US3426317A

US3426317A - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: US3426317A
Application number: US581884A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stanley J Krol
Original assignee: United Carr Inc
Current assignee: United Carr Inc
Priority date: 1966-09-26
Filing date: 1966-09-26
Publication date: 1969-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1986-02-04

Description

Feb. 4, 1969 s. J. Knol.,

l ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 'Fuga sept. ze, 1966 FllfwTlCllll v United States Patent O 6 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An electrical connector for use with shielded coaxial cable comprising a male connector element having a contact element yreceived by an insulating washer and held in assembled relationship within a shell, and a female connector element telescopically receivable within the male shell having a shield element electrically engageable with the shield of the cable, an inner tubular contact element engageable with the male contact element and with the central conducting lead of the cable, and an insulating sleeve disposed between the shield element and the female contact element. The shield element has an opening through which a deforming element can be inserted to deform the sleeve without deforming the shield element in order to compress the female contact element against the central conducting lead and to interlock the sleeve with the shield element and with the female contact element to define a unitized assembly.

The present invention relates to a connector and more particularly to an improved electrical connector and means for assembly thereof, said connector having male and female elements and being specifically adapted for use with shielded coaxial cable.

Electrical connector assemblies adapted for use with shielded coaxial cable frequently are of the type where the sub-elements of the connector are threadably, or otherwise detachably, assembled. A press-t or other frictional engagement of the elements of the connector assembly may not generally be employed because of the concept of heavy duty use of shielded coaxial cable.

The present invention is directed to the provision of an improved electrical connector for use with shielded coaxial cable wherein the sub-elements of the connector assembly, in both the male and female connector elements, are frictionally interengaged or otherwise maintained in assembled relation by a press-fit or crimping of associated elements. In this manner reliability of the connector assembly may be improved `'and substantial economy is affected in production of the electrical connector assembly.

It is, accordingly, a general object of the present invention to provide an improved electrical connector assembly for use with shielded coaxial cable.

An additional object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved means for assembly of connector elements through insulating sleeves, or the like.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved electrical connector assembly having male and female connector elements and wherein the sub-elements of the assembly are maintained in assembled relation by frictional interengagement or by means of a press-fit.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved electrical connector assembly for use with shielded coaxial cable wherein the electrical conducting and ground elements of the male connector unit of the assembly are maintained in assembled relation by a deflectable insulating washer.

An additional object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved electrical connector assembly for use with shielded coaxial cable which is Patented Feb. 4, 1969 economical to manufacture, has high functional reliability characteristics and is durable in use.

Our invention is set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto. However, other objects and advantages of the present invention may readily be appreciated by reading the detailed description of the invention set forth hereinbelow in connection with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a composite view of the electrical connector assembly of the present invention, partly in section, and showing the male and female connector elements in assembled relation;

FIGURE 2 is another view of the connector assembly set forth in FIGURE l with the male and female connector elements shown in disconnected relation;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View of the male connector element of the assembly of the present invention showing the element mounted in an opening in a chassis, with the insulating washer deposited .in the opening at the base of the shell but without the conductor element therein;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the electrical contact element an-d insulating sleeve of the female connector element of the assembly illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of the outer, shield engaging shell of the female connector element of the assembly illustrated FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 6 is another view of the female connector element of the assembly set forth in FIGURE 1, partly in section, and schematically illustrating the mode of assembly of the cable to the female connector element.

Referring more particularity now to the drawings, the connector assembly is shown in a composite View in FIG- URE 1. The assembly includes a male connector element 10 and female connector element 12. The male element 10 is received within an opening 14 of the chassis 16. A positioning shell 18 is telescopically received over the outer shell 11 to facilitate orientation of the male element 10 with respect to the chassis 16. As shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the positioning element 18 is provided with a flange 20 extending radially outwardly therefrom. The male element is inserted within the opening 14 of the chassis 16 until the flange 20 is in abutting relation with the mating surface of the chassis 16 thereby orienting the male member 10 within the chassis.

The female connector element 12 of the electrical connector assembly of the present invention is telescopically slidably received within the central opening 22 of the male element 10 and defines electrical and shielding inter engagement with the male element as described in detail hereinbelow.

As shown in detail in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings the male connector element 10 of the electrical connector assembly is defined by an outer shell 11, a flanged positioning member 18, a combination insulating and assembly washer 24 and an electrical contact element 26. The male contact element 10 is assembled by inserting the washer 24 into the opening 22 of the outer shell 11. As shown in Idetail in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. The washer 24 has a central opening 25, a large diameter portion 28 and a smaller diameter portion 30. The smaller diameter portion 30 of the washer 24 is inserted into the opening 13 of the outer shell 11. When the washer portion 30 is fully within the opening 13 the large diameter portion 28 will rest against the end wall of the outer shell defined about the opening 13.

The electrical contact element 26 includes a pair of axially spaced

collars

32 and 34. The end 26 of the contact element 26 adjacent the collar 34 is inserted into the opening 25 of the washer 24 from the large diameter portion 28 towards the small `diameter portion 30 thereof. The collar 34 of the contact element 26 is larger in diameter than the opening and, accordingly, must be forced into said opening. As shown in the drawings, the outer Wall of the large diameter portion 28 is in slightly spaced relation to the inner Wall V22 of the shell 11. Accordingly, as the collar 34 is forced through the portion 28, the Teflon Washer portion 28 may deflect radially to accommodate passage of said collar 34. The contact element 26 is inserted into the opening 25 of washer 24 until the second collar 32 is in abutting relation to the outer surface of the Washer portion 28. At this stage of insertion the collar element 34 will be within the smaller diameter portion of the washer 24. As shown in FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, the Teflon material defined in the por- Y tion 30 of washer 24 will be compressed between the collar 34 and the inner wall dened by the opening 13. In this manner some of the material of the Washer is deflected outwardly since it isnnot restrained beyond the outer end Wall of the shell 11 and can freely be deected radially. In this manner the Washer 24 serves both to insulate the contact element 26 from the shell 11 of the male contact element and at the same time holds the contact element 26 in assembled relation with the said shell. It can readily be seen that the contact element 26 and Washer 24 are prevented from moving axially with respect to the shell 11 by abutment of the large diameter portion 28 of the washer 24 with the end wall of the shell and by the shoulder area defined by the smaller -diameter portion 30 of the washer 24 with the collar 34 of the contact element 26 is inserted within that portion. The advantage of using a Teflon material for the washer 24, of course, resides in the characteristic low coeicient of friction of Teflon and the resultant relative ease of insertion of the element 26 within the opening 25.

The female connector element 12 of the electrical connector assembly described herein includes an outer shield element 40, an insulating sleeve 42 and a tubular contact element 44 in assembled relation.

The tubular contact element 44 may be a rolled form and includes a rst portion 46 which is adapted to engage the male contact element 26 and a second portion 48 which is electrically joined to the central conducting lead 50 of the shielded coaxial cable 52. The coaxial cable 52, however, is not physically attached to the female connector element until such time as the sub-elements of the female connector are in assembled relation as defined hereinbelow. The insulating sleeve 42 (which may be of polyvinyl chloride) is telescopically received over the tubular contact element 44. The assembled sleeve 42 and tubular contact element 44 are positioned within the central opening 41 of the shield element 40. The shield element 40 is provided with an opening 43 (FIG. 5) along a portion of its axial length and extending less than 120 circumferentally of said formed shield 40. The opening 43 of the shield 40 is positioned along the axial length of the shield such that it will be in aligned relation with the portion 48 of the tubular contact element 44 when the sub-elements of the female connector are in assembled relation.

The shielded coaxial cable 52 is secured to the female connector element 40 and the female connector element is secured in assembled relation in the manner set forth hereinbelow. Portions of the outer insulating cover 51 of the coaxial cable 52, the shield 56 and inner insulating material 57 first are sheared away to expose a pre-determined length of the central electrically conducting lead 50. A further portion of the shield 56 of the coax cable 52 then is exposed by removal of an additional section of the outer insulating layer 51. The coax cable 52` then is inserted ito the female connector element 40 so that the exposed lead portion 50 extends into the portion 48 of the tubular contact element 44 and the exposed shield portion of said cable 52 is telescopically received within the portion 58 of the element 40. A deforming tool 60 then is inserted through the opening 43 of the element 40 and against the sleeve 42 of the female connector element 12, The deforming element 60 then is moved inwardly with respect to the female connector 12 moving the sleeve 42 -and the portion 48 of the tubular contact element 44 in front of its path of travel. It can readily be seen that the deformed sleeve and portion 48 will be crimped against the electrical lead 50 to physically secure the sleeve 42, tubular contact element 44 and electrical lead 50 in Iassembled relation.

As shown in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, the element 40 is provided with spaced apart identations 47 opposite the opening 43. When the deforming tool 60 is pressed against the female connector element, as schematically represented in FIGURE 6, the sleeve 42 will ow to conform or adapt itself to the indentations 47 on the inner wall of the element 40 thereby to lock the sleeve 42 with respect to the element 40. Also, the plastic material of the sleeve 42 will flow into theindentations in the area opposite the opening 43 to lock the sleeve 42 with respect to the element 44. As noted above, of course, the sleeve 42 will be deflected inwardly in the `area adjacent the deforming tool 60 on assembly of the female connector element to cause material of the sleeve to flow into the indentations adjacent the tool 60 and to cause the portion 48 of the female contact 44 to move into interlocking engagement to define electrical contact with the entral conducting lead 50 of the coaxial cable S2.

The ears A and B of the portion 58 of the element 40 then are folded or rolled over the exposed shield 56 of the coax cable 52 to completely encircle it. A crimping tool then is utilized to crimp the portion 58 securely against the shield 56 yand the outer wall of sleeve 42 to physically secure the shield 56, sleeve 42 and element 40 in assembled relation.

In use the male connector element 10 may be secured to a chassis 16 as noted hereinabove. The female connector element 12 is brought into engagement with the male element by insertion of the female assembly within the opening 22 of the outer shell 11 of the male element 10. As shown in the drawings the male element 26 is telescopically received within the opening of the portion 46 of female contact element `44 to define an electrical path from the lead 50, through the element 44 and to the male element 26. Spurious or undesired signals are fed to the chassis 16 and to ground through the outer shell 11 of the ymale element 10, shield element 40 of the female connector element and the shield 56 of the coax -cable 52.

As illustrated in detail in FIGURES 4 and 6 of the drawings the portion 46 of the tubular contact element 44 is slightly smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the -central opening in the sleeve 42. This spacing is provided to accommodate the radial expansion that will be encountered when the male contact element 26 is inserted within the portion 46 of the tubular contact element. This assures a good physical and electrical contact between the mating elements and provides a means for defning a reliable electrical path between the male and female elements of the electrical connector assembly.

While I have specifically described a preferred embodiment of the invention set forth herein it can readily be seen that other embodiments and modications can be derived which will not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention. By the appended claims I intend to secure all such alternative embodiments and modifications as may fall within their true spirit and scope.

What I intend to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An improved electrical connector assembly for `use with shielded coaxial cable comprisin-g, in combination:

a male connector element having an outer shell open at both ends, an insulating washer disposed in one open shell end and an electrical contact element received by said washer and defining an assembled structure wherein the washer is deformed by the contact element to hold the contact element and was-her in as sembled relation and against movement axially of the shell; and

a female connector element telescopically received within said male shell through the other open end thereof and having a shield element electrically engageable with the shield of the cable by crimping thereagainst, an insulating sleeve having an axial opening along its full length and telescopically received within the shield element, a tubular contact element disposed within the axial opening of said sleeve, said shield element 'having means to permit said sleeve and female contact element to be held in assembled relation by inward deformation of the sleeve `and the female contact element without attendant deformation of the shield element, said inward deformation also adapted to secure the female contact element to the conductor of the shielded coaxial cable by crimping it thereagainst, said shield element being deformed slightly in a crimping manner to secure it to the sleeve, said tubular contact element being receivable over the contact element of the male element to define a continuous electrical path through the connector.

2. The connector yof claim 1 wherein the washer is of `a material having a low coeicient of `friction to facilitate insertion of said washer Within the shell and of the male contact element within the washer.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein the washer may not readily be deected whereby yonce deformed by insertion of the male contact element it will define a stable assembled condition for the connector.

4. The connector of claim 1 wherein the washer is formed from tetrafluorethylene and the sleeve is formed from polyvinylchloride.

5. The connector of claim 1 wherein the shield element has an opening through which the deformation of the sleeve may be performed.

6. The method of assembling an electrical connector for use with a shielded coaxial cable, said connector having an outer shield, an inner electrical contact element with an insulating sleeve disposed therebetween and a coaxial cable receivable therein for assembly thereto, the method of assembly comprising the steps of: placing the coaxial cable in said connector with its central conducting lead disposed within the inner electrical contact element and the shield of the cable in juxtaposed relation to the outer shield of the connector; inserting a deforming element through an opening in the shield, moving said deforming element against the insulating sleeve of the connector to deform the sleeve radially inwardly without deforming the outer shield of the connector, thereby cornpressing the inner electrical contact element against the central conducting lead of the cable and interlocking the sleeve with the outer shield and with the inner electrical Contact element of the connector to define a unitized assembly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,396,725 3/ 1946 Thomas.

2,839,595 6/1958 Felts et al 339-177 X 2,983,895 5/1961 Pasik 339-276 X 3,137,925 6/1964 Wahl 339-276 X 3,193,895 7/1965 Oxley 339-126 X 3,221,290 1l/1965 Stark et al 339-276 X 3,295,094 12/1966 Delvon et al 339-276 X 3,297,978 1/1967 Stark 339-276 X 3,302,159 1/ 1967 Schumacher 3.39-276` X FOREIGN PATENTS l,l57,274 12/1957 France. 1,339,763 9/1963 France.

918,369 2/1963 Great Britain.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.