Clamp assembly for RF compression connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12456846-B2
Application number	US-202117781633-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 14, 2021
Priority date	Jan 14, 2020
Publication date	Oct 28, 2025
Grant date	Oct 28, 2025

Abstract

An RF compression connector includes a simplified clamp mechanism having a common clamp base, and a plurality of segments disposed on the common clamp base wherein the segments include alternating first and second retention members disposed along the circumference of the clamp, wherein each of the first retention members has an outwardly projecting shoulder to engage a connector body and each of the second retention members includes an inwardly projecting shoulder to engage an outer jacket of a coaxial cable connector. The first and second retention members of the clamp mechanism inhibit separation of the connector body relative to the coaxial cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector for use in combination with a coaxial cable, comprising:
a connector body having an aperture for accepting the coaxial cable, the coaxial cable having an inner conductor, an outer conductor circumscribing the inner conductor and a dielectric core disposed therebetween, and
a clamp assembly comprising:
a first arcuate segment; and
a second arcuate segment structured to connect to the first arcuate segment so as to circumscribe a terminal end of the coaxial cable and further includes a first end configured to urge the outer conductor into electrical contact with the connector body, the clamp assembly having a second end defining a plurality of retention members projecting radially from each of the first and second arcuate segments,

wherein the plurality of retention members comprise first retention members projecting radially outward to engage an inner surface of the connector body and wherein the plurality of retention members comprise second retentions members projecting radially inward to engage an outer surface of the coaxial cable,
wherein each of the first and second arcuate segments include a plurality of slots to define a plurality of flexible arcuate segments,
wherein the first retention members and the second retention members alternate from one of the plurality of flexible arcuate segments to another of the plurality of flexible arcuate segments,
wherein the plurality of retention members inhibit separation of the connector body relative to the coaxial cable.

2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the clamp assembly defines a common clamp base and wherein the second end of the clamp assembly is slotted to reduce a radial stiffness thereof facilitating radial displacement of the plurality of retention members to engage the inner and outer surfaces of the connector body and coaxial cable, respectively.

3. The connector of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of arcuate segments is biased outwardly toward the inner surface of the connector body and at least one of the plurality of arcuate segments is biased inwardly toward the outer surface of the coaxial cable.

4. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the connector body includes a counterbore disposed on the inner surface thereof, and wherein at least one of the plurality of retention members is configured to engage the counterbore of the connector body.

5. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the coaxial cable includes an outer jacket and wherein at least one of the plurality of retention members is configured to engage the outer jacket of the coaxial cable.

6. The connector of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of retention members has a radial extent, the radial extent of each of the inward and outward projecting retention members being equal.

7. The connector of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of retention members has a radial extent, the radial extent of the inward projecting retention members being greater than the outward projecting retention members.

8. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of arcuate segments comprise a plurality of first arcuate segments and a plurality of second arcuate segments, wherein each of the plurality of first arcuate segments has a first radial extent, wherein each of the plurality of second arcuate segments has a second radial extent, and wherein a ratio of the first radial extent to the second radial extent is substantially 1.75:1.

9. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the clamp assembly comprises a thermoplastic polymer.

10. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the clamp assembly comprises a fiber reinforced thermoplastic impregnated composite.

11. A compression RF connector, comprising:
a connector body having an aperture for accepting a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable having an inner conductor, an outer conductor circumscribing the inner conductor and a dielectric core disposed therebetween, and
a clamp member disposed over the outer conductor, the clamp member having a common clamp base, a plurality of first arcuate segments disposed on the common clamp base, and a plurality of second arcuate segments disposed on the common clamp base, wherein each of the plurality of first arcuate segments comprises a first retention member disposed on its outer surface, and wherein each of the plurality of second arcuate segments comprises a second retention member disposed on its inner surface,
wherein the first arcuate segments and second arcuate segments are arranged in an alternating fashion such that the first retention members and the second retention members alternate about the clamp member, and
wherein the first arcuate segments are radially biased outwardly such that the first retention members engage an inner surface of the connector body and wherein the second segments are radially biased inwardly such that the second retention members engage an outer surface of the coaxial cable.

12. The compression RF connector of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of first arcuate segments comprises at least two first arcuate segments, and wherein the plurality of second arcuate segments comprises at least two second arcuate segments.

13. The compression RF connector of claim 12 , wherein the connector body has a counterbore disposed on an inner surface, and wherein the the first retention member is configured to engage the counterbore of the connector body.

14. The compression RF connector of claim 12 , wherein the second retention member is configured to engage with an outer jacket of the coaxial cable.

15. The compression RF connector of claim 11 , wherein the clamp member comprises a plurality of slots defining each of the plurality of first and second arcuate segments.

16. The compression RF connector of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of first arcuate segments has a first radial extent, wherein each of the plurality of second arcuate segments has a second radial extent, and wherein the first and second radial extents are substantially equal.

17. The compression RF connector of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of first arcuate segments has a first radial extent, wherein each of the plurality of second arcuate segments has a second radial extent, and wherein a ratio of the first radial extent to the second radial extent is substantially 1.75:1.

18. The compression RF connector of claim 11 , wherein the clamp member comprises a thermoplastic polymer.

19. The compression RF connector of claim 11 , wherein the clamp member comprises a fiber reinforced thermoplastic impregnated composite.

Assignees

• John Mezzalingua Ass Llc

Inventors

• Benn Jeremy
• Chawgo Shawn
• Natoli Christopher

Classifications

• H01R2103/00

  Two poles · CPC title

• H01R9/0524 Primary

  Connection to outer conductor by action of a clamping member, e.g. screw fastening means (H01R9/0515 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/5205

  Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet (H01R13/5221 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R24/564

  Corrugated cables · CPC title

• H01R13/5816

  for cables passing through an aperture in a housing wall, the separate part being captured between cable and contour of aperture · CPC title