MXPA97004719A - Coaxial cable connector for fixing and adapta - Google Patents

Abstract

A coaxial cable clamp connector is described which, when used in conjunction with a port adapter, prevents the use of a normal connector and provides increased security for signals coming from a port or cable outlet terminal. A connector optionally includes a redundant environmental seal. A further embodiment of the invention is an adapter for adapting a specimen port or normal cable socket to accept the connector and precluding normal coaxial connectors acceptable

Description

COAXIAL CABLE AND ADAPTER CABLE CONNECTOR Technical Field of the Invention This invention relates to a coaxial cable connector In particular, the invention relates to a coaxial cable fastener connector and a port adapter or coaxial cable outlet splice for the connector Although it can be adapted to various sizes and types of coaxial cable, the adapter and use of connector in the flexible coaxial cable field such as twisted and / or quadrangular sheathed cable RG59 and / or RG6, is of particular focus for the BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Coaxial cable is widely used in the communication industry. In particular, coaxial cable is used to transmit television and other communication signals in the cable television industry and the like. When said cable needs to be routed through of a building of apartments or a house or from a point of distribution, generally a flexible covered cable is used This cable cont It has a central conductor along which the signals are transmitted surrounded by a dielectric and one or more layers of metallic braid protection in sheet or wire surrounded by an external dielectric. In most coaxial distribution cables, robust, the central conductor it is surrounded by a dielectric, such as with the flexible cable of an insulating foam and therefore a rigid external metallic conductor such as aluminum and optionally an additional external dielectric layer to protect against corrosion. A major problem in the TVCA industry is the theft of signals from a distribution outlet or a spliced connection where a separator can be included in the system to hack the signal without paying for it. Several designs have been proposed to make signal theft more difficult, but there is still a need for a robust connector that although it can be used by the TVCA operator, presents difficulties for an unauthorized person to take the signal. One of the problems in design systems against signal piracy involves variations in port length to port length at different outlet port distribution points or different splice connectors. The variations of only tenths of centimeters create problems to make a universal connector. Therefore, it may be highly desirable to have a system that uniformly makes all connection points regardless of the lack of normalization of these threaded portions in the tap port or splice connectors of the multitude of manufactures. Additionally, it may be highly convenient to have a connector that self-aligns and provides good seal against the environment. Therefore, it would also be highly convenient to have a connection system that prevents the public from accessing the port using common tools and connectors that are easily purchased. It would also be convenient to have a device to convert the threaded port from 0.37 cm normal to a single port that requires a specific tool for the connector in order to mechanically lever to install and remove while providing environmental seal if required by the customer . Compendium of the Invention The invention provides all the previously desirable aspects as well as many others that could be obvious to someone with ordinary experience when reading the application. More specifically, the invention consists of a connector which includes a mandrel and a clamping cover which requires a specific tool for installation or removal. A tool of mechanical type for increased lever is necessary since the connector requires 67.5 to 90 kg of force to install, making manual installation and removal very difficult or impossible. Within the included connector system there is a port adapter that is specifically configured to be screwed into a port. The adapter contains a threaded combination and safe seal. The action of screwing the adapter into the active port of the adhesive seal which provides both threaded and seal. The seal provides environmental protection between the port and the adapter. The adapter has a configuration that provides a secure appearance when the connector is terminated. Even so, if the connector is removed, a normal threaded connector will no longer fit in the port. The mandrel is configured to match the adapter.

Optionally the mandrel may contain aspects to be held in the adapter. The mandrel in preferred embodiments has fingers that close around the adapter. The fingers may optionally have a secure appearance as determined by the customer. The clamping cover has several functions. If carrying the fastening element and cable / cover seal (these components hold the cable to the mandrel and provide an environmental seal between the cable and the cover). Secondly, as the cover is pushed into the insulation, close the fingers of the mandrel around the adapter to secure the mandrel to the adapter (the mandrel and adapter may be uniform or secure in appearance). Another aspect as the cover moves towards the installation engages the seal on the adapter providing an environmental seal to the adapter and then attaches the adapter (by an interference or a clamping adapter) to hold firmly, ie from 67.5 to 90 kg of force of installation and removal, all the connector to the adapter. The connector can only be installed or removed even if it is directly directed in a mechanical way a tool specially designed to provide the necessary mechanical lever so that an unauthorized person can not remove the connector from the port of the socket or splice. Brief Description of the Draw (s) Figure 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the connector of the invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment of Figure 1. Figures 3a to 3b illustrate the installation of an alternative embodiment of the invention but the process is the same for the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. Description of the Modalities Preferred Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described and illustrated more particularly with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Connector 100 is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. More specifically, the connector includes a port 10 adapter to adapt the port 200 to a uniform size connector and also to remove the threads in the same facing the environment so that an unauthorized person can not use a normal screw or connector.

The adapter 10 further includes a spine 10a which will be seated in the mandrel 12 when installed and a spine 10b from which the installation tool pry with the slot 18a in the clamping cover 18. The adapter 10 also includes a seal region 20 to effectively seal the external fastening cover to the adapter. A suitable seal is an elastomeric member such as an O-ring seal in rectangular or transverse section. On the connector that can be prepared by any suitable method such as that illustrated in the patents of E.U.A. 4,834,675; US 4,583,811; USA 5,127,853; US 5,277,598, there is a mounted mandrel 12. The preferred preparation of the cable is as illustrated in the US Patents. 4,583,811 and / or 5,127,853 and / or Raychem's EZF® Connector Projects The descriptions of each of these four patents are fully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. In general, these patents, among others, illustrate the proper methods for preparing the cable for various types of coaxial cable connectors The mandrel 12 includes a circumferential groove (a cross-sectional retainer) 12a inside the front fingers that are intended to be attached and attached to the extension 10a (circumferential spine) on the adapter Of course, the adapter 10 could have the retainer and the mandrel 12 could have extension. The fingers have resilience and, therefore, any suitable metal having such resilience is preferred. A suitable finger configuration is taught in the patent of E U A 5,127,853, the disclosure of which is hereby fully incorporated by reference for all purposes. Additionally, the mandrel 12 includes a knife edge illustrated as 12b to form a good electrical contact with the other metal shield layer. Optionally, a helical knife edge could be used as taught in U.S. Patent 5,127,853. Additionally, the connector includes a cable lock 14 which is applied on the mandrel and pressed down to trap the external electrical part protecting a dielectric between the mandrel and the cable lock 14 The cable lock is preferably a plastic with low deformation with low tension relaxation but soft metals such as brass can also be used. The cover 18 to 18b also restricts and closes the connector in the installation. Adjacent to one end of the cable lock away from port of port 200, there is a suitable cable seal such as O-ring as illustrated. With a prepared cable, the safety cover is desiized along the cable on the external dielectric of the cable. Then, the clamping cover slides along the cable towards the connector at the end of the cable to compress the cable 16 and the adapter seal 20 and secure the mandrel 12 and the cable lock 14 with the adapter 10. The extension 10a and the cover 18 in the diameter 18c form a hermetic interference fit. An additional seal occurs by compression of 20 by the cover at 18c. A key aspect of the overall connector system is the adapter 10 which is sized to fit over port 200 and with the exception of extension 10a and spine 10b has a uniform outer surface in relation to where a normal connector could be connected. This adapter normalizes the interface between the connector and the tap port of variable lengths, as well as preventing the application of a normal connector. The interior of the adapter 10 includes an adhesive or an anaerobic seal such as Locktight® or any suitable means that by screwing the adapter onto the port or splice of the socket firmly attaches the adapter thereto to prevent removal thereof and converts the port or splice the socket to uniform dimensions for use with the connector. Therefore, the adapter inside or outside of it is a particularly preferred embodiment because other connectors can be created which are matched with the adapter but are not generally available to the public. This provides safety for the cable operator. Additionally, aspects with the invention may be included such as means for sealing the port when they are not in use as described in the application of E U.A. 08 / 118,119 filed on September 7, 1993, the complete application of which is fully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. In operation, the cable is prepared in a normal material with a removal of the external and internal dielectrics and outer protective layers to expose a length of the central conductor. Then a portion of the external dielectric is removed to expose the twisted bending back or optionally if a helical screw mandrel is used the wire is terminated substantially perpendicular to the center conductor with the dielectrics and outer protective layers and the mandrel is driven or threaded inside the cable. Therefore, the cable lock is connected by attaching the mandrel securely to the cable and the system is applied to the adapter with the clamping cover moving along the longitudinal axis of the cable and configuring it in and on the adapter and the cable lock. cable compressing the seals to affect an environmental seal. This is accomplished by a tool that is connected to the adapter 10 on the spine 10b and 18a of the cover. When tightening the ring-like tool, locking pliers, the cover is driven together with the adapter with the installation force in excess of approximately 45 kg and preferably from 67.5 to 90 kg of force through the mechanical lever. This makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to install and remove it by unauthorized persons. Even if the adapter is removed, it can not be removed without destroying the port and therefore normal threaded connectors can not be used once corrosion occurs. Figure 3a, 3b, 3c, illustrates the installation of an alternative embodiment of the connector. However, the process for any connector is the same. The analogous elements are marked with a sheet. The adapter 10 'is threadedly sealed on the port 200. The telescopic clips tighten the connector / adapter together at 10b' and 18a. "The tool works by the normal mechanical procedure of converting the pressure movement into compression or expansion together with the longitudinal axis of the cable shaft / connector / and adapter In this embodiment the extension 12a is replaced by fastening the turns 12a 'at the ends of the fingers An adequate number of fingers is from 2 to 10 but generally 3 are preferred to 4 fingers The cable 40 prepared with the central conductor 410 and exposed dielectric 420 with other protection 430 and dielectric 440 is inserted into the cover 18 'and through the cable lock 14. The cable lock includes an extra seal 14a' in addition of the seal 16 'to seal even better By installing the cover at 18c' the mandrel 12 'is attached to the adapter of the port 10' while the fingers at 12a 'settle in the slot 10c ". The region 18b 'traps the cable 14' to the mandrel 12 'with the elements 430/440 therebetween. In this mode on the edge the knife is replaced with a spine 12b 'but the function is the same, that is, the electrical contact is created to protect 430. The force of installation and removal greater than the force of 45 kg helps to ensure that Only authorized personnel will use the connector. The invention has been described with particularly preferred embodiments. Modifications that might be obvious to someone with ordinary experience in the matter are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention for example stamps could be removed if guaranteed by the environment. Additionally, the means for forming good electrical contact to the outer cover could be any effective means. Additionally, a plurality of extensions in the adapter could be used to secure the mandrel and the like. The modification that could be obvious to someone with ordinary experience in the art as well as full and complete equivalence in reading the specification, is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention and the appended claims.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS 1 A coaxial cable connector comprising a tubular mandrel having a portion to be matched to a coaxial cable and a portion to be matched to an adapter, the portion that is equal to the cable includes a knife edge to form an electrical contact to the external protective layer of a coaxial cable, a cable lock to hold the coaxial cable between the cable lock and the mandrel, a cable seal to seal the water inlet of the cable and andpi cable and an adapted cable fixing cover to adjust and reinforce the secure seal of the cable and mandrel when the connector is attached to the adapter of the cable outlet port 2 The connector according to claim 1, further including a clamping mechanism in the portion of the mandrel to attach it to the adapter The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrical contact portion is a helical knife edge 4 The connector according to any r preceding claim wherein the mandrel has a retainer in the mandrel portion that is matched to an extension in the adapter 5 The connector according to any preceding claim further including a tonco ring seal between the cable lock and the clamp cover 6. The connector according to any preceding claim wherein the force of installation and removal is greater than 45 kg of force. 7. An adapter for a coaxial cable connector for adapting a splice or take port to uniform dimensions, comprising: a tubular member having internal threads that match the threads of the port or splice, an external portion of the adapter including a region to make it able to match it surely to a connector. The adapter according to claim 1 or 7, further comprising an adapter seal on the outside of the adapter separated from the region capable of securing it with a connector. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the seal is an o-ring seal. 10. The apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the region is an extension. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a mandrel capable of equalizing a coaxial cable, the mandrel including two tubular portions, the first tubular portion sized to accommodate the adapter and the second tubular portion sized to accommodate the coaxial cable so that it fits between the internal dielectric and the outer protective layer of the mandrel, the mandrel further including an electrical contact portion on the outside of the second tubular portion of the mandrel to contact the outer shield and a region on the mandrel capable of to hold it equal with the adapter. 12. The apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the region in the mandrel is a detent. The apparatus according to any preceding claim further including a tubular cable clamping member that fits over the outside of the coaxial cable and creates a forced fit between the mandrel and the protective layer as well as any external dielectric present, the safety of the cable being a tubular member having a beveled opening to help mount it on the cable and the mandrel and a portion opposite it capable of accepting a seal. The apparatus according to any preceding claim further including an outer cover latch that compresses the seal adjacent to the cable lock to secure it to the mandrel as the mandrel is secured to the adapter.