Coaxial Cable Connector Compression Collar Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coaxial cable connectors often result in signal degradation due to leakage and interference, and can be difficult to mount securely on electrical devices, leading to poor grounding and disrupted connections.
Innovation Solution
A coaxial cable connector design featuring an outer barrel with a compression collar and inner compression band that deforms radially inward upon axial compression, providing a secure and interference-free connection by maintaining contact between the fitting and the body through an alignment mechanism, including quasi-annular leaf springs, to prevent cable removal and ensure electrical continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the connector is tightly mounted to the connector body, then the connection security is improved, but it becomes incredibly difficult to thread the connector onto an electrical device
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into two main segments: a compression collar that interfaces with the connector body and a threaded fitting that interfaces with the electrical device. This segmentation allows the compression collar to provide secure mounting through radial compression while the threaded fitting handles the threading operation, separating the functions to resolve the contradiction between connection security and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression collar incorporates a dynamic compression mechanism with resilient elements that allow the collar to be inserted with minimal force and then lock into place through radial compression. This dynamic behavior enables easy installation followed by secure retention, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and connection security.
2Ease of operation
If the fitting is mounted loosely on the connector body, then the ease of operation is improved, but the electrical connection between the fitting and the inner post can be disrupted when the fitting moves off of the post
Solution Approach 1:
The compression collar is pre-configured with compression elements that automatically engage and apply radial force to the inner post when the fitting is installed. This preliminary action ensures that the fitting remains aligned with the inner post throughout operation, maintaining electrical connection stability without requiring tight mounting that would complicate installation.
3Reliability
If traditional crimping is used to secure the connector to the coaxial cable, then the connector is secured to the cable, but the coaxial cable is crushed which delivers a signal degraded by leakage, interference, or poor grounding
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional crimping mechanical system is replaced with a compression-based system that uses controlled radial force applied through the compression collar. This substitution maintains secure attachment to the coaxial cable while distributing the force more evenly to prevent crushing of the cable structure, thereby avoiding signal degradation from leakage, interference, or poor grounding.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The connector securely engages the coaxial cable without damaging it, maintains signal integrity by preventing leakage and interference, and ensures reliable electrical grounding, allowing for easy installation and secure coupling to electrical devices.
Implementation Method 1
The inner and outer compression bands moved between uncompressed and compressed positions in response to axial compression of the connector. In the compressed condition, the outer compression band bears against the inner compression band to deform the inner compression band radially inward.
Implementation Method 2
The alignment mechanism includes a quasi-annular leaf spring formed integrally to the body. The alignment mechanism is compressed between the body and the fitting so as to exert an axial force against the fitting to maintain contact between the fitting and the body.
Data Source
AI summary
A coaxial cable connector includes an outer barrel having a longitudinal axis, the outer barrel formed with an inner compression band. A coaxial fitting is mounted at a front end of the outer barrel for coupling to an electrical device, and a coaxial compression collar is applied to the outer barrel. An outer compression band formed in the compression collar moves between an uncompressed condition and a compressed condition in response to axial compression of the coaxial cable connector. Movement of the outer compression band from the uncompressed condition to the compressed condition shapes the inner compressed into a pawl which allows introduction of a cable into the connector and then prevents removal of the cable from the connector.