LOCKING COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR AND ADAPTOR

Abstract: A coaxial locking cable connector is described which when used in conjunction with a port adaptor precludes the use of a standard connector and provides increased security for signals emanating from a cable tap port or drop. A connector optionally includes redundant environmental sealing. An additional embodiment of the invention is an adaptor to adapt a standard cable spice or tap port to accept the connector and preclude acceptable standard coaxial connectors.

Description: Locking Coaxial Cable Connector and Adaptor Technical Field of the Invention This invention relates to a coaxial cable connector. In particular, the invention relates to a locking coaxial cable connector and a coaxial cable tap port or splice adaptor for the connector. Although adaptable for various sizes and types of coaxial cable, the adaptor and connector's use in the field of flexible coaxial cable, such as RG59 and/or RG6 braided and/or quad shielded cable, is of particular focus for the invention. 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 such cable needs to be routed in through an apartment building or a house or from a distribution point, a flexible shielded cable is generally used. This cable contains a center conductor along which the signals are transmitted surrounded by a dielectric and one or more shielding layers of foil or wire metal braid surrounded by an outer dielectric. In more robust distribution coaxial cables, the center conductor is surrounded by a dielectric, such as with the flexible cable of a an insulating foam, and thereafter a rigid outer metal conductor such as aluminum and optionally an additional outer dielectric layer to protect against corrosion. A major problem in the CATV industry is the theft of signals from a distribution tap or a splice connection where a splitter may be included in the system to pirate off the signal without paying for it. Various designs have been proposed to render the theft of signals more difficult but there is still a need for a robust connector which although maybe used by the CATV operator present difficulties to an unauthorized person from taking the signal. One of the problems in designing systems against signal pirating involves the variations in port length to port length on different tap port distribution points or splice connectors. Variations of only tenths of an inch create problems in making a universal connector. Thus, it would be highly desirable to have a system which makes all connection points uniformly regardless of lack of standardization of these threaded portions of the tap port or splice connectors from the multitude of manufactures. Additionally, it would be highly desirable to have a connector which is self aligning and provides good environmental sealing. Thus, it would be additionally highly desirable to have a connection system which precludes the public from gaining access to the port using common tools and easily purchased connectors. It would also be desirable to have a device for converting the standard 3/8th inched threaded port to a unique port requiring a connector specific tool to give mechanical leverage for installation and removal while providing environmental sealing if required by the customer. Summary of the Invention The invention provides for all the previously desirable features as well as many others which would be obvious to the ordinary skilled artisan from a reading of the application. More specifically, the invention consists of a connector which includes a mandrel and a locking shell which require a specific tool for installation or removal. A mechanical type tool for increased leverage is needed because the connector requires 150 to 200 lbs. of force to install thus making hand installation and removal very difficult if not impossible. Included within the connector system is a port adaptor that is specifically configured to screw on a port. The adaptor contains a combination sealant and thread locker. The act of screwing the adaptor onto the port activates the adhesive sealant which provides both thread locking and sealing. The sealant provides environmental protection between the port and the adaptor. The adaptor has a configuration which provides a locking feature when the connector is terminated. Thus even if the connector is removed, a standard threaded connector will no longer fit the port. The mandrel is configured to mate with the adaptor. Optionally the mandrel can contain features to lock onto the adaptor. The mandrel in preferred embodiments has fingers which close around the adaptor. The fingers may optionally have a locking feature as determined by the customer. The cable connects and is locked onto the cable connecting portion of the mandrel. The locking shell has several functions. It carries the cable/shell locking and sealing element (these components lock the cable to the mandrel and proved an environmental seal between the cable and the shell). Secondly as the shell is pushed forward on installation, it closes the mandrel fingers around the adaptor to lock the mandrel to the adaptor (the mandrel and adaptor may be smooth or with a locking feature). Another feature as the shell moves forward on installation it engages the seal on the adaptor providing an environmental seal to the adaptor and then engages the adaptor (by an interference or a locking fit) to firmly lock, i.e. 150 to 200 lbs installation and removal force, the entire connector to the adaptor. The connector can only by installed or removed with although straightforward mechanically a specially sized tool to give the necessary mechanical leverage so that unauthorized people cannot remove the connector from the tap port or splice. Brief Description of the Drawing.s. Figure 1 illustrates a view in cross section of a preferred embodiment of the connector of the invention. Figure 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment of figure 1. Figures 3a through 3b illustrate the installation of an alternative embodiment of the invention but the process is the same as for the Figure 1 and 2 embodiment. Description of the Preferred Embodiments The preferred embodiments of the invention will be more particularly described and illustrated in reference to figures 1 and 2. The connector 100 is illustrated in figures 1 and 2. More specifically, the connector includes a port adaptor 10 to adapt the port 200 to a uniform size of the connector and also to remove the threads thereon facing the environment such that an unauthorized person cannot use a standard screw on connector. The adaptor 10 further includes a ridge 10a which will seat in the mandrel 12 upon installation and a ridge 10b from which the installation tool gains leverage with groove 18a in locking shell 18. The adaptor 10 also includes a sealing region 20 to effectively seal the outer locking shell to the adaptor. A suitable seal is an elastomeric member such as a circular or rectangular in cross section "O" ring seal. Mounted on the connector which can be prepared by any suitable method such as those illustrated in patents US 4,834,675; US 4,583,811; US 5,127,853; US 5,277,598 is a mandrel 12. The preferred preparation of the cable is as illustrated US patents 4,583,811 and/or 5,127,853 and/or Raychem's EZF® connector brochures. The disclosures of each of these four patents are completely incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. In general, these patents, inter alia, illustrate suitable methods of preparing the cable for vario types of coaxial cable connectors. The mandrel 12 includes a circumferential groove (a detent in cros section) 12a inside the front fingers which are intended to attach and lock to th extent 10a (circumferential ridge) on the adaptor. Of course, the adaptor 1 could have the detent and the mandrel 12 could have the extent. The finge have resilience and thus any suitable metal having such resilience is preferre for the mandrel. A suitable finger configuration is taught in US 5,127,853 th disclosure of which is completely incorporated herein by reference for a purposes. Additionally, the mandrel 12 includes a knife edge illustrated as 12 to form a good electrical contact to the outer metallic shielding layer. Optionall a helical knife edge as taught in US 5,127,853 could be employed. Additionally, the connector includes a cable lock 14 which applies over th mandrel and is compressed down to trap the outer electrical shielding a dielectri between the mandrel and the cable lock 14. The cable lock is preferably a lo stress relaxing low creep plastic but soft metals such as brass could also b used. Shell 18 at 18b further restrains and locks the connector upon installation Adjacent to an end of the cable lock away from the tap port 200 is a suitabl cable seal such an "O" ring such as illustrated. With a prepared cable, the locking shell is slid along the cable over th outer dielectric of the cable. Thereafter, the locking shell is slid along the cabl towards the connector at the end of the cable to compress the cable 16 an adaptor seal 20 and locking the mandrel 12 and cable lock 14 to the adaptor 10 The extent 10a and the shell 18 at diameter 18c form a tight interference fit. further seal occurs by the compression of 20 by the shell at 18c. A key feature of the overall connector system is the adaptor 10 which i sized to fit over the port 200 and with the exception of the extent 10a and ridg 10b has a smooth outer surface relative to where a standard connector woul attach. This adaptor standardizes the interface between the connector and ta port of varying lengths as well as precluding the application of standar connector. The interior of the adaptor 10 includes an adhesive or an anerobi sealant such as Locktight® or any suitable means which upon threading th adaptor on to the tap port or splice firmly bonds the adaptor thereto to preven removal therefrom and convert the tap port or splice to uniform dimensions fo use with the connector. Thus, the adaptor in and of itself is a particularly preferred embodiment because other connectors can be created which mate with the adaptor but are not generally available to the public. This provides security for the cable operator. Additionally features can be included with the invention such as means to seal the port when not in use as described in US application 08/118,119 filed September 7, 1993, the complete application of which is completely incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. In operation, the cable is prepared in a standard matter with a removal of the outer and inner dielectrics and outer shielding layers to expose a length of the central conductor. Thereafter a portion of the outer dielectric is removed to expose the braiding which is folded back or optionally if a helical screw mandrel is used the cable is terminated substantially peφendicular to the center conductor with the dielectrics and outer shielding layers and the mandrel is urged or threaded onto the cable. Thereafter the cable lock is connected binding the mandrel securely to the cable and the system is applied to the adaptor with the locking shell moving along the longitudinal axis of the cable and snapping onto and over the adaptor and the cable lock compressing the seals to affect an environmental seal. This is done by a tool which connects to the adaptor 10 at ridge 10b and at 18a of the shell. Upon squeezing the tool like lock ring, pliers, the shell is urged together with the adaptor with the installation force in excess of about 100lbs and preferable 150 to 200 lbs of force through the mechanical leverage. This makes the installation and removal very difficult if not impossible by unauthorized persons. Even if removed the adapter cannot be removed without destroying the port and thus standard threaded connectors cannot be used once the corrosion occurs. Figure 3a, 3b, 3c illustrate the installation of an alternative embodiment of the connector. However, the process for either connector is the same. Analogous elements are marked with a prime. The adaptor 10' is sealingly threaded onto the port 200. The telescoping pliers squeeze the connector/adaptor together at 10b' and 18 a'. The tool works by the standard mechanical procedure of converting the squeezing motion into the compression or expansion along the longitudinal axis of the axis of cable/connector/and adaptor. In this embodiment the extent 12a is replaced by clasping turns 12a' on the ends of the fingers. A suitable number of fingers is from 2 to 10 but generally 3 or 4 fingers are preferred. The prepared cable 400 with center conductor 41 and exposed dielectric 420 with outer shielding 430 and dielectric 440 is inserte into the shell 18' and through cable lock 14'. The cable lock includes an extr seal 14a' in addition to seal 16' for even better sealing. Upon installation, th shell at 18c' grips the mandrel 12' to the port adaptor 10' while the fingers at 12a seat in groove 10c'. Region 18b' traps the cable lock 14' to the mandrel 12' wit the elements 430/440 therebetween. In this embodiment, the knife edge is replaced with a ridge 12b' but the function is the same i.e. the create the electrical contact to shield 430. The installation and removal force of greater than 100 lbs. force helps ensure only authorized personnel will use the connector. The invention has been described with particularly preferred embodiments. Modifications which would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention for example the seals could be eliminated if the environment warranted. Additionally, the means of forming a good electrical contact to the outer shielding could be any effective means. Additionally, a plurality of extents on the adaptor might be used to secure the mandrel, and the like. Modification which would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art as well as the full and complete equivalence upon a reading of the specification are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention and the appended claims.

Claims: Glaims What is claimed is: 1. A coaxial cable connector which comprises a tubular mandrel having a portion for mating to a coaxial cable and a portion for mating to an adaptor, the cable mating portion includes a knife edge for forming an electrical contact to the outer shielding layer of a coaxial cable, a cable lock to lock the coaxial cable between the cable lock and the mandrel, a cable seal to seal water ingress to the cable lock and mandrel and a cable locking shell adapted to fit over and reinforce the seal to the cable lock and mandrel when the connector is attached to a cable tap port adaptor. 2. The connector according to claim 1 further including a locking mechanism in the mandrel portion for attaching to the adaptor. 3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the electrical contact portion is a helical knife edge. 4. The connector according to any proceeding claim wherein the mandrel has a detent in the portion of the mandrel which mates to an extent on the adaptor. 5. The connector according to any proceeding claim further including an "O" ring seal between the cable lock and the locking shell. 6. The connector according to any proceeding claim wherein the installation and removal force is greater than 100 lbs. force. 7. An adaptor for a coaxial cable connector to adapt a cable splice or tap port to uniform dimensions, comprising: a tubular member having internal threads which mates to the threads of the port or splice, an external portion of the adaptor including an region to make it capable of locking ly mate to a connector. 8. The adaptor according to claim 1 or 7 further including an adaptor seal on the exterior of the adaptor spaced apart from the region capable of locking with a connector. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the seal is "O" ring seal. 10. The apparatus according to any proceeding claim wherein the region is an extent. 11. The apparatus according to claim 7 further including a mandrel capable of mating to a coaxial cable, the mandrel including two tubular portions, the first tubular portion sized to accommodate the adaptor and the second tubular portion sized to accommodate the coaxial cable such that it fits between the inner dielectric and the outer shielding layer of the cable, the mandrel further including an electrical contacting portion on the exterior of the second tubular portion of the mandrel for contacting the outer shielding and a region in the mandrel capable of lockingly mating with the adaptor. 12. The apparatus according to any preceeding claim wherein the region on the mandrel is a detent. 13. The apparatus according to any preceeding claim further including a cable lock tubular member which fits over the exterior of the coaxial cable and creates a forced fit between the mandrel and the outer shielding layer as well as any present outer dielectric, the cable lock being a tubular member having a chamfered opening to assist in mounting over the cable and the mandrel and a portion opposite thereto capable of accepting a seal. 14. The apparatus according to any preceeding claim further including an outer lock in shell which compresses the seal adjacent the cable lock to lock to the mandrel as the mandrel locks to the adaptor. 15. The apparatus according to any preceeding claim wherein the locking shell has three varying diameters to assist with the mating to the adaptor, the mandrel, and the cable seal such that its appearance in cross section is the abutment of step down tubular members. 16. The apparatus according to any preceeding claim further including an additional step down and flared portion opposite to the portion contacting the adaptor on the locking shell to provide strain relief and sealing to the cable. * * * * * * * * * *

Inventors: MICHELETTI DON, SWINMURN JOHN, MICHELETTI, DON, SWINMURN, JOHN
Applicants: MICHELETTI DON, RAYCHEM CORP, SWINMURN JOHN, MICHELETTI, DON, RAYCHEM CORPORATION, SWINMURN, JOHN
Application year: 1995
Main classification: H01R17
IPC codes: H01R9, H01R13, H01R24