Abstract:
A coaxial angled adapter includes a first adapter body, a first dielectric disposed within the first adapter body and a first inner contact within the first dielectric. An outer contact is attached to the first adapter body outside the first dielectric and provides electrical shielding and mechanical retention of components. A second adapter body may be attached to the first adapter body such that an axis of the first adapter body and an axis of the second adapter body form a non-zero angle therebeween. A second dielectric may be provided within the second adapter, and a second inner contact may be provided within the second dielectric. The second dielectric and second inner contact may engage the first dielectric and first inner contact, respectively.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/594,833, filed Feb. 3, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Coaxial cables for transmission of high frequency signals are in widespread use in many military and commercial fields, including research and design laboratories, aviation and land-based applications. Cables configured for transmission of high frequency signals are designed to meet various strength, interference shielding and signal propagation requirements, which vary by application. High frequency cables typically sacrifice flexibility and size in order to meet these requirements. 
     However, high frequency cables are increasingly being used in space-limited applications. In order to fit high frequency cables within constricted areas, angled adapters may be installed at the ends of high frequency cables to provide a change of direction in a relatively small space. 
     High frequency signals transmitted through cables are very sensitive to disturbances caused by cable or adapter geometries. This sensitivity is especially apparent when a signal propagation direction is abruptly changed, as in the case of an angled adapter. Thus, there is a need for an angled adapter configured for installation in constricted areas and also configured for the safe transmission of high frequency signals. 
     SUMMARY 
     This invention relates to coaxial angled adapters for adjustably connecting a cable to a mating connector having an axis different from an axis of the cable. 
     In general, in one aspect, the invention features an adapter including a first adapter body having an internal bore, a first dielectric having an inner channel, and having a portion disposed within the internal bore of the adapter body and a portion outside of the first adapter body, a first inner contact disposed within the inner channel of the first dielectric and an outer contact fixed to the adapter body and having an internal opening, the outer contact further having a shoulder inside the internal opening of the outer contact, wherein the portion of the first dielectric outside of the first adapter body is disposed within the internal opening of the outer contact, and the shoulder engaging the dielectric to hold the first dielectric against the first adapter body. 
     Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The adapter may further include a second adapter body having a main axis, a second dielectric having an inner channel and a second inner contact disposed at least partially within the inner channel of the first dielectric, wherein the first adapter body has a main axis, the second adapter body engages the first adapter body such that the main axis of the first adapter body and the main axis of the second adapter body form a non-zero adapter angle therebetween and such that the second dielectric is captured between the second adapter body and the adapter body, the second inner contact having an angle substantially similar to the adapter angle, the second inner contact forming an electrical connection with the first inner contact and a portion of the second inner contact being disposed within the inner channel of the second dielectric, and a portion of the second inner contact being disposed within the inner channel of the first dielectric. 
     The first adapter body may further include an outer contact attachment and a forward contacting member configured within the internal opening of the outer contact, the outer contact may be attached to the first adapter body at the outer contact attachment to provide a first electrical connection between the outer contact and first the adapter body, and the forward contacting member of the first adapter body may be configured to contact the internal opening at a location remote from the outer contact attachment to provide a second electrical connection, there being no electrical connection between the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection. 
     The internal opening of the outer contact and the first dielectric may be configured in close proximity so as to prevent propagation of errant electric fields. The internal bore of the first adapter body and the first dielectric may be configured such that the first dielectric is not substantially deformed when inserted into the inner bore. The outer contact may include a retaining surface facing towards the first adapter body configured to mechanically retain the dielectric against the first adapter body. 
     The first inner contact may include a groove therein, the inner channel of the first dielectric includes a ridge therein, and the groove of the first inner contact and the ridge of the first dielectric may be configured to engage one another to retain the first inner contact within the first dielectric. The first adapter body may further include an outer contact attachment and a forward contacting member configured within the internal opening of the outer contact, the outer contact may be attached to the first adapter body at the outer contact attachment to provide a first electrical connection between the outer contact and first the adapter body, and the forward contacting member of the first adapter body may be configured to touch the internal opening at a location remote from the outer contact attachment to provide a second electrical connection, the touch location being configured adjacent to the groove of the first inner contact. There may be no electrical connection between the outer contact and the first adapter body between the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above mentioned and other aspects, features and advantages can be more readily understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a coaxial angled adapter and a cable in a disassembled configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective cross section view of a coaxial angled adapter and a cable in a disassembled configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective cross section view of a coaxial angled adapter and a cable in an assembled configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial side cross section view of a coaxial angled adapter and a cable in an assembled configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a coaxial angled adapter and a cable in an assembled configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial side cross section view of a coaxial angled adapter according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; 
         FIGS. 7A ,  7 B,  7 C and  7 D are rear side, right side, right side detail cross section and right-rear-top perspective views, respectively, of a bent contact according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; 
         FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C are left side cross section, left-front-bottom perspective and left-front-top perspective views, respectively, of a press sleeve dielectric according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; 
         FIGS. 9A ,  9 B and  9 C are top, top cross section and front views, respectively of a press sleeve body according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; 
         FIGS. 10A ,  10 B and  10 C are left side cross section, left-front-top perspective and left-rear-bottom perspective views, respectively, of a plug dielectric according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; 
         FIGS. 11A ,  11 B and  11  C are left side cross section, left side and left-front-top perspective views, respectively, of an intermediate outer contact according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; 
         FIGS. 12A ,  12 B,  12 C and  12 D are front side, right side, right side partial cross section and left-front-top perspective views, respectively, of a plug contact according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; 
         FIGS. 13A ,  13 B and  13 D are top, left side cross section and left-front-top perspective cross section views, respectively, of an angled body according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; and 
         FIG. 13C  is a left side cross section detail view corresponding to “Detail C” in the left side cross section view of  FIG. 13B  of an angled body according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Cable adapters and connectors are described herein, with reference to examples and exemplary embodiments. Specific terminology is employed in describing examples and exemplary embodiments. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner. Similarly, while some examples discussed herein concern coaxial cables, adapters and connectors, the present disclosure also relates to cables, adapters and connectors which are not coaxial, such as, for example, multi-conductor cables, adapters and connectors. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1 , an angled adapter  10  is shown adjacent a cable adapter  12 . The angled adapter  10  is provided with a cable attachment end  14  and a connector attachment end  16 . The cable adapter  12  may be fixed to a cable, as will be described in more detail below. The angled adapter  10  connects to the cable adapter  12  or another connector at the cable end  14  and provides a connection to an external connector at connector end  16 . The connection to the external connector at the connector end  16  is generally oriented along a connector axis  18  which is angled relative to an axis  20  of the cable to which the cable adapter  12  is fixed. In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, the connector axis  18  and the cable axis  20  are substantially perpendicular. Of course, many other relationships may be provided between the connector axis  18  and the cable axis  20 . For example, the connector axis  18  and the cable axis  20  may be oriented at an angle of 15°, 30°, 45°, 60° or 75° (or any other angle) with respect to one another. In another example, the connector axis  18  and cable axis  20  may be substantially parallel or coaxial with one another. In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the axes  18  and  20  exist in a single plane and intersect at a point. However, in another example, axes  18  and  20  may not intersect or be aligned in a single plane. 
       FIG. 2  is a partial cross section view of the angled adapter  10  and cable adapter  12  shown in  FIG. 1 , taken along a plane defined by connector axis  18  and cable axis  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , both the angled adapter  10  and the cable adapter  12  may each include a plurality of components. For example, the cable adapter  12  may include a cable adapter body  22  and a threaded cable attachment  24  press-fit into or otherwise attached to a bore of the cable adapter body  22 . The cable adapter body  22  may include a threaded portion  26  onto which the angled adapter  10  or other adapter, connector or cable may attach. As shown in 
       FIG. 2 , a cable  28  may be attached to the cable adapter  12 . In the example shown, a cable  28  includes an inner conductor  30 , a dielectric  32 , a spiral shielding  34 , a braided shielding  36 , and a cable jacket  38 . As shown, a crimp ring  40  may be crimped over the braided shielding  36  and a knurled surface of the cable adapter body  22 . The cable jacket  38  may cover all or part of the braided shielding  36  and crimped crimp ring  40 . The spiral shielding  34  may be attached to the cable adapter body  22  first by threading the spiral shielding  34  into complementary threads of the threaded cable attachment  24  and later fixing the components together via a solder joint  42 . In another example, shown in  FIG. 4 , one or more strain relief components  39  may be provided over the jacket  38  and optionally over all or part of the cable adapter body  22  and press sleeve body  44 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4  and  6 , the angled adapter  10  may include a press sleeve body  44 , an angled body  46 , a press sleeve dielectric  48 , a plug dielectric  50 , a bent contact  52 , a plug contact  54 , an intermediate outer contact  56 , a c-clip  58 , a gasket  60  and coupling nut  116 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the features of the press sleeve body (such as the threads  62 , inner bore  64 , and angled body—press sleeve attachment  66 ) are generally aligned to the cable axis  20  and the features of the angled body  46  (such as the angled body—press sleeve attachment  66 , intermediate outer contact receiving groove  68  and inner bores  70  and  72 ) are generally aligned to either the cable axis  20  or the connector axis  18 . In another example, the features of the press sleeve body  44  may be aligned to two or more axes. Similarly, the features of the angled body  46  may be aligned to one axis or more than two axes. In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , the main axes  18  and  20  of the angled adapter  10  exist in a single plane and intersect at a point. However, in another example, the axes to which features of the press sleeve body  44  and angled body  46  are aligned may not intersect or be aligned in a single plane. 
     The angled adapter is assembled by inserting the bent contact  52  into the angled body  46  through the inner bore  70 . An example of a bent contact  52  is shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 7A-7D . As shown, the bent contact  52  includes one or more bends  74  which provide an angle  80  between male  76  and female  78  ends of the bent contact  52 , the angle generally corresponding to the angle between the connector axis  18  and the cable axis  20 . 
     Press sleeve dielectric  48  is inserted over the female end  78  of the bent contact  52  and inside inner bore of the angled body  46 . An example of press sleeve dielectric  48  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 8A-8C . As shown in  FIG. 8A , which is a cross section of press sleeve dielectric  48  taken along its major axis, press sleeve dielectric  48  includes an inner bore  82  into which the female end  78  of the bent contact  52  is inserted. The press sleeve dielectric  48  also may include a beveled end surface  84  and a bend relief  86 . The beveled end surface  84  forms an angle  88  with the main axis of the press sleeve dielectric  48 . In one example, angle  88  is configured to be substantially half of the angle between axes  18  and  20  or half of angle  80 , although other angles are possible. As shown in  FIG. 6 , bend relief  86  provides a space for the bend  74  of the bent contact  52  to exist without detrimental impingement. 
     Press sleeve body  44  is affixed to the angled body  46  via the angled body-press sleeve attachment  66 . In the examples shown, the attachment  66  is a press-fit between the components, although other attachments are possible, for example a threaded, soldered, welded or glued attachment. Once the press sleeve body  44  and the angled body  46  are attached, the press sleeve dielectric  48  is held captive between the angled body  46  and the press sleeve body  44  by a surface  90  of inner bore  64  of the press sleeve body  44 . An example of the press sleeve body  44  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 9A-9C . 
     An example of the plug dielectric  50  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 10A-10C . Plug dielectric may include a beveled end surface  92  and a bend relief  94 . The beveled end surface  92  forms an angle  96  with the main axis of the plug dielectric  50 . In one example, angle  96  is configured to be substantially half of the angle between axes  18  and  20  or half of angle  80 , although other angles are possible. In one example, angles  88  and  96  may be similar or substantially the same. As shown in  FIG. 6 , bend relief  94  provides a space for the bend  74  of the angled contact  52  to exist without detrimental impingement. Once the plug dielectric  50  is inserted into the angled body  46 , the beveled end surface  92  of the plug dielectric  50  and the beveled end surface  84  of the press sleeve dielectric  48  may desirably be flush and aligned. The beveled end surface  92  of the plug dielectric  50  and the beveled end surface  84  of the press sleeve dielectric  48  may be left to simply abut one another or may be glued, welded or otherwise attached to one another. 
     In one example, the intermediate outer contact  56  is attached to the angled body  46  via a press-fit within the intermediate outer contact receiving groove  68 . Such an attachment ensures good electrical contact between the intermediate outer contact  56  and the angled body  46  so that an electric field reentrant path may be prevented. In another example, shown in  FIG. 6 , an angled body  46  may be provided with a forward projecting member  120  configured to engage an inner bore of an intermediate outer contact  56  at a location separate from the intermediate outer contact receiving groove  68  (and without another electrical connection between the outer contact receiving groove  68  and the contact point of the forward projecting member  120 ) to ensure a good electrical contact therebetween. In one example, such engagement may be in the form of a press-fit or friction-fit. Such engagement may also be welded, brazed, soldered or otherwise fixedly adhered. The location of the engagement between the forward projecting member  120  and the intermediate outer contact  56  towards the connector end  16  of the angled adapter  10  may provide additional prevention of electric field reentrant paths. In the example shown in  FIG. 6 , for example, the engagement between the forward contacting member  120  and the intermediate outer contact  56  is located adjacent captivation features  108  and  110  of the plug contact  54 . 
     An example of the intermediate outer contact  56  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 11A-11C . In one example of an intermediate outer contact  56  for an angled adapter  10  for use with signals up to, for example, 18 GHz, the intermediate outer contact  56  may not include any slots in an end thereof towards the connection end  16  of the angled adapter  10 . In another example of an intermediate outer contact  56  for use with signals up to, for example, 11 GHz, the intermediate outer contact  56  may be provided with one or more slots in an end thereof towards the connector end  16  of the angled adapter  10 . Such slots may be configured to provide a complete electrical path even if a less than ideal mating torque is applied between an external connector and the adapter  10  at connection end  16 . An example of an angled body  46  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 13A-13D . C-Clip  58  is fitted around intermediate outer contact  56  and is trapped between a forward member of angled body  46  and the intermediate outer contact  56  when the intermediate outer contact  56  is assembled into the intermediate outer contact receiving groove  68 . An external shoulder  100  of the intermediate outer contact  56  captures the c-clip  58  against a forward surface  122  of angled body  46  while an internal surface  102  of the intermediate outer contact  56  captures the plug dielectric  50  within the angled body  46  and intermediate outer contact  56 . 
     Plug contact  54  is inserted into the internal bore  98  of plug dielectric  50 . An example of the plug contact  54  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 12A-12D . Plug contact  54  may be provided with a female end  104 , a male end  106  and a groove including an undercut  108  and a chamfer  110 . As shown in  FIG. 10A , the plug dielectric may include a captivation feature such as a ridge including a flat  112  with a reduced inner diameter and a chamfer  114 . For example, the plug dielectric may be molded or may be machined to produce the flat  112  and chamfer  114 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , once assembled, undercut  108  is adjacent to flat  112  and chamfer  110  is adjacent to chamfer  114 . Undercut  108  and chamfer  110  provide signal transmission characteristics to the angled adapter allowing transmission of signals at high frequencies, such as up to 18 GHz. The diameter and shape of the undercut  108  and chamfer  110  may be configured according to the signal transmission characteristics required by a particular application. In the example shown, chamfer  110  is provided towards the male end  106  of the plug contact  54  while the undercut  108  is provided towards the female end  104  of the plug contact  54 . In this orientation, the corresponding chamfer  114  helps to guide the plug contact  54  during assembly into the internal bore  98  of the plug dielectric  50  even if the plug dielectric  50  is slightly deformed during a forcible insertion of the plug contact  54 . Once inserted, the mate of the undercut  108  and chamfer  110  with the flat  112  and chamfer  114 , respectively, mechanically captures the plug contact  54  within the plug dielectric  50 . Also, when inserted, the female end  104  of the plug contact  54  mates with the male end  76  of bent contact  52  to provide an uninterrupted electrical connection between the bent contact  52  and the plug contact  54 . 
     Gasket  60  is inserted over intermediate outer contact  56 . C-clip  58  may then be compressed radially, for example using tooling designed for that purpose, and coupling nut  116  may be fitted over the compressed C-clip  58 . Alternatively, coupling nut  116  may be forcibly fitted over the c-clip  58 , radially compressing it in the process. Once the coupling nut  116  is fitted over the c-clip  58 , the c-clip  58  is allowed to snap into a groove  118  in the coupling nut  116 . Thus, the coupling nut  116  is captured onto the intermediate outer contact  56  by c-clip  58 . In turn, c-clip  58  is held captive by the engagement of intermediate outer contact  56  within intermediate outer contact receiving groove  68  and the engagement between the forward contacting member  120  and the inner bore of the intermediate outer contact  56 . Thus, when coupling nut  116  is threaded onto an external connector and tightened, the coupling nut  116  exerts a longitudinal force along the connector axis  18  acting to disengage the intermediate outer contact  56  from the adapter body  46 . However, the attachments of the intermediate outer contact  56  to the angled body  46  at intermediate outer contact receiving groove  68  and at forward contacting member  120  (which may both be press-fit attachments, as discussed above) are configured to resist such longitudinal force. 
     The angled adapter  10  may be attached to the cable adapter  12 . In one example, shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , the female threads  62  of press sleeve body  44  are threaded onto the male threads  26  of the cable adapter body  22 . Of course, other attachment arrangements are also possible. 
     Materials for the various components may be chosen from among a wide range of suitable materials. In one example, angled body  46 , press sleeve body  44 , intermediate outer contact  56  and coupling nut  116  may be formed of passivated stainless steel (such as by machining or casting), bent contact  52  and plug contact  54  may be manufactured of beryllium-copper or phosphor-bronze and then gold plated, press sleeve dielectric  48  and plug dielectric  50  may be formed of (such as by machining or molding) PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene, a brand of which is Teflon), c-clip  58  may be manufactured from beryllium-copper or phosphor-bronze and gasket  60  may be manufactured from silicon rubber. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the dielectric components  48  and  50  are each captured in the angled adapter by a mechanical feature. For example, the press sleeve dielectric  48  may be mechanically captured within the press sleeve body  44  and the angled body  46  by surface  90  of the press sleeve body  44 . In another example, plug dielectric  50  may be mechanically captured within angled body  46  and intermediate outer contact  56  by surface  102  of the intermediate outer contact  56 . In environments with large temperature or pressure swings, such mechanical capturing ensures that the dielectrics (which may be formed of a plastic such as PTFE) stay in place no matter the environment into which the adapter is placed, a particular concern of adapters configured for high frequency signal transmission. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, the intermediate outer contact  56  prevents the existence of a reentrant path within the angled adapter  10 . For further discussion of reentrant path creation and the resultant signal transmission problems associated therewith, see U.S. Pat. No 7,381,089 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In other words, the presence of intermediate outer contact  56  adjacent the plug dielectric at the connector end  16  of the adapter prevents any substantial gap through which errant electrical field radiation may propagate which could cause resonances or other disturbances at high signal frequencies. 
     In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the provision of an intermediate outer contact  56  as a separate component from the angled body  46  allows for several advantages over a unitary angled body including an outer contact at the connector end  16 . For example, surface  102  of the intermediate outer contact  56  (which would be difficult, costly, time intensive and subject to a higher manufacturing failure rate if provided in a unitary angled body  46 ) allows for a mechanical capture of the plug dielectric  50  within the angled body  46  and the intermediate outer contact  56 . Moreover, by assembling the intermediate outer contact into the angled body  46  after the plug dielectric  50  is inserted into the angled body  46 , detrimental deformation of the plug dielectric  50 , which could lead to problematic gaps and reentrant paths, as discussed above, may be avoided. Such detrimental deformation of the plug dielectric  50  may be caused, for example, if a plug dielectric  50  is forcibly inserted into a unitary angled body  46  past an internal surface  102 . 
     In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the connector end  16  of the angled adapter  10  (including the plug contact  54 , the plug dielectric  50 , the intermediate outer contact  56  and the coupling nut  116 ) may be configured to adhere to a recognized or universal specification for high frequency connectors. One such specification maintained by the United States military is MIL-PRF-39012 and more specifically MIL-STD-348, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     In addition, the embodiments and examples above are illustrative, and many variations can be introduced on them without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the appended claims. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative and exemplary embodiments herein may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure. As another example, two or more of the various components described herein may be combined into one or more consolidated components or one of the various single components described herein may be provided as two or more sub-components.