Coaxial cable connector
A coaxial connector having an axially moveable shell in opposition to a separate and distinct body component wherein the moveable shell contains a gripping member capable of having the front portion displaced radially inwardly by the body so that the gripping member is positioned within the connector body and between the connector body and the coaxial cable and secures the cable to the connector and environmentally seals the junction while at the same time the shell contains a structure to move a rear portion of the gripping member radially outwardly upon compression. In some embodiments disclosed herein the shell contains a structure to prevent a rear portion of the gripping member from moving radially inwardly upon compression. Other connector shell embodiments may be made from a one-piece stamping instead of a machined component and thereby deliver a manufacturing cost savings.
1. A coaxial cable connector for connecting a coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, an insulator layer surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor layer surrounding the insulator layer and an outer jacket, the coaxial cable connector comprising:
a body comprising a rear end, a front end, and an internal surface extending between the rear and front ends of the body, the internal surface defining a longitudinal opening;
a shell comprising a rear end, a front end surrounding at least a portion of the body, an inner surface defining a longitudinal opening extending between the rear and front ends of the shell, and a forwardly angled surface, the shell being axially movable over an outside portion of the body between a first rearward position and a second forward position; and
a gripping member adapted to secure a coaxial cable to the coaxial cable connector, the gripping member disposed at least partially within the longitudinal opening of the shell, the gripping member comprising a front end, a rear end, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining an opening therein,
wherein the forward angled surface of the shell is adapted to displace at least a portion of the rear end of the gripping member radially outwardly as the shell is moved from the first rearward position toward the second forward position.
2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a post disposed at least partially within the longitudinal opening of the body, the post having a rear end, an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the outer surface of the post and the internal surface of the post define an annular cavity therebetween.
3. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the gripping member is disposed within the longitudinal opening of the shell between the front and rear ends of the shell.
4. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the forward angled surface of the shell comprises a reverse rake angled surface.
5. The connector of claim 4 , wherein the forward angled surface is oriented in a direction angled from the rear end of the shell toward the front end of the shell.
6. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the forward angled surface comprises a machined surface of the shell.
7. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the forward angled surface comprises a stamped surface of the shell.
8. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the forward angled surface comprises a rolled surface of the shell.
9. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the forward angled surface of the shell comprises a curved forward facing surface.
10. The connector of claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the forward angled surface extends into the longitudinal opening of the shell and is disposed forward relative to a proximal end of the forward facing surface.
11. A method for securing a coaxial cable to a coaxial cable connector, the method comprising:
inserting a coaxial cable through an inner bore of a body, shell and gripping member of the coaxial cable connector, wherein the body comprises a rear end, a front end, and an internal surface extending between the rear and front ends of the body, the internal surface defining a longitudinal opening, wherein the shell comprises a rear end, a front end surrounding at least a portion of the body, an inner surface defining a longitudinal opening extending between the rear and front ends of the shell and a forwardly angled surface, the shell being axially movable over an outside portion the body between a first rearward position and a second forward position, and wherein the gripping member is disposed at least partially within the longitudinal opening of the shell, the gripping member comprising a front end, a rear end, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining an opening therein; and
axially sliding the shell in a forward direction relative to the body, wherein the forward angled surface of the shell is adapted to displace at least a portion of the rear end of the gripping member radially outwardly as the shell is moved from the first rearward position toward the second forward position.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising forming the forward angled surface of the shell with a forming tool.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising forming the forward angled surface of the shell to displace the portion of the rear end of the gripping member radially outwardly.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the connector further comprises a post disposed at least partially within the longitudinal opening of the body, the post having a rear end, an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the outer surface of the post and the internal surface of the post define an annular cavity therebetween.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the forward angled surface of the shell comprises a reverse rake angled surface.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the forward angled surface is oriented in a direction angled from the rear end of the shell toward the front end of the shell.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the forward angled surface comprises a machined surface of the shell.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the forward angled surface comprises a stamped surface of the shell.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the forward angled surface comprises a rolled surface of the shell.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the forward angled surface of the shell comprises a curved forward facing surface.