Connector and connector assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector assembly comprising a central conductor and an outer conductor which are coaxial, characterized in that the connector further comprises: a coupling connected to the outer conductor and configured for coupling with a mating coupling of a mating connector; a sleeve surrounding the outer conductor and movable relative to the outer conductor between a locked position and an unlocked position; at least one column connected to the outer conductor; at least one groove which is formed on the sleeve and interacts with the cylindrical part, the groove having a guide section and a locking section, the cylindrical part being able to guide the sleeve in the guide section of the groove when the sleeve is moved between the locking position and the unlocking position, and the cylindrical part being able to lock the sleeve in the unlocking position when the sleeve is in the locking position. The cylindrical part can stop in the locking section of the sleeve, so that the sleeve can continue to be kept in the locking position when subjected to axial backward tension. The invention also relates to a connector assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector and a connector assembly. Background Art

[0002] A coaxial cable is a bipolar cable with a concentric structure. It features a center conductor surrounded by a hollow outer conductor at a predetermined distance. The outer conductor shields the center conductor from electromagnetic interference radiation. An insulator is placed in the space between the center and outer conductors. Coaxial connectors are used to releasably connect coaxial cables. Like coaxial cables, coaxial connectors share the same coaxial design, allowing them to share the advantages of coaxial cables.

[0003] A wide variety of radio frequency (RF) coaxial connectors are known.

[0004] Some existing coaxial connectors are connected using threaded connections, but tightening and loosening the threads is time-consuming for installation technicians, and the use of a wrench increases the complexity and risk of installation (such as accidental dropping).

[0005] Some existing coaxial connectors use connection aids provided on the outside of the two connectors to connect the two, but this may adversely affect the aesthetics.

[0006] Some existing coaxial connectors are configured as push-pull connectors. These push-pull connectors are often used in conjunction with waterproof shields. When the waterproof shield needs to be pulled off the connector, the coupling of the two connectors may be accidentally unlocked and the two connectors may be undesirably separated from each other. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a connector and a connector assembly, by means of which at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems existing in the prior art can be solved.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a connector is provided, comprising a coaxial center conductor and an outer conductor, wherein the connector further comprises:

[0009] a coupling member connected to the outer conductor and configured to couple with a mating coupling member of a mating connector;

[0010] a sleeve surrounding the outer conductor and movable relative to the outer conductor between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the sleeve is capable of locking the coupling of the coupling member and the mating coupling member to prevent decoupling thereof in the locked position and allowing decoupling of the coupling member and the mating coupling member in the unlocked position;

[0011] at least one cylindrical member connected to the outer conductor; and

[0012] at least one groove formed on the sleeve and cooperating with the cylindrical element, the groove having a guide section and a locking section,

[0013] In which, when the sleeve moves between the locked position and the unlocked position, the cylindrical member can guide the sleeve in the guide section of the groove, and when the sleeve is in the locked position, the cylindrical member can stop in the locking section of the sleeve, so that the sleeve can continue to remain in the locked position when subjected to axial backward pulling force.

[0014] In some embodiments, the guide section of the slot extends obliquely relative to the longitudinal and transverse directions of the sleeve, so that the movement of the sleeve between the locked position and the unlocked position comprises a helical movement.

[0015] In some embodiments, the cylindrical member secures the coupling to the outer conductor.

[0016] In some embodiments, the connector further comprises a spring tensioned between the outer conductor and the sleeve and configured to apply a rearward force to the sleeve.

[0017] In some embodiments, the locking section has a front stop cavity in front. When the sleeve is in the locked position, the spring applies an axial rearward force to the sleeve so that the cylindrical member stops in the front stop cavity. The front stop cavity has a front stop shoulder adjacent to the guide section of the groove, and the front stop shoulder circumferentially stops the cylindrical member.

[0018] In some embodiments, less than half of the cylindrical member is received in the front stop cavity when the sleeve is in the locked position.

[0019] In some embodiments, the locking section has a rear stop cavity with a rear stop shoulder adjacent to the guide section of the groove, and the rear stop shoulder can circumferentially stop the cylindrical member when the cylindrical member enters the rear stop cavity.

[0020] In some embodiments, the coupling has a base fixed to the outer conductor and a plurality of coupling fingers connected to the base at the front and separated by gaps, wherein the sleeve rests on the coupling fingers from the front due to the force of the spring in the unlocked position.

[0021] In some embodiments, the sleeve can, in the locked position, bear with its inner surface against the coupling fingers from the radial outside to inhibit radial outward movement of the coupling fingers.

[0022] In some embodiments, the groove also has a decoupling section, which extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the sleeve. In the unlocked position of the sleeve, the cylindrical member is located in the decoupling section and is spaced apart from the front end of the decoupling section. After the sleeve is pulled backward to decouple the coupling member from the mating coupling member, the distance is reduced.

[0023] In some embodiments, each coupling finger has a hook-shaped portion at a front end, the hook-shaped portion having an outer section located radially outward, a front section in front, and an inner section located radially inward, the front section extending obliquely.

[0024] In some embodiments, when the coupling part is in a coupled state with the mating coupling part, the inner section is locked into the mating coupling part of the mating connector, which is configured as a recess.

[0025] In some embodiments, in the locked position of the sleeve, the inner section snaps into a mating coupling of the mating connector, which is designed as a recess, and the sleeve bears with its inner surface against the outer section from the radial outside.

[0026] In some embodiments, the base is configured as a circumferentially closed ring that is sleeved onto the outer conductor.

[0027] In some embodiments, the outer conductor is provided with at least one blind hole open radially outward, and the coupling member is provided with at least one through hole, and each cylindrical member is inserted with its lower part into a through hole on the coupling member and a blind hole on the outer conductor and with its upper part into the groove.

[0028] In some embodiments, the cylindrical member is configured as a pin which is pressed into the through hole and the blind hole with interference fit, or the cylindrical member is configured as a cylindrical threaded member which is threadedly connected to at least one of the through hole and the blind hole.

[0029] In some embodiments, the groove is circumferentially closed.

[0030] According to another aspect of the present invention, a connector assembly is provided, characterized in that the connector assembly includes the connector according to the present invention and a mating connector, wherein the mating connector includes a coaxial center conductor and an outer conductor.

[0031] In some embodiments, the connector assembly is provided with a shield on the radial outside. When the connector and the mating connector are coupled and locked, the waterproof shield is fixed on the cable behind the connector with its rear end and fixed in front of the sleeve with its front end.

[0032] In some embodiments, the shield is locked with its front end configured as a hook in the recess of the mating connector.

[0033] Advantages of the corresponding embodiment, as well as various additional embodiments, will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of the corresponding embodiments with reference to the below-listed drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The present invention is further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, in which:

[0035] Figure 1a A schematic side view showing a male connector and a female connector in a state of being separated from each other according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0036] Figure 1b shows corresponding schematic longitudinal sectional views of the male and female connectors in FIG1 ,

[0037] Figure 1c 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the male connector and the female connector corresponding to FIG,

[0038] Figure 2a shows a schematic exploded view of the male connector in FIG1 ,

[0039] Figure 2b Show Figure 2a A schematic longitudinal sectional view of the elastic coupling of the male connector in FIG.

[0040] Figure 2c Show Figure 2a A schematic longitudinal sectional view of the sleeve of the male connector,

[0041] Figure 2d Show Figure 2a The corresponding schematic perspective view of the exploded male connector in FIG.

[0042] Figure 3a Shown in accordance with Figure 1a A schematic side view of a male connector and a female connector in a state of being coupled to each other but not locked,

[0043] Figure 3b Show Figure 3a The corresponding schematic longitudinal sectional views of the male and female connectors in FIG.

[0044] Figure 4a Shown in accordance with Figure 1a A schematic side view of a male connector and a female connector in a state of being coupled and locked to each other,

[0045] Figure 4b Show Figure 4a The corresponding schematic longitudinal sectional views of the male and female connectors in FIG.

[0046] Figure 5a Shown in accordance with Figure 1aA schematic side view of a male connector and a female connector in a state of being unlocked and decoupled from each other,

[0047] Figure 5b Show Figure 5a The corresponding schematic longitudinal sectional views of the male and female connectors in FIG.

[0048] Figure 6a Shown in accordance with Figure 1a A schematic side view of a male connector and a female connector in a state of being coupled and locked to each other together with a waterproof shield fitted thereon,

[0049] Figure 6b Shown in accordance with Figure 6a A corresponding schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the male and female connectors together with the waterproof shield, and

[0050] Figure 6c Shown in accordance with Figure 6a Schematic longitudinal section of the male and female connectors together with the waterproof shield, but with the waterproof shield pulled back. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments of the invention. However, it should be understood that the invention can be presented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described below; in fact, the embodiments described below are intended to complete the disclosure of the present invention and fully illustrate the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. It should also be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in various ways to provide many additional embodiments.

[0052] It should be understood that like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings. In the drawings, the dimensions of some features may be distorted for clarity.

[0053] It should be understood that the terms used in the specification are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the specification have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art. For the sake of brevity and / or clarity, well-known functions or structures may not be described in detail.

[0054] The singular forms "a", "an", "the" and "the" used in the specification include the plural forms unless otherwise expressly stated. The terms "include", "comprise" and "contain" used in the specification indicate the presence of the claimed features, but do not exclude the presence of one or more other features. The term "and / or" used in the specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the relevant listed items. The terms "between X and Y" and "between approximately X and Y" used in the specification should be interpreted as including X and Y. The term "between approximately X and Y" used in this specification means "between approximately X and approximately Y", and the term "from about X to Y" used in this specification means "from about X to about Y".

[0055] In the specification, when an element is referred to as being "on," "attached," "connected," "coupled," or "in contact with" another element, the element may be directly on, attached, connected, coupled to, or in contact with the other element, or there may be intervening elements. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly attached," "directly connected," "directly coupled," or "in direct contact with" another element, there may be no intervening elements. In the specification, when a feature is arranged "adjacent" to another feature, it may mean that the feature has a portion that overlaps with the adjacent feature or a portion that is located above or below the adjacent feature.

[0056] In the specification, spatial terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "back," "higher," and "lower" may be used to describe the relationship of one feature to another feature in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these spatial terms encompass not only the orientation shown in the accompanying drawings, but also different orientations of the device during use or operation. For example, if the device in the accompanying drawings is turned over, a feature previously described as "below" another feature may now be described as "above" the other feature. The device may also be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the relative spatial relationships will be interpreted accordingly.

[0057] Figures 1a to 1c 1 and 2 show different views of a male connector 1 (right side) and a matching female connector 2 (left side) before coupling according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 2a to 2d An exploded view of male connector 1 or a cross-sectional view of its components is shown. Male connector 1 can also be referred to as cable- or patch cord-side connector 1, while female connector 2 can also be referred to as device-side connector 2. A device (not shown) using female connector 2 can be, for example, a base station antenna or a remote radio unit. Male connector 1 and female connector 2 can be coupled and decoupled in a push-pull manner, thereby forming a push-pull or quick-lock coaxial connector assembly.

[0058] With reference to the drawings, in the following description, a right-to-left direction of the male connector 1 may correspond to a rear-to-front direction thereof, and a left-to-right direction of the female connector 2 may correspond to a rear-to-front direction thereof.

[0059] See also Figure 1b The female connector 2 may include a center conductor 21, an outer conductor 22, and an insulating spacer 24 located between the center conductor 21 and the outer conductor 22. The center conductor 21 may be generally cylindrical in shape, and at its rear end may be electrically and mechanically connected to the center conductor of a first cable or a corresponding interface of a device (not shown). The insulating spacer 24 may be used to insulate and separate the center conductor 21 from the outer conductor 22 and to secure the center conductor 21 at the radial center of the outer conductor 22. The outer conductor 22 may be generally cylindrical in shape, and at its rear end may be electrically and mechanically connected to the outer conductor of a first cable or a corresponding interface of a device (not shown).

[0060] The outer conductor 22 of the female connector 2 may include a front section 221 having a larger inner diameter and a rear section 222 having a smaller inner diameter. The rear section 222 may be used to accommodate and secure the insulating spacer 24 on its inner side. The front section 221 may be used to accommodate and secure the elastic support 25 on its inner side. The elastic support 25 may include an annular base 251 and elastic fingers 252 extending forward from the radially inner portion of the annular base 251. The annular base 251 may be secured to and abut against the front end face of the rear section 222 and the inner surface of the front section 221, with a gap formed between the inner surface of the front section 221 and the fingers 252.

[0061] The front section 221 may have a circumferential boss 223 on its outer surface. The boss 223 may be provided with an external thread on its outer surface, by means of which the female connector 2 can be threadedly connected to a conventional male connector with an internal thread, but the provision of the external thread is not necessary here. The front section 221 may be provided with a rear recessed portion 224 on its outer surface behind the boss 223, which is recessed radially inward compared to the outer surface of the boss 223. The rear recessed portion 224 may be defined axially by a vertical rear side wall and an inclined front side wall located on the boss 223. The rear recessed portion 224 can be used to achieve a latching connection between the female connector 2 and the waterproof shield 3 when the waterproof shield 3 is installed (see Figure 6b The front section 221 may have a front recessed portion 225 on its outer surface, in front of the boss 223, that is recessed radially inward relative to the outer surface of the boss 223. The front recessed portion 225 may be axially defined by an inclined rear sidewall located on the boss 223 and a vertical front sidewall located on the front flange 226. The flange 226 may be located at the frontmost end of the front section 221.

[0062] The male connector 1 may include a center conductor 11, an outer conductor 12, and an insulating spacer 13 located between the center conductor 11 and the outer conductor 12. The center conductor 11 is generally cylindrical, and its rear end portion is electrically and mechanically connected to the center conductor 41 of the second cable 4 (see Figure 6a and Figure 6b ), and its front end can be inserted into the front end recess of the central conductor 21 of the female connector 2. The insulating spacer 13 is used to insulate and separate the central conductor 11 and the outer conductor 12. The outer conductor 12 can be generally cylindrical and electrically and mechanically connected to the outer conductor 42 of the second cable 4 at its rear end (see Figure 6a and Figure 6b ).

[0063] The outer conductor 12 may include a front section 121, a middle section 122, and a rear section 123 that are arranged in sequence. The outer diameter of the front section 121 may be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the front section 221 of the female connector 2, so that the front section 121 can be inserted into the radial inner side of the front section 221, specifically, between the front section 221 and the elastic support 252 when the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 are coupled, so that the elastic support 252 helps to establish electrical contact between the two outer conductors 12 and 22 (see Figure 3b The front section 121 may be provided with an annular groove 124 on its outer surface, and the annular groove 124 may accommodate a sealing ring 125, which may ensure axial sealing between the two front sections 121, 221 (see Figure 2a and Figure 3b ).

[0064] The middle section 122 may form a circumferential protrusion that protrudes radially outward relative to the outer surfaces of the front section 121 and the rear section 123. Therefore, the middle section 122 may form a front shoulder surface 1221 at its front end that is adjacent to and, for example, perpendicular to the outer surface of the front section 121 (see Figure 2a ). In the coupled state of the male connector 1 and the female connector 2, the front face of the front section 221 of the female connector 2 or the front face of the flange 226 can stop on the front shoulder surface 1221. The middle section 122 can form a rear shoulder surface 1222 at its rear end that is adjacent to and, for example, perpendicular to the outer surface of the rear section (see Figure 2a The middle section 122 may be provided with a receiving hole 1223 which is radially open outward at its approximately middle position in the axial direction (see Figure 2d), which is a blind hole. The receiving hole 1223 can be used to receive and secure the pin 14, which will be described in detail below. Two opposing receiving holes 1223 can be provided. Of course, it is also conceivable to provide only one receiving hole 1223, or more than two receiving holes 1223. Multiple receiving holes 1223 can be arranged at equal distances in the circumferential direction of the middle section 122.

[0065] The male connector 1 may further comprise an elastic coupling member 15, see Figure 2a 、 Figure 2b and Figure 2d The coupling member 15 may include an annular base 151 and a plurality of elastic, generally finger-shaped coupling fingers 152 extending forward from the base 151. The number of coupling fingers 152 is 10 in this embodiment, but more or fewer coupling fingers 152 are also conceivable. These coupling fingers 152 are arranged circumferentially on the front end surface of the base 151, specifically on the radially outer portion of the front end surface, and are separated from each other by gaps (see Figure 2b). These coupling fingers 152 will move radially relative to the base 151 and undergo elastic deformation when subjected to radial force. Each coupling finger 152 can have a handle 153 adjacent to the base 151 and a hook 154 adjacent to the handle 153. The wall thickness of the handle 153 can be smaller than the wall thickness of the base 151. The smaller wall thickness of the handle 153 contributes to its easier elastic deformation. The handle 153 can extend forward and slightly radially outward from the radially outer portion of the front end face of the base 151. The hook 154 can be roughly C-shaped and open toward the rear or the base 151. The wall thickness of the hook 154 can be greater than the wall thickness of the handle 153. The hook portion 154 may include a radially outer outer section 155. This outer section 155 forms an inclined surface 1552 at the transition between its horizontal outer surface 1551 and the shank 153, such that the diameter of the outer surface 1551 of the outer section 155 is greater than the diameter of the outer surface 1531 of the shank 153. In other words, the two outer surfaces 1551 and 1531 are radially offset. The hook portion 154 may also include a front section 156, which serves as a C-bottom. This front section 156 or its front surface 1561 is configured to extend radially inward and axially rearward from the outer section 155 or its outer surface 1551. The hook portion 154 may also include a radially inner inner section 157. This inner section 157 or its inner surface 1571 (i.e., the surface with the smaller inner diameter) extends horizontally rearward from the front section 156 or its front surface 1561. The inclined front surface 1561 of the front section 156 can realize that the hook portion 154 is radially expanded outward due to being squeezed by the front end of the flange 226 of the female connector 2 during the insertion process, and after the hook portion 154 slides over the flange 226, the inner section 157 of the hook portion 154 can reach and be accommodated in the front recess 225 of the female connector 2 and abut with its free end against the vertical front side wall of the front recess 225, thereby completing the coupling. Here, in the initial state of the male connector 1 before coupling, that is, when the coupling finger 152 is Figure 1b In the initial state shown, the inner diameter of the inner section 157 (or the diameter of its inner surface 1571) can be designed to be smaller than the outer diameter of the flange 226, for example, designed to be equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the bottom surface of the front recess 225. This enables the operator to use his or her sense of touch (and hearing) to feel that the coupling is completed at the moment the coupling is completed, that is, when the inner section 157 enters the front recess 225, which facilitates the operator's tactile (and auditory) recognition of the completion of the coupling.

[0066] The greater wall thickness of the hook 154 not only contributes to a more secure connection of the two connectors 1 , 2 , but also enables radial offset of the outer surface 1551 of the outer section 155 of the hook 154 and the outer surface 1531 of the shank 153 .

[0067] The elastic coupling 15 can be provided with a through-hole 1511 on its base 151 that corresponds to the receiving hole 1223 on the middle section 122 of the outer conductor 12. The elastic coupling 15 can be fitted with its base 151 onto the middle section 122, with the through-hole 1511 on the base 151 of the elastic coupling 15 and the receiving hole 1223 on the middle section 122 aligned with each other. As a result, the elastic coupling 15 can be securely fixed to the middle section 122 via the pin 14. The pin can be pressed into the through-hole 1511 and the receiving hole 1223 with an interference fit. It is also conceivable to provide a thread on the lower end of the pin and also provide a thread in the receiving hole 1223 so that the pin can be screwed into the receiving hole 1223.

[0068] The male connector 1 may further include a sleeve 16. The sleeve 16 may be substantially cylindrical and may surround most of the outer conductor 12 and the entire elastic coupling 15. Figure 2a 、 Figure 2c and Figure 2d The sleeve 16 may include a front section 161, a middle section 162, and a rear section 163. The sleeve 16 may be provided with a rear wall 1631 extending radially inward from the peripheral wall of the rear section 163 at the rear end of the rear section 163. The rear wall 1631 surrounds the rear section 123 of the outer conductor 12 and forms a clearance fit with the outer surface of the rear section 163. This clearance fit not only ensures the coaxiality of the sleeve 16 and the outer conductor 12, but also allows axial and circumferential movement of the sleeve 16 relative to the outer conductor 12. A spring 17 may be provided between the middle section 122 of the outer conductor 12 and the sleeve 16. Specifically, the spring 17 may abut against the rear shoulder surface 1222 of the middle section 122 of the outer conductor 12 at the front end and against the front side surface of the rear wall 1631 of the sleeve 16 at the rear end. The spring 17 may be a compressed preloaded spring 17 , so that the spring 17 can always exert a backward force on the sleeve 16 to prohibit the sleeve 16 from rocking forward arbitrarily (eg due to gravity) relative to the outer conductor 12 .

[0069] The sleeve 16 may have a hook-shaped decoupling portion 1611 formed on its front section 161. This decoupling portion 1611 may be oriented toward the hook portion 154 of the elastic coupling 15 and may allow the hook portion 154 to exit the front recess 225, thereby decoupling the two connectors 1 and 2. The decoupling portion 1611 may form a capture cavity 1612 for capturing the hook portion 154. The capture cavity 1612 may be defined by a horizontal top surface 1613, an inclined front surface 1614, and an inclined rear surface 1615. The inclined rear surface 1615 may be the transition surface from the front section 161 to the middle section 162, and its slope may generally correspond to the inclined surface 1552 at which the outer section 155 of the hook portion 154 of the elastic coupling 15 transitions to the handle 153. The slope of the inclined front surface 1614 of the capture cavity 1612 may substantially correspond to the slope of the front surface 1561 of the hook portion 154 of the elastic coupling 15. Figure 1b In the initial state of the male connector 1, the catch cavity 1612 can partially accommodate the hook portion 154 of the elastic coupling 15, and the front surface 1614 of the catch cavity 1612 partially abuts the front surface 1561 of the hook portion 154 of the elastic coupling 15 from the front. The coupling fingers 152 of the elastic coupling 15 can be slightly lifted under the preload of the spring 17. As a result, the sleeve 16 is stopped by the elastic coupling 15, preventing it from moving backward under the preload of the spring 17. Thus, in the initial state of the male connector 1, the sleeve 16 remains stable relative to the outer conductor 12, free from shaking, due to the combined effects of the preload of the spring 17 and the return force of the coupling fingers 152 of the elastic coupling 15. Furthermore, the degree to which the coupling fingers 152 of the elastic coupling 15 are lifted in the initial state can be adjusted by adjusting the preload of the spring 17. In addition, in the initial state of the male connector 1, the outer surface 1551 of the outer section 155 of the hook 154 of the elastic coupling 15 may have a gap from the top surface 1613 of the capture cavity 1612 of the sleeve 16, and the height of the gap is, for example, at least greater than the depth of the front recess 225 of the female connector 2, so that when the operator lifts the coupling finger 152 of the elastic coupling 15 by pulling the sleeve 16 backward during decoupling, the gap is sufficient to allow the inner section 157 of the hook 154 to completely leave the front recess 225 to achieve decoupling (see Figure 5b ).

[0070] In the initial state of the male connector 1 (see Figure 1b ), the inner diameter of the middle section 162 of the sleeve 16 may be smaller than the diameter of the outer surface 1551 of the hook portion 154, so that when the sleeve 16 moves forward (see Figure 4b), the middle section 162 of the sleeve 16 can radially inwardly press the hook portion 154 with its inner surface. The hook portion 154 is squeezed to undergo radially inward elastic deformation, and the inner section 157 of the hook portion 154 further radially inwardly presses the front recess 225 of the female connector 2 and simultaneously presses the flange 226 axially backward based on the inclined direction of the front section 156, thereby achieving a more secure coupling of the two connectors 1 and 2.

[0071] The sleeve 16 can be provided with two radially opposite, circumferentially closed and radially through grooves 18 on its middle section 162. The grooves 18 can be assigned to the pins 14 one by one. The pins 14 can extend into the grooves 18 with their radially outer sections, so that the sleeve 16 can be guided by the pins 14. The pins 14 can be flush with the outer surface 1551 of the middle section 162 of the sleeve 16 with their radially outer free end faces (see Figure 1b ) or slightly lower than it.

[0072] See also Figure 1a , each slot 18 may have a front section 181, a middle section 182 and a rear section 183. The front section 181 may have an axially extending direction. In the initial state of the male connector 1, the pin 14 may be in the front section 181, and the pin 14 has a certain distance from the front end of the front section 181. The distance should be large enough so that the distance allows the sleeve 16 to be pulled backward relative to the pin 14 until the coupling finger 152 of the elastic coupling 15 completely leaves the front recess 225 of the female connector 2 to achieve the decoupling of the two connectors 1 and 2. This is from Figure 5a and Figure 5b The decoupling state shown can be clearly seen, compared to the Figure 1a and Figure 1b In the initial state shown and Figure 3a and Figure 3b In the coupled and unlocked state shown, the sleeve 16 has moved further rearward, causing the pin 14 to be closer to the front of the front section 181 of the slot 18. In this embodiment, the pin 14 can be at the rear end of the front section 181 adjacent to the middle section 182, which allows the sleeve 16 to be rotated directly when a locking operation is subsequently performed without first moving the sleeve 16 forward.

[0073] The middle section 182 can have an inclined or helical orientation. That is, the middle section 182 extends neither parallel nor perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 16, but rather helically about it. The helical orientation of the middle section 182 allows the pin 14 to guide the sleeve 16 within the middle section 182 when the operator rotates the sleeve 16, allowing the sleeve 16 to move axially forward or backward while rotating. The middle section 182 can extend at a small angle to the transverse direction of the sleeve 16 (which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 16), for example, less than 45 degrees, less than 30 degrees, or less than 15 degrees, making rotation of the sleeve 16 relatively easy and effortless.

[0074] The rear section 183 may have an arc-shaped front stop cavity 1831 located in the front, which is located further forward than the rear end of the middle section 182, so that the rear section 183 and the middle section 182 form a front stop shoulder 1832 at the transition. The pin 14 may be partially accommodated and axially stopped in the front stop cavity 1831 based on the rearward force applied by the spring 17 to the sleeve 16 (see Figure 4a At this time, the pin 14 can be stopped by the front shoulder 1832 in the circumferential direction, so that the sleeve 16 is prohibited from automatically returning to the middle section 182 in the reverse direction. Figure 3a The unlocked or unlocked state is shown. Here, the front stop cavity 1831 can be configured to accommodate less than or equal to half of the pin 14. This allows the operator to simply reverse the rotation of the sleeve 16 when unlocking is required, without first pushing the sleeve 16 forward, thereby facilitating the unlocking operation. In other embodiments, the front stop cavity 1831 can be configured to accommodate more than half of the pin 14. In this case, to unlock, the sleeve 16 must first be pushed forward a certain distance and then rotated to unlock. Although this method requires an additional forward push of the sleeve 16 during the unlocking process, it more reliably prevents the sleeve 16 from being accidentally rotated to unlock.

[0075] In an embodiment not shown, the rear section 183 may have a rear stop cavity located at the rear, which is located further rearward than the rear end of the middle section 182, so that a rear shoulder is formed at the transition between the rear section 183 and the middle section 182. This helps, when the pin 14 is in the rear section 183, if the operator accidentally pushes the sleeve 16 forward so that the pin 14 leaves the front stop cavity 1831 and enters the rear stop cavity, the sleeve 16 can be stopped circumferentially in the rear stop cavity by the rear shoulder. Therefore, after the operator releases the sleeve 16, the sleeve 16 does not rotate circumferentially to unlock under the return force of the spring 17, but directly returns to the front stop cavity 1831 to continue being locked.

[0076] Next join Figure 1a 、 Figure 1b 、 Figure 3a 、 Figure 3b 、 Figure 4a 、 Figure 4b 、 Figure 5a and Figure 5b The two connectors 1 and 2 are shown in different states to introduce the operation process of the two connectors 1 and 2 including coupling, locking, unlocking and decoupling.

[0077] Figure 1a and Figure 1b The two connectors 1 and 2 are shown in a separated state, where the male connector 1 is in its initial state, the sleeve 16 is stopped on the elastic coupling 15 under the preload of the spring 17, and the pin 14 is in the front section 181 of the groove 18, here at the rear end of the front section 181.

[0078] Insert the male connector 1 into the female connector 2 until the hook 154 of the elastic coupling 15 is engaged with the front recess 225 of the female connector 2. Figure 3a and Figure 3b The operator can feel the vibration (and hear the click) at this time, indicating that the coupling of the two connectors 1 and 2 is completed. However, the coupling is not locked at this time. If the male connector 1 is pulled backward with a large force, the hook portion 154 can still be lifted off the front recess 225 to decouple. At this time, the pin 14 is still in the front section 181 of the slot 18, that is, it is in the front section 182 of the slot 18. Figure 1a in the same position.

[0079] Next, the sleeve 16 is rotated (clockwise when looking forward), and based on the guidance of the pin 14 in the middle section 182 of the groove 18, the sleeve 16 moves forward in a spiral until the pin 14 enters the rear section 183 of the groove 18. The sleeve 16 is loosened, and under the return force of the spring 17, the pin 14 stops in the front stop cavity 1831 of the rear section 183 of the groove 18, so that the sleeve 16 is locked by the pin 14, and the sleeve 16 reaches the end of the sleeve 16. Figure 4a and Figure 4b The coupled and locked state shown. At this time, the sleeve 16 has moved forward to the inner surface of its middle section 162 and is pressed against the hook 154 of the elastic coupling 15 to firmly press the hook 154 into the front recess 225 of the female connector 2.

[0080] When it is necessary to separate the two coupled and locked connectors 1 and 2 from each other, first (counterclockwise when looking forward) rotate the sleeve 16. Based on the guidance of the pin 14 in the middle section 182 of the groove 18, the sleeve 16 spirally moves backward until the pin 14 enters the front section 181 of the groove 18, and then returns to the front section 181. Figure 3a and Figure 3b Unlocked state shown.

[0081] Then, if Figure 5bAs shown, the two connectors 1 and 2 are decoupled by pulling the sleeve 16 backward so that the sleeve 16 lifts the hook portion 154 radially outward until it completely leaves the front recess 225 of the female connector 2. At this time, the two connectors 1 and 2 are decoupled by the sleeve 16. After decoupling, continue to pull the male connector 1 backward to separate it from the female connector 2, and enter Figure 1a and Figure 1b The separated state is shown.

[0082] Figure 6a and Figure 6b The figure shows the installation state of the waterproof shield 3 on the two connected connectors 1 and 2. The waterproof shield 3 is fixed to the cable 4 behind the male connector 1 with its rear end and is locked in the rear recess 224 of the female connector 2 with its front end configured as a hook 31.

[0083] Figure 6c The figure shows a state where the waterproof cover 3 is pulled back to expose the connector assembly, for example, for maintenance of the connector assembly. While a backward pulling force is applied to the locked sleeve 16 during the process of pulling the waterproof cover 3 back past the sleeve 16, the sleeve 16 is prevented from accidentally releasing and entering the unlocked state because the sleeve 16 is stopped axially and circumferentially by the pin 14.

[0084] The outstanding features of the embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to:

[0085] Based on the cooperation between the pin 14 and the groove 18 of the sleeve 16, on the one hand, the locking and unlocking of the coupling of the two connectors 1 and 2 can be achieved by rotating the sleeve 16, and on the other hand, the sleeve 16 can be stopped based on the groove 18 in the locked state without being accidentally unlocked due to the axial force being applied unintentionally (for example, when pulling the waterproof cover 3 for maintenance).

[0086] The pin 14 is used not only to lock the sleeve 16 and thus the coupling, but also to fix the elastic coupling member 15 on the outer conductor 12, thereby reducing the number of parts and the overall structural size of the connector assembly.

[0087] In the locked state, the sleeve 16 additionally applies an extrusion force to the hook portion 154 of the elastic coupling 15, and then applies a radially inward extrusion force and an axially backward extrusion force to the female connector 2, making the coupling of the two connectors 1 and 2 more secure.

[0088] The lateral stops of the pin 14 on the rear section 183 of the groove 18 and the lateral stops on the front section 181 of the groove 18 during the rotation of the sleeve 16 allow the operator to tactilely (and audibly) identify that the sleeve 16 has entered the locked state and the unlocked state respectively.

[0089] The present invention may include any feature or feature combination or generalization disclosed herein, whether implicit or explicit, and is not limited to the scope of any limitation listed above. Any elements, features and / or structural arrangements described herein may be combined in any suitable manner.

[0090] The particular embodiments disclosed above are exemplary only, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein that the present invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners. It is therefore apparent that changes and modifications may be made to the particular embodiments disclosed above, and all such variations are considered to fall within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A connector comprising a coaxial center conductor and an outer conductor, characterized in that: The connector further comprises: a coupling member connected to the outer conductor and configured to couple with a mating coupling member of a mating connector; a sleeve surrounding the outer conductor and movable relative to the outer conductor between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the sleeve is capable of locking the coupling of the coupling member and the mating coupling member to prevent decoupling thereof in the locked position and allowing decoupling of the coupling member and the mating coupling member in the unlocked position; at least one cylindrical member connected to the outer conductor; and at least one groove formed on the sleeve and cooperating with the cylindrical element, the groove having a guide section and a locking section, In which, when the sleeve moves between the locked position and the unlocked position, the cylindrical member can guide the sleeve in the guide section of the groove, and when the sleeve is in the locked position, the cylindrical member can stop in the locking section of the sleeve, so that the sleeve can continue to remain in the locked position when subjected to axial backward pulling force.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: The guide section of the groove extends obliquely relative to the longitudinal and transverse directions of the sleeve, so that the movement of the sleeve between the locked position and the unlocked position comprises a helical movement.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: The cylindrical element secures the coupling element to the outer conductor.

4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: The connector further includes a spring that is tensioned between the outer conductor and the sleeve and is capable of applying a rearward force to the sleeve.

5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein: The locking section has a front stop cavity in front. When the sleeve is in the locked position, the spring applies an axial rearward force to the sleeve so that the cylindrical member stops in the front stop cavity. The front stop cavity has a front stop shoulder adjacent to the guide section of the groove, and the front stop shoulder circumferentially stops the cylindrical member.

6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein: When the sleeve is in the locked position, less than half of the cylindrical member is received in the front stop cavity.

7. The connector according to claim 5, wherein: The locking section has a rear stop cavity with a rear stop shoulder adjacent to the guide section of the groove, which can provide a circumferential stop for the cylindrical element when the cylindrical element enters the rear stop cavity.

8. The connector according to claim 4, wherein: The coupling element has a base part fixed to the outer conductor and a plurality of coupling fingers connected to the base part at the front and separated by gaps, wherein the sleeve rests on the coupling fingers from the front due to the force of the spring in the unlocked position.

9. The connector according to claim 8, wherein: In the locked position, the sleeve can bear with its inner surface from the radial outside against the coupling finger in order to prevent a radial outward movement of the coupling finger.

10. The connector according to claim 8, wherein The groove also has a decoupling section, which extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the sleeve. In the unlocked position of the sleeve, the cylindrical member is located in the decoupling section and is spaced apart from the front end of the decoupling section. After the sleeve is pulled backward to decouple the coupling member from the mating coupling member, the distance is reduced.

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