Hardline coaxial connector with a locking ferrule

A hardline coaxial cable connector is disclosed. The coaxial cable connector comprises an integral locking feature formed in one or both of a body and a ferrule. The integral locking feature is monolithic with at least one of the body and the ferrule. The integral locking feature may comprise cogs part of and monolithic with the body, and slots, flats, pegs or fins part of and monolithic with the ferrule. In this way, cogs engaging with the slots, the flats, the pegs, or the fins act to lock the ferrule in stable position, and, thereby, retain the cable in a stable, non-rotatable position in the connector.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates generally to coaxial cable connectors, and particularly to a hardline connector with a ferrule.

2. Technical Background

A hardline coaxial cable typically has a solid center conductor surrounded by a plastic or other dielectric material and encased within an electrically conductive solid outer conductor that may be surrounded by an outer insulative jacket. In application, each end of the cable can be terminated by a connector, which serves to electrically and mechanically engage the cable conductors to communicate signals transmitted therethrough and for gripping the outer conductor to physically secure the cable and prevent detachment during normal operation and establishing electrical continuity.

Historically, connectors for hardline coaxial cables have been designed to grip the cable in such a manner as to be removed from the cable at a later time if so desired. Such a feature is generally known as “re-usability.” It is often the case in such connectors that a compressible ferrule is utilized to grip the cable outer conductor. Said ferrules are typically actuated by means of conically ramped components known as compression rings, which are often times moved axially closer together by means of a threaded coupler or nut. Rotation of the coupler system can impart a rotational force against the compression rings and be translated through the compression rings to the ferrule. As the ferrule is driven closed about the cable outer conductor the rotational force may then be translated to the cable outer conductor resulting in unwanted rotation or twist of the cable outer conductor in relation to the cable center conductor and connector components causing damage to the coaxial structure. In such connectors it is necessary to attempt to restrain the cable while tightening the connector components which is a difficult for a single installer. Two hands are typically required to manipulate the required wrenches and a third hand required to restrain the cable. Additionally, in some connectors it is possible for the cable to rotate within the connector after the connector components have been fully tightened because there is no positive means to adequately prevent the ferrule from slipping or rotating within the connector structure.

Previous attempts to provide a positive ferrule locking structure within a hardline coaxial cable connector have employed the use of a separate press-fit component resulting in unwanted higher cost.

SUMMARY OF THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed herein include a hardline coaxial connector having an integral locking feature to prevent unwanted rotation or twist of the cable outer conductor in relation to the cable center conductor and connector components and, further, prevent cable rotation within the connector after the connector components have been fully tightened. The integral locking feature may include teeth or splines as a monolithic portion of the connector body and slots in the ferrule. The teeth or splines may position within the slots when the connector is closed and fully tightened to interlock with the ferrule.

Additional features and advantages are set out in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the embodiments as described herein, including the detailed description, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments are shown. Indeed, the concepts may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limiting herein. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.

Referring toFIG. 1, a coaxial cable connector10having a separate component to lock a ferrule is illustrated. Connector10comprises front half11and back half12, with front half11comprising coupler100rotationally connected to body200by split retainer150, which may, be a C shaped arcuate ring. Coupler100comprise front end101, back end102, central passage103and forward facing annular lip104, and body200comprises front end201, back end204and central passage202. With regard to front half11, first insulator550is an insulative cylindrical member which positions front end451of pin450coaxially within body200, while retainer500is a hollow ring that is press fit into body200and axially captures first insulator550within body200. Second insulator600is an insulative cylindrical member which positions back end452of pin450coaxially within body200, while actuator650, an insulative cylindrical member, may be used to compress insulator600radially inwardly.

Back half12comprises back nut250sleeve300, ferrule350, and compression ring400. Back nut250comprises front end252, back end298, and central passage255. Sleeve300comprises front end302, back end398, outside diameter306, and a plurality of cogs304. Ferrule350comprises front end351, back end388, a plurality of slots352, raised portion359and a plurality of internal annular ridges356and357. Compression ring400comprises front end401, back end403and central passage404. Partial assembly of back half12is accomplished by inserting compression ring400and ferrule350into back nut250with back end388of ferrule350inserted into central passage404of compression ring400. Sleeve300is then press fit to a pre-determined depth within central passage255of back nut250allowing limited axial movement of ferrule350, and compression ring400within back nut250.

Referring now toFIG. 1A, back half12is illustrated as being at least partially installed on coaxial cable880. Coaxial cable880at least partially comprises jacket881, spiral outer conductor882, insulator883and center conductor884. During the assembly of back half12onto cable880, ferrule350may be positioned onto spiral outer conductor882by rotationally engaging internal annular ridges356and357with spiral outer conductor882. Pushing back nut250in the direction of back end298while rotating back nut250causes cogs304to align with and engage slots352at raised portion359of ferrule350imparting rotational force from back nut250to ferrule350, thereby, threading ferrule350onto spiral outer conductor882of cable880. After ferrule350is threaded onto spiral outer conductor882, back nut250may be pulled forward in direction of front end252disengaging cogs304from slots352allowing nut250to be independently rotated from ferrule350and cable880.

Referring now toFIG. 2, an embodiment of a connector1000with an integral locking feature is illustrated. Connector1000comprises coupler108, split retainer158, body208, back nut258, pin458, insulator558, insulator675, ferrule708, and compression ring838. Coupler108at least partially comprises front end109, back end110, central passage111and forward facing annular lip112. Coupler108is preferably made of metal such as brass and plated with a conductive material such as nickel-tin. Split retainer158at least partially comprises front end159and back end160. Split retainer158is preferably made of metal such as beryllium copper. Body208at least partially comprises front end209, back end210, at least one cog204, and central passage211. The at least one cog204may be a plurality of cogs204. At least one cog204of the plurality of cogs204may extend axially toward the ferrule708. Body208is preferably made of metal such as brass and plated with a conductive material such as nickel-tin. Back nut258at least partially comprises front end259, back end260, and central passage261. Back nut258is preferably made of metal such as brass and plated with a conductive material such as nickel-tin. Pin458at least partially comprises front end459, back end460, and shaft459. Pin458is preferably made of metal such as brass and plated with a conductive material such as nickel-tin. Insulator558at least partially comprises front end559, back end560and central passage561. Insulator558is preferably made of plastic such as acetal. Insulator675at least partially comprises front end676, back end677and central passage678. Insulator675is preferably made of plastic such as acetal. Ferrule708at least partially comprises front end710, back end711, a plurality of slots752, slotted portion753, tapered surface713, raised annular portion759and a plurality of internal annular ridges714and715. Ferrule708is preferably made of metal such as brass and plated with a conductive material such as nickel-tin. Compression ring838at least partially comprises front end829, back end840and central passage841. Compression ring838is preferably made of metal such as brass and plated with a conductive material such as nickel-tin. As can be seen inFIG. 2, connector1000does not include a sleeve300, as is included in connector10ofFIGS. 1 and 1A. Thus, connector1000does not have a separate component to lock ferrule708. Instead, connector1000has an integral locking feature comprising cogs204formed in the body208and slots752in the raised annular portion759of the ferrule708. The cogs204are part of the body208in that the cogs204are monolithic with the body208.

FIGS. 3 and 4are perspective views of at least a portion of connector1000ofFIG. 2.FIG. 3shows slots752in raised annular portion759of ferrule708not engaged with cogs204.FIG. 4shows slots752in raised annular portion759of ferrule708engaged with cogs204at area1005. In this regard, as the connector1000is closed and tightened with a coaxial cable inserted therein, the cogs204position in the slots752in the raised annular portion759. In this way, the at least one cog204and the at least one slot752act to lock the ferrule708in stable position, and, thereby, retain the cable in a stable, non-rotatable position in the connector1000, as discussed in more detail with reference toFIG. 5.

FIG. 6is a perspective illustration of a partial assembly of connector1200. Connector1200has integral locking feature that comprises at least one cog850engaging at least one flat805formed in raised annular portion759of ferrule708. The at least one cog850may be a plurality of cogs850. At least one cog850of the plurality of cogs850may extend axially toward the ferrule708. The at least one flat805may be a plurality of flats805. In a similar manner to the connector1000inFIGS. 2-5, cogs850are part of and monolithic with body208. Cogs850may be larger than cogs204and may have a slightly arcuate shape. As the connector1200is closed and tightened with a coaxial cable inserted therein, the cogs850position in the flats752. In this way, the at least one cog850and the at least one flat805act to lock the ferrule708in stable position, and, thereby, retain the cable in a stable, non-rotatable position in the connector1200. The other components of the connector1200assemble and interact in a similar manner as discussed with reference to connector1000inFIG. 5.

FIG. 7is a perspective illustration of a partial assembly of connector1300. Connector1300has integral locking feature comprises at least one cog855engaging alternate slots815on raised annular portion759of ferrule708. The at least one cog855may be a plurality of cogs855. At least one cog855of the plurality of cogs855may extend axially toward the ferrule708. In a similar manner to the connector1000inFIGS. 2-5, cogs855are part of and monolithic with body208. As the connector1300is closed and tightened with a coaxial cable inserted therein, the cogs855position in slots815. In this way, the at least one cog855and the at least one slot815act to lock the ferrule708in stable position, and, thereby, retain the cable in a stable, non-rotatable position in the connector1300. The other components of the connector1300assemble and interact in a similar manner as discussed with reference to connector1000inFIG. 5.

FIG. 8is a perspective illustration of a partial assembly of connector1400. Connector1400has integral locking feature comprises at least one cog860engaging radially extending pegs865on raised annular portion759of ferrule708. The at least one cog860may be a plurality of cogs860. At least one cog860of the plurality of cogs860may extend axially toward the ferrule708. In a similar manner to the connector1000inFIGS. 2-5, cogs860are part of and monolithic with body208. The pegs865may extend radially outwardly and be part of and monolithic with the ferrule708. As the connector1400is closed and tightened with a coaxial cable inserted therein, the at least one cog860position between adjacent pegs865. In this way, the at least one cog860and pegs865act to lock the ferrule708in stable position, and, thereby, retain the cable in a stable, non-rotatable position in the connector1400. The other components of the connector1400assemble and interact in a similar manner as discussed with reference to connector1000inFIG. 5.

FIG. 9is a perspective illustration of a partial assembly of connector1500. Connector1500has integral locking feature comprising cogs870engaging radial fins875on raised annular portion759of ferrule708. In a similar manner to the connector1000inFIGS. 2-5, cogs870are part of and monolithic with body208. The fins875may extend radially outwardly and be part of and monolithic with the ferrule708. As the connector1500is closed and tightened with a coaxial cable inserted therein, the cogs870position between fins875. In this way, cogs870and fins875act to lock the ferrule708in stable position, and, thereby, retain the cable in a stable, non-rotatable position in the connector1500. The other components of the connector1500assemble and interact in a similar manner as discussed with reference to connector1000inFIG. 5.

Many modifications and other embodiments set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the embodiments pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the description and claims are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

It is intended that the embodiments cover the modifications and variations of the embodiments provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.