Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RIGHT ANGLE COAXLA~ CoN~cTnR
This invention relates to a method of making an
electrical connection between an electrical coaxial cable and an
electrical coaxial connector, and more particularly a right angle
coaxial connector.
United States Patent 3,750,090 discloses a known method
for connecting a right angle coaxial connector to a coaxial cable.
According to the known method, a sleeve form outer conductor of
the coaxial cable is concentrically fitted on an adapter sleeve
of a coaxial connector. A standard crimping tool is used to crimp
together (apply compressive forces to) the outer conductor and the
adaptor sleeve, and thereby electrically connect the outer
conductor to the adaptor sleeve. The adaptor sleeve is then
concentrically secured on a conductive shell of the coaxial
connector. The conductive shell contains a conductive central
contact of the coaxial connector. A standard soldering tool is
used to solder a center conductor of the coaxial cable to a
conductive central contact of the coaxial connector.
According to the invention, a method is disclosed for
connecting a coaxial cable to a right angle coaxial connector
without a soldering operation and the need for a soldering tool.
The invention comprises the steps of, poistioning a conductive
tubular portion of the outer contact concentrically over an
insulation sheath carrying the center conductor of the coaxial
cable and concentrically under the outer conductor of the coaxial
cable, overlapping an end portion of the center conductor of the
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coaxial cable with deformable leg means of the center contact
projecting along an axis intersecting the axis of the tubular
portion at a right angle, supporting the center contact axially
against a crimping tool, pOsitioning a first movable part of the
crimping tool into an open end of the coaxial connector and
against the deformable leg means, and moving the first movable
part axially of the center contact and crimping the deformable
leg means into secured engagement with the center conductor.
FIGURE 1 is an exposed perspective view of the right
angle coaxial connector partly broken away, a stripped end of a
coaxial cable and ferrule member.
FIGURE 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the coaxial
cable in position in the coaxial connector ready for termination
and the coaxial connector in position in a crimping tool which
is shown in part cross section.
FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2 showing
the tool in a crimping position.
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a completely terminated
coaxial connector.
FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 4.
FIGURE 6 is a part cross-sectional view of a receptacle
section of a center contact in position in the contact-receiving
die of the crimping tool for supporting the center contact during
the crimping operation.
Figures 1 through 5 illustrate a right angle coaxial
connector 10 which includes a center contact 12 having a pin
section 14 and a U-shaped
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ferm~le section 16. Center contact 12 is secured in a bore 18 of a
dielectric member 20 by means of an annular barb 22.
Dielectric member 20 includes a large diameter section 24 which fits
into passageway 26 of metal body member 28. Passageway 26 necks down
into a smaller diameter section 30 in which a small diameter section 32 of
dielectric member 20 is positioned with annular shoulder 24 forming a stop
against which large diameter section 24 of dielectric member 20 engages
thereby limiting the inner movement of dielectric member 20 within body
member 28. Indentations 36 are formed in body member 28 containing
section 32 of dielec-tric member 20 to secure dielectric member 20 in
position in body member 28.
Ferrule section 16 is centrally aligned with respect to passageway 26
and is accessible through the open end thereof which contains an annular
shoulder 38. Ferrule section 16 is also in alignment with an opening 40 in
body member 28 which has an annular shoulder 42 against which tubular
member 44 engagesO Tubular member 44 is secured in opening 40 of body
member 28 by soldering, brazing, or the like, and it has annular grooves
46 in its exterior surface along which braided outer conductor 48 of a
stripped end of coaxial cable 50 is disposed while inner insulation sheath
52 surrounding center conductor 54 is positioned within tubular member 44
with center conductor 54 being positioned within U-shaped ferrule section
16.
The legs of U-shaped crimping section 16 extend away from the axis
of center contact 12 to facilitate positioning of the end of center conductor
54 therein.
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A crimping ferrule 56 has been positioned on insulatiny jacket 58 of
coaxial cable S0 prior to the stripped end of coaxial cable 50 being
positioned in tubular member 44 and after braided outer conductor 48 has
been positioned alony the exterior surface of tubular member 44, crimping
ferrule 56 is positioned onto tubular member 44 covering braided outer
conductor 48 and extending partly along insulating jacket 58 so as to be
crimped thereon as discussed in greater detail hereinafter.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a crimping tool 60 includes crimping
dies 62, 64 with electrical connector 10 in position in a crimping area of
crimping die 62 such that pin section 14 is positioned within a tubular
member 66 with shoulder 68 of contact 12 abutting the upper surface of
tubular member 66 to provide support to contact 12 when crimping member
70 of crimping die 64 moves into the opening of body member 28 to crimp
the legs of U-shaped ferrule section 16 by folding them onto center
conductor 54 thereby electrically and mechanically connecting center
conductor 54 to center contact 12 as illustrated in Figure 3. Simultaneous
with the crimping oF ferrule section 16 into electrical connection with
center conductor 54, crimping dies 62, 64 also crimp crimping ferrule 56
onto tubular member 44 and insulating jacket 58 to electrically connect
braided outer conductor 48 to tubular member 44 thereby forming an
excellent electrical and mechanical connection for the outer conductor to
coaxial connector 10. The crimping of ferrule 56 onto insulating jacket 58
provides strain relief for the termination. The crimped configuration of
ferrule 56 onto tubular member 44 and insulating jacket 58 is a hex
configuration but can be circular or other configurations to accomplish the
intended result. After coaxial cable 50 has been terminated to coaxial
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connector lO as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, a closure member 72 is
forcefully positioned in the opening of body member 28 in engagement with
shoulder 38 to close the open end of passageway 26 as illustrated in
Figures 4 and 5.
A tined front end 74 is clinched onto the front end of body member
28 surrounding pin section 14 to make electrical connection with a matable
coaxial connector (not shown) to make electrical connection therewith. A
retaining ring 76 is secured on body member 28 between front end 74 and
shoulder 78 to secure coaxial connector 10 in position in a passageway of a
connector housing if desired.
Figure 6 illustrates crimping die 80 which is similar to crimping die 62
but it contains a supporting member 82 onto which receptacle section 84 of
center contact 12 is positioned when right angle coaxial connector l O is
positioned in crimping die 80 so that the inner surface 86 of center contact
12 abuts against the end of supporting member 82 to support center
contact 12 when ferrule section 16 is crimped onto center conductor 54 in
the manner as disclosed hereinbefore.
The center contact of the right angle coaxial connector of the present
invention is a straight screw machine contact rather than a bent contact or
multiple contact members, the U-shaped ferrule section enables the center
conductor of the coaxial cable to be crimped onto the center conductor and
the outer conductor of the coaxial cable to be crimped onto the coaxial
connector thereby enabling the coaxial cable to be readily terminated to
the coaxial connector at reduced applied costs to form excellent mechanical
and e!ectrical connections.
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