US2472113A - Cable end receptacle - Google Patents

Description

June 7, 949 A. A. MAHREN l CABLE END RECEPTACLE Filed sept. 14, 1946 I N VEN TOR. ANZ ula/1. Ma/*azz ATTORNEY Patented `lune 7, `1 949 lTED STATES CABLE END RECEPTACLE Delaware Application September 14, 1946, Serial No. 697,108

3 Claims. l

This invention relates to a cable receptacle and more particularly to a` cable receptacle which is adapted to fit over the ends of a cable for test purposes such as by a so-called velocity propagation meter.

As is well known, coaxial cables include a center conductor, a layer of insulation or insulating space, then an outer conductor which may comprise a braid of conducting material and finally, an outer coating of insulation. For testing purposes the outer insulation is peeled back and the braid of the second conductor exposed. The braid and also the insulation between it if present, and the inner conductor are cut back, leaving the inner conductor and outer conductor braid exposed with the inner conductor extending beyond the outer braid. It then becomes a problem of connecting the exposed conductor ends to a cable receptacle, which in turn is connected with instruments for testing the cable.

The objects of the invention among others are: to provide a cable receptacle suitable for connecting a coaxial cable into testing apparatus; a cable receptacle adaptable to testing cables of different diameter or dual coaxial cables; a cable receptacle that allows an operator to measure the exact length of a cable; a cable receptacle that is simple and economical in construction, and is durable and long lasting; and a cable receptacle requiringno special skill on the part of an operator to assemble and install.

In carrying out the objects of the invention there is provided a cable receptacle comprising a guide sleeve of insulating material for receiving and guiding a cable thereinto. A conductor element is embedded within the guide sleeve and said guide sleeve and conductor element are associated with a terminal block assembly by being connected thereto and supported thereby. The conductor element within the insulator guide sleeve may have spring fingers to insure electrical contact with a cable entered therein. The terminal block assembly may consist of a terminal insulator block within a terminal conductor block having means for securing the cable receptacle to a supporting member. The insulator guide sleeve with the conductor element mounted therein may be removably connected with and supported from the terminal conductor block as by having the conductor element in the insulator guide sleeve screw threaded into the terminal conductor block to allow interchange of different sized and single or dual cable insulator lguide sleeves and conductor elements to care for different sized cables.

With theforegoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereina-iter and will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like, or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a perspective View of the cable receptacle shown attached to a panel with a portion thereof broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a sectional View of the cable receptacle showing means for attaching the cable receptacle to a panel and means for attaching the parts of the cable receptacle together; Y

Figure 3 is another sectional view of the cable receptacle cut at a different point around the cable receptacle;

Figure 4 is an end view of another type of cable receptacle to receive dual coaxial cables; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings I represents a guide sleeve of the cable receptacle to receive and guide a coaxial cable into the cable receptacle. The guide sleeve l is ared at 2 to guide a cable into the cable receptacle and the guide sleeve is an insulator member and is preferably made of Bakelite. A conductor element 3 is mounted within guide sleeve l and secured in place within guide sleeve I as by screws il. As can be readily seen, conductor 3 is removable from guide sleeve l by withdrawal of the fastening means which may be the screws fi. The conductor member 3 is made preferably of brass but may be made of any conductor metal. The conductor member 3 is screw threaded on one end thereof as by male thread 5 for mounting the insulator guide sleeve l and conductor member 3 to other parts of the cable receptacle and to support the insulator guide sleeve l and conductor member 3 from a supporting means. Around the inner periphery of the conductor element 3 are spring members 6 which may be phosphorus bronze springs to improve electrical contact between a cable entered into the cable receptacle and the conductor element 3. The cable receptacle also includes a terminal block assembly which is made up of a terminal conductor block l' with a terminal insulator block 8 within the terminal conductor block. The terminal insulator block 8 has a center boring in the center thereof in which spring terminal 3a. is threadably adjustable, the block 3 being removably attached to the terminal conductor block 'l by screws I0. The terminal conductor block i is screw threaded as by female threads II to receive the male threads on conductor element 3 to thus removably secure the insulator guide sleeve I and conductor element 3 to the terminal conductor block 'I and terminal insulator block 8. The terminal conductor block carries means I2 in the form of screws to attach the assembled cable receptacle to a supporting member such as panel I3. The terminal' conductor block l may be of any suitable metal and copper has been used successfully. Electrical contact is established between the conductor element 3 and the terminal conductor block 'I by the screw threaded connection .between threads and I I. The terminal insulator member 8 may be made of a suitable insulating material and polystyrene resin has been found most satisfactory. y K

In operation the cable receptacle receives a coaxial cable to electrically couple the coaxial cable through the cable receptacle to suitable testing instruments. A coaxial cable is represented generally in Figure 2 in broken lines Where insulation is shown removed for a short distance fromv inner and outer conductors of such cable with the inner conductor extending slightly (about elf more or less) beyond the outer conductor. The cable is entered into the cable receptacle being guided therein by the ilare 2 on insulator guide sleeve I. The end of conductor I4 is contacted by spring members 6 on the inner periphery of conductor element 3. This effects an electrical coupling or contact between conductor I4, springs 6, conductor element 3 and terminal conductor block I which in turn is connected with testing instrumentsv (not shown). The terminus of the conductor contacts the spring terminal 9a, the shank I5 of which is threaded in the centra1 boring 9 in the terminal insulator block 8.

To care for cables of dilerent diameter, a number of different diametered guide sleeves I and conductor elements 3 may be provided. The guide sleeve I and conductor element 3 are removable fromv the terminal conductor blocli 'I and terminal insulator block 8 by'me'ans of the screw threaded connection between conductor element 3 and terminal conductor block 'Il The terminal conductor block 'I is held 4siipportedpn panel I3 by screw I2'even though guide s'leeve yI and' conductor element 3 are removed. The proper diametered guide sleeve lI and conductor element 3 are selected and assembledl after which the assembly is screwed into terminal conductor block 1. It is merely necessary to provide a set of guide sleeves I and conductor elements .3 of equal outer diameter with differing inner diameters.

Figures 4 and 5 show a modified form of cable receptacle for dual coaxial cables. The dual coaxial cable comprises two coaxial cables side by side with a conductingr braid surrounding the two cables, an insulating coating being applied over the braid. The modified cable receptacle is similar in every respect to the previously described cable receptacle except that the guide sleeve I is different. In Figure 4 the entrance to guide sleeve I6 and the inner shape of conductor I1 for dual coaxial cables are elliptical as shown at I8. The elliptically shaped cable opening I8 allows for the entrance of the dual coaxial cable. The elements I6, I1 and I9 may be interchangeable with elements I, 3 and 6, respectively, within a given range of sizes.

While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the same is intended as illustrative and not as limitative since other forms of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or principles hereof. The invention is rather that defined by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. A cable end receptacle comprising an insulator guide sleeve having a flaring opening in one end, a conductor element secured in said guide sleeve and having one of its ends projecting therebeyond, a terminal conductor block engaging the conductor element, a terminal insulator block secured in said terminal conductor block and a spring terminal extending through a central bore in said terminal insulator block and having end portions thereof projecting therebeyond.

2. A cable end receptacle comprising an insulator guide sleeve having a flaring opening in one end, a conductor element secured insaid guide sleeve and'having one of its ends projecting therebeyond. a terminal conductor block tli'readedly engaging the outer surface'of the conductor element, a terminalv insulator block secured in said terminal conductor :block and being co-terminous with'one end thereof and a spring terminal vextending through a centra1 rbore in said terminal insulator block'and having end portions thereof projecting therebeyond.

3. A cable end receptacle comprising'an insulatorH guide sleeve having a flaring opening in lone end'through which a cable end is adapted to be inserted, a conductor element secured in andl extending beyond the guide sleeve and'provided with spring fingers around theinner periphery thereof, a termina1 conductor block detachably connected to the conductor element extension, ay terminal insulator block of poly? styrene resin secured in 'the'y terminal conduetor block anda spring terminal extending through a bore in said terminal insulator block and having one end adapted to be contacted by the cable end in the receptacle and the other end adapted to be connected to a testing device.

ARTHUR A. MAHREN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references*l are of record in theA i'lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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