Electrical Connectors

Abstract

Means for establishing electrical connection selectively between coaxial electrical connectors having similar or different coupling end configurations comprises a plurality of adapters each having first and second coupling ends, the first coupling end of each adapter being such that it can matingly engage the coupling end of a respective one of the said electrical connectors, and the second coupling ends of all the adapters being of the same internally threaded configuration, and a conductive coupler having an external threaded configuration fitting with both adaptors and conductor ends that can matingly engage the conductors of each of the adapters.

Parent Case Text

This is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 706,488 filed Feb. 19, 1968 for Electrical Connectors, now abandoned.

This invention relates to electrical connectors of the coaxial type, and it contemplates a readily assembled and detachable connector assembly whereby may be effected the efficient and rapid joining of any two similar or differing coupling faces with a common coupler link so that any two cables or electrical circuits to be joined together when they have been terminated in similar or differing electrical connectors.

More specifically the invention contemplates a kit or collection of coaxial adaptor components having the same or different coupling faces at one end but all having identical coupling formations at the other end, so that any one of the adaptor components may be readily assembled to or detached from any other adaptor component, using the same common coupler link, and this is a major object of the invention.

By virtue of this invention the number of coupling assemblies of standard design required to allow inter linking of any given number of coupling faces is reduced. For example, if facilities had to be provided for the random linking of any ten different coupling faces, to ensure complete coverage there would have to be available 45 different standard types of assemblies (permutating any two coupling faces from a possible 10). By use of this invention the same coverage could be achieved by adaptors having ten coupling faces each with a common rear face for being coupled together by a common coupler link. In practice a kit containing fifty different coaxial interfaces is available, any two being connected by the same coupler, and this makes available over 1,300 different possible adaptor assemblies.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an assembly wherein two electrical adaptor connectors of the coaxial type having similar or different coaxial end face configurations are secured together by mutual threaded connection with a common coupler containing an axially fixed conductor that is automatically electrically connected during assembly to axially fixed conductors in the respective adaptor connectors.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevation showing a coupling of the invention according to a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view in section showing the coupling components in aligned ready to assemble position;

FIG. 3 is a section showing the parts of FIG. 2 in assembly; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are end views substantially on lines 4--4 and 5--5 of FIG. 2 showing structure detail of components.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An electrical connection coupling of the invention shown in the drawings comprises three coaxial coupling components, two end adaptor components 11 and 12 and a central coupler component 13.

End coupling components 11 comprises a relatively rigid hollow member of shell 14 having a cylindrical inner wall 15, an internally threaded end bore 16 providing for connection to another component at one end, and a pair of 180.degree. apart external bayonet pins 17 providing for connection to another component or fitting at the other end.

At one end of wall 15, an annular internal rib 18 is provided and formed with an annular flat face 19 normal to the coupling axis. An annular body 21 of electrically insulating material such as solid polytetrafluoroethylene has an external cylindrical surface 22 snugly confined by shell wall 15 and a flat annular face 23 seated on rib face 19.

Insulating body 21 has a reduced external diameter projection 24 extending from face 23 outwardly to the adjacent open end of shell. As shown the outer surface 25 of projection 24 has a smooth converging taper toward an annular end surface 26. The internal surface 27 of shell 14 surrounding projection 24 has a smooth diverging taper toward annular end surface 28. Internally block 21 throughout its length including projection 24 has a uniform diameter cylindrical bore 29.

A metal conductor 31 has a cylindrical section 32 snugly fitted in bore 29, and conductor 31 is formed with an enlarged flange 33 having a flat annular face 34 seated against the flat end face 35 of body 21.

A second body 36 of the same insulating material has a cylindrical surface 37 fitted snugly within shell wall 15, and a flat inner surface 38 flushly seating on surface 35 of the first body. Insulation body 36 has a counter bore 39 fitting over conductor flange 33, and is formed with a bore 41 of the same diameter as bore 29 which snugly receives conductor section 32. At the end of section 32, conductor 31 has a reduced inner section 42 that extends through a bore 43 of the same diameter in body 36. Annular radial surface 44 of body 36 abuts a corresponding surface 45 on the conductor.

At the inner end of the threaded bore 16, shell 14 is formed with a cylindrical wall 46 of greater diameter than wall 15, and an annular metal retainer ring 47 is press fitted into the bore formed by wall 46 into abutment with insulator body 36.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, insulator bodies 21 and 36 are axially fixed within the shell between rib 18 and retainer ring 47, and since flange 33 is in axial abutment with both insulator bodies conductor 31 is fixed axially in shell 14.

When ring 47 is removed, the conductor 31 and both insulator bodies 21 and 36 may be removed. The outer end of central conductor 31, which is coaxial with and insulated from shell 14, is longitudinally slitted so as to provide an expansible hollow resilient socket 48 adapted to receive a connecting prong (not shown). Similarly the inner end of conductor 31 is a longitudinally slitted hollow expansible resilient socket 49 adapted to receive a conductor end as will appear.

The other end coupling component 12 comprises a relatively rigid metal hollow member or shell 51 having at its inner end an internally threaded bore 52, at the inner end of which is a cylindrical wall 53 wherein is press-fitted a retainer ring 54 abutting the outer end of an annular body 55 of electrically insulating material. Body 55 abuts a second annular body of insulating material 56 that has its inner end seated in the flat radial surface 57 of an internal rib 58. Both insulator bodies are snugly surrounded by internal cylindrical shell wall 59.

A central conductor 61 has its intermediate cylindrical section 62 snugly fitted in cylindrical bores 63 and 64 of the respective insulator bodies, and it has an annular flange 65 axially extending snugly within an annular recess 66 formed within one of the bodies. Also conductor 61 has an inner reduced diameter section 67 extending through a corresponding reduced bore 68 in body 55, and the conductor axially abuts insulator body 55 at the radial surface indicated at 69. Thus retainer ring 54 axially fixes both insulator bodies and the central conductor within shell. 51. When ring 54 is removed conductor 61 and insulator bodies 55 and 56 may be removed.

The inner end of conductor 61 is a longitudinally slitted hollow expansive resilient socket 71, and similarly the outer end of conductor 61 is a longitudinally slitted hollow expansible resilient socket 72. Both sockets terminate within the shell 51.

The outer end of shell 51 is externally threaded at 73 for attachment to another fitting (not shown).

Coupling component 13 comprises an annular metal member 74 having an externally threaded periphery 75 and a central cylindrical wall 76. Within the bore defined by wall 76 two annular insulator bodies 77 and 78 are mounted in end abutment, and an internal annular recess 79 is formed at the inner end of body 77. The insulator bodies are axially fixed by integral annular lips 81 and 82 turned over their outer edges at the ends of the bore.

A solid metal central conductor 83 extends through aligned bores 84 and 85 of the insulator bodies, and an enlarged conductor flange 86 extends into recess 79 to be axially clamped between the insulator bodies.

The opposite ends of conductor 83 are cylindrical and of the same diameter and length on the opposite sides of flange 86 with slightly tapered rounded terminals and this provides axially fixed end prongs 87 and 88 which, as shown in FIG. 2, are equally radially spaced from the surrounding bores 84 and 85 respectively.

FIG. 3 shows the components of FIG. 2 in assembled position. This assembly is made by engaging the externally threaded configuration of coupler component 13 within the identical internally threaded ends 16 and 52 of the adapter components. When the assembly is turned tight the outer shells 14 and 51 engage tightly on a planar interface 50 that is normal to the coupling axis, and coupler 13 is entirely enclosed and axially fixed between the adaptors. Prongs 87 and 88 enter the resilient sockets 49 and 71 respectively with relative rotation as the assembly takes place. The axial dimensions are such that the respective insulator bodies are in substantial end to end contact throughout the assembly.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the assembly of FIG. 2 comprises an electrical connector having different coaxial faces at opposite ends, and any one of the adaptors 11 or 12 may be replaced by an adaptor having the same internally threaded bore configuration and a different coaxial interface suitable for rapid interconnection to an associated coaxial cable terminal. Only two different outer end adaptor faces are shown but only necessary number is possible as above indicated.

The invention may be embodies in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A three component connector assembly for establishing electrical connection between two electrical fittings having similar or different coaxial conductor coupling end configurations, comprising two coaxial conductor adaptors each having first and second coupling ends, the first coupling end of each adaptor having a coaxial conductor structure and arrangement such that it can selectively detachably matingly engage the coupling end of a respective one of the said electrical fittings, and the second coupling ends of all the adaptors being of the same coaxial conductor configuration, and a conductive coaxial conductor coupler disposed between the second coupling ends of said adaptors, said coupler comprising means coacting with means on said second coupling ends for securing said adaptors together in end abutment and in surrounding relation to said coupler.

2. The connector assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said coupler comprises an externally threaded member mounting an insulated central conductor that is substantially identical at both ends, and said second coupling ends of the adapters being internally threaded bores receiving the coupler and mounting insulated socket means slidably receiving said coupler conductor ends.

3. A three component connector assembly for establishing electrical contact between two coaxial conductor electrical cables or the like having electrical fittings provided with coaxial conductor coupling end configurations comprising an externally threaded coupler, means mounting an axially fixed insulated solid metal inner central conductor therein, and two end adaptors each having one end similarly detachably threadedly attached to said coupler, means providing the other ends of said adaptors with coaxial conductor structure for detachably coupling them with the associated fittings, means mounting axially fixed outer insulated central conductors in said adaptors, the outer ends of said inner conductor being of similar configuration and circular cross-section, and the inner ends of each of the outer conductors being of similar flexible socket configuration for engaging said inner conductor whereby the conductors are assembled in aligned contact upon threaded assembly of the coupler and adaptors and whereby any of a series of adaptors having said similar inner end configurations and any outer end configurations suitable to the electrical fitting associated therewith may be incorporated in the connector assembly.

4. The connector assembly defined in claim 3, wherein said coupler comprises an annular outer conductor member externally threaded from end to end, and said adaptors comprise outer conductor shells that abut tightly in a planar face when mounted with said coupler.

5. The connector assembly defined in claim 3 wherein said coupler comprises an externally threaded annular outer conductor member, annular solid insulation means fixed within said member, and a central conductor axially fixed to said insulation means midway between its ends and comprising similar opposed prongs, said insulation means having outwardly open bores in surrounding spaced relation to said prongs and adapted to slidably receive the flexible socket inner ends of the adaptor conductors.

6. A connector assembly for establishing electrical contact between any of a plurality of different coaxial electrical cables or the like having different coupling end configurations comprising an externally threaded coupler, means mounting an axially fixed insulated inner central conductor therein, and two end adaptors each detachably threadedly attached to said coupler, means mounting axially fixed outer insulated central conductors in said adaptors, the outer ends of said inner conductor being of similar configuration and circular cross-section, and the inner ends of each of the outer conductors being of similar configuration whereby the conductors are assembled in aligned contact upon assembly of the coupler and adaptors and whereby any of a series of adaptors having said similar inner conductor end configurations and any outer end configurations suitable to the cables to be connected may be incorporated in the connector assembly, said coupler comprising an externally threaded annular outer member, annular solid insulation means fixed within said annular member and a central conductor axially fixed to said insulation means midway between its ends and comprising similar opposed prongs extending in radially spaced relation to said insulation means, and each of said adaptors comprising a conductor shell mounting annular insulation means and having an internally threaded inner end bore inwardly of said insulation means for attaching it to said coupler component, and a central conductor axially fixed to the insulation means of said shell having a resilient socket end extending through said threaded end bore, said adaptor insulation means comprising a plurality of annular bodies axially confining an enlarged flange on the associated conductor, and a retainer ring axially holding said bodies in the shell.