GB2170364A

GB2170364A - Coaxial connector

Info

Publication number: GB2170364A
Application number: GB08601408A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Glynn Evan Phillips
Original assignee: Hellermann Deutsch Ltd
Current assignee: Deutsch UK Ltd
Priority date: 1985-01-22
Filing date: 1986-01-21
Publication date: 1986-07-30
Also published as: GB2211676A; GB2211676B; GB8601408D0; GB2170364B; EP0190843A1; GB8900608D0

Description

1 GB 2 170 364 A 1

SPECIFICATION the stiffness of the cable conductor to which it is

Improvements relating to electrical connectors connected. Not only is this disadvantageous in itself, but also in combination with the requirement This invention concerns improvements in or for the cable conductors to be cut to different relating to electrical connectors and more 70 lengths the further disadvantage arises that, if the particularly, though not exclusively, concerns an respective conductor is inadvertently cut too short, improved connector for single twisted pair screened the centre contact of the connector may not extend cable applications such as for example in data forwardly sufficiently far to make a sufficient highway systems where such a cable is commonly connection with the respective contact of a mating employed to address and interconnect a number of 75 complementary connector. In the conneqtor of remote terminals whose function may have prime GB-A-2085676 the position of the centre contact importance to equipment survivability and where within the assembled connector is predetermined the connectors correspondingly must be designed by virtue of the arrangement of the connector, for long term reliability. which is advantageous as compared with the The invention utilises coaxial connection 80 connectors of US-A-4307926 and EP-A-67727, techniques in a connector adapted and designed for but if the conductors of the cable were inadvertently use with single twisted pair cable and, more to be cut improperly with an incorrect inequality in particularly, though not exclusively, single twisted their lengths then assembly difficulties could arise.

pair screened cable. In its application to a single In contrast to the prior art connectors discussed twisted pair screened cable, the invention enables 85 hereinbefore, the present invention provides for the the provision of a series of triaxially interfaced termination of the conductors of a single twisted connectors comprising free plugs, receptacles and pair screened cable to first and second, inner and adaptors. outer contact members of a coaxial contact Electrical connectors are known, for example from advantageously by means of crimp buckets or other US-A-4307926, EP-A-67727 and 90 conductor fastening means forming integral parts of GB-A-2085676, which comprise first, second and the contact members and adapted for connection to third coaxial contacts wherein the first contact is conductors cut to the same length. The screen of the coaxially embraced by and electrically insulated twisted pair cable is preferably terminated at a from the second contact and the second contact is further contact member which embraces and coaxially embraced by and electrically insulated 95 surrounds the coaxial contact assembly to which the from the third contact, the contacts being accessible conductors of the cable are terminated and is at one axial end thereof for mating with a comple- insulated therefrom so as to constitute therewith a mentary connector, conductor fastening means triaxial contact assembly.

being provided for connection of the conductors of a In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of twin core screened cable to the first and second 100 the invention as hereinafter described in detail, the contacts, and means being provided for connection first and second contacts of the respective of the screen of the cable to the third contact. A connector each has an integral crimp bucket at its functionally similar though less sophisticated rearmost end with the crimp buckets arranged so connector device is also described in that, when the first and second contacts together GB-A-893239. 105 with associated electrically insulating bushes are The known connectors suffer, to a greater or sub-assembled, the two crimp buckets are offset lesser extent, from being disadvantageously one on each side of the axis of the connector and difficult to assemble. In the connector of aligned with each other transversely to the US-A-4307926, for example, whilst crimping connector axis. The crimp buckets are thus readily techniques are employed for connecting the cable 110 accessible for termination to the bared ends of the conductors to the respective connector contacts, conductors of a twin cable cut to the same length different crimp tools are required to be utilised for and advantageously can be identical to each other.

connecting to the first and second contacts, and the Having crimped the conductors to the crimp cable conductors have to be cut to different lengths. buckets, the sub- assembly thus comprised may be In the connector of EP-A-67727 the connections 115 loaded into the third contact with the inter of the cable conductors to the first and second positioning of an insulating bush and captured contacts are designed to be effected by soldering, therein by means of a screw-threaded fastening which is disadvantageous as compared to crimping, means adapted to be screw-threadedly secured to and not only do the conductors have to be cut to the rearmost end of the third contact. The different lengths but their bared ends are even 120 arrangement of the first, second and third contacts, required to have different lengths. The connector of the insulating bushes associated therewith, and the GB-A-2085676 is more advantageous in that the fastening means is advantageously such that the connections of the cable conductors to the first and first and second contacts load into the third contact second contacts are crimped connections made in precisely predetermined positional relationships with the same crimping tool, but even in the case of 125 which are not susceptible to variation either during this connector the two conductors of the cable have or after assembly. The fastening means to be dressed to different lengths. advantageously is formed to be crimped to the In the connectors of US-A-4307926 and screen of a screened cable.

EP-A-67727 the first or centre contact is A mating plug and receptacle connector in restrained against rearward axial movement only be 130 accordance with the invention will comprise 2 GB 2 170 364 A 2 respective male and female contact members radially thereby frictionally locking the coupling ring designed to join together in the assembled to the respective connector body.

connector, and preferably the two connector parts For some applications of single twisted pair will each further comprise an outer shell adapted to screened cable, for faster data transmission rates for mate with the outer shell of the other part. The outer 70 example, double braided or double screened cables shells of respective parts advantageously will be are commonly used and the present invention provided with complementary orientation keyways provides a variant for such cables by provision of an orthe like designed to facilitate and ensure correct insulator between the triaxial contact assembly mating of the respective parts, and by virtue of aforementioned and the outer shell and providing design variations incorporated into such comple- 75 forthe electrical connection of the outer screening mentary formations it can be ensured that a braid to the outer shell. With such an arrangement, particular plug for example can mate with only a two discrete screen continuity paths are provided, respective one of a plurality of adjacently located namely at the triaxial contact assembly and at the receptacles, and vice versa. The outer shells could outershell.

be arranged to be secured together by any 80 A connector constructed in accordance with the convenient means such as for example by means of present invention can readily be constructed for a bayonet type or BNC style fixing or by means of compliance with accepted military and other inter-engaging screw-threaded parts or by means of standards, for example as regards conductor and fastening clasps or clips. screen termination by means of octodent and Such outer shells as are abovementioned 85 hexagon crimps. By virtue of this feature, the advantageously can be arranged to provide invention is seen as enabling the provision of a mechanical protection for the respective contact connector meeting the most vigorous requirements.

assemblies provided therewithin. The contact In addition to plugs, receptacles and adaptors the assemblies can for example be recessed within their invention also extends to an impedance matching respective shells so as to be protected against 90 termination for use with plugs and/or receptacles accidental damage in the event that the respective and/or adaptors in accordance with the invention connector part was dropped or was impacted by a and which comprises a plug or receptacle in too[ for example dropped onto it. The shells can also accordance with the invention having connected advantageously provide radio-frequency sceening thereto a terminating resistor rather than a single by being formed of electrically conductive material 95 twisted pair screened cable.

and preferably for such purpose will be arranged to The invention together with further features and be electrically continuous with the screen of the advantages thereof will best be understood from cable and will be arranged to be secured to the outer consideration of the following detailed description shell off a complementary connector by means of of an exemplary plug and cooperating receptacle in inter-engaging screw-threaded or other parts such 100 accordance with the invention, and an exemplary as to preclude flexure of the mated interface which adaptor, all as illustrated in the accompanying could result in loss of screening. Enviromental drawings, wherein:

sealing advantageously may additionally be Figures 1A and 1 B respectively show an axial provided by provision of seals at appropriate sectional view and an end elevation view of a plug positions within the connector, and by provision of 105 according to the present invention; protective caps for interface sealing in the unmated Figures 2A and 2B respectively show an axial condition of the respective connector parts. sectional view and an end elevational view of a In an advantageous arrrangementthe outer shell receptacle according to the present invention of one connector adapted to mate with another adapted for cooperation with the plug of Figures 1A connector comprises a male part adapted to be 110 andlB;and received within a complementary female part of the Figure 3 shows a part sectional view of an outer shell of the other connector, and an internally adaptor.

screw-threaded coupling ring is affixed to the first- Referring first to Figure 1A, the plug according to mentioned connector to be rotatable about the axis the invention comprises a generally tubular plug thereof but to be incapable of axial movement 115 body 1 which has an internally screw-threaded relative thereto. The second connector has a coupling ring 2 affixed thereto for cooperation with complementary screw thread about the exterior of screw threads formed on a body part of the its female part, so that the two connectors can be receptacle (to be described), and has at its right mated by engaging the screw-threads of the hand end (as viewed in Figure 1) an internally screw coupling ring with those on the female part of the 120 threaded portion for engagement with external other connector and turning the coupling ring so as screwthreads formed on an outer body nut 3 which to urge the two connectors together. With such an serves to capture within the internal void of the plug arrangement, an elastomeric O-ring may be made body 1 a triaxial plug contact assembly 4 shown captive within a recess defined between the terminated to the conductors and screen of a single coupling ring and the respective connector body 125 twisted pair screened cable 5. The triaxial plug and can serve the dual functions of providing contact assembly 4 comprises a generally tubular environmental sealing and also of locking the outer member 6 which is internally screw-threaded coupling ring when the two connectors are at its right-hand end for cooperation with external assembled together, the O-ring then being subject screw threads formed on an inner body nut 7 which to axial compressive forces causing itto expand 130 serves to capture within the internal void of the 3 GB 2 170 364 A 3 member 6 a coaxial contact assembly comprising and being terminated at the crimp buckets 11 and inner and outer contact members 8 and 9 14.

respectively which are insulated from each other The triaxial contact assembly subsystem is and are maintained in operative positional arranged to fit closely within the bore of the plug relationship with respect to each other and with 70 body 1 and with an external shoulder of the outer respect to the internal bore of the outer triaxial member 6 of the triaxial contact assembly abutting contact assembly member 6 by means of insulating an internal shoulder within the bore of the plug bushes described below. body 1 to limit the insertion of the triaxial contact The left-hand tubular end portion of the outer assembly into the plug body 1. The outer body nut 3, member 6 of the triaxial contact assembly 4 75 as aforementioned, has an externally screw constitutes a female contact for cooperation with a threaded portion which cooperates with an corresponding male contact provided in the internally screw-threaded portion of the plug body 1 receptacle of Figures 2A and 2B and, as shown, and serves to retain the triaxial contact assembly comprises a skirt formed of a plurality of separate within the plug body by virtue of a shoulder portion contact fingers which are sprung slightly inwardly 80 of the nut 3 abutting a surface of the inner body nut towards the plug axis and are internally chamfered 7. An O-ring seal 17 provides for environmental at their free ends for ease of insertion of the sealing which can be enhanced as desired by cooperating male contact of the receptacle. The provision of a heatshrink or elastomeric sleeve 18 inner contact member 8 of the coaxial contact engaging an enlarged end portion of the nut 3 and assembly contained within the member 6 likewise 85 overlying the cable sleeve.

constitutes a female contact for cooperation with a At its forward or left-hand end, the plug body 1 corresponding male contact provided in the has a nose portion 19 which, as shown, extends receptacle and has a skirt portion formed of a beyond the limits of the triaxial contact assembly so plurality of inwardly sprung contact fingers, and the as to serve to protect the triaxial contact assembly outer contact member 9 of the coaxial contact 90 against scoop or probe damage; it will readily be assembly constitutes a male contact for cooperation appreciated that by recessing the triaxial contact with a corresponding female contact provided in the assembly in this way with respect to the forward receptacle. The inner contact member 8 is received end of the plug, the risk of damage to the triaxial within the bore of the tubular outer contact member contact assembly is reduced. The extended nose 9 with an electrically insulating sleeve 10 provided 95 portion 19 of the plug body 1 also serves to ensure therebetween and at its right-hand end is formed that when the plug is being mated with an integrally with an off-axis crimp bucket 11 serving as appropriate receptacle the mating parts necessarily a means for terminating one of the conductors of come together coaxially.

the cable 5. The outer contact member 9 is mounted The nose portion 19 of the plug body 1 is formed within the outer member 6 of the triaxial contact 100 externally with a number of keys 20 (see particularly assembly by means of an electrically insulating in Figure 1 B) which are provided so as to ensure that annular bushing 12 having a left-hand face which the plug can be mated only with a receptacle (to be abuts an internal abutment 13 of the member 6, and described hereafter) having complementary at its right-hand end is formed integrally with a keyways formed in the corresponding female part of second off-axis crimp bucket 14 serving as a means 105 its body.

for terminating the other conductor of the cable 5. A The coupling ring 2 is aff ixed to the exterior further electrically insulating bushing 15 surrounds surface of the plug body 1 by means of a circlip 21 and locates the crimp buckets 11 and 14 within the engaged with grooves formed internally of the internal bore of the element 6 and is abutted at its coupling ring 2 and externally of the plug body 1. An right-hand surface by the left-hand end of the inner 110 O-ring seal 22 is captive within a recess defined body nut 7 as it is screwed into the right-hand end of between the coupling ring 2 and the plug body 1 and the outer. member 6 of the triaxial contact assembly. serves the dual function of providing environmental By virtue of the above-described construction, the sealing when the plug is assembled with an triaxial contact assembly comprising the outer appropriate receptacle and the seal is subjected to member 6, the inner and outer contact members 8 115 axial compressive forces, and also of locking the and 9 of the coaxial contact assembly with their coupling ring 2 when the plug is assembled with a integral crimp buckets 11 and 14 respectively, and receptacle and the axial compressive forces cause the insulating components whereby the inner and the O-ring to expand its radial dimension thereby outer contact members 8 and 9 are packed and frictionally coupling the coupling ring 2 to the plug retained within the outer member 6 of the triaxial 120 body 1. These features coupled with the use of fine contact assembly in cooperation with the inner body screw threads ensure a secure and vibration-proof nut 7, constitutes a separate subsystem of the coupling of the plug to a respective receptacle.

illustrated plug connector wherein the respective Otherfeatures of the plug will be apparent to the parts are precisely assembled and maintained in skilled reader from consideration of the detail operative relationship with each other. The right- 125 shown in Figures 1A and 1 B and will not be hand end of the inner body nut 7 is formed as a particularly described herein.

tubular rearward projection which cooperates with a Having thus particularly described a plug crimp sleeve 16 to enable the cable screen to be embodiment of the invention, a receptacle for terminated to the triaxial contact assembly with the cooperation with the described plug will hereinafter twisted cable conductors passing through the nut 7130 be described with reference to Figures 2A and 2B.

4 GB 2 170 364 A 4 Referring particularly to Figure 2A, the receptacle within the outer member 38 of the triaxial contact as shown comprises a generally transverse tubular assembly, and an electrically insulating bushing 46 receptacle body 30 formed with a square flange 31 encompassing the crimp buckets 41 and 44 and for attachment of the receptacle to a bulkhead or serving inter alia fortransferring the screw force of instrument panel for example. On the right-hand 70 the inner body nut 39 to the insulating bushing 45 side of the flange 31, as the receptacle is viewed in for securing an external shoulder formed thereon in Figure 2A, the receptacle body 30 has an externally abutting relationship with an internal shoulder screw-threaded portion 32 which is provided formed within the bore of the outer member 38 of internally with keyways 33 complementary to the the triaxial contact assembly 35. A crimp sleeve 47 keys provided on the nose portion of the plug body; 75 serves to secure the cable screen to the inner body this portion of the receptacle body constitutes a nut 39.

female connector member for cooperation with the Other features of the receptacle of Figures 2A and male nose portion of the plug, the external screw 2B will be apparent to the skilled reader from threads on the receptacle cooperating with the consideration of the detail shown in Figures 2A and internal screw threads provided on the plug 80 2B and will not be particularly described herein. It is coupling ring. At its other, left-hand, end the howeverto be noted thatthe externally screw receptacle body 30 is internally screw-threaded for threaded front (right- hand) end portion of the engagement with external screw threads provided receptacle, similarly to the corresponding nose on an outer body nut 34, which, similarly to the portion of the plug, is extended so as to protect the outer body nut 7 in the aforedescribed plug, serves 85 triaxial contact assembly against scoop or probe to capture within the internal void of the receptacle damage and also so as to ensure that as the body 30 a triaxial receptacle contact assembly 35 receptacle mates with a plug as hereinbefore similar in many respects to that provided in the plug described the respective triaxial contact assemblies but providing complementary contact functions; of the plug and of the receptacle necessarily that is to say, whereas the inner and outer contact 90 approach and engage with each other coaxially. The members of the coaxial assembly in the plug complementary orientation keys and keyways provide female and male conneccion functions respectively provided on the plug and on the respectively and the outer contact member of the receptacle ensure furthermore that a respective plug triaxial plug contact assembly provides a female can be mated only with a receptacle having contact function, in the receptacle these functions 95 appropriate complementary keyways thereby are reversed with the inner and outer contact protecting against incorrect assembly of a plug with members of the coaxial assembly in the receptacle the wrong one of a plurality of receptacles, and also providing male and female contact functions provide for a rotation free mating of the plug and respectively and the outer contact member of the receptacle which minimises contact wear. The use triaxial receptacle contact assembly providing a 100 of fine vee-threads in the screw-threaded parts of male contact function. An O-ring seal 36 is provided the plug and receptacle, and the locking action between the outer body nut 34 and the receptacle (hereinbefore described) of the O-ring seal 22 body 30 as shown and, as in the plug, the nut 34 has provided between the plug body 1 and its coupling an enlarged end portion serving as engaging means ring 2 as the plug and receptacle are brought into for a heat-shrink or other environmental sealing 105 fully mated condition by rotation of the coupling sleeve 37. ring 2, ensures that the connectors are vibration The triaxial contact assembly 35 comprises an proof in their fully mated condition.

outer member 38 which is internally screw-threaded As will be appreciated by those possessed of the at its left-hand end for cooperation with an inner appropriate skills and knowledge, the described and body nut 39 identical to and serving the same 110 illustrated plug and receptacle provide function as the inner body nut 7 of the plug, the advantageous features for the connection of single outer member 38 being closely received within the twisted pair screened cable as used for example in bore of the receptacle body 30 with an external data highway systems particularly for military shoulder of the member 38 abutting against an applications as in aircraft and tanks for example.

internal abutment formed within the bore of the 115 The termination of the cable conductors by means receptacle body 30. Within the outer member 38 of of compression jointing techniques at coaxial the triaxial contact assembly 35 and retained therein contact assemblies incorporating integral crimp by the inner body nut 39 there is provided a coaxial buckets, and the termination by a similar technique contact assembly consisting of a male contact pin 40 of the cable screen at the inner body nut which having a cranked rear end integrally formed with a 120 engages with a member which contains and crimp bucket 41 forterminating one of the encloses the coaxial contact assemblies and forms a conductors of a single twisted pair screened cable 5, triaxial contact assembly therewith, is fully an electrically insulating mounting bushing 42 for compliantwith accepted military standards and is the pin 40, a female contact 43 formed at its front sure and simple in use. The keyed outer body shells end with a skirt comprised of a plurality of spring 125 of the connectors are constructed to facilitate and fingers which are sprung inwardly towards the ensure correct mating of respective connectors and receptacle axis attheirtips and at its rear end with provide scoop-proof and probe damage protection an integral crimp bucket 44 forterminating the other of the triaxial contact assemblies of the connectors, conductor of the cable 5, an electrically insulating and the overall design of the connectors will be seen tubular bushing 45 mounting the female contact 43130 to be such as to ensure maximum protection of the GB 2 170 364 A 5 contact assemblies both in the mated and the the outer body shell 50 for enabling the adaptor to unmated conditions of the connectors. The outer be panel mounted, a locking nut 53 completing the body shells of the connectors furthermore ensure a securement of the adaptor to the respective panel.

high level of electrical screen continuity when the Within the outer body shell 50 of the adaptor, connectors are in their fully mated condition where 70 there is mounted a double-ended triaxial contact the end surface of the plug maldportion abuts the assembly 54 designed so as to presentto a mating inner end surface of the female portion of the plug type connector a configuration at each end receptacle at a position where the outer contact identical to that presented by the receptacle type members of the plug and receptacle triaxial contact connector of Figure 2A. The double-ended triaxial assemblies make full and overlapping contact with 75 contact assembly comprises a double-ended axial each other. The mechanical integrity of the male contact 55, a double- ended female contact 56 connectors is finally assured by the environmental coaxial with the male contact 55 and electrically sealing which is provided and by the O-ring locking insulated therefrom by means of bushes 57 and 58, technique which is employed for retaining the and a futher double-ended male contact 59 coaxial coupling ring on the plug in its screwed-up 80 with the male and female contacts 55, 56 and condition when the plug and receptacles are fully electrically insulated from the female contact 56 by mated. means of bushes 60 and 61. The thus formed triaxial The described and illustrated plug and receptacle contact assembly 54 is retained within the bore of are exemplary of the invention and it will be the outer body shell 50 by means of a spring appreciated by those skilled in the art that various 85 retaining clip 62 and bushes 63 and 64, which can be alterations and modifications could be made electrically conductive or electrically insulating thereto. For example, whilst the described depending upon whether or not the outer body shell combination of male and female contact members 50 is desired to be electrically commoned with the in the plug and receptacle is presently preferred, male contact 59, are interposed between the outer variations could be made up to the extent of 90 body shell 50 and the male contact 59.

providing all male contact members on one Environmental sealing can be provided, if desired, connector and all female contact members on the by provision of elastomer seals 65.

other. The described connectors could also be In assembly of the adaptor of Figure 3, the bush 61 modified for use with double braided cables as are is first inserted into the right-hand side of male sometimes used to improve overall screening in 95 contact 59 (which, note, is formed in two parts applications involving faster data transmission which are secured together to complete the assebly rates, an insulator being provided between the of the double-ended triaxial contact assembly 54), triaxial contact assembly and the outer body shell of then the right-hand end of female contact 56 is the respective connector, and a second crimp inserted into the bush 61, the bush 58 is then termination being provided for accommodating the 100 inserted and then the male contact 55 is inserted. additional braid and contacting the outer body shell Next the bush 57 is

inserted past the clip 66 which is thus insulated from the triaxial contact assembly; formed integrally with the female contact 56 and is the resultant arrangement of mated connectors retained in place by the clip 66, and then the bush 60 would comprise two discrete screen continuity and the left-hand side of male contact 59 are paths, namely a first path via the outer body shells 105 introduced. The two sides of the male contact 59 are of the connectors and a second path via the mated then secured together by turning over the edge 67 to triaxial contact assemblies of the connectors. complete the assembly 54 which is then inserted As aforementioned, the invention also extends to into the body shell 50 with the bushes 63 and 64 and adaptors which might comprise double-sided secured therein by means of clip 62.

triaxial contact assemblies of the types described in 110 The plug and/or receptacle as hereinbefore the foregoing suitably retained within an outer plug described could furthermore be configured as a or receptacle type body. Thus for example, a termination or dummy load in which case the single receptacle adaptor might generally comprise the twisted pair screened cable shown in the drawings portion of the receptacle of Figure 2A to the right- would be substituted by a resistor for example hand side of the flange 31 integral with a mirror 115 having its leads crimped to the crimp buckets of the image thereof generally with respect to the plane of respective connector. The outer body nut, in such an the flange 31. application, might be formed with a blind end rather Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings is a half than with a cable- receiving bore.

axial sectional view of an exemplary adaptor

Claims

designed to be utilized with plug type connectors as 120 CLAIMS

hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1A. 1. An electrical connector including a contact As shown, the adaptor comprises an outer body shell assembly (4; 35) comprising first, second and third which is externally screw-threaded at each end coaxial contacts (8, 9, 6; 40,43, 38) wherein the first for cooperation with the coupling ring
2 provided on contact (8; 40) is coaxially embraced by and the plug type connector of Figure 1A, the outer body 125 electrically insulated from the second contact (9; 43) shell 50 being internally configured and and the second contact (9; 43) is coaxially embraced dimensioned at its screw-threaded ends generally by and electrically insulated from the third contact identically to the corresponding part of the (6; 38), the contact assembly (4; 35) being accessible receptacle type connector of Figure 2A. A flange 51 at one axial end thereof for mating with a defining a recess for a sealing ring 52 is provided on 130 complementary connector, the first and second 6 GB 2 170 364 A 6 contacts (8,9; 40,43) having conductor fastening preceding claims wherein the contact assembly (4; means(11, 14;41,44) provided integrally therewith 65 35) comprised of the first, second and third contacts at the opposite axial ends thereof for electrical and is housed within an outer body shell (1, 3; 30,34) mechanical connection to the conductors of a single which is adapted to mate with the complimentary twisted pair screened cable (5), and means (7; 39) outer body shell of a complementary connector.

being provided associated with the third contact (6; 8. An electrical connector according to claim 7 38) for electrical connection thereto of the screen of 70 wherein the outer body shell (1, 3; 30,34) of the the single twisted pair screened cable (5). connector is provided with formations (20; 33) to 2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 ensure that the connector can be mated only with a wherein said conductor fastening means (11, 14; 41, complementary connector having complementary 44) provided integrally with the first and second formations.

contacts (8, 9; 40, 43) comprise crimp buckets 75 9. An electrical connector according to claim 7 or 8 adapted to receive therein the bared ends of the wherein the contacts (8, 9,6; 40,43,38) of the conductors of the single twisted pair screened cable connector are recessed within the outer body shell (5) and to be crimped so asto mechanically deform (1, 3; 30,34).

into mechanical and electrical connection to the said 10. An electrical connector according to claim 7 or conductors, the said crimp buckets being offset with 80 8 or9wherein the outer bodyshell (1, 3; 30,34) of respect to the axis of the connector. the connector is formed of an electrically conductive
3. An electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2 material to provide radio-frequency screening and is wherein the contact assembly (4; 35) comprised of adapted to be made electrically continuous with the the first, second and third coaxial contacts (8, 9,6; screen of a screened cable (5).

40,43,38) is arranged such that the first and second 85 11. An electrical connector according to any of contacts (8, 9; 40, 43), together with associated claims 7 to 10 which is adapted for use with a double electrically insulating bushes (10, 12; 42,45) for screened cable by virtue of the outer body shell of insulating the first and second contacts (8, 9; 40,43) the connector being electrically insulated from the trom each other and for insulating the second third contact and provision being made for contact (9; 43) from the third contact (13; 38), are 90 connection of the outer screen of the cable to the captured within the internal void of the third contact outer body shell.

(13; 38) by means of a fastening means Q; 39) 12. An electrical connector according to any of adapted to be releasably secured to one end of the claims 7 to 11 wherein the outer body shell (1, 3) of third contact (6; 38), namely the end opposite to the the connector comprises a male portion (19) end thereof which is accessible for mating with a 95 adapted to mate with a female portion (32) of the complementary connector. outer body shell (30,34) of a complementary
4. An electrical connector according to claim 3 connector and an internally screw-threaded wherein the said fastening means (7; 39) for coupling ring (2) is affixed to the connector for capturing the first and second contacts (8, 9; 40, 43) cooperation with external screw threads provided within the internal void of the third contact W; 38) 100 on the said female portion (32) for retaining the two comprises a screw-threaded fastener (7; 39) having connectors in mating engagement, and an screwthreads adapted for engagementwith elastomeric 0-ring (22) is captive within a recess complementary screw threads provided on the defined between the coupling ring (2) and the body respective end of the third contact (13;

38), and the shell (1) of the connector, the arrangement being said screw-th readed fastener is provided with 105 such that when the connector is in mated abutment means serving, through the intermediacy engagement with a complementary connector the of an electrically insulating bushing (15; 46), to urge 0-ring (22) is subjected to axially compressive the first and second contacts (8,9; 40,43) and their forces causing itto expand its radial dimension associated insulating bushes (10, 12; 42,45) into thereby frictionally locking the coupling ring (2).

operative positional relationship with each other 110 13. An electrical connector according to any of the and with the third contact (13; 38). preceding claims wherein the second contact (9; 43)
5. An electrical connector according to claim 3 or 4 is of the opposite sex (i.e. male or female) to the first wherein the said fastening means (7; 39) for and third contacts (8, 6; 40, 38).

capturing the first and second contacts (8,9; 40, 43) 14. An electrical connector according to any of the within the internal void of the third contact W; 38) is 115 preceding claims wherein the said conductor further provided with said means for electrical fastening means (11, 14; 41,44) provided integrally connection to the third contact of the screen of a with the first and second contacts (8, 9; 40, 43) are single twisted pair screened cable (5). adapted for connection to conductors cut to the
6. An electrical connector according to claim 5 same length.

wherein the said means for electrically connecting 120 15. An electrical connector according to any of the the screen of a single twisted pair screened cable (5) preceding claims in mating relationship with a to the respective fastening means Q; 39) comprises complementary connector or with an adaptor.

a tubular rearward projection for cooperation with a 16. An electrical connector substantially as herein crimp sleeve (16; 47) to enable the requisite described with reference to Figures 1A and 1 B, or connection to be made. 125 Figures 2A and 2B, of the accompanying drawings.
7. An electrical connector according to any of the Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Courier Press, Leamington Spa. 711986. Demand No. 8817356. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.