EP0961349A1 - Sealed connection device for antennas - Google Patents

Abstract

The connection unit (R) forms a single block connector and the cap section (33) seals the connector from the weather.

Description

The present invention relates to the connection equipment such as an antenna using coaxial cable.

Currently, coaxial cable connection of an antenna is carried out by means of a connector with male and female parts, one of which is mounted either directly on the antenna, or at the end of a coaxial cable leader. This type of connection, by its design in two complementary elements relatively complex is rather costly high, but moreover, it is not without asking some problems including first a sealing problem which is repeated so much at cable entries in both male and female elements at the junction of the two elements. We can only think that solving the tightness problem in this type of connector does would not be simple and would still increase significantly its cost, beyond the acceptable. On the other hand, in in practice, this type of connector shows a another problem is that there is a diversity of models including male elements and females are of course not compatible from one to the other, which forces the final installer to permanently have a wide range of elements connector complementary to those it is likely to meet on the antennas.

The present invention proceeds from a reflection and of research carried out around this multiple problematic.

It consists of a new device for connection of equipment such as antenna by cable coaxial, which device is intended for connection between an internal coaxial cable forming part of said hardware and an outer coaxial cable, and is characterized in that it comprises a one-piece body having two inner and outer ends of receiving and connecting ends to be connected of the two inner and outer cables, at least said outer connection end for end of external cable to be connected being provided with a means cable gland to seal it in cooperating with the outer sheath of said coaxial cable.

In one embodiment of the invention, said connector is intended to be mounted directly on said material such as antenna, in which case its end internal connection for the end to be connected of inner cable is intended to be in the volume internal of said material. Insofar as the latter, by principle, is waterproof vis-à-vis the outside, said inner connection end does not have to be specially fitted with cable gland means such as the other connection end for the cable outside.

However, the body of the connection device then being mounted traversing in the envelope exterior of said material, for example in a wall bottom, means are provided so that the mounting is waterproof.

In another embodiment of the invention, said connecting device is provided to be mounted at the end of a cable leader coaxial coming out of said material such as antenna, and by therefore the two connection ends interior and exterior of said body for ends to be connected with inner cable (pigtail) and of external cable are then the same and provided identically by means of a cable gland.

la Fig. 1 est une vue schématique, pour partie en coupe, d'un dispositif de raccordement selon l'invention monté dans le fond d'une antenne ;

la Fig. 2 est une vue schématique éclatée, pour partie en coupe, des divers composants constituant le dispositif de la Fig. 1 ;

la Fig. 3 est une vue schématique de côté d'un dispositif selon l'invention destiné au raccordement entre une amorce de câble et un câble extérieur, à l'extérieur d'une antenne ; et

la Fig. 4 est une vue schématique, semblable à la Fig. 2, des divers composants constituant le dispositif de la Fig. 3.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will become clear on reading the following description, made in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view, partly in section, of a connection device according to the invention mounted in the bottom of an antenna;

Fig. 2 is an exploded schematic view, partly in section, of the various components constituting the device of FIG. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of a device according to the invention intended for connection between a cable leader and an external cable, outside an antenna; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic view, similar to FIG. 2, various components constituting the device of FIG. 3.

In the description which follows, the device connection according to the invention will be called "fitting", since it has a monolithic body at two connection ends, and as opposed to "connector" which, in the present context, means in general rule of connection sets to male and female components.

In Figs. 1 and 2, connection R is of a first type, designed to be mounted directly on an antenna A. In Fig. 1, the base part 5 of the antenna A includes a through bore 50 shouldered at 51, in which the connector R is mounted in leaktight manner.

The connector R comprises a body 1 of general shape cylindrical, Fig. 2, open axially right through between an internal connection end 10 (side antenna) and an outer end 11, which connection ends each have an edge crimping. Near the inner end 10, the body 1 presents externally a collar 12 whose function is to lean against the shoulder 51 of the bore 50, and block the rotating connection therein. The support side of the collar 12 also has a groove device 13 intended to receive a seal seal 30.

From the outer end 11 and towards the collar 12, the body 1 has an external thread 14 to receive, first a fixing nut 31 with its lock washer 32, and a gland socket 33.

At the connection end interior 10, the connector R comprises means conventional for factory connection of a cable coaxial CI inside the antenna A, Fig. 1. Such as shown in Fig. 2, these means include: washer 20, the central opening of which is intended for passage and maintenance of the central conductor of the cable coaxial CI, before its engagement in an element of internal connection 21 which will be described below; as well as a ferrule 22 in which the cable is crimped, the end piece itself being crimped into the end 10 of the body 1.

From the outer connection end 11, the body 1 internally has a first shoulder 15 defining the mow of a cavity of crimping, then, at a distance from this first shoulder, a second shoulder 16, the space between the two being intended to accommodate a part 23 of semi-rigid material such as polyethylene, intended to support the element of abovementioned internal connection 21. This is a clamp tubular oriented towards the connection end outside 11. The part 23 has a cup shape, in the bottom 24 of which is elastically engaged the end of the clamp 21. The hole in the bottom 24 open on the input of the clamp 21 is flared in view guiding the central cable conductor external coaxial to be connected. We also see that the other end of the clamp 21 is held by a washer 25.

In the outer connection end 11, is crimped a tip 26 coming against the bottom of the cup 23, and which, according to one characteristic important of the invention, comprises a tail of tubular connection 27 projecting from its part basic 26a.

Connection tail 27 defines a passage axial leading to the entry of the clamp 21, and calibrated the diameter of the internal dielectric of coaxial cable to connect CE, Fig. 1. Externally, it presents gripping reliefs, here in the form of redents and a knurled portion. Its external input edge is thin, while the thickness of its wall increases slightly towards the tip base 26a.

The connection tail 27 is intended for receive a prepared end of coaxial cable, having a stripped portion of central conductor, followed by a short stripped portion of the dielectric internal. After engaging the cable end prepared in connection tail 27, the movement in the sense of the introduction is continued, in forcibly engaging the outer sheath of the cable on the connection tail, until it comes as close as possible to the tip base 26. At the end of this movement, the end internal cable dielectric has arrived nearby cup bottom 24, while the portion stripped of central conductor has retracted adequately in clamp 21. The external cable sheath is hung positively and securely on the tail of connection 27, the tightening also ensuring the contact thereon of the shield or second conductor of cable.

The connection R finally includes a set of cable glands at its outer connection end 11, namely a flexible sealing ring 34, a washer 35, and the clamping sleeve 33 screwing onto the body 1. By being compressed inside the sleeve 33, the ring 34 comes to bear in force by its end against end of body 1 (beyond the inner edge of the crimping edge), and by its inner wall against the outer sheath portion of coaxial cable engaged on the connection tail 27, thereby strengthening the mechanical attachment of the cable, and by preventing any entry of humidity (both in the connection only in the cable) by this end of connection of fitting R which, therefore, ensures perfectly sealed connection.

Compared to the fitting R which has just been described, the connection R 'of Figs. 3 and 4 is a double fitting in meaning that it always has a monolithic body 1 ', but instead of the single end of external connection, its two ends of interior and exterior connection 10 'and 11' are identically designed to sealingly receive a CI internal cable or pigtail coming from an antenna and an external cable CE, Fig. 3.

As clearly shown in FIG. 4, the means connection at the two inner ends and exterior 10 'and 11' are exactly the same and arranged in the same way as at the outer end 11 of connection R of Figs. 1 and 2, and therefore bear the same references and will not be described in new. Note that the internal connection clamp 21 ' here is a double pliers, each end of which is held by a cup 23.

As for the body 1 ', it essentially reproduces in double and symmetrically with respect to its middle the left part of body 1 of fitting R. Beyond its end threads 14 ', it presents externally several 12 'collars used in particular for blocking it in rotation when tightening the gland sockets 33.

As with fitting R, once the connections made at both ends, the connection made with connector R 'offers all watertightness and solidity guarantee, for a price of is obviously significantly less important than that of current connectors, and with a contribution of convenience for users.

Claims (7)

Device for connecting such equipment that antenna by coaxial cable, which device is intended for connection between a coaxial cable interior (CI) forming part of said material and a external coaxial cable (CE), and is characterized in that that it comprises a one-piece body (1, 1 ') having two inner and outer ends (10, 11; 10 ', 11 ') receiving and connecting the ends to connect two internal and external cables to the minus said outer connection end (11, 11 ') for the outer cable end (CE) to to be connected being provided with a cable gland means to seal it by cooperating with the sheath external of said coaxial cable. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is intended to be mounted directly in said material (A), so that its internal connection end (10) either in the internal volume of said material (A), and in that it includes means (12, 13, 30-32) for ensuring its sealingly mounting in said material. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is intended to be mounted at the end of a coaxial cable leader (CI) coming out of said material, the two connection ends inner and outer (10 ', 11') of said body (1 ') being arranged identically and identically provided a cable gland means. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said outer end of connection at least of said body (1, 1 ') comprises a connection tail (27) defining internally an axial passage calibrated to the diameter of the dielectric internal coaxial cable, leading to clamp internal (21, 21 ') central conductor connection coaxial cable, and in that the connection tail (27) is shaped externally to be fitted to force in the outer sheath of coaxial cable to connect. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said connecting tail (27) externally presents gripping reliefs. Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said connecting tail (27) is part of a tip (26) crimped into the end corresponding body (1, 1 '). Device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that said cable gland means has a sealing ring (34) compressed by means a socket (33) to come and apply force, on the one hand on the outer sheath portion of the cable coaxial to be connected engaged on said tail connection (27), and on the other hand against the end corresponding to said body (1, 1 ').

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