Abstract:
The present invention relates to a high frequency self-lock connector, comprising a plug and a socket ( 16 ), wherein the plug ( 17 ) further comprising a plug sleeve connected with the plug housing ( 11 ) via an elastic member ( 10 ); a first contact member ( 8 ) is disposed within the plug sleeve ( 6 ); the first contact member ( 8 ) is fixed with respect to the plug housing ( 11 ); the first contact member ( 8 ) clamps the socket housing ( 3 ); a second contact member ( 9 ) is fixed on the plug housing ( 11 ) and connected with the first contact member ( 8 ) via the plug housing ( 11 ); the second contact member ( 9 ) abuts on an inner step of the socket housing ( 3 ); and the plug inner conductor ( 5 ) is in tight contact with the plug inner conductor ( 1 ). The connector of the present invention has a high vibration resistance, stable phase, quick connection, small SWR and good stability and is convenient for use.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a RF coax connector for microwave transmission. Specifically, the present invention relates to a high frequency push-in type quick self-lock connector. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    RF coax connectors serve to connect coax transmission lines, microstrip circuits and PCB circuits in microwave transmission circuits. Since RF coax connectors have the advantages that they have a wide working frequency band and provide a convenient connection and a high reliability, they are widely used in the field of aerospace and aviation systems, microwave communication engineering, and military and arms industry. RF coax connectors have a variety of connection means depending on applications, typically including threaded connection, bayonet connection, plug-in connection and push-in type self-lock connection. The threaded connection is characterized by high and good electrical property, but it has a slow connection speed and requires a sufficient surrounding space so that it is impossible to realize quick connection and high density arrangement. The plug-in and bayonet connections both have quick connection speed, but electrical property and vibration resistance thereof are too poor to be used in high demanding applications. The push-in type self-lock connection is characterized by quick connection and high reliability, but with conventional push-in type self-lock connectors, the connection interface configuration is complicated and tolerance accumulation of many dimensions renders a great variation in electrical length of the connector interface, and therefore, they have a high cost and can not be used in a system requiring good electrical property. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    To address one or more of the above problems, the present invention provides a novel high frequency push-in type quick self-lock connector, which has a good vibration resistance, quick connection, small VSWR (voltage standing wave ratio), and higher stability and is convenient for use. At the same time, the present invention provides a method for realizing a push-in type structure for coupling with a SMA type connector. 
         [0004]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a high frequency self-lock connector is provided, comprising a plug and a socket, the plug having a plug housing and a plug inner conductor, the socket having a socket housing and a socket inner conductor; the plug may be inserted into the socket in an axial direction, wherein the plug further comprising a plug sleeve connected with the plug housing via an elastic member in such a way that the plug sleeve is capable of being displaced in the axial direction with respect to the plug housing; a first contact member is disposed within the plug sleeve, the first contact member is fixed with respect to the plug housing; a second contact member is fixed on the plug housing and cooperates with the first contact member to define a receiving space for receiving the socket housing; when the plug is inserted into the socket, the socket housing is received in the receiving space; the first contact member clamps the socket housing; an end face of the second contact member abuts on an inner step of the socket housing; and the plug inner conductor is in tight contact with the socket inner conductor. 
         [0005]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first contact member is a ring-shaped elastic body with a slot. The ring-shaped elastic body is deformable in the radial direction. A projection is formed on the inner periphery of the first contact member. The two sides of the projection are slanted with different inclinations. 
         [0006]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, a groove is formed on the outer periphery of the socket housing. The two sides of the groove are slanted. A sealing ring is fitted on the inner periphery of the socket housing. When the plug is inserted into the socket, the projection of the first contact member is caught by the groove of the socket housing. 
         [0007]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the side of the projection on the plug side is slanted with a larger inclination than the side of the projection on the socket side. 
         [0008]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the side of the groove on the plug side is slanted with a larger inclination than the side of the groove on the socket side. 
         [0009]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first contact member is provided with a boss at one end and a supporting part at the other end in the axial direction on the outer periphery thereof. When the plug sleeve is disposed in a first position where the plug sleeve is close to the plug housing in the axial direction, the first contact member is fixed by the boss and the supporting part supported on the inner periphery of the plug sleeve; when the plug sleeve is disposed in a second position where the plug sleeve is distant from the plug housing in the axial direction, the boss is moved out of the plug sleeve and the first contact member is fixed only by the supporting part. 
         [0010]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a high frequency self-lock connector is provided, comprising a plug and socket, the plug having a plug housing and a plug inner conductor, the socket having a socket housing and a socket inner conductor, the plug can be inserted into the socket in an axial direction, wherein the plug further comprising a plug sleeve. 
         [0011]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the socket used with the high frequency self-lock connector may be a SMA type RF coax connector socket, wherein a connection sleeve is threadedly fastened to the housing of the SMA type RF coax connector socket, the connection sleeve having a recess at the front end thereof, the plug sleeve being connected with the plug housing via an elastic member in such a way that the plug sleeve is capable of being displaced in the axial direction with respect to the plug housing; a first contact member is disposed within the plug sleeve, the first contact member is fixed with respect to the plug housing; a second contact member is fixed on the plug housing and cooperates with the first contact member to define a receiving space for receiving the socket housing and the connection sleeve; when the plug is inserted into the assembly consisting of the SMA type RF coax connector socket and the connection sleeve, the socket housing and the connection sleeve are received in the receiving space; the first contact member clamps the socket housing; the second contact member abuts on an inner step of the socket housing; and the plug inner conductor is in tight contact with the socket inner conductor. 
         [0012]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first contact member is a ring-shaped elastic body. The ring-shaped elastic body is deformable in the radial direction. A projection is formed on the inside of the first contact member. The two sides of the projection are slanted with different inclinations. 
         [0013]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, a groove is formed on the outer periphery of the connection sleeve. When the plug is inserted into the assembly, the projection of the first contact member is caught by the groove of the connection sleeve. 
         [0014]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the connection sleeve is a sleeve having ¼″-36UNS-2B threads; the two sides of the groove of the connection sleeve are slanted respectively with a predetermined inclination. An inner chamfer and an outer chamfer are formed respectively at the inner side and the outer side of the opening end of the connection sleeve. 
         [0015]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second contact member is a cylindrical member fixed to or integrally formed with the first contact member. 
         [0016]    In comparison with the prior arts, the present invention can achieve the following advantages and technical effects: 
         [0017]    1. The connector of the present invention has a good mechanical property in that it has a quick and reliable connection, requires a small space and the cost thereof is low. Also, the connector of the present invention has a good electrical property and high vibration resistance and is adapted to be used under high frequency while obtaining stable signal. 
         [0018]    2. The connector of the present invention is simple and convenient for use and can meet the requirement of the new generation high frequency connector. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is an exploded schematic view showing the structure of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the plug and the socket are in a disassembled state; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the connector, in which the plug and the socket are in an assembled state; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the connector showing the process for pushing the plug into the socket; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the connector showing the process for withdrawing the plug from the socket; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a partially enlarged schematic view showing the engagement between the projection of the plug and the groove of the socket; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is an exploded schematic view showing the plug and the SMA type RF coax connector socket in a disassembled state; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view showing the plug and the SMA type RF coax connector socket in an assembled state; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view showing the connection between the connection sleeve and the SMA type RF coax connector socket; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing the process for pushing the plug into the assembly consisting of the SMA type RF coax connector socket and the connection sleeve; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view showing the process for withdrawing the plug from the assembly consisting of the SMA type RF coax connector socket and the connection sleeve; 
       
    
    
     THE REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE FIGURES ARE LISTED AS BELOW 
       [0030]      1  socket inner conductor 
         [0031]      2  socket insulation support 
         [0032]      3  socket housing 
         [0033]      4  sealing ring 
         [0034]      5  plug inner conductor 
         [0035]      6  outer sleeve 
         [0036]      7  plug insulation support 
         [0037]      8  first contact member 
         [0038]      9  second contact member 
         [0039]      10  elastic body 
         [0040]      11  plug housing 
         [0041]      12  socket inner conductor 
         [0042]      13  socket insulation support 
         [0043]      14  socket housing 
         [0044]      15  connection sleeve 
         [0045]      16  socket 
         [0046]      17  plug 
         [0047]      18  SMA type RF coax connector socket 
         [0048]      19  assembly 
         [0049]      20  groove 
         [0050]      21  projection 
         [0051]      22  boss 
         [0052]      23  supporting part 
         [0053]      24  inner step 
         [0054]      25  end face 
         [0055]      26  outer chamfer 
         [0056]      27  inner chamfer 
         [0057]      28  recess 
         [0058]      29  slot 
         [0059]      30  mechanical and electrical reference face of SMA type RF coax connector socket 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0060]    The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments. The examples thereof are shown in the figures. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals designate the same elements or parts. The embodiment is described in conjunction with the drawings in order to explain the present invention 
         [0061]      FIGS. 1-5  shows the first embodiment of the high frequency self-lock connector according to the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the connector comprises a socket  16  and a plug  17 . The plug  17  has a plug housing  11  and a plug inner conductor  5 . The socket  16  has a socket housing  3  and a socket inner conductor  1 . The plug  17  may be inserted into the socket  16  in an axial direction. The plug  17  further comprising a plug sleeve  6  connected with the plug housing  11  via an elastic member  10 . A first contact member  8  is disposed within the plug sleeve  6 . The plug sleeve  6  serves to protect the first contact member  8  and control the locking elastic force thereof. The first contact member  8  is fixed with respect to the plug housing  11 . A second contact member  9  is fixed on the plug housing  11 . The second contact member  9  has an end face  25  serving to control the mechanical and electrical reference face. The second contact member  9  may be a cylindrical member fixed to or integrally formed with the first contact member  8 . The second contact member  9  and the first contact member  8  cooperate to define a receiving space for receiving the socket housing  3 . When the plug  17  is inserted into the socket  16 , the socket housing  3  is received in the receiving space of the plug  17 , the first contact member  8  clamps the socket housing  3 , the end face  25  of the second contact member  9  abuts on an inner step  24  of the socket housing  3 , and the plug inner conductor  5  is in tight contact with the socket inner conductor  1 . 
         [0062]    The connector of the present invention includes a mechanical connection unit and an electrical connection unit. The two units are designed in connection with each other and the mechanical connection unit ensures the function of the electrical connection unit. The mechanical connection unit includes the socket housing  3 , the plug housing  11 , a sealing ring  4  (described later), the plug sleeve  6 , the first contact member  8  and the second contact member  9 , a connection sleeve  15  (described later), the elastic member  10  and a press-fit member behind it. The electrical connection unit includes a receptacle, a socket insulation supports  2  and  13 , a plug insulation support  7 , the socket housing  3 , the plug housing  11 , the socket inner conductors  1  and  12 , the plug inner conductor  5 , the first contact member  8  and the second contact member  9 . The socket insulation supports  2  and  13  and the plug insulation support  7  are disposed between the first contact member  8 , the second contact member  9  and the socket inner conductors  1  and  12 , the plug inner conductor  5 . The connector employs a spring-lock contact manner in the electrical connection interface. The relative position of the plug  17  and the socket  16  in a free state and the contact pressure after connection thereof are determined by the elastic member  10  and the plug sleeve  6 . The socket  16  includes the socket inner conductor  1 , the socket insulation support  2 , the socket housing  3  and the sealing ring  4 . The sealing ring  4  increases the sealing property of the connector. The mechanical connection unit of the plug  17  includes the plug sleeve  6 . The first contact member  8  is surrounded by the sleeve  6 . The elastic member  10  controls the force for moving the sleeve  6 . 
         [0063]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first contact member  8  made of elastic material is a ring-shaped elastic body with a slot  29  and capable of deforming in a radial direction. A projection  21  is formed on the inside of the first contact member  8 . The two sides of the projection  21  are slanted with different inclinations, so that when the socket housing  3  is inserted, the insertion force is gentle and the lock is reliable. The engagement between the first contact member  8  and the inner wall of the plug housing  11  makes the stability and electrical property of the connector increase after the plug is inserted into the socket. 
         [0064]    A groove  20  is formed on the outer periphery of the socket housing  3 . The two sides of the groove  20  are slanted. The sealing ring  4  is fitted on the inner periphery of the socket housing  3 . When the plug  17  is inserted into the socket  16 , the projection  21  of the first contact member  8  is caught by the groove  20  of the socket housing  3 . 
         [0065]    Preferably, the side of the projection  21  on the plug side is slanted with a larger inclination than the side of the projection on the socket side, and the side of the groove  20  on the plug side is slanted with a larger inclination than the side of the groove on the socket side, so that the plug  17  can be smoothly inserted into the socket  16  during the insertion, and the socket and the plug are not easy to be detached from each other after insertion. 
         [0066]    The elastic member  10  is provided between the plug housing  11  and the plug sleeve  6 . The elastic member  10  can be elastically compressed in the axial direction under the effect of an external force and restore to its original axial length after the external force is withdrawn. Therefore, the plug sleeve  6  connected with the elastic member  10  can be displaced in the axial direction. The first contact member  8  is provided with a boss  22  at one end and a supporting part  23  at the other end in the axial direction on the outer periphery thereof. When the elastic member  10  is in a normal stretched state, the plug sleeve  6  is disposed in a first position where the plug sleeve  6  is close to the plug housing  11  in the axial direction. At this time, the first contact member  8  is fixed by the boss  22  and the supporting part  23  supported on the inner periphery of the plug sleeve  6 , and the first elastic contact member  8  forms a shear strut beam structure as shown in  FIG. 3 ; when the elastic member  10  is compressed in the axial direction, the plug sleeve  6  is moved accordingly to a second position where the plug sleeve  6  is distant from the plug housing  11  in the axial direction. At this time, the boss  22  is moved out of the plug sleeve  6 , and the first contact member  8  is fixed only by the supporting part  23 . 
         [0067]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the connector of the present invention is in a connection state, the projection  21  of the first elastic contact member  8  is caught by the groove  20  of the socket housing  3 . The end face  25  of the second contact member  9  abuts on the inner step  24  of the socket housing  3 . The plug sleeve  6  maintains in a normal state under the action of the elastic force of the elastic member  10 . When the external force acting on the plug sleeve  6  is less than the elastic force of the elastic member  10 , the thickness of the wall of the first elastic contact member  8  and the inclination of the right side of the projection  21  are controlled such that the vector sum of the elastic force of the first elastic contact member  8  and the friction force acting on the socket housing  3  is greater than a predetermined external force acting on the socket housing  3  for separating the socket housing  3  from the first elastic contact member  8 . As a result, the plug  17  and the socket  16  are self-locked and will not detached. At this time, the socket inner conductor  1  and the plug inner conductor  2  tightly contact with each other, and the whole connector are in a lock state. 
         [0068]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the socket  16  is pushing into the plug  17 . The front end of the first elastic contact member  8  is locked by the plug sleeve  6  and can not move radially. Therefore, the elastic first contact member  8  forms a shear strut beam supported at two ends thereof. The wall thickness of the first elastic contact member  8  and the inclination of the left side of the projection  21  are controlled such that a predetermined force is necessary when the plug is inserted into the socket and the connection is reliable. 
         [0069]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the socket  16  is being extracted from the plug  17 . The sleeve  6  presses against the elastic member  10  under external force. The sleeve  6  is retracted back and moves across the boss  22  of the first contact member  8 . At this time, the first elastic contact member  8  forms a cantilever beam structure. When the external force acting on the socket housing  3  for detaching from the first elastic contact member  8  becomes greater than a certain force, the plug  17  and the socket  16  are separated from each other. At this time, the socket inner conductor and the plug inner conductor are separated from each other, and the connector is in an unlock state. 
         [0070]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first elastic contact member  8  is in a normal state with the projection  21  thereof being caught by the groove  20  of the socket housing  3  so that the socket housing  3  is subject to a certain positive pressure by the elasticity of the first contact member and a reliable contact between the socket and the plug is ensured. 
         [0071]      FIGS. 6-10  show a second embodiment of the present invention. Except that the socket is a SMA type RF coax connector socket  18  and that a connection sleeve  15  is provided, the self-lock connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention has the same structure as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the similar structures are not described in the second embodiment. The socket according to the second embodiment is a SMA type RF coax connector socket. A connection sleeve  15  is threadedly connected on the outer periphery of the SMA type RF coax connector socket  14 . Unlike the first embodiment, when the plug  17  is inserted into the assembly  19  consisting of the socket  18  and the connection sleeve  15 , the socket housing  14  and the connection sleeve  15  both are received in the receiving space of the plug, and the first contact member  8  clamps the connection sleeve  15  instead of the socket housing  3 . 
         [0072]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the connection sleeve  15  is in the form of a sleeve and formed with a groove  20  on the outer periphery thereof and a recess  28  at the front end thereof. The inside of the connection sleeve  15  is formed with ¼″-36UNS-2B threads, which are capable of engaging with the threads on the housing  14  of the SMA type RF coax connector socket with a receptacle by a tool. The SMA type RF coax connector socket  18  connected with the connection sleeve  15  can be inserted into the first elastic contact member  8 . The projection  21  of the first elastic contact member  8  may be caught by the groove  20  on the outer periphery of the connection sleeve  15  so as to lock the connection sleeve  15  and ensure that the second contact member  9  abuts on the mechanical and electrical reference face of the housing  14  of the SMA type RF coax connector socket. The second contact member  9  may be a cylindrical member fixed in or integrally formed with the first contact member  8  with an end face thereof serving as a mechanical and electrical reference face. 
         [0073]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , when the connector according to the present embodiment is in a connection state, the projection  21  of the first elastic contact member  8  is caught by the groove  20  of the connection sleeve  15 . The end face of the second contact member  9  abuts on mechanical and electrical reference face  30  inside the housing  14  of the SMA type RF coax connector socket. 
         [0074]    The connection sleeve  15  is subject to a certain positive pressure force by the elasticity of the first contact member  8  so as to ensure that the plug  17  and the socket  16  are reliably contacted with each other and the plug  17  and the socket  16  are self-locked and will not be detached. At this time, the second contact member  9  abuts on the mechanical and electrical reference face  30  of the housing  14  of the SMA type RF coax connector socket, and the whole connector is in a lock state. 
         [0075]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the connection sleeve  15  is formed with a groove  20  on the outer periphery thereof and a “-” shaped recess  28  at the front end thereof. The inside of the connection sleeve  15  is formed with ¼″- 
         [0076]      36 UNS- 
         [0077]      2 B threads, which are capable of engaging with the threads on the housing  14  of the SMA type RF coax connector socket by a tool. The SMA type RF coax connector socket  18  connected with the connection sleeve  15  can be inserted into the first elastic contact member  8  as an assembly  19 . The two sides of the groove  20  are slanted with a certain inclination to control the magnitude of the force for extracting the first contact member  8 . An inner chamfer  27  and an outer chamfer  26  are formed respectively at the inner side and the outer side of the opening end of the connection sleeve  15 . The outer chamfer  26  serves to guide the first contact member  8  during the insertion thereof. The inner chamfer  27  serves to guide the second contact member  9 . 
         [0078]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , when the pushing force exerted on the SMA type RF coax connector socket  18  with the connection sleeve  15  is greater than the sum force of the elastic force of the elastic structure of the first contact member  8  and the friction force, the assembly  19  is pushed into the plug  17 . The connector is in a lock state. 
         [0079]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , when the pulling force exerted on the SMA type RF coax connector socket  18  with the connection sleeve  15  is greater than the sum force of the elastic force of the elastic structure of the first contact member  8  and the friction force, the assembly  19  is drawn out of the plug  17 . That is, the plug  17  is detached from the assembly  19 . The connector is in an unlock state. 
         [0080]    Preferably, the two sides of the groove  20  on the outer periphery of the connection sleeve  15  are inclined with different inclinations. The steeper side of the groove  20  serves to engage the inclined inner side of the first contact member  8  to increase the reliability of connection, and the less steeper side of the groove  20  ensures that the first contact member fully contacts the socket housing. The recess  28  ensures that the connection sleeve  15  and the housing  14  of the SMA type Rf coax connector socket can be completely screwed and sufficiently attached together. 
         [0081]    The high frequency push-in type quick self-lock connector of the present invention is adapted to be used with a variety of semi-rigid and semi-flexible soft cable. The connector of the present invention may also be a curved or microstrip connector, various adaptors and the like. 
         [0082]    Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated above, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the embodiments can be further modified and changed in various ways without departing from the scope of the claims.