Patent ID: 8007314

Claim:
A compression connector for a coaxial cable, wherein the coaxial cable includes a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, which dielectric is surrounded by a conductor layer, comprising: a connector body having a first end and a second end and a central passageway therethrough; an insulator disposed within the central passageway at the first end of the body; the insulator having an opening therein; a compression sleeve assembly connected to the second end of the body; first clamp means, disposed in the central passageway, for clamping onto the conductor layer; and second clamp means, disposed within the central passageway, for clamping onto the center conductor, whereby upon axial advancement of the compression sleeve assembly from the second end to the first end, the first and second clamp means are radially compressed inwardly, wherein the second clamp means comprises: a conductive pin having a collet portion at one end thereof, wherein an outer diameter of the collet portion is greater than a diameter of the opening in the insulator, such that forcing the conductive pin in the longitudinally axial direction causes the outer diameter of the collet portion to reduce in size as the collet portion is forced into the opening, and wherein the first clamp means comprises: a clamp disposed on an inside of the body, the clamp having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion has an outer engagement surface and the second portion has an outer diameter; a transition member disposed between a mandrel and the clamp; wherein the transition member includes a transition surface on an inside of the transition member and a surface on an outside of the transition member such that the transition member and the body make electrical contact; wherein a diameter of the surface on the outside of the transition member and the outer diameter of the second portion of the clamp are the same; and wherein forcing the clamp in the longitudinally axial direction causes the outer engagement surface to interact with the transition surface such that the first portion of the clamp reduces inwardly in size.