Quick connect/disconnect coaxial cable connector

A quick connect and release mechanism is provided for a coaxial cable connector comprising a first connector body having an annular cavity accessible by a tubular opening. A conical retention ring is disposed in the annular cavity and engaging at least one radial step form along a rearwardly facing surface of the annular cavity and, furthermore, being configured to engage a retention surface of a second connector body upon insertion of a tubular sleeve thereof. Furthermore, a retention ring engager is disposed over a portion of the first connector body and has a sleeve portion extending into the tubular opening to urge the retention ring from engagement with the at least one radial step while also disengaging the retention surface of the second connector. As a consequence, the second connector is released from the first connector.

BACKGROUND

Telecommunications systems employ a variety of connectors, inter alia, to: (i) couple one length of coaxial cable to another length of cable, (ii) connect a length of coaxial cable to an RF telecommunications device such as a remote radio head, a sector antenna, or a base station controller, (iii) join a headend data line to a drop line, (iv) couple one coupling divider to a subsequent divider, or (v) adapt one coaxial cable to a smaller or larger cable, etc. Such connectors come in a variety of types including dropline, network, F-type, Mini-Din, 4.3-10, etc.

Preparation/coupling typically requires the use of several special and conventional tools including a stripping tool, a compression tool and a torque wrench etc. The stripping tool removes a portion of the compliant outer jacket to expose a signal-carrying inner conductor and an outer grounding, or braided, conductor of the cable. A compression tool, on the other hand, inserts a grounding/retention post into the prepared end of the cable to effect an electrical and mechanical connection between the cable and an outer body of the cable connector. The torque wrench turns a rotatable coupler (i.e., a female coupler) at the end of the connector body to threadably engage a threaded interface, port, or another connector (i.e., a male coupler.)

Amongst the many challenges faced by designers of coaxial connectors, one of the largest continues to be the time that a lineman expends making cable connections, especially when he/she is fifty (50) feet in the air alongside a telecommunications tower. Inasmuch as threaded connections generally provide the best mechanical connection, they continue to be employed despite the time required to effectuate such connections.

Therefore, there is a need to overcome, or otherwise lessen the effects of, the disadvantages and shortcomings described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A quick connect and release mechanism is provided for a coaxial cable connector comprising a first connector body having an annular cavity accessible by a tubular opening. A conical retention ring disposed in the annular cavity and engaging at least one radial step form along a rearwardly facing surface of the annular cavity and, furthermore, being configured to engage a retention surface of a second connector body upon insertion of a tubular sleeve thereof. A retention ring engager is disposed over a portion of the first connector body and has a sleeve portion extending into the tubular opening to urge the retention ring from engagement with the at least one radial step while also disengaging the retention surface of the second connector. As a consequence, the second connector is released from the first connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to one embodiment, depicted in the perspective view ofFIG. 1, a coaxial cable connector100comprises a female connector110, a male connector114, and a quick disconnect/release mechanism120disposed therebetween. InFIGS. 2-6the quick disconnect/release mechanism120further comprises a male connector insert122, a retention ring engager124and a split conical retention ring126. Before discussing the functional operation of the various elements of the coaxial cable connector100, the structural features of each element will first be discussed in isolation.

In the described embodiment, each of the female and male connector bodies110,114include a first end which is mechanically and electrically connected to a prepared end of a coaxial cable (not shown). Specifically, the ends of each coaxial cable are stripped, stepped and folded-back to expose the inner and outer electrical conductors of the coaxial cable. An inner conductor includes central, signal-carrying, wire electrically-insulated and separated from an outer grounding conductor by a dielectric core. An electrical socket50(SeeFIG. 5) receives and bares down on the wire pin to carry signals across the connector100, from the female to male connectors110,114. The core material is surrounded by a foil layer which separates the braided outer conductor from the dielectric core. A conductive post is interposed between the conductive outer braid and the foil layer while a fastener52collapses an outer compression member54around the conductive outer braid of the cable. Finally, an electrically-compliant, elastomer, outer jacket surrounds the braided grounding wire for the purposes of sealing and preventing moisture from short-circuiting the connection.

The female connector110comprises a threaded tubular sleeve130opposite the end which accepts or connects a coaxial cable (not shown). The tubular sleeve130includes an outwardly projecting flange134defining an annular groove or recess136between the flange134and the axially outermost thread136of the connector threads138. Moreover, the outwardly projecting flange134defines a shoulder or retention surface142facing rearwardly toward the opposite end of the female connector110. The tubular sleeve130is conductive and is preferably fabricated from a brass or brass alloy to prevent damage to harder metals, i.e., other metal that the brass female connector110my come into contact.

The male connector114comprises a smooth cylindrical sleeve150which may be tapered to facilitate a smooth connection between the male and female connectors110,114. The sleeve150includes an outwardly facing recess152for receiving an O-ring seal154(seeFIG. 6) and a radially projecting flange156disposed axially inboard of the outwardly facing recess152. The flange156defines an outwardly facing abutment surface158operative to limit the relative axial displacement of the male connector110relative to the female connector114. That is, when the connectors110,114are joined, the female connector110contacts the abutment surface158to limit the relative axial displacement of male and females=connectors110,114. Similar to the tubular sleeve130of the female connector110, the tubular sleeve150of the male connector114is conductive and is preferably fabricated from a brass or brass alloy. The use of a soft brass or brass alloy mitigates damage to harder metals, i.e., other metal components that the brass female connector110my come into contact.

In the described embodiment, a male connector body or insert122is a separate element from, i.e., not integral with, the male connector114and may be press-fit over a tubular end portion160of the male connector114. The male connector body or insert122is separate to facilitate fabrication/machining of a annular cavity or recess176, i.e., a recess176formed by a radially inwardly projecting flange168, an axially outwardly facing wall170and a radially inwardly facing wall172connecting the radially inwardly projecting flange168and the axially outwardly facing wall170. The inwardly projecting flange168defines a pair of vertically oriented surfaces180,182separated by an axial surface184. As will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter, the axial surface184affects the displacement of the central retention ring126and the manner in which the retention ring126retains and/or releases the male and female connectors110,114. Finally, the male connector insert122includes a retention shoulder188disposed along the upper or outwardly facing surface190of the insert122.

The retention ring engager124is a generally cylindrically shaped which is disposed over the outwardly facing surface190of the male connector insert122. The engager124includes a recurved flange192which extends into the tubular opening formed between an edge of the inwardly projecting flange168and the outwardly facing surface150of the male connector114. More specifically, the recurved flange192extends over and around the outer surface of the male connector insert122to define an annular cavity194between the engager124and the insert122. Additionally, the interior surface of the annular cavity defines a stop surface196operative to engage the retention shoulder188formed along the outwardly facing surface of the insert122. Consequently, the engager124is capable of sliding axially over the outer surface of the male connector insert122until such displacement is limited by the stop surface196and the retention shoulder188. Finally, the retention ring engager124includes an edge198configured to engage a surface of the retention ring126to release the retention ring126from its engaged position, i.e., a position wherein the retention ring126engages the retention surface of the female connector110.

The retention ring126is split to form a C-shaped member and has a generally frustoconical shape. An edge portion200thereof extends radially outboard from a base portion204which includes a forward engagement surface208and an aft retention surface212. The retention ring126is, furthermore, biased to in an open configuration, i.e., such that a gap G is created between the ends of the split. The gap G allows the retention ring124to open wider or close tighter depending upon its location/position within the annular recess176. While in a closed position, the retention ring124maintains a smaller diameter and is generally in a position denoted by the dashed lines inFIG. 6. In an open or release position, the retention ring124is briefly opened to a wider diameter and is generally in a position denoted by the solid lines inFIG. 6. Similar to the tubular sleeve130of the female connector110, the retention ring engager124and retention ring engager126are conductive and preferably fabricated from a brass or brass alloy.

In operation, the tubular sleeve of the female connector110is inserted into the tubular opening between the retention ring engager126and the outwardly facing surface150of the male connector114. Inasmuch as the retention ring126is biased closed, the retaining surface212engages a retention surface142(FIG. 6) of the female connector110. As such, when a tensile load is applied to the male and female connectors110,114, the retention ring reacts the tensile load to couple the connectors110,114. In this position, the edge200of the retention ring126engages a first radial step184of male connector insert122.

To release the female connector110from the male connector114, the retention ring engager124urges the retention ring126out of engagement with the first radial step184. The retaining surface212disengages the retention surface142of the female connector110, thereby allowing the female connector110to slide past the retention ring126, out of engagement with the male connector114.

Additional embodiments include any one of the embodiments described above, where one or more of its components, functionalities or structures is interchanged with, replaced by or augmented by one or more of the components, functionalities or structures of a different embodiment described above.