US 5,439,386 AGranted

Quick disconnect environmentally sealed RF connector for hardline coaxial cable

AssigneeAugat Inc.

InventorsWilliam H. Ellis, Scott R. Hopper

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An environmentally sealed quick disconnect RF connector for use with hardline coaxial cable. In one embodiment the RF connector includes a chassis portion for mounting on a chassis and an adaptor portion for connection to a hardline coaxial cable. The adaptor portion and the chassis portion are configured to provide a quick disconnect electrical connection. The adaptor portion includes a locking member for locking the chassis portion of the connector and the adaptor portion of the connector together once the chassis portion and the adaptor portion have been engaged. Prior to locking, the locking member permits the chassis portion of the connector and the adaptor portion of the connector to quickly engage. Following the quick engagement of the chassis portion of the connector with the adaptor portion of the connector, the threads of the locking member engage threads on the chassis portion of the connector and compress an o-ring seated in the chassis portion of the RF connector so as to lock the adaptor portion to the chassis portion and provide an environmental seal.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An environmentally sealed quick disconnect RF connector for use with hardline coaxial cable, said connector comprising:

a chassis mounting portion comprising:
a first central conductor;
a threaded surface;
and
an o-ring positioned adjacent to said threaded surface;
and
an adaptor comprising:
a coaxial cable portion having a first end and a second end portion, said first end of said coaxial cable portion for attachment to a hardline coaxial cable;
a second central conductor;
and
a locking member including an inner wall, and having a threaded surface sized and threaded to engage said threaded surface of said chassis mounting portion, said locking member attached to and movably positioned upon said second end portion of said coaxial cable portion and movable relative thereto between:
a first unlocked position wherein said threaded surface of said locking member does not engage said threaded surface of said chassis mounting portion when said second central conductor of said adaptor and said first central conductor of said chassis mounting portion are electrically continuous, and
a second locked position wherein said threaded surface of said locking member engages said threaded surface of said chassis mounting portion when said second central conductor of said adaptor and said first central conductor of said chassis mounting portion are electrically continuous, and wherein said inner wall of said locking member compresses said o-ring positioned adjacent to said threaded surface of said chassis mounting portion to thereby form an environmental seal between said chassis mounting portion and said adaptor,
whereby said adaptor may be pulled from said chassis mounting portion when said second central conductor of said adaptor and said first central conductor of said chassis mounting portion are electrically continuous and said locking member is in said unlocked position.

11 more elements

An environmentally sealed quick disconnect RF connector for use with hardline coaxial cable, said connector comprising:

a chassis mounting portion having a first engaging member and a first central conductor;
and
an adaptor having a coaxial cable portion for attachment to a hardline coaxial cable, a chassis engaging portion having a second engaging member configured to engage with said first engaging member of said chassis mounting portion, and a second central conductor,
one of said chassis mounting portion and said adaptor including a locking member, said locking member movable between:
a first unlocked position wherein said locking member does not engage the other of said chassis mounting portion and said adaptor when said first engaging member of said chassis mounting portion and said second engaging member of said adaptor are engaged, and said first central conductor and said second central conductor are electrically engaged, and
a second locked position wherein said locking member engages the other of said chassis mounting portion and said adaptor when said first engaging member of said chassis mounting portion and said second engaging member of said adaptor are engaged, and said first central conductor and said second central conductor are electrically engaged, thereby forming an environmental seal between said adaptor and said chassis mounting portion,
whereby said adaptor may be pulled from said chassis mounting portion when said second central conductor of said adaptor and said first central conductor of said chassis mounting portion are electrically engaged and said locking member is in said unlocked position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/255,393Filed 8 Jun 1994
Granted: 8 Aug 1995
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

H01R 24/542
Intermediate parts, e.g. adapters, splitters or elbows: adapters
H01R 13/622
Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement: screw-ring or screw-casing
H01R 13/17
Pins, blades or sockets having separate spring member for producing or increasing contact pressure: with spring member on the pin
H01R 13/5219
Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases: sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal