Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R9/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, e.g. terminal strips or terminal blocks; Terminals or binding posts mounted upon a base or in a case; Bases therefor
  • H01R9/03—Connectors arranged to contact a plurality of the conductors of a multiconductor cable, e.g. tapping connections
  • H01R9/05—Connectors arranged to contact a plurality of the conductors of a multiconductor cable, e.g. tapping connections for coaxial cables
  • H01R9/0527—Connection to outer conductor by action of a resilient member, e.g. spring
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/02—Contact members
  • H01R13/15—Pins, blades or sockets having separate spring member for producing or increasing contact pressure
  • H01R13/187—Pins, blades or sockets having separate spring member for producing or increasing contact pressure with spring member in the socket
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/58—Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable
  • H01R13/5804—Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable comprising a separate cable clamping part
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R24/00—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
  • H01R24/38—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
  • H01R24/40—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts specially adapted for high frequency
  • H01R24/56—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts specially adapted for high frequency specially adapted to a specific shape of cables, e.g. corrugated cables, twisted pair cables, cables with two screens or hollow cables
  • H01R24/564—Corrugated cables
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
  • H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
  • H01R4/48—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member
  • H01R4/4809—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member using a leaf spring to bias the conductor toward the busbar
  • H01R4/48185—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member using a leaf spring to bias the conductor toward the busbar adapted for axial insertion of a wire end

Definitions

• This invention relates to electrical cable connectors. More particularly, the invention relates to an internal spring contact for a solid outer conductor coaxial cable connector.
• Coaxial cable connectors are used, for example, in communication systems requiring a high level of precision and reliability.
• Figure 1 is a schematic isometric rear view of a first exemplary embodiment of a coaxial connector.
• Figure 2 is a schematic cross-section side view of the coaxial connector of Figure 1 , with a section of coaxial cable attached.
• Figure 3 is a close-up view of area A of Figure 2.
• Figure 4 is a schematic cross-section view of another alternative embodiment coaxial connector, with a section of coaxial cable attached.
• Figure 5 is a close-up view of area C of Figure 4.
• Figure 6 is a close-up view of area D of Figure 4.
• Figure 7 is a schematic isometric view of the clamp ring of Figure 4.
• Figure 8 is a schematic isometric view of another alternative embodiment of a coaxial connector.
• Figure 9 is a schematic cross-section view of Figure 8.
• Figure 10 is a close-up view of area F of Figure 9.
• Figure 1 1 is schematic cross-section view of another alternative embodiment of a coaxial connector.
• Figure 12 is a close-up view of area B of Figure 1 1 .
• Figure 13 is a schematic isometric view of a grip ring with a solid cross-section and annular barbs.
• Figure 14 is a schematic isometric view of a grip ring with a horizontal V cross-section.
• Figure 15 is a schematic isometric view of a grip ring with a solid cross-section and helical barbs.
• Figure 16 is a schematic connector end side view of the grip ring of Figure 15.
• Figure 17 is a close-up cross section view along line B-B of Figure 16.
• Figure 18 is a schematic cross-section view of another alternative embodiment coaxial connector, with a section of coaxial cable attached.
• Figure 19 is a close-up view of area E of Figure 18.
• Figure 20 is a schematic front view of a spring contact pre-form.
• Figure 21 is a schematic isometric view of the spring contact pre-form of Figure 20.
• Figure 22 is a schematic front view of Figure 21 .
• Figure 23 is a schematic side view of Figure 21 .
• Figure 24 is a schematic isometric view of a nested spring contact.
• Figure 25 is a schematic cross-section view of another alternative embodiment of a coaxial connector.
• Figure 26 is a close-up view of Figure 25.
• Figure 27 is a view of Figure 25, demonstrated with a coaxial cable attached.
• Insertion coupling coaxial connectors for example as disclosed in the inventor's commonly owned US Utility Patent Application Serial No. 12/264,932, titled “Insertion Coupling Coaxial Connector", filed November 5, 2008, currently pending and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, introduces several significant improvements to the coaxial connector arts, eliminating the need for manual flaring of the outer conductor and/or high torque threading of the coupling nut into the connector body during outer conductor end clamping connector to cable end interconnection.
• the inventor's electrical performance analysis of the prior insertion coupling coaxial connectors has recognized that, in view of allowances made for diameter changes of outer conductor contacting elements of an insertion coupling connector during interconnection, an entirely circumferential connection may not be present around the outer conductor. Thereby, a significant level of RF leakage may occur through gap(s) in the spring contact and/or grip ring applied to the coaxial cable outer conductor outer diameter, the RF leakage eventually radiating out of a gap between the clamp ring and the outer conductor of the coaxial cable. RF leakage becomes especially significant as the operating frequency of signals transmitted along the coaxial cable increases towards higher microwave frequencies, which with shorter and shorter wavelengths are able to pass/leak through smaller and smaller gaps of the coaxial connector
• a coaxial connecter 1 has a connector body 3 with a connector body bore 5.
• An insulator 7 seated within the connector body bore 5 supports an inner contact 9 coaxial with the connector body bore 5.
• the coaxial connector 1 mechanically retains the outer conductor 1 1 of a coaxial cable 13 inserted into the cable end 15 of the connector body bore 5 via a grip surface 17 located on the inner diameter of a grip ring 19.
• a spring contact 21 seated within the connector body bore 5 makes circumferential contact with the outer conductor 1 1 , proximate the end of the outer conductor 1 1 , electrically coupling the outer conductor 1 1 across the connector body 3 to a connector interface 23 at the connector end 25.
• the connector interface 23 may be any desired standard or proprietary interface.
• each individual element has a cable end side and a connector end side, i.e. the sides of the respective element that are facing the respective cable end 15 and the connector end 25 of the coaxial connector 1 .
• the grip ring 19 may be retained within the connector body bore 5, for example seated within a grip ring groove 27.
• the grip ring groove 27 may be formed wherein the cable end grip ring groove sidewall and/or bottom are surfaces of a clamp nut 31 coupled to the connector body 3, for example as shown in Figures 4 and 5.
• the clamp ring 31 may be coupled to the connector body 3 by a retaining feature 29, such as an interlock between one or more annular snap groove(s) 33 in the outer diameter of the clamp ring and corresponding snap barb(s) 35 provided on an inner diameter of the connector body bore 5, as best shown for example in Figure 6.
• a retaining feature 29 such as an interlock between one or more annular snap groove(s) 33 in the outer diameter of the clamp ring and corresponding snap barb(s) 35 provided on an inner diameter of the connector body bore 5, as best shown for example in Figure 6.
• the positions of the snap groove(s) 33 and the corresponding snap barb(s) 35 may be reversed.
• Clamp ring threads 37 between the connector body bore 5 and an outer diameter of the clamp ring 31 may also be provided as an alternative to the retaining feature 29.
• the clamp ring threads 37 may be combined with the snap groove 33 and snap barb 35 interconnection to provide an assembly that may be supplied with the clamp ring 31 already attached to the connector body 3, preventing disassembly and/or loss of the internal elements, as shown for example in Figures 4-7.
• the retaining feature 29 may also include an interference fit 67 between the connector body 3 and the clamp ring 31 , positioned to engage during final threading together of the connector body 3 and the clamp ring 31 .
• the interference fit 67 is operative to resist
• the spring contact 21 may be any conductive structure with a spring characteristic, such as a helical coil spring. Referring again to Figures 2 and 3, the spring contact 21 may be seated in a separate spring groove 41 of the connector body bore sidewall or alternatively seated on a connector end side of the grip ring groove 27, for example as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Where the spring contact 21 is in the grip ring groove 27, a spacer 43 may be applied between the spring contact 21 and the grip ring 19 and/or an outer conductor seal 45. The spacer 43 may be seated directly against the connector body 3 or alternatively configured to seat against the wedge surface 39.
• a spacer 43 may be applied between the spring contact 21 and the grip ring 19 and/or an outer conductor seal 45. The spacer 43 may be seated directly against the connector body 3 or alternatively configured to seat against the wedge surface 39.
• the spring contact 21 may be a stamped metal spring ring with a plurality of spring fingers 22, for example as shown in Figures 1 1 , 12 and 20-27, retained in electrical contact with the connector body 3, for example, by the clamp ring 31 and / or grip ring 19.
• the spring contact 21 may be cost effectively manufactured with a high level of precision by stamping a pre-form from planar metal sheet material, the spring finger(s) 22 stamped extending radially inward from an inner diameter of a ring. Once stamped, the spring finger(s) 22 of the pre-form are bent into the desired configuration, extending toward the connector end 25 of the resulting spring contact 21 .
• a diameter of the ring, length of the spring finger(s) 22, and a minimum separation for the stamp tool to define individual spring finger(s) 22 will necessarily limit a spacing of the spring finger(s) 22 circumferentially around the spring contact 21 , requiring the presence of significant gap(s) 52 between the spring finger(s) 22, as shown for example in Figures 21 -23.
• a length of the spring finger(s) 22 may be extended if a taper is applied proximate a distal end 58 of the spring finger(s) 22.
• the extension of the spring finger(s) 22 towards the connector end 15 may be applied as a first portion 60 angled radially inward which transitions to a second portion 61 angled radially outward.
• the second portion 61 may be dimensioned with respect to the ring to bias against the sidewall of the connector body bore 5, upon insertion of the outer conductor 1 1 through the spring contact 21 .
• a protrusion 64 may be located projecting outward from an outer diameter of the ring, operative as an anti-rotation element.
• a plurality of protrusion(s) 64 may be applied, for example, each positioned proximate a circumferential position of a spring finger 22.
• the inventors have discovered that, although a ferrous metal may be applied for materials cost purposes, application of a non-ferrous and thus non-magnetic metal, such as phosphor bronze, as the spring contact 21 metal material may significantly improve static passive intermodulation (PIM) characteristics of the resulting coaxial connector 1 .
• the phosphor bronze may be plated, for example with tin, to minimize corrosion.
• the spring contact 21 may be provided as a first ring 54 and a second ring 56 nested together, cable end 15 of the first ring 54 to connector end 25 of the second ring 56, such that the spring finger(s) 22 of each of the first and second rings 54, 56 align contiguously to interleave with one another to form a generally cylindrical surface, as best shown in Figure 24.
• the gap(s) 52 may be dimensioned to closely mate with the corresponding spring finger(s) 22, for example, provided generally equal to a width of the spring finger(s) 22.
• the first ring 54 and the second ring 56 may be identical dimensionally, resulting in a slight offset of the spring finger 22 extension equal to a width of the first ring 54 when the first ring 54 and the second ring 56 are nested together, as shown for example in Figure 26.
• the first portion 60 of the second ring 56 may be increased in length, dimensions of the spring finger widths and the ring diameter permitting, by the width of the first ring 54 so that the resulting spring contact 21 will have spring finger(s) 22 of generally equal lengths.
• the nested spring contact 21 provides a significantly reduced RF leakage pathway and an enhanced electrical contact between the outer conductor 1 1 and the connector body 3 over a range of outer conductor diameters.
• an annular wedge surface 39 within the grip ring groove 27 has a taper between a maximum diameter at a connector end side and a minimum diameter at a cable end side.
• An outer diameter of the grip ring 19 contacts the wedge surface 39 and is thereby driven radially inward by passage along the wedge surface 39 toward the cable end 15.
• the contact between the outer diameter of the grip ring 19 and the wedge surface 39 may be along a corner of the grip ring 19 that may be rounded to promote smooth travel therealong or alternatively the grip ring 19 may be formed with an extended contact area between the grip ring 19 and the wedge surface 39 by angling the outer diameter profile of the grip ring 19 to be parallel to the taper of the wedge surface 39.
• the grip ring 19 may be formed as a c-shaped ring, for example as shown in Figures 13 and 15-17, with a solid cross-section.
• the grip surface 17 of the grip ring 19 has a directional bias, engaging and gripping the outer diameter surface of the outer conductor 1 1 when in tension toward the cable end 15 while allowing the outer conductor 1 1 to slide past the grip surface 17 when moved towards the connector end 25.
• the grip surface 17 may be formed as a plurality of annular ( Figures 13-14) or helical ( Figures 15-17) grooves or barb(s) 47 provided with an angled face 49 extending from a groove bottom on the cable end 15 to a groove top on the connector end 25 of each groove and/or barb 47, the stop face 51 and the angled face 49 of adjacent grooves meeting at the groove top to form a point.
• a stop face 51 opposite the angled face 49 may be a vertical face with respect to the coaxial connector longitudinal axis and/or the stop face 51 may be angled toward the connector end 25 to present a barb point to grip and retain the outer conductor 1 1 when travel is attempted in the direction out of the connector body bore 5 toward the cable end 15.
• the grip surface 17 may be provided with a profile matching the characteristics of a particular solid outer conductor 1 1 , for example a concave curved profile dimensioned to mate with a corrugation trough of an annular corrugated solid outer conductor coaxial cable 13, as shown for example in Figures 18 and 19.
• the curved profile may be a convex configuration, dimensioned to cradle a corrugation peak.
• the grip ring 19 has a range of longitudinal movement within the grip ring groove 27. As the grip ring 19 moves along the wedge surface 39 toward the connector end 25, for example as the leading edge of the outer conductor 1 1 is inserted into the connector body bore 5 from the cable end 15 and contacts the angled face(s) 49 of the grip surface 17, the grip ring 19 will either spread to allow the outer conductor to pass through, or will also begin to move longitudinally towards the connector end 25, within the grip ring groove 27. Because of the wedge surface taper, as the grip ring 19 moves towards the connector end 25, the depth of the grip ring groove 27 with respect to the grip ring 19 increases.
• the grip ring 19 may be spread radially outward to enable the passage of the outer conductor 1 1 through the grip ring 19 and toward the connector end 25. Conversely, once spread, the bias of the grip ring 19 inward towards its relaxed state creates a gripping engagement between the grip surface 17 and the outer diameter surface of the outer conductor 1 1 . If tension is applied between the connector body 3 and the coaxial cable 13 to pull the outer conductor 1 1 toward the cable end 15, the grip ring 19 is driven against the tapered wedge surface 39, progressively decreasing the depth of the grip ring groove 27, thereby driving the grip ring 19 radially inward and further increasing the gripping engagement as the grip surface 17 is driven into the outer diameter surface of the outer conductor 1 1 .
• a cable end grip ring groove sidewall may be dimensioned to be at a position where the grip ring diameter relative to the outer conductor diameter is configured for the grip surface 17 to have securely engaged the outer conductor 1 1 but is short of a grip ring radially inward movement capable of causing the outer conductor 1 1 to collapse radially inward beyond an acceptable level.
• the limited longitudinal movement obtained by threading the clamp ring 31 into the connector body 3 is operative to drive the wedge surface 39 against the grip ring 19 to move the grip ring 19 radially inward into secure gripping engagement with the outer conductor 1 1 , without requiring the application of tension between the connector body 3 and the coaxial cable 13.
• the threading of the clamp ring 31 into the connector body bore 5 may be configured to apply directly, and/or via a spacer 43, if present, pressure on the spring contact 21 whereby the spring contact 21 deforms radially inward toward the outer conductor 1 1 , increasing the contact pressure between the spring contact 21 and the outer conductor 1 1 , thereby improving the electrical coupling therebetween.
• a complete coaxial connector 1 assembly ready for installation is prepared with a minimal total number of required elements. If a clamp ring 31 is included in the configuration, the installation of the spring contact 21 , spacer 43, grip ring 19 and/or outer conductor seal 45 is simplified by the improved access to the grip ring groove 27, which may then be easily closed by snapping/threading the clamp ring 31 in place after the desired subelements have been seated in the open end(s) of the connector body bore 5 and/or clamp ring 31 .
• the coaxial cable end is stripped back to expose desired lengths of the conductor(s) and the stripped coaxial cable end inserted into the cable end 15 of the connector body bore 5 until bottomed. If present, the clamp ring 31 , if including clamp ring threads 37, is then threaded toward the connector body 3 and a test tension between the connector body 3 and the coaxial cable 1 applied to verify secure engagement between the grip ring 19 and the outer conductor 1 1 .
• Coaxial connector embodiments with a threaded clamp ring 31 may be uninstalled from the coaxial cable 13 for interconnection inspection and/or reuse by unthreading the clamp ring 31 away from the connector body 3, enabling the grip ring 13 to move outward and away from engagement with the outer conductor 1 1 as the wedge surface 39 shifts toward the cable end 15 with the clamp ring 31 .
• the grip ring 13 When the grip ring 13 has disengaged, the coaxial cable 13 may be withdrawn from the connector body bore 5.

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• Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
• Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=43481035

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• 2010
  • 2010-10-07 CN CN2010800494783A patent/CN102640358A/zh active Pending
  • 2010-10-07 BR BR112012010382A patent/BR112012010382A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2010-10-07 EP EP10773184A patent/EP2497160A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-10-07 EP EP10818112A patent/EP2497157A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-10-07 BR BR112012010318A patent/BR112012010318A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2010-10-07 EP EP10773186A patent/EP2497155A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-10-07 AU AU2010313682A patent/AU2010313682A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-10-07 CN CN2010800495273A patent/CN102640359A/zh active Pending
  • 2010-10-07 BR BR112012010319A patent/BR112012010319A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2010-10-07 CN CN2010800494779A patent/CN102640357A/zh active Pending
  • 2010-10-07 AU AU2010313684A patent/AU2010313684A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-10-07 AU AU2010313683A patent/AU2010313683A1/en not_active Abandoned

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