GB2175150A - Coaxial electrical connector for an electrical cable - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical connector 1 for twin axial cable 100 comprises; a first assembly 4 comprised of a conductive outer shell 6, a first dielectric body 8, a conductive inner shell 10, and a second dielectric body 12; and a second assembly (fig. 3) 60 for insertion in the first assembly and for electrical connection with the inner shell 10, comprises a first conductive body 62, a conductive ferrule 64 on the first conductive body 62 for connection with a corresponding electrical conductor 104, a third dielectric body 66, an electrical contact 70 for connection with a corresponding electrical conductor 102 of a twin axial cable 100, and a second conductive body 72 for establishing electrical connection of a conductive sheath 106 of a twin axial cable 100 and a barrier 108 in the outer shell 6 for limiting displacement of the conductive sheath 106 along the outer shell 6. The second assembly is connected to a cable before insertion into the first assembly. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electrical connector for an electrical cable The invention relates to the field of electrical connectors, and is directed to an electrical connector for a twin axial electrical cable in which a pair of insulated conductors are contained in a conductive sheath of metal braid and an outerjacket of insulation material.

Atwin axial electrical cable is required to transmit electrical signals over its length and also to shield againstundesiredescapeofthesignalsfromthecable as radio frequency interference (RFl) or electromotive interference (EMI). An insulated conductorwithin the cable transmits the electrical signals along the length ofthe cable. A second insulated conductorwithin the cable is twisted together with the first insulated conductortoformatwisted pair of conductors. The second insulated conductor is provided to absorb signals escaping from the first insulated conductor.

Both insulated conductors ofthe twisted pair are encircled or surrounded by a conductive jacket known as a braid, so called for being composed of strands of wire which are interwoven to form a braid-like jacket.

The conductive jacket is provided to absorb signals escaping from the first insulated conductor.

Apriorconnectorforcoaxial cable is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,280,749, July28, 1981, in which an outer shell has an enlarged open rearward end to receive a conductive jacket of a coaxial cable. The jacket is doubled back on itself to coaxially surround a bushing that grips the jacket and is inserted with the jacket in the rearward end of the outer shell.

A known connector disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,397,516 provides electrical connections to each of two insulated conductors of a twin axial cable and to a conductive jacket ofthe cable. The known connector is constructed of many separate parts which are assembled, in turn, slidably along the insulated conductors.

The separate parts must be assembled in precise order along the insulated conductors.

The invention resides in a connector in which certain ofthe component parts are first assembled to one anotherin a corresponding assembly that is easily applied to corresponding conductors of an electrical twin axial cable. The assembly is less likely to result in parts which become forgotten or parts which are applied to the conductors ofthe cable in incorrect order.

Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section of a plug type connectorofthe invention.

Figure 2 is a section view of an assembly of some of the component parts of the connector shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section viewof anotherassemblyof some ofthe component parts ofthe connector shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the connectorshown in Figure 1 with component parts illustrated in exploded configuration.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section of a receptacle type connector ofthe invention.

Figure 6 is a section view ofan assembly of some of the component parts of the connector shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a section view of another assembly of some othecomponent parts ofthe connectorshown in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the connector shown in Figure 5 with component parts illustrated in exploded configuration.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in section illustrating the plug and receptacle connectors disengageably connected together.

An electrical plug type connector 1 is shown in Figure 1. Figure4 illustrates the component parts of the connector 1. An electrical receptacle type connector 2 is shown in Figure 5. Figure 8 i 11 ustrates the component parts of the connector 2. The component parts ofthe connectors 1 and 2 are similar. In the text that follows, the same reference numerals are used in reference to the similar component parts ofthe connectors 1 and 2.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the component parts of the connector 1 in corresponding assemblies. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the component parts of the connector 2 in corresponding assemblies. Afirst assembly 4 comprises an outer conductive shell 6, a first dielectric body 8 concentrically engaging the outer shell 6, a conductive inner shell 10 concentrically engaging the first dielectric body 8, and a second dielectric body 12 concentrically engaging the inner shell 10. Forthe receptacle connector2, the second dielectric body 12 comprises two pieces.

The outer shell 6 is hollow and has a forward section 14with an open end 16. Theoutershell 6hasa rearward section 18with an rearward open end 20.

The internal diameter ofthe rearward section 18 is relatively large to receive additional component parts ofthe assembly 4. An internal annularshoulder 22 and an external mounting flange 24 are provided on the rearward section 18 of the outer shell 6.

Thefirst dielectric body 8 is hollow and has an internal annularshoulder26 between aforward section 28 and a rearward section 30 that has an internal diameter largerthan the diameter ofthe forward section 28. The dielectric body 8 is mounted in theoutershell 6 by movement intothe rearward open end 20 ofthe outershell 6 and in a forward direction until an external annular shoulder 32 on the dielectric body 8 engages the shoulder 22 of the outer shell 6 to resistforward movement of the dielectric body 8.

A ring 34 is mounted in the rearward open end 20 and is frictionally retained with a compression fit againstan interioroftheoutershell6.The ring 34 engages a rearward end 35 ofthe first dielectric body 8 and resists movement of the first dielectric body 8 in a rearward direction.

Theconductiveinnershell 10 concentrically engages the first dielectric body 8. The inner shell 10 is hollow and has a cylindrical forward section 36. On the The drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

This print embodies corrections made under Section 117(1) of the Patents Act 1977.

plug connector 1 the forward section has a pluralityof circumferentialjy spaced apart resilient fingers 38 razz t disengageably connect with and establish electrical connection with the forward section 36 ofthe recepta cle connector2.

A rearward section 40 ofthe innershell 10is frustoconical and has an open rearward end 42 surrounded by rearwardly projecting tines 44 which are circumferentially spaced apartfrom one another.

The inner shell 10 has an annular internal shoulder46, astopmeansintheform of an external flange48 and an external tapered collar 50 with a rearward facing shoulder.

The inner shell 10 is assembled by movement into the open rearward end 20 ofthe outer shell 6 and the rearward open end 35 of the first dielectric body 8 until the flange 48 engages the internal shoulder 26 ofthe first dielectric body 8 to resist movement ofthe inner shell lOin a forward direction. The first dielectric body 8 is resiliently compressible in response to forcible passage ofthe tapered collar 50. The collar 50 tapers forwardly to allow movement ofthe innershell 10 within the first dielectric body 8 until the movement is resisted by theflange 48. The shoulder of the collar50 imbeds inthe dielectric body 8to resist movement of theinnershell 10in a rearward direction.

The second dielectric body 12 is assembled in the rearward open end 42 ofthe innershell 10.An external annularshoulder 52 of the dielectric body 12 engages theannularinternalshoulder46oftheinnershell lOto resist forward movement ofthe dielectric body 12. The dielectric body 12 is hollow and has annularinternal collar 54. A press-fit ring 56 is mounted in the rearward end 42 ofthe inner shell 10 and is frictionally retained by a compression fitagainstthe interior surface ofthe innershell 10. The press-fit ring 56 engages a rearward end 58 of the dielectric body 12 and resists movement ofthe dielectric body 12 in a rearward direction.

Figure3 illustrates a second assembly 60 corresponding to the connector 1. Figure7illustrates a second assembly 60 corresponding to the connector 2. The corresponding assembly 60 comprises a first conductive body 62, a conductive and radially deform able ferrule 64 concentrically engaging the first conductive body 62, and a third dielectric body 66 concentrically engaging the first conductive body 62.

The ferrule 64 has a conductor receiving receptacle portion 68 between the ferrule 64 and thefirst conductive body 62 for electrical connection to an insulated conductor of a twin axial electrical cable.

Additional parts ofthe second assembly 60 comprise a conductive electrical contact 70 for connection to a first insulated conductor of a twin axial cable, a second conductive body 72 for connection to a conductive sheath or braid ofthe cable and an insulative barrier 108 having a conductor receiving opening 110.

The first conductive body 62 is hollow and has forward section 74 and a rearward section 76 of smallerdiameterthan the diameter oftheforward section 74. An interior surface of the forward section 74 is frusto-conical and complementary in shape to receive the frusto-conical rearward section 40 ofthe inner shell 10. The ferrule 64 is hollow and surrounds the conductive body 72 and is frictionally mounted by a compression fit on the forward section 74.

Oneform of th e ferrule 64 h as a cylindrical rearward section 78 that defines a conductor receiving receptacle 68 ofannularform adjacentto the rearward section 76. An alternate form ofthe ferrule 64 has a rearward section 78 with a raised portion 80 that projects outwardly from the surface ofthe rearward section 76 to define a conductor receiving receptacle 68 of elongate form adjacentto the rearward section 76.

The third dielectric body 66 has an axial passageway 82 for mounting the electrical contact 70. The dielectric body 66 has a forward section 84 of enlarged diameter within the forward section 74 ofthe first conductive body 62 and engages the forward section 74to resist movement ofthe dielectric body 66 in a rearward direction. Atapered collar 86 projects radially outward ofthe dielectric body 66 and engages the rearward end ofthe conductive body 62 to resist movement ofthe dielectric body 66 in a forward direction. The collar86tapers rearwardlyto allow passage ofthe dielectric body 66 in a rearward direction through the conductive body 62 until such movement is resisted bytheforward section 84.The dielectric body 66 is radially compressible during assembly in the conductive body 62to allow passage ofthecollar86 along the interiorofthe rearward section 76.

Forthe plug connector 1,the corresponding electrical contact70 has aforward section 88 intheform ofan electrical plug. Forthe receptacle connector2,the corresponding electrical contact 70 has a forward section 88 in the form of an electrical receptacle that disengageably connects with the plug when the connectors 1 and 2 are disengageably connected as shown in Figure 9. Each corresponding contact 70 has an annular groove 90 and an annular external flange 92 and a tapered external collar 94. The flange 92 engages the dielectric body 66 and resistsfurther rearward movement. Thetapered collar 94 imbeds in the dielectric body 66 and resists forward movement ofthe contact 70.A conductor receiving cavity 96 is in the rearward end of the contact 70 for electrical connection with an insulated conductor of a twin axial electrical cable.

The second conductive body 72 is of hollow cylindrical form and is adapted for mounting in the rearward end 20 ofthe outer shell 6. The conductive body 72 has a flange 98 projecting radially outward to engagethe rearward end 20oftheoutershell 6andto resistforward movement ofthe conductive body 72 in theoutershell 6.

The second assembly 60 is connected with a twin axial electrical cable 100 in the following manner. The conductive second body 72 is assembled over the cable 100 such thatthe second body 72 surrounds the cable 100.

The barrier 108 is assembled overthe conductors 102 and 104, making certain that the conductive sheath 106 is positioned on the same side ofthe barrier 108 as the conductive body 72, and that the conductors 102 and 104 project through the conductor receiving opening 110 ofthe barrier 108.

Afirst insulated conductor 102 ofthe cable 100 is inserted through the third dielectric body 66 and into the cavity 96 ofthe contact 70. A second insulated conductor 104 of the cable 100 is inserted in an open rearward end of the ferrule 64 and in the receptacle portion 68 oftheferrule 64. An electrical connection to the second conductor 104 is established by the application of radial inward force on the ferrule 64, causing the ferrule 64to deform radially inward and engage the second conductor 104.The first conductor 102 and the contact 70 are connected electrically by the application of radial inward force on respective portions ofthe contact 70 and the cavity 96 containing the first conductor 102 that projects forwardly out wa rd of the th i rd dielectric body 66 and the conductive body 62 and the ferrule 64. The conductive sheath 106 ofthe cable is doubled back on itself to surround externally and concentricallythe second conductive body 72. Thereby the second assembly 60 is assem- bled to corresponding portions ofthecable 100 and is duly prepared for assembly with the first assembly 4.

The second assembly 60 and the corresponding portions of the cable 100 are inserted in the open rearward end 20 of the outer shell 6. The contact 70 becomes supported in the second dielectric body 12, and theferrule 64 becomes supported in the first dielectric body 8. The tines 44 of the inner shell 10 wedge against and engage the frusto-conical forward section 74 of the first conductive body 62 to resist furtherforward movement of the first conductive body 62 and to establish an electrical connection. The contact70 is mounted in the second dielectric body 12 with the collar 54 locked in the groove 90. The second conductive body 72 and a corresponding portion of the sheath 106 are inserted in the open rearward end 20 ofthe outer shell 6.Radial inward force is applied to the rearward section 18 ofthe shell 6 to deform the shell 6 radially inward to engage concentrically the conductive sheath 106 and establish an electrical connection ofthe sheath 106 with the outer shell 6 and the second conductive body 72.

The barrier 108 is inserted in the rearward end 20 of the outer shell 6, and spans acrossthe diameterofthe rearward end 20 to confine the conductive body 72 and the conductive sheath 106 rea rwa rd Iy of th e barrier 108. Thereby the barrier 108 limits movement ofthesheath lO6forwardlywithin and along the outer shell 6, and further prevents conductive contact ofthe sheath 106 with the conductors 102, lO4andthe conductive parts which establish electrical connectionsto the respective conductors 102,104.

The invention is intended to include othermodifica- tions and variations. Forexample,thefirstand second insulated conductors of the twin axial cable can be connected bytheapplication of crimping forces simultaneouslyto the ferrule 64 and the contact 70.

Claims (11)

1. An electrical connectorfor connection to corres ponding conductors of an electrical cable comprising a conductive outer shell, a stationary and conductive innershellseparatedfromtheoutershell bydielectric material, a conductive electrical contactforconnec tion to a corresponding first electrical conductor of the cable a first conductive body for connection to the inner shell a conductive receptacle on the first conductive body for connection to a corresponding second electrical conductor of the cable a second conductive body for mounting in concentric rela tionshipwiththeoutershell and for connection with a corresponding third conductor of the cable, characterized in that; a dielectric body is mounted in the first conductive body and the conductive electrical contact is mounted concentrically within the dielectric body to form a subassembly moveable as a unit within the outer shell for location in spaced relationship with the interior of the outer shell and with the first conductive body electrically connected to the stationary inner shell, and with the electrical contact in spaced relationshipwiththeinterioroftheinnershell.

2. An electrical connectoras recited in claim 1, further characterized in that; the receptacle is radially deformable for connection with a corresponding second conductor ofthe electrical cable.

3. An electrical connector as recited in claim 1, further characterized in that; the electrical contact is radially deformable for connection with a corresponding first conductor ofthe cable.

4. An electrical connector as recited in claim 1, further characterized in that; the receptacle is formed by a ferrule mounted on the first conductive body of the subassembly.

5. An electrical connector as recited in claim 2, further characterized in that; the electrical contact is radially deformable for connection with a corresponding first conductor ofthe cable.

6. An electrical connector as recited in claim 4, further characterized in that; the electrical contact is radially deformablefor connection with a corresponding first conductor of the cable.

7. An electrical connector as recited in claim 2, further characterized in that; the receptacle'is formed buy a ferrule mounted on thefirst conductive body of the subassembly.

8. An electrical connector as recited in claim 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or7, further characterized in that; an insulative barrier is constructed for receipt in the outer shell and for interposing between the corresponding third conductorandthe remaining corresponding conductors of the cable.

9. An electrical connector as recited in claim 1, further characterized in that; an insulative barrier is constructed for receipt in the outer shell and for interposing between the corresponding third conductor and the remaining corresponding conductors of the cable.

10. An electrical connector as recited in claim '3,4, 5,6,7 or9furthercharacterized in that; aforward portionofthefirstconductivebodyanda rearward portion oftheinnershell are constructed foroverlapped engagement.

11. An electrical connector substantially as he- reinbefore described with reference to the accom panying partly diagrammatic drawings.