Radio frequency (RF) connector having integrated weather protection system (WPS)

A connector having an integral weather protection system, comprising:

• a connector body disposed over a prepared end of a coaxial cable and defining at least one circumferential groove formed in an outwardly facing peripheral surface of the connector body, and
• a weather protection assembly circumscribing the connector body and comprising:
• a housing defining a bore for receiving the coaxial cable and facilitating axial translation of the housing, an inwardly projecting flange slidably engaging a peripheral surface of the connector body and being received within the at least one circumferential groove to retain an axial position of the housing relative to the connector body, and an inclined engagement surface;
• a compliant ring having an annular cavity, an inwardly facing sealing surface defining a diameter dimension and an outwardly facing sealing surface;
• and,
• a biasing element connecting the housing to the compliant ring and including a forward end and an opposing aft end and positioned between the housing and the compliant ring, wherein the forward end of the biasing element is configured to face the connector body and the aft end comprises a plurality of spring fingers configured to move from an expanded position to a collapsed position;
• wherein, in the expanded position, the biasing element engages with and stretches the compliant ring to expand the diameter dimension thereof around a radially projecting ridge of an interface port;
• and
• wherein, in the collapsed position, the biasing element engages with the compliant ring and urges the biasing element radially inwardly in response to axial motion of the housing to collapse the compliant ring inwardly and reduce the diameter dimension of the compliant ring to seal the inwardly facing surface of the compliant ring against a surface adjacent to the radially projecting ridge of the interface port.

A connector having an integral weather protection system, comprising:

• a connector body disposed over a prepared end of a coaxial cable and defining at least one circumferential groove formed in an outwardly facing peripheral surface of the connector body, and
• a weather protection assembly circumscribing the connector body and comprising:
• a housing defining a bore for receiving the coaxial cable and facilitating axial translation of the housing, an inwardly projecting flange slidably engaging a peripheral surface of the connector body and being received within the at least one circumferential groove to retain the axial position of the housing relative to the connector body, and an inclined engagement surface;
• a compliant ring having an annular cavity, an inwardly facing sealing surface defining a diameter dimension and an outwardly facing sealing surface;
• and
• a biasing element connecting the housing to the compliant ring and configured to move from an expanded position to a collapsed position,
• wherein, in the expanded position, the biasing element stretches the compliant ring and expands the diameter dimension thereof around a radially projecting ridge of an interface port,
• wherein, in the collapsed position, the biasing element is urged radially inwardly in response to axial motion of the housing, collapse the compliant sealing ring inwardly, and reduce the diameter dimension thereof to seal the inwardly facing surface of the compliant ring against a surface adjacent the radially projecting ridge of the interface port,
• wherein the compliant ring has an outwardly facing sealing surface, and
• wherein the housing has an annular sealing surface at one end thereof sealably mounting to the outwardly facing sealing surface in response to axial displacement of the housing relative to the connector.