Tabbed connector interface
View Patent ↗An electrical connector interface has a male portion and a female portion. The male portion provided with at least three outer diameter radial projecting connector tabs and a conical outer diameter seat surface at an interface end. A lock ring provided with a stop shoulder and at least three radial inward coupling tabs at the interface end seats around the male portion, the stop shoulder abutting the connector tabs, a tab seat provided between the coupling tabs and the stop shoulder. The female portion provided with at least three outer diameter radial projecting base tabs and an annular groove open to the interface end with an outer sidewall dimensioned to mate with the conical outer diameter seat surface. The base tabs engage the coupling tabs when the lock ring is rotated to insert the base tabs into the tab seat, retaining the outer diameter seat surface against the outer sidewall.
1. A cable connector interface, comprising:
a male portion with at least three outer diameter radially projecting connector tabs; the male portion provided with a conical outer diameter seat surface at an interface end;
a lock ring provided with a stop shoulder and at least three radially inward coupling tabs at the interface end; the lock ring dimensioned to seat around the male portion, the stop shoulder abutting a cable end of the connector tabs; a tab seat provided between the coupling tabs and the stop shoulder;
a female portion with at least three outer diameter radial projecting base tabs, and an annular groove open to the interface end with an outer sidewall dimensioned to mate with the conical outer diameter seat surface; the base tabs dimensioned to engage the coupling tabs when the base tabs are inserted into the tab seat and the lock ring is rotated, retaining the conical outer diameter seat surface against the outer sidewall.
2. The connector interface of claim 1 , further including a tab seat lock on a sidewall of the tab seat and a base tab lock on an outer diameter of the base tab; the tab seat lock and the base tab lock dimensioned to mesh with one another when the base tabs are inserted into the tab seat, inhibiting rotation of the lock ring.
3. The connector interface of claim 2 , wherein the connector tab is provided with an outer diameter insertion surface dimensioned to engage the tab seat lock in an interference fit, retaining the lock ring aligned in an insertion position with respect to the connector tabs.
4. The connector interface of claim 2 , wherein the connector tab is provided with an outer diameter stop surface dimensioned to provide a positive stop with respect to rotation of the tab seat lock past the base tab lock.
5. The connector interface of claim 1 , wherein an inner sidewall of the annular groove is dimensioned to seat against a flared end of an outer conductor of a coaxial cable inserted through a bore of the male portion, clamping the outer conductor against the male portion when the outer diameter seat surface is seated against the outer sidewall.
6. The connector interface of claim 1 , wherein a cable end of the base tab is provided with an angled engagement surface; the engagement surface progressively drawing the coupling tab and thereby the male portion towards the female portion as the lock ring is rotated.
7. The connector interface of claim 1 , wherein the connector tabs mesh with the base tabs as the conical outer diameter seat surface is seated against the outer sidewall, inhibiting rotation of the male portion with respect to the female portion.
8. The connector interface of claim 1 , wherein the stop shoulder has a radially inward projecting retention lip; the retention lip engaging a radial outward protruding retention spur of the male portion, retaining the lock ring upon the male portion.
9. The connector interface of claim 8 , wherein the retention spur is provided on an overbody covering an outer diameter of the male portion between the cable end and the connection tabs.
10. The connector interface of claim 1 , further including an annular groove provided in the conical outer diameter seat surface, in which a seal is seated.
11. The connector interface of claim 1 , wherein the male portion is coupled to an outer conductor of a cable by a molecular bond between the outer conductor and the male portion.
12. A method for interconnecting an electrical connector, comprising the steps of:
providing a male portion with at least three outer diameter radially projecting connector tabs; the male portion provided with a conical outer diameter seat surface at an interface end;
seating a lock ring around the male portion, a stop shoulder of the lock ring abutting a cable end of the connector tabs; the lock ring provided with at least three radially inward coupling tabs at the interface end; a tab seat provided between the coupling tabs and the stop shoulder;
inserting the interface end of the male portion into an interface end of a female portion with at least three outer diameter radially projecting base tabs, and an annular groove open to the interface end with an outer sidewall dimensioned to mate with the conical outer diameter seat surface; and
rotating the lock ring so that the base tabs engage the coupling tabs, inserting the base tabs into the tab seat, thereby retaining the conical outer diameter seat surface against the outer sidewall.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein a tab seat lock is provided on a sidewall of the tab seat and a base tab lock is provided on an outer diameter of the base tab; the tab seat lock and the base tab lock dimensioned to mesh with one another when the base tabs are inserted into the tab seat, inhibiting rotation of the lock ring out of a locked position.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the base tab is provided with an outer diameter insertion surface dimensioned to engage the tab seat lock in an interference fit, retaining the lock ring aligned in an insertion position with respect to the connector tabs, prior to initiation of rotation.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the connector tab is provided with an outer diameter stop surface dimensioned to provide a positive stop with respect to rotation of the tab seat lock past the base tab lock.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein an inner sidewall of the annular groove is dimensioned to seat against a flared end of an outer conductor of a coaxial cable inserted through a bore of the male portion, clamping the outer conductor against the male portion when the conical outer diameter seat surface is seated against the outer sidewall.
17. The method of claim 16 , further including the step of forming a molecular bond between the flared end of the outer conductor and a flare surface of a bore of the male portion.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein a cable end of the base tab is provided with an angled engagement surface; the engagement surface progressively drawing the coupling tab and thereby the male portion towards the female portion as the lock ring is rotated.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the connector tabs mesh with the base tabs as the conical outer diameter seat surface is seated against the outer sidewall, inhibiting rotation of the male portion with respect to the female portion.
20. The method of claim 11 , further including an annular groove provided in the conical outer diameter seat surface, in which a seal is seated.