Solderless coaxial cable connector and installation thereof
11695243 · 2023-07-04
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
H01R9/0524
ELECTRICITY
International classification
Abstract
Cable connector installation tools are provided. In one aspect, a tool includes removable nubs configured to set trim distances from the end of a cable to a blade in the tool. In another aspect, a tool includes jaws configured to force end connector components together, one of which being temporarily engaged by an interface nub.
Claims
1. A cable connector installation tool comprising: a tool body including a cable entry and a nub port coaxially aligned with the cable entry along a cable axis; a blade positioned between the cable entry and the nub port and retractable towards and away from the cable axis; a jacket nub including a bore having a bottom, the bottom of the bore being configured at a predetermined jacket trim distance from the blade measured along the cable axis; a core nub; and a core nub cap configured to temporarily sandwich a connector component and a cable shielding folded over the connector component between the core nub cap and the core nub, wherein the jacket nub and the core nub are alternately and removably insertable into the nub port of the tool body.
2. The cable connector installation tool of claim 1, wherein the blade is retractable to a jacket cutting position a first distance away from the cable axis with the jacket nub inserted into the nub port to cut the jacket of the cable and is retractable to a dielectric cutting position a second distance away from the cable axis with the core nub inserted into the nub port to cut the dielectric of the cable, the first distance being larger than the second distance.
3. The cable connector installation tool of claim 1, further comprising: a moveable handle; an interface nub configured to temporarily engage an end connector component; a solid jaw configured to receive the interface nub; a split jaw including a channel configured to receive a cable and having a surface facing the solid jaw configured to engage an intermediate connector component positioned about an end of the cable, wherein movement of the handle towards the tool body causes a separation between the split jaw and the solid jaw to decrease such that the end connector component and the intermediate connector component are forced together.
4. The cable connector installation tool of claim 3, wherein when a preconfigured level of compression of the connector components has been achieved, the compression force being exerted on the solid and split jaws is released.
5. The cable connector installation tool of claim 4, wherein the release of the compression force occurs whether or not the handle is moved away from the tool body.
6. The cable connector installation tool of claim 1, wherein when a preconfigured level of compression of the connector components has been achieved, an audible signal is emitted from the cable connector installation tool.
7. A cable connector installation tool kit comprising: the cable connector installation tool of claim 3; at least two different jacket nubs; at least two different core nubs; and at least two different interface nubs.
8. The cable connector installation tool of claim 1, wherein the core nub includes a through hole to configured to receive the cable.
9. The cable connector installation tool of claim 3, wherein the interface nub is removable from the solid jaw.
10. The cable connector installation tool of claim 2, wherein the jacket trim distance corresponds to an axial measurement of a cable jacket portion that would be cut from a cable that is inserted through the cable entry up to the bottom of the jacket nub when the blade is retracted to its jacket cutting position and the cable connector tool is rotated about the cable axis.
11. The cable connector installation tool of claim 10, wherein the core nub and core nub cap are configured to temporarily sandwich the connector component at a predetermined dielectric cutting position along the cable axis such that a length of dielectric cut from the cable by the blade in its dielectric cutting position when the cable connector tool is rotated about the cable axis and the cable is inserted into the connector component until an end surface of the cable's jacket that was trimmed by the blade contacts an internal shoulder of the connector component, measured along the cable axis, is less than the jacket trim distance.
12. A cable connector installation tool comprising: a tool body; a moveable handle; an interface nub configured to temporarily engage an end connector component; a solid jaw configured to receive the interface nub; a split jaw including a channel configured to receive a cable and having a surface facing the solid jaw configured to engage an intermediate connector component positioned about an end of the cable, wherein movement of the handle towards the tool body causes a separation between the split jaw and the solid jaw to decrease such that the end connector component and the intermediate connector component are forced together.
13. The cable connector installation tool of claim 12, wherein when a preconfigured level of compression of the connector components has been achieved, the compression force being exerted on the solid and split jaws is released.
14. The cable connector installation tool of claim 12, wherein the release of the compression force occurs whether or not the handle is moved away from the tool body.
15. The cable connector installation tool of claim 12, wherein when a preconfigured level of compression of the connector components has been achieved, an audible signal is emitted from the cable connector installation tool.
16. The cable connector installation tool of claim 12, wherein the interface nub is removable from the solid jaw.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(18) Embodiments of solderless coaxial cable connectors and methods for their installation are described herein. While aspects of the described cable connectors and methods of installation can be implemented in any number of different configurations, the embodiments are described in the context of the following exemplary configurations. The descriptions and details of well-known components and structures are omitted for simplicity of the description.
(19) The description and figures merely illustrate exemplary embodiments of the inventive cable connectors and methods of installation. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are intended to be for illustrative purposes only to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts contributed by the inventors to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present subject matter, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
(20) The present disclosure provides a coaxial connector attachment that eases the manufacture and installation process, in part by eliminating solder joints while maintaining the same or better mechanical and electrical connection with a coaxial cable and its shielding. Various embodiments described herein provide an overview of the present inventions' key features. However, the designs' features are not limited to the examples and figures provided herein for illustration purposes. For instance, the examples presented and discussed herein are described in the context of a single connector interface type, however the present inventions are not so limited and may be adapted to apply to any coaxial or other cable interface.
(21) The disclosure provides, in an exemplary embodiment, shown generally in
(22) As shown in
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(24) As is also shown in
(25) As is also shown in
(26) During the installation process, all elements of coaxial cable may be cut generally perpendicular to the axis of the cable in a single plane. An external locking ring 16 may be slid over the cable 18. Any jacket 30 of the cable 18 may be trimmed to a predefined setback from the previous perpendicular cut. An inner clamping ring 14 may be slid over the cable 18. The inner locking ring may be positioned so that the inner shoulder 14e is proximate the trimmed end of the jacket 30, as shown in
(27) An inner locking member 12b may then be brought to the folded back shielding 20 such that the cylindrical inner surface 12b-1, tapered transition area 12b-2 and shoulder 12b-3 sandwich the folded back shielding between the outer surface 14b, transition area 14c and nose 14d, respectively. The adaptor component 12a, split ring 12c, transition conductor 26 and transition insulator 28 may be assembled together with the inner locking member 12b before or after installation of the inner locking member 12b over the shielding 20. Once the inner locking member 12b is installed over and is sandwiching the shielding as described above, the external locking ring 16 may be slid forwards along the cable 18 towards the inner clamping ring 14 at the end of the cable.
(28) As the external locking ring 16 is forced into the inner clamping ring 14, the inner clamping ring 14 in turn is forced into the inner locking member 12, sandwiching the shielding between the inner locking member 12 and the inner clamping ring 14. As this occurs, (i) an interference fit engagement may begin to be established between the interference fit area 16a of the external locking ring 16 and the interference fit area 14a of the inner clamping ring 14, (ii) the positive locking ratchet 16b of the external locking ring 16 and the a positive locking ratchet 12b-4 of the inner locking member 12b may begin to engage each other, and (iii) an interference fit engagement may begin to be established between the interference fit area 16c of the external locking ring 16 and the interference fit area 12b-5 of the inner locking member 12b. The order of these engagements (i), (ii) and (iii) is configurable (for example by varying the axial spacing between any of areas 16a, 16b, 16c, 14a, 12b-4 and/or 12b-5) and may be designed to occur in a particular order depending on the desired characteristics of the overall engagement and/or the sandwiching of the shielding 20. For example, engagement (i) may be configured to begin before engagement (ii) and engagement (ii) may be configured to begin before engagement (iii).
(29) The mating positive locking ratchets 16b and 12b-4 may each be configured with a discrete number of ratchets, or slopes. For example, in the example shown in
(30) The shape, number and/or location of the mating positive locking ratchets 16b and 12b-4 relative to each other and relative to other features of the components may be configured so as to enable the engagement of the discrete ratchets to serve as indicators for the level and completeness of engagement between the connector components. This configuration may also take into account the thickness, malleability and stiffness of the shielding as well as the geometry of the components. For example, the connector components may be configured such that when the installer hears and/or feels three ratchet engagements, that is an indication that the components are fully engaged and the cable connector installation is complete.
(31) In one embodiment, an installation tool may be used to aid with the preparation and installation of the connector on a coaxial cable. An example of an installation tool 100 according to one embodiment is shown generally in
(32) As mentioned above, after a cable is cut perpendicularly to the axis of the cable in a single plane, one of the first installation steps for the connector described herein is to strip an appropriate length of the cable jacket 30. As shown in
(33) As shown in
(34) With the jacket 30 trimmed, the cable 18 may be inserted through an external locking ring 16 and then a core nub 134, as shown in
(35) The blade's “core” or dielectric 22 cutting depth may be set by the captive knob 126 and sliding stop 128 and may be configured at this stage of the installation to allow the blade to cut the dielectric 30, but not the inner conductor 24. Retracting the blade 120 via the trigger, the core nub 134 and cable assembly may be inserted into the nub port 108 of the installation tool 100, as shown in
(36) Next, an appropriate interface nub 138 is fixed to the installation tool 100, as shown in
(37) The installation tool 100 includes a mechanism to force the solid jaw 142 and split jaw 144 together. For example, as shown in
(38) With an appropriate interface nub 138 attached to the tool 100, a connector head 12 comprising an adaptor component 12a, an inner locking member 12b and a split ring 12c may be threaded onto the interface nub 138. A transition dielectric 28 may be inserted into the inner locking member 12b prior to threading the connector head 12 onto the interface nub 138. A transition conductor 26 may be inserted over the end of the cable's inner conductor 24 and, as shown in
(39) When the components of the cable and connector are assembled as shown in
(40) At the end of a compression stroke of the handles 146, when a preconfigured level of compression of the connector components has been achieved, the installation tool 100 may be configured to release the compression force being exerted on the solid and split jaws 142 and 144. This release may be configured to occur before any compression of the handles 146 is released by the user. Accordingly, by releasing the compression force, the installation tool 100 may serve to prevent over compression of the connector components by the user and may also serve to signal to the user that sufficient compression force has been applied. Other signaling devices may be configured and employed, such as “clicks” or other audible indicators of the sufficiency or level of compression being applied to the connector components.
(41) In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this application (including the Cover Page, Title, Headings, Background, Summary, Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, Claims, Abstract, Figures, and otherwise) shows, by way of illustration, various embodiments in which the claimed present subject matters may be practiced. The advantages and features of the application are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed principles. It should be understood that they are not representative of all claimed present subject matters. As such, certain aspects of the disclosure have not been discussed herein. That alternative embodiments may not have been presented for a specific portion of the present subject matter or that further undescribed alternate embodiments may be available for a portion is not to be considered a disclaimer of those alternate embodiments. It may be appreciated that many of those undescribed embodiments incorporate the same principles of the present subject matters and others are equivalent. Thus, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and functional, logical, operational, organizational, structural and/or topological modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. As such, all examples and/or embodiments are deemed to be non-limiting throughout this disclosure. Also, no inference should be drawn regarding those embodiments discussed herein relative to those not discussed herein other than it is as such for purposes of reducing space and repetition. Also, some of these embodiments and features thereof may be mutually contradictory, in that they cannot be simultaneously present in a single embodiment. Similarly, some features are applicable to one aspect of the present subject matter, and inapplicable to others. In addition, the disclosure includes other present subject matters not presently claimed. Applicant reserves all rights in those presently unclaimed present subject matters including the right to claim such present subject matters, file additional applications, continuations, continuations in part, divisions, and/or the like thereof. As such, it should be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functional, features, logical, operational, organizational, structural, topological, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims. It is to be understood that, depending on the particular needs and/or characteristics of solderless coaxial cable connector user, various embodiments of the connector and installation thereof may be implemented that enable a great deal of flexibility and customization.