Coaxial cable connector installable with common tools
A coaxial connector may be configured with multiple interleaved concentric threads that reduce connector assembly threading requirements. A cable sheath stripping feature may be incorporated into the connector, eliminating the need for a separate sheath stripping tool. Also, over-tightening protection assemblies may be incorporated in the coupling and or rear clamp nuts. The over-tightening protection assemblies utilize first and second interlock surfaces which co-operate to couple the connector body with a rotatable inner coupling sleeve until a predetermined level of torque is applied whereupon complementary protrusions formed on the rings deflect and slip past each other, protecting the connector and or cable from damage due to application of excessive torque and eliminating the need for torque wrenches during connector installation. The first and second interlock surfaces may be formed directly in the coupling nut and inner coupling sleeve or may be separate finger and ramp rings coupled to each.
1. A coaxial connector for coupling a coaxial cable with a connection, comprising:
a connector body and an interface or engagement end coupled to the connector body;
a coupling nut coaxial with the interface and an inner coupling sleeve; the inner coupling sleeve having threads for coupling the interface with the connection; and
an inner first interlock surface integral with an internal diameter surface of the coupling nut and an outward second interlock surface integral with an outer diameter surface of the inner coupling sleeve;
the first interlock surface and the second interlock surface each having a plurality of complementary protrusions;
the complementary protrusions of the first interlock surface and the second interlock surface interact whereby the coupling nut is coupled to the inner coupling sleeve during rotation of the coupling nut via application of a torque below a threshold level;
at least one of the complementary protrusions deflecting upon application of the torque at or above the threshold level to decouple the connector body from the inner coupling sleeve.
2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the first interlock surface is a finger ring coupled to the coupling nut and the complementary protrusions of the first interlock surface are a plurality of fingers extending inward from the finger ring.
3. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the second interlock surface is a ramp ring coupled to the inner coupling sleeve and the complementary protrusions of the second interlocking surface is a plurality of ramps projecting outward from the ramp ring.
4. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the second interlock surface has a plurality of ramps formed in an outer surface of the inner coupling sleeve.
5. The connector of claim 1 , further including a rear clamp nut having a rear clamp nut bore with a first inner diameter at a cable end and a smaller second inner diameter at a connector end; the first inner diameter dimensioned to fit onto a coaxial cable with a sheath and the second inner diameter dimensioned to fit onto the cable without the sheath;
a helical step between the first inner diameter and the second inner diameter extends around the bore between the cable end and the connector end of a slot with a cutting edge; the cutting edge at the second inner diameter operating to cut and separate the sheath from the outer conductor as the cable is inserted into the bore and rotated; and
the connector body adapted to connect to the rear clamp nut at the connector end.
6. The connector of claim 5 , wherein the connector body and the rear clamp nut are connected via a plurality of interleaved concentric threads.
7. The connector of claim 6 , wherein there are one of two, three and four interleaved concentric threads.