Coxial cable connector and method therefor

Claim 1

An element for use in an electrical connector for connecting the opposed ends of two coaxial cables, said element comprising a pair of ferrules arranged in axial alignment and being connected to each other, said ferrules being for crimped connection to the inner conductors of the coaxial cables, a pair of tubular contacts disposed one at each of two opposed ends of a connecting member, the tubular contacts being positioned in axial alignment with each other and with the pair of ferrules, the ferrules being disposed between the tubular contacts and supported by a branch member integral with the connecting member, the branch member being severable when the ferrules are crimp connected to the inner conductors of the coaxial cables, and a spacer of electrically insulating material disposed in each said tubular contact and having an axially extending through hole in alignment with the ferrules.

Claim 3

A method of connecting an electrical connector to the end of a coaxial cable wherein the connector comprises a ferrule, a tubular contact integrally connected to the ferrule by a member, the tubular contact being spaced from but in axial alignment with the ferrule and containing a spacer of electrically insulating material having an axially extending through hole, and a tubular member, said method comprising the steps of removing a portion of outer insulation sleeve from the end of the cable to expose a length of outer conductor, removing a portion of dielectric material from the end of the cable to expose a length of inner conductor, threading the tubular member over and rearwardly of the prepared end of cable, passing the inner conductor through the axially extending hole in the spacer until an end portion is received in the ferrule, positioning the outer conductor with an end portion thereof surrounding the tubular contact, crimping the ferrule to the inner conductor, severing the member, passing the tubular member over the tubular contacts with the outer conductor being sandwiched between the tubular member and tubular contact, and crimping the tubular member to the tubular contact.

Claim 4

A method of connecting an electrical connector to the end of a coaxial cable wherein the connector comprises a ferrule, a tubular contact integrally connected to the ferrule by a member, the tubular contact being spaced from but in axial alignment with the ferrule and containing a spacer of electrically insulating material having an axially extending through hole, and a tubular member, said method comprising the steps of removing a portion of outer insulation sleeve from the end of the cable to expose a length of outer conductor, removing a portion of dielectric material from the end of the cable to expose a length of inner conductor, threading the tubular member over and rearwardly of the prepared end of cable, passing the inner conductor through the axially extending hole in the spacer until an end portion is received in the ferrule, positioning the outer conductor with an end portion thereof surrounding the tubular contact, crimping the ferrule to the inner conductor, severing the member, passing the tubular member over the tubular contacts with the outer conductor being sandwiched between the tubular member and tubular contact, and crimping the tubular member to the tubular contact.

Claim 6

A method of electrically connecting the opposed ends of two coaxial cables with an electrical connector wherein the electrical connector comprises two tubular contacts, one at each of two opposed ends of a connecting member and in axial alignment, two ferrules arranged in axial alignment with and between the tubular contacts and supported by a branch member integral with the connecting member, and two spacers of electrically insulating material contained by said tubular contacts, each said spacer having an axially extending through hole, and a tubular member, the method comprising the steps of removing a portion of outer insulation sleeve from the end of each cable to expose a length of inner conductor, threading a tubular member over and rearwardly of the prepared end of one of the cables, passing each exposed inner conductor through the axially extending hole in the spacer of the tuBular contact until an end portion is received in the ferrule adjacent the tubular contact, positioning each outer conductor with an end portion thereof surrounding a respective tubular contact, crimping the ferrules to their respective inner conductors, severing the branch member, passing the tubular member over the tubular contacts with each outer conductor being sandwiched between the tubular member and the outer tubular contacts, and crimping the tubular member to the tubular contacts.

Claim 7

A method of electrically connecting the opposed ends of two coaxial cables with an electrical connector wherein the electrical connector comprises two tubular contacts, one at each of two opposed ends of a connecting member and in axial alignment, two ferrules arranged in axial alignment with and between the tubular contacts and supported by a branch member integral with the connecting member, and two spacers of electrically insulating material contained by said tubular contacts, each said spacer having an axially extending through hole, and a tubular member, the method comprising the steps of removing a portion of outer insulation sleeve from the end of each cable to expose a length of inner conductor, threading a tubular member over and rearwardly of the prepared end of one of the cables, passing each exposed inner conductor through the axially extending hole in the spacer of the tuBular contact until an end portion is received in the ferrule adjacent the tubular contact, positioning each outer conductor with an end portion thereof surrounding a respective tubular contact, crimping the ferrules to their respective inner conductors, severing the branch member, passing the tubular member over the tubular contacts with each outer conductor being sandwiched between the tubular member and the outer tubular contacts, and crimping the tubular member to the tubular contacts.