US 4,226,495 A · Cable system subscriber tap with rotating center conductor seizure apparatus and spiral contact and method for using same

Abstract

A cable system subscriber tap equipped with a rotating center conductor seizure apparatus for mechanically and electrically seizing the center conductor of a coaxial cable. The improved seizure apparatus provides a rotating clamp held within an insulating structure mounted in the tap adjacent each of the orthogonally arranged pairs of cable access ports, the seizure clamp being rotatable between orthogonal positions within its insulating structure to alternately seize the center conductor of a coaxial cable inserted through either one of the pair of access ports without diassembly of the clamp or seizure apparatus. The improved clamp provides a nonshear seizure of the center conductor that is both quickly and easily changed in the field. It further includes a conductive, spiral spring contact held within a countersunk axial bore in the clamp and rotatable therewith while maintaining mechanical and electrical connection to the contact pin of a printed circuit board. Improved methods for installing and for changing cable installations are also disclosed using the same.

Claims43

Dependent claims

A seizure apparatus for mechanical and electrical connection to the center conductor of a coaxial cable comprising:

(a) a rod-like, conductive seizure clamp, said clamp including:
(1) a first radial bore therein;
(2) a second radial bore tapped and intersecting said first bore;
and
(3) a threaded seizure screw mating with said second bore to secure the center conductor of a coaxial cable inserted in said first bore;
(b) a supportive, insulating structure with said clamp rotatably held therein, said structure including a plurality of openings to said clamp;
and
(c) means for alternately seizing with said clamp center conductors of differing orientation to said structure by rotating said clamp to align with different ones of said openings in said structure and without disassembly thereof or removal of said seizure screw from said clamp.

5 more elements

A seizure apparatus for mechanical and electrical connection to the center conductor of a coaxial cable comprising:

(a) a rod-like, conductive seizure clamp, said clamp including:
(1) a first radial bore therein;
(2) a second radial bore tapped and intersecting said first bore, said second bore terminates upon intersection with said first bore thereby providing a blind, nonshear stop for seizure of a center conductor;
(3) a threaded seizure screw mating with said second bore to secure the center conductor of a coaxial cable inserted in said first bore;
(b) a supportive, insulating structure with said clamp rotatably held therein, said structure including a plurality of openings to said clamp;
and
(c) means for alternately seizing with said clamp center conductors of differing orientation to said structure by rotating said clamp therein and without disassembly thereof;
and
(d) means for electrically connecting said seizure clamp with electrical circuitry means to transmit the signal carried by a center conductor seized with said clamp, said electrically connecting means including:
(1) an axial bore in one of end of said clamp;
and
(2) a conductive, spiral spring contact received within said bore for contact with said electrical circuitry means.

9 more elements

A cable system subscriber tap comprising:

(a) a conductive housing;
(b) a base cover;
(c) fastening means for detachably securing said base cover to said housing to define an inner chamber therein;
(d) a pair of coaxial cable access ports orthogonally arranged in one corner of said housing and accessible to said inner chamber;
(e) seizing means in said chamber, including a conductive, rod-like seizure clamp, for alternately connecting to the center conductor of a coaxial cable inserted through either one of said pair of access ports, said means including means for orthogonally rotating said clamp without disassembly of said seizing means to alternately align with said pair of access ports;
(f) means for alternately attaching the prepared end of a coaxial cable to said pair of access ports to effect an electrical contact between said housing and the outer conductor of the cable with the bared center conductor extending through said access port for seizure by said seizing means and said clamp;
and
(g) means for electrically connecting said seizing means and said clamp to electrical circuitry means in said housing for transmitting the signal carried by the seized center conductor to a local subscriber.

5 more elements

A method for changing the installation of a cable system subscriber tap to alternately connect to the center conductor of a coaxial cable extending through the unused one of a pair of cable access ports orthogonally arranged in one corner of a conductive housing, comprising the steps of:

(a) releasing the seized center conductor from a first radial bore in a rod-like, conductive seizure clamp held within a supportive, insulating structure mounted adjacent the orthogonal pair of access ports, said releasing being by unscrewing a seizure screw threaded within a tapped second radial bore orthogonally arranged to and intersecting with the first bore in the clamp, said unscrewing being by access through the unused access port;
(b) removing the released center conductor from the first radial bore in the seizure clamp;
(c) rotating the clamp through a 90.degree. angle within its insulating structure to align the opposite end of the first bore with the unused access port, said rotating being to align the seizure screw and second bore with the used access port, said rotating further being without disassembly of the clamp or insulating structure or removal of the seizure screw therefrom;
(d) inserting the center conductor through the desired access port and into the first bore in the seizure clamp;
and
(e) tightening the seizure screw to seize the center conductor within the first bore, said tightening being by access through the now unused access port.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cable system subscriber tap with rotating center conductor seizure apparatus and spiral contact and method for using same

Life of this patent

Cable system subscriber tap with rotating center conductor seizure apparatus and spiral contact and method for using same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims43