Connector for flexible transmission line

Claim 2

In combination, a male connector and a flexible coaxial transmission line comprising: a first flexible conductor having a hollow end portion; a second flexible conductor surrounding said first conductor and disposed in spaced, parallel relationship therewith; a dielectric cylinder fixedly mounted in said hollow end portion of the first conductor and having a longitudinal bore disposed therein, said bore having an opening in the end of said cylinder adjacent the end of the first conductor: an elongated conductive probe having an end portion slidably engaged in said bore, being mounted for slidable movement within said bore in response to flexing of said line, and extended in parallel relationship with said end portion of the first conductor for a distance equal to a quarter-wavelength of one frequency to be transmitted by the line; a tubular housing insulatingly surrounding a portion of said probe and having a portion disposed in abutting relationship with an end portion of said second conductor; and means for clamping said abutting portions of the housing and the second conductor into direct metallic contact with one another.

Claim 3

In combination, a male connector and a flexible coaxial transmission line as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dielectric cylinder is a bushing and said longitudinal bore is a cavity closed at the end of the bushing remote from the end of the first conductor.

Claim 4

In combination, a male connector and a flexible coaxial transmission line comprising: a first, tubular, flexible conductor having an open end; a second, tubular, flexible conductor surrounding said first conductor and disposed in spaced concentric relationship therewith; a dielectric bushing fixedly mounted in the open end of the first conductor, and having a longitudinal cavity therein, said cavity having an open end in the end of the bushing disposed adjacent the end of the center conductor; an elongated probe having an end portion slidably engaged in said cavity, being mounted for slidable movement within said cavity in response to flexing of said line, and a portion of said end portion extended in parallel relationship with an end portion of the first conductor for a distance predetermined to be equal to a quarter-wavelength of one frequency to be transmitted through the coaxial transmission line; a tubular shell insulatingly surrounding a portion of said probe and having a portion thereof clamped to an abutting end portion of said outer conductor; and means for clamping said portion of the shell into direct metallic contact with said abutting end portion of the outer conductor.

Claim 5

In combination, a male connector and a flexible coaxial transmission line comprising: a first, tubular, flexible conductor having an open end; a second, tubular, flexible conductor surrounding said first conductor and disposed in spaced concentric relationship therewith; a dielectric bushing fixedly mounted in the open end of the first conductor, and having a longitudinal cavity therein, said cavity having an open end in the end of the bushing disposed adjacent the end of the center conductor; an elongated probe having an end portion slidably engaged in said cavity, being mounted for slidable movement within said cavity in response to flexing of said line, and a portion of said end portion extended in parallel relationship with an end portion of the first conductor for a distance predetermined to be equal to a quarter-wavelength of one frequency to be transmitted through the coaxial transmission line; a tubular shell insulatingly surrounding a portion of said probe and having a portion thereof clamped to an abutting end portion of said outer conductor; and means for clamping said portion of the shell into direct metallic contact with said abutting end portion of the outer conductor.

Claim 6

In combination, a male connector and a flexible coaxial transmission line comprising: a first, tubular, flexible conductor having an open end; a second, tubular, flexiblE conductor disposed in spaced concentric relationship with said first conductor and terminating at one end in a radially extending flange; a dielectric bushing fixedly mounted in the open end of the first conductor, said bushing including an annular flange disposed in abutting relationship with the end of the first conductor and a longitudinal cavity having an open end in the flanged end of the bushing; an elongated probe having an end portion slidably engaged in said cavity, being mounted for slidable movement within said cavity in response to flexing of said line, the length of said end portion being substantially equal to the thickness of the flange of the bushing plus a quarter-wavelength of one frequency in the waveband to be transmitted through said line, said probe further having an oppositely directed end portion; a tubular shell disposed in surrounding, spaced relationship with a portion of said probe and having an internal shoulder disposed in abutting relationship with said flanged end of said outer conductor and an opposite end having a flange disposed in abutting relationship with a similar flange on a connecting device; and means for clamping said flanged end of the outer conductor into direct metallic contact with said internal shoulder of the shell.

Claim 7

In combination, a male connector and a flexible coaxial transmission line comprising: a first, tubular, flexible conductor having an open end; a second, tubular, flexiblE conductor disposed in spaced concentric relationship with said first conductor and terminating at one end in a radially extending flange; a dielectric bushing fixedly mounted in the open end of the first conductor, said bushing including an annular flange disposed in abutting relationship with the end of the first conductor and a longitudinal cavity having an open end in the flanged end of the bushing; an elongated probe having an end portion slidably engaged in said cavity, being mounted for slidable movement within said cavity in response to flexing of said line, the length of said end portion being substantially equal to the thickness of the flange of the bushing plus a quarter-wavelength of one frequency in the waveband to be transmitted through said line, said probe further having an oppositely directed end portion; a tubular shell disposed in surrounding, spaced relationship with a portion of said probe and having an internal shoulder disposed in abutting relationship with said flanged end of said outer conductor and an opposite end having a flange disposed in abutting relationship with a similar flange on a connecting device; and means for clamping said flanged end of the outer conductor into direct metallic contact with said internal shoulder of the shell.

Claim 8

In combination, a connector assembly and two, flexible, coaxial transmission lines comprising: a first, flexible, center conductor insulatingly disposed within a first flexible concentric conductor, said first center and concentric conductors having adjacent hollow end portions; a second, flexible, center conductor insulating disposed within a second, flexible, concentric conductor, said second center and concentric conductors having adjacent hollow end portions; said first center and concentric hollow end portions disposed adjacent said second center and concentric hollow end portions; a first dielectric cylinder interfitted in the hollow end portion of the first center conductor and having a longitudinal bore, said bore having an opening in the end of said cylinder adjacent the end of the first conductor; a second dielectric cylinder interfitted in the hollow end portion of the second center conductor and having a longitudinal bore, said bore having an opening in the end of said cylinder adjacent the end of the second conductor; an elongated probe having one end portion slidably engaged in said bore of the first dielectric cylinder, being mounted for slidable movement within said bore in response to flexing of said first center conductor, and supported in spaced, parallel relationship with an end portion of the first center conductor and an opposite end portion slidably engaged in said bore of the second dielectric cylinder, being mounted for slidable within said bore in response to flexing of said second center conductor, and supported in spaced, parallel relationship with an end portion of the second center conductor, the end portions of the probe and center conductors being equal to an effective quarter-wavelength of one frequency to be transmitted through said transmission lines; a tubular casing disposed in surrounding spaced relationship with said probe and having a portion disposed in abutting relationship with an adjacent end portion of the first concentric conductor and an opposite end portion disposed in abutting relationship with an adjacent end portion of the second concentric conductor; and means for clamping said abutting portions of the casing into direct metallic contact with said end portion of the respective first and second concentric conductors of the respective transmission lines.

Claim 9

In combination, a connector assembly and two, flexible, coaxial transmission lines comprising: a first, flexible, center conductor insulatingly disposed within a first flexible concentric conductor, said first center and concentric conductors having adjacent hollow end portions; a second, flexible, center conductor insulating disposed within a second, flexible, concentric conductor, said second center and concentric conductors having adjacent hollow end portions; said first center and concentric hollow end portions disposed adjacent said second center and concentric hollow end portions; a first dielectric cylinder interfitted in the hollow end portion of the first center conductor and having a longitudinal bore, said bore having an opening in the end of said cylinder adjacent the end of the first conductor; a second dielectric cylinder interfitted in the hollow end portion of the second center conductor and having a longitudinal bore, said bore having an opening in the end of said cylinder adjacent the end of the second conductor; an elongated probe having one end portion slidably engaged in said bore of the first dielectric cylinder, being mounted for slidable movement within said bore in response to flexing of said first center conductor, and supported in spaced, parallel relationship with an end portion of the first center conductor and an opposite end portion slidably engaged in said bore of the second dielectric cylinder, being mounted for slidable within said bore in response to flexing of said second center conductor, and supported in spaced, parallel relationship with an end portion of the second center conductor, the end portions of the probe and center conductors being equal to an effective quarter-wavelength of one frequency to be transmitted through said transmission lines; a tubular casing disposed in surrounding spaced relationship with said probe and having a portion disposed in abutting relationship with an adjacent end portion of the first concentric conductor and an opposite end portion disposed in abutting relationship with an adjacent end portion of the second concentric conductor; and means for clamping said abutting portions of the casing into direct metallic contact with said end portion of the respective first and second concentric conductors of the respective transmission lines.

Claim 10

In combination, a connector assembly and two flexible coaxial transmission lines comprising: a first, tubular, center conductor made of flexible material and insulatingly disposed within a first, tubular concentric conductor also made of flexible material; a second, tubular, center conductor made of flexible material and insulatingly disposEd within a second tubular conductor also made of flexible material; said first center and concentric conductors having respective end portions axially aligned with respective end portions of said second center and concentric conductors; a first dielectric bushing fixedly mounted in said end portion of the first center conductor and having a longitudinal cavity disposed therein, said cavity having an open end located in the exposed end of the bushing; a second dielectric bushing fixedly mounted in said end portion of the second center conductor, and having a longitudinal cavity disposed therein, said cavity having an open end in the exposed end of said second dielectric bushing; an elongated probe having an end portion slidably disposed in said cavity of the first dielectric bushing, being mounted for slidable movement within said cavity in response to flexing of said first center conductor, and surrounded by said end portion of the first center conductor, and an opposite end portion slidably disposed in said cavity of the second dielectric bushing, being mounted for slidable movement within said cavity in response to flexing of said second center conductor, and surrounded by said end portion of the second center conductor, said respective end portions of the probe and center conductors each being equal to a quarter-wavelength of one of the frequencies to be transmitted by the respective transmission lines; a first tubular shell disposed in surrounding spaced relationship with a portion of said probe and having an end portion surrounding an adjacent end portion of the first concentric conductor and an opposite end portion; a second tubular shell disposed in surrounding spaced relationship with another portion of the probe and having an end portion surrounding an adjacent end portion of the second concentric conductor in said other transmission line and an opposite end portion interlocked with said opposite end portion of the first shell; and means for clamping said respective end portions of the first and second shells into direct metallic contact with the respective end portions of the respective first and second concentric conductors in the respective transmission lines.

Claim 11

In combination, a connector assembly and two flexible coaxial transmission lines comprising: a first, tubular, center conductor made of flexible material and insulatingly disposed within a first, tubular concentric conductor also made of flexible material; a second, tubular, center conductor made of flexible material and insulatingly disposEd within a second tubular conductor also made of flexible material; said first center and concentric conductors having respective end portions axially aligned with respective end portions of said second center and concentric conductors; a first dielectric bushing fixedly mounted in said end portion of the first center conductor and having a longitudinal cavity disposed therein, said cavity having an open end located in the exposed end of the bushing; a second dielectric bushing fixedly mounted in said end portion of the second center conductor, and having a longitudinal cavity disposed therein, said cavity having an open end in the exposed end of said second dielectric bushing; an elongated probe having an end portion slidably disposed in said cavity of the first dielectric bushing, being mounted for slidable movement within said cavity in response to flexing of said first center conductor, and surrounded by said end portion of the first center conductor, and an opposite end portion slidably disposed in said cavity of the second dielectric bushing, being mounted for slidable movement within said cavity in response to flexing of said second center conductor, and surrounded by said end portion of the second center conductor, said respective end portions of the probe and center conductors each being equal to a quarter-wavelength of one of the frequencies to be transmitted by the respective transmission lines; a first tubular shell disposed in surrounding spaced relationship with a portion of said probe and having an end portion surrounding an adjacent end portion of the first concentric conductor and an opposite end portion; a second tubular shell disposed in surrounding spaced relationship with another portion of the probe and having an end portion surrounding an adjacent end portion of the second concentric conductor in said other transmission line and an opposite end portion interlocked with said opposite end portion of the first shell; and means for clamping said respective end portions of the first and second shells into direct metallic contact with the respective end portions of the respective first and second concentric conductors in the respective transmission lines.

Claim 12

In combination, a connector assembly and two flexible coaxial transmission lines comprising: a first, tubular, center conductor made of flexible material and insulatingly disposed within a first, tubular concentric conductor made of flexible material and having a radial flange on one end thereof; a second, tubular, center conductor made of flexible material and insulatingly disposed within a second tubular concentric conductor made of flexible material, and having a radial flange on one end thereof; said first center and concentric conductors having respective end portions axially aligned with respective end portions of said second center and concentric conductors; a first dielectric bushing interfitted in said end portion of the first center conductor and having an annular flange disposed in abutting relationship with the circular end of said first center conductor and a longitudinal cavity disposed therein having an open end in the flanged end of said first bushing; a second dielectric bushing interfitted in said end portion of the second center conductor and having an annular flange disposed in abutting relationship with the circular end of second center conductor and a longitudinal cavity disposed therein having an open end in the flange end of said second bushing; an elongated probe having an end portion slidably disposed in said cavity of the first bushing, being mounted for slidable movement within said cavity in response to flexing of said first center conductor, and surrounded by said end portion of the first center conductor in said one line, and an opposite end portion slidably disposed in said cavity of the second bushing, being mounted for slidable movement within said cavity in response to flexing of said second center conDuctor, and surrounded by said end portion of the second center conductor, said respective end portions of the probe and center conductors each being equal to a quarter-wavelength of one of the frequencies to be transmitted through the respective transmission lines; a first tubular shell disposed in surrounding spaced relationship with a portion of said probe and having a portion thereof abutting said flanged end of the first concentric conductor and an oppositely disposed end having an annular coupling flange; a second tubular shell disposed in surrounding spaced relationship with a portion of said probe and having a portion thereof abutting said flanged end of the second concentric conductor and an oppositely disposed end having an annular coupling flange clamped into direct metallic contact with said coupling flange of the first shell; and means for clamping said respective abutting portions of the respective shells into direct metallic contact with said respective flanged ends of the first and second concentric conductors in the respective transmission lines.

Claim 13

In combination, a connector assembly and two flexible coaxial transmission lines comprising: a first, tubular, center conductor made of flexible material and insulatingly disposed within a first, tubular concentric conductor made of flexible material and having a radial flange on one end thereof; a second, tubular, center conductor made of flexible material and insulatingly disposed within a second tubular concentric conductor made of flexible material, and having a radial flange on one end thereof; said first center and concentric conductors having respective end portions axially aligned with respective end portions of said second center and concentric conductors; a first dielectric bushing interfitted in said end portion of the first center conductor and having an annular flange disposed in abutting relationship with the circular end of said first center conductor and a longitudinal cavity disposed therein having an open end in the flanged end of said first bushing; a second dielectric bushing interfitted in said end portion of the second center conductor and having an annular flange disposed in abutting relationship with the circular end of second center conductor and a longitudinal cavity disposed therein having an open end in the flange end of said second bushing; an elongated probe having an end portion slidably disposed in said cavity of the first bushing, being mounted for slidable movement within said cavity in response to flexing of said first center conductor, and surrounded by said end portion of the first center conductor in said one line, and an opposite end portion slidably disposed in said cavity of the second bushing, being mounted for slidable movement within said cavity in response to flexing of said second center conDuctor, and surrounded by said end portion of the second center conductor, said respective end portions of the probe and center conductors each being equal to a quarter-wavelength of one of the frequencies to be transmitted through the respective transmission lines; a first tubular shell disposed in surrounding spaced relationship with a portion of said probe and having a portion thereof abutting said flanged end of the first concentric conductor and an oppositely disposed end having an annular coupling flange; a second tubular shell disposed in surrounding spaced relationship with a portion of said probe and having a portion thereof abutting said flanged end of the second concentric conductor and an oppositely disposed end having an annular coupling flange clamped into direct metallic contact with said coupling flange of the first shell; and means for clamping said respective abutting portions of the respective shells into direct metallic contact with said respective flanged ends of the first and second concentric conductors in the respective transmission lines.