, are often more time consuming to install because of the turning motion required to complete the threaded connection. Furthermore, an installer of threaded connectors must often carry many different sized wrenches to accommodate the different sized cable connectors, which also complicated the installation process.
To overcome the difficulties of crimped and threaded connectors different designs of axially compressible connectors have been employed. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,408,821 and 4,452,503 disclose a connector a grooved tubular sleeve that radially compresses a grip ring upon axial compression of the connector. The grip ring has spline fingers that furrow into the outer conductor and longitudinal slots that interlock with the outer conductor. Such an arrangement does, however, mechanically deform the outer conductor which can lead to signal loss. Furthermore, the design does not adequately guard against moisture from entering the connector because the entire circumferential surface of the outer conductor is not necessarily engaged with the grip ring. An attempt to provide a better sealing mechanism in related application, U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,231, employed glue to provide a seal. The use of glue, however, further complicated the installation and construction of such a connector.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,596,434 and 4,668,043 disclose a tubular housing with interior teeth which is radially compressed by a bushing upon axial compression of the connector which forces a coupling nut onto the bushing. The teeth furrow into the outer conductor to provide a mechanical and electrical connection thereat. The bushing may also contain an o-ring which acts as a seal between the bushing and the outer conductor. Such designs, however, still require significant mechanical deformation of the outer conductor which can lead to signal loss.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,676 discloses a ferrule with interior barbs and a longitudinal slot. The barbs deform the outer conductor upon compression of the ferrule by a tool to axially compress the connector. This design depends upon the longitudinal slot being substantially closed after compression of the ferrule to provide a seal for the connector. Such a design, however, is not effective against moisture leakage.
As such there is a need for an easy-to-connect connector for hard-line cables that is simpler to connect and provides suitable mechanical and electrical connections. Furthermore, there is a need to provide a connector for a hard-line cable that provides an effective seal against moisture leakage from the external environment without substantial deformation of the outer conductor of the coaxial cable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a quick connect, environmentally sealed connector for hard-line or semi-rigid coaxial cables. The connector includes a seal ring and a sleeve, with a sealing device. Upon axial compression of the connector to close and secure the connector to the coaxial cable, the seal ring and the sleeve slidingly engage and force the sealing device towards the outer cable jacket of the coaxial cable to provide an environmentally sealed portion thereof.
In one aspect of the present invention the sleeve contains a circumferential slot at the sleeve's distal end, which end is proximal to the seal ring. Upon axial compression of the connector, the sleeve and the seal ring slidingly engage to force an inner portion of the sleeve's distal end onto the cable jacket to environmentally seal the connector thereat.
In another aspect of the present invention the sleeve contains a notch at its distal end and an o-ring positioned within the notch. Upon axial compression of the connector, the sleeve and the seal ring slidingly engage to compress the o-ring onto the cable jacket and form an environmental seal thereat.
Upon axial compression of the connector, the sleeve's proximal end, which is opposite to the distal end, slidingly engages a ferrule having parted fingers. The ferrule fingers compress radially inward to secure the ferrule to the outer conductor of the coaxial cable. The connector also includes a post which prevents collapse of the outer conductor upon compression of the ferrule.
The post, the ferrule and the sleeve are generally contained within a collar of the connector. Upon axial compression to close the connector, an environmental seal is formed between the sleeve and the collar to prevent migration of moisture thereat.
In yet another aspect of the present invention an environmentally sealed connector for hard-line or semi-rigid coaxial cables is provided. The connector includes o-rings to provide environmental seals upon securement of the connector to the coaxial cable. One o-ring is positioned within a notch of a cylindrical sleeve. This o-ring engages onto a cable jacket of the coaxial cable to form an environmental seal thereat. Upon securement of the connector to the coaxial cable, the sleeve engages a parted ferrule. The parted ferrule compresses radially inward to secure the ferrule to an outer conductor of the coaxial cable. The connector also includes a post which prevents collapse of the outer conductor upon compression of the ferrule. Upon securement of the connector to the coaxial cable, an environmental seal is also formed between the cylindrical seal and the collar to prevent migration of moisture thereat.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3336563 (1967-08-01), Hyslop
patent: 3474391 (1969-10-01), Gartzke et al.
patent: 3541495 (1970-11-01), Ellis et al.
patent: 370

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Connector for hard-line coaxial cable does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Connector for hard-line coaxial cable, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Connector for hard-line coaxial cable will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2556720