Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ADAPTOR ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF ~HE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to coaxial cable
connectors and more particularly to extenders for coaxial
cable connectors.
BACKGROUMD OF THE INVENTION
In a coaxial cable connector extender the terminal of
the extender must be i~olated from the extender housing. A
variety of dielectric materials have been used to provide
this function. While air is the best dielectric material as
far as electrical performance is concerned since in an.air
dielectric the velocity of propagation of the electromagnetic
wave is minimal and the characteristic impedance is
relatively minimal minimizing line losses. An air dielectric
however cannot provide the mechanical support needed between
the terminal and the housing. Many plastic dielectric
materials can be used which provide a compromise between
electrical per~ormance and mechanical per~ormance. Plastic
dielectric materials are usually shaped as cylinders and
placed inside the housing, surrounding a portion of the
terminal. Electrical per~ormance o~ the connector extender
i8 negatively affected by the amount of plastic dielectric
material used. In some instances a mechanical element is
re~uired to maintain the dielectric material in place within
the housing of the connector extender.
An additional problem associated with prior art coaxial
cable extenders is known as "lock-up". Lock-up occurs when
the connector pin from a coaxial connector is inserted into
the metal terminal of the adaptor assembly. As the adaptor
assembly is installed onto the connector, a plastic collar
is driven axially into the housing, with the tapered bore of
the collar being forced against the end o~ the terminal,
thereby compressing the terminal about the connector pin.
When the pressure supplied by the closing collar being driven
.
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into the hou~ing in order to compress the end of the terminal
over the connector pin exceeds the yield strength of the
plastic collar, the metal terminal becomes embedded in the
tapered section of the plastic collar, thereby lockiny up the
adaptor assembly. Once lock-up has occurred, it becomes
difficult to separate the collar from the terminal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An adaptor assembly functions as a coaxial cable
connector extender for coaxial cable connectors. The adaptor
assembly comprises a housing including a terminal configured
to receive at one end thereof a connector pin from a
cooperating coaxial connector. The adaptor assembly further
includes at least one terminal support element for
supporting the terminal within the housing while maintaining
the terminal isolated mechanically and electrically from the
housing. The adaptor assembly also contains an auto-seizing
assembly comprising a collar, a spacer and a bushing which
are configured to compress an end of the terminal onto the
connector pin of the cooperating coaxial connector when the
adaptor assembly is installed. The bushing is configured to
prevent lock-up of the adaptor assembly. The adaptor
assembly provides a high performance, low cost extension o~
a coaxial cable connector.
BRIEF DE SCRIP TI~:)N OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be more fully understood from the
following detailed description ta~en in conjunction with the
accompan~ing drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a cross-~ectional diagram of the adaptor
assembly of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a cross sectional diagram of a portion of the
adaptor assembly of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a diagram o~ a support element;
Fig. 4 is a ~ide view o~ the support element o~ Fig. 3
installed on a terminal;
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Fig. 4A is an end view of the support element of Fig. 4;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the support
element-of Fig. 3 installed in an adaptor assembly; and
Fig. 5A is an end view of the support element of Fig. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Fig. 1 shows an adaptor assembly 1 according to the
present invention. The adaptor assembly functions as a
coaxial cable connector extender when installed on an end of
a coaxial ca~le connector or another extender. The adaptor
assembly 1 is provided in a plurality of lengths producing
extensions of three inches, six inches, nine inches and
twelve inches, although other lengths could be implemented.
The adaptor assembly 1 includes a housing 10, which is
made from a conductive material such as aluminum. The
housing 10 includes a central bore 11 disposed therethrough.
An electrically conductive terminal 20 is disposed within the
central bore 11 of housing 10. A first end 21 of the
terminal 20 extends beyond a first end 12 of the housing lo,
and serves as a male or pin terminal. A second end 22 of the
terminal 20 is located within the second end 13 of the
housing lo and includes 810t8 23 defining fingers to make the
end 22 compressible. The second end 22 serves as a female
terminal and includes a plurality of serrations 24 in order
to provide for a secure electrical and mechanical connection
to a conductor inserted therein.
An auto-seizing assembly comprising a bushing 30, collar
40 and spacer 50 is disposed along a common longitudinal axis
within the second end 13 of the housing 10. Bushing 30,
collar 40 and spacer 50 are open on each of two ends and have
a central bore disposed therethrough. The first end of
spacer 50 abuts the second end of collar 40. A first end of
collar 40 is configured to receive bushing 30 therein.
Bushing 30 is of tapered configuration matching the
tapered end of second end 22 and operates to compress the
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second end 22 of terminal 20 when a mating connector is
installed. Bushing 30 is comprised of metal and thus
prevents the occurrence of lockup of the assembly, as will
be described below.
Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, during installation of
the adaptor assembly 1 onto a connector or another extender,
the pin 110 from the cooperating cable connector is inserted
into the second end 13 of housing 10. The connector pin 110
is received within the 6econd end 22 of terminal 20. As the
adaptor assembly 1 is installed on the connector, spacer 50
is driven axially toward terminal 20 resultiny in collar 40
also being driven deeper into housing 10. Collar 40 is
configured to include a metal bushing 30. Metal bushing 30
includes a tapered bore for engagi~g the end of terminal 20.
The tapered bore at the first end of bushing 30 is forced
against the tapered portion of the second end 22 of
terminal 20, resulting in compression of the second end of
terminal 20 about the inserted connector pin 110. A flat
surface of bushing 30 is abutting a flat sur~ace of collar
40, thus the bushing 30 does not become embedded in collar
40 and, since the terminal 20 and the bushing 30 are
comprised of metal the terminal 20 does not become embedded
in the bushing 30, thus lock-up of the adaptor assembly 1 is
prevented. A secure mechanical and electrical connection is
provided by the adaptor assembly 1 to the connector pin 110
of the coaxial cable connector.
Adaptor assembly 1 further includes an entry support 60
disposed along a common longitudinal axis within housing 10.
Entry support 60 has a central bore disposed therethrough
sized to receive a portion of terminal 20. Entry support 60
also incudes an annular recess for supporting a first o-ring
80.
An end insulator 90 of adaptor assembly 1 is disposed
along a common longitudinal axis within housing 10 adjacent
the ~irst end 12 thereof. End insulator 90 includes a
central bore for supporting terminal 20.
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At least one support element 70 is disposed along a
common longitudinal axis within the housing 10. The number
of support elements required are dependent upon the length
L of the adaptor assembly. While support element 70 is shown
in this embodiment as a disk having a central bore, it should
be appreciated that other embodiments may also be utilized.
The support element 70 is comprised o~ a plastic material and
provides mechanical support for physically isolating the
terminal 20 from the housing 10 as well as electrically
insulating the terminal 20 from the housing 10. Electrical
performance of the adaptor assembly 1 is negatively affected
by the amount of plastic dielectric material utilized. The
support elements 70 provide for a minimal amount of plastic
dielectric material, and thereby affords improved electrical
performance of the adaptor assembly 1.
Figs. 3-5A show an additional embodiment of a support
element. Support element 70~ is comprised of a flat strip
of dielectric material including two holes 72 sized to
receive a portion of the terminal therethrough. While this
embodiment shows a flat rectangular strip it should be
appreciated that other shapes could be implemented, as could
dif~erent numbers of holes. Figs. 4 and 4A show the support
element 70' installed on a terminal 20. The strip is bowed,
and a portion o~ terminal 20 extends through holes 72. Figs.
5 and 5A show the support element 70' installed in an adaptor
assembly 1. The support element 70' mechanically supports
the terminal 20 within the housing 10, as well as providing
electrical insulation of the terminal 20 from the housing 10.
Additionally, the support element 70' functions as a spring
to secure itself within the housing 10. The deformation of
the bowed shape of the support element 70' at its apex where
it abuts the housing 10 and the tension provided by the ends
of the support element 70' where they contact the housing 10
maintain the support element 70' from unintended movement
within the housing 10, thereby removing the need for a
retaining mechanism. Further, an alaternate embodment of the
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terminal 20' is provided with conc~ntric grooves 25 that
retain the ends of the support element 70'and provide
additional resistance to movement.
By providing electrical and mechanical isolation of the
terminal within the housing with a minimal amount of plastic
and by providing mostly air insulation, the electrical
performance of the adaptor assembly is thus improved.
Additlonally, since less material is involved, support
elements of this type are lower cost.
Having described preferred embodiments o~ the invention
it will now become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art that other embodiment~ incorporating these concepts may
be used. Accordingly, it i9 submitted that the invention
should not be limited to the described embodiments but rather
should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the
appended claims.
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