COAXIAL CONNECTOR WITH TORQUE WASHER
A male coaxial connector of the present invention comprises a conductive insert and a coupling nut. The conductive insert has a front end with an annular flange. The coupling nut includes an inner surface defining a bore, wherein the bore at least partially surrounds the conductive insert and is configured to receive a female coaxial connector. The coupling nut further includes an annular flange extending from the inner surface. The male connector also includes a torque washer, preferably formed from fiber-reinforced rubber. The torque washer is disposed between the flange of the conductive insert and the flange of the coupling nut. When the coupling nut engages a female coaxial connector, the torque washer is compressed between the flange of the coupling nut and the flange of the insert. The compressed torque washer maintains a tension force between the male and female connectors to help prevent their separation. The male coaxial connector can be configured to be coupled to an end of the coaxial cable by, for example, crimping or compression.
1 . A male coaxial connector comprising:
(a) a conductive insert comprising a front end having an annular flange; and
(b) a coupling nut comprising:
(1) an inner surface defining a bore, the bore at least partially surrounding the conductive insert, the bore for receiving a provided female coaxial connector; and
(2) an annular flange extending from the inner surface; and
(c) a torque washer disposed between the flange of the conductive insert and the flange of the coupling nut,
whereby when the coupling nut engages the provided female coaxial connector, the torque washer is compressed between the flange of the coupling nut and the flange of the insert and maintains a tension force between the male and female connectors to help prevent separation of the male and female connectors.
2 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the inner surface is threaded to engage threads on the provided female coaxial connector.
3 . The connector of claim 1 , further comprising an outer body for retaining the conductive insert, the outer body juxtaposed the coupling nut.
4 . The connector of claim 1 , further comprising a washer disposed between the coupling nut and the outer body, the washer for assisting the outer body and coupling nut in rotating independently of each other.
5 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the torque washer is formed from fiber-reinforced rubber.
6 . The connector of claim 5 , wherein the torque washer is formed from rubber reinforced with woven fibers.
7 . The connector of claim 6 , wherein the woven fibers include fibers formed from one or more of:
cellulose;
fiberglass;
polyolefin;
polyamide;
polyester;
polyimide;
polyacrylic; and
combinations thereof.
8 . The connector of claim 5 , wherein the torque washer is formed from rubber reinforced with non-woven fibers.
9 . The connector of claim 8 , wherein the non-woven fibers include fibers formed from one or more of:
cellulose;
fiberglass;
polyolefin;
polyamide;
polyester;
polyimide;
polyacrylic; and
combinations thereof.
10 . The connector of claim 5 , wherein the torque washer is formed from a rubber selected from the group of:
polychloroprene;
nitrite;
isoprene;
acrylic;
styrene-butadine; and
combinations thereof.
11 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the torque washer has a hardness of at least 85 durometer.
12 . A system comprising:
(a) a coaxial cable; and
(b) a male coaxial connector coupled to an end of the coaxial cable, the male coaxial connector comprising:
(1) a conductive insert comprising a front end having an annular flange; and
(2) a coupling nut comprising:
(i) an inner surface defining a bore, the bore at least partially surrounding the conductive insert, the bore for receiving a provided female coaxial connector; and
(ii) an annular flange extending from the inner surface; and
(3) a torque washer disposed between the flange of the conductive insert and the flange of the coupling nut,
whereby when the coupling nut engages the provided female coaxial connector, the torque washer is compressed between the flange of the coupling nut and the flange of the insert and maintains a tension force between the male and female connectors to help prevent separation of the male and female connectors.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the inner surface is threaded to engage threads on the provided female coaxial connector.
14 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising an outer body for retaining the conductive insert, the outer body juxtaposed the coupling nut.
15 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a washer disposed between the coupling nut and the outer body, the washer for assisting the outer body and coupling nut in rotating independently of each other.
16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the torque washer is formed from fiber-reinforced rubber.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the torque washer is formed from rubber reinforced with woven fibers.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the woven fibers include fibers formed from one or more of:
cellulose;
fiberglass;
polyolefin;
polyamide;
polyester;
polyimide;
polyacrylic; and
combinations thereof.
19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the torque washer is formed from rubber reinforced with non-woven fibers.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the non-woven fibers include fibers formed from one or more of:
cellulose;
fiberglass;
polyolefin;
polyamide;
polyester;
polyimide;
polyacrylic; and
combinations thereof.
21 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the torque washer is formed from a rubber selected from the group of:
polychloroprene;
nitrile;
isoprene;
acrylic;
styrene-butadine; and
combinations thereof.
22 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the torque washer has a hardness of at least 85 durometer.
23 . A male coaxial connector comprising:
(a) a conductive insert comprising a front end having an annular flange; and
(b) a coupling nut comprising:
(1) an inner surface defining a bore, the bore at least partially surrounding the conductive insert, the bore for receiving a provided female coaxial connector; and
(2) an annular flange extending from the inner surface; and
(c) torque washer means disposed between the flange of the conductive insert and the flange of the coupling nut, the torque washer means for helping to maintain a tension force between the male and female connectors to help prevent separation of the male and female connectors.