FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to installing a connector onto a coaxial cable, and more specifically, to a compression tool for use in combination therewith for securing a prepared end of a coaxial cable with a cable connector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of compression type end connectors have recently been developed for use in the cable industry. These devices have found wide acceptance due to ease of manufacture and lack of complexity both in design and in use. For example, compression type connectors for use with braided coaxial cables typically include a hollow body, a hollow post mounted within the body passing through an end of a coaxial cable, and a threaded nut rotatably mounted to an extended end of the post. Generally, the post includes an outwardly projecting, radially extending flange while the nut includes an inwardly projecting lip operative to engage the flange while facilitating rotation of the nut about an elongate axis.

An annular compression ring is mounted to the connector body and arranged to move axially onto and over the back end of the body. More specifically, one end of a coaxial cable is prepared by stripping back the cable to expose the signal-carrying center connector. Additionally, the braided, woven metal outer conductor is exposed by stripping the compliant outer jacket and folding the woven outer conductor over the outer jacket. The coaxial cable is then passed through the annular compression ring and into the back end of the body, while at the same time, allowing the hollow conductive post to pass between the woven metal mesh and an inner dielectric layer of the cable. As a consequence, an electrical path is produced from the conductive wire mesh of the cable to an outer conductive sleeve of an interface port through the conductive post. This path functionally grounds the coaxial cable to protect the signal carrying inner conductor. Alternatively, if a biasing member is positioned between the body and the nut, a secondary grounding path may be established from the wire mesh to the conductive post, to a conductive lip of the nut (from the flange of the post), through the conductive threads of the nut and into the outer conductive threads of the interface port. This connection, while somewhat convoluted, can provide an important secondary grounding path.

Installation of the connector is completed by axial movement of the compression ring over an inclined surface to compress the ring over the outer surface of the coaxial cable. More specifically, this configuration secures the end of the cable to the connector by compressing the outer jacket and wire mesh outer conductor against the conductive post while, at the same time, providing an electrical ground path for the coaxial cable. Connectors for use with other types of cables (e.g., corrugated cables, smooth wall cables) may also include a compression ring to compress/engage the cable with the connector.

Although most of the compression-type end connectors work well for securing the coaxial cable to the connector, an installer oftentimes has difficulty applying a sufficiently high, axially-directed, force to effect a secure connection. Inasmuch as there are no surfaces guiding the annular compression ring over the connector body, it is not uncommon for the compression ring to become misaligned during engagement. That is, a force that is applied “off-axis” will not properly deform the compression ring, thus resulting in a non-optimum connection between the connector and the cable.

Consequently, a need exists for a compression tool for installing a coaxial cable connector onto a coaxial cable which is suitable for use with a variety of different connector types/cable sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An assembly for use in combination with a compression tool comprising a compression member configured to receive a force input from the compression tool and a frame including a cradle at one end, an end fitting at the other, and at least one structural member linking the cradle to the end fitting. The cradle is configured to engage one end of the connector and receives the prepared end of the coaxial cable. The end fitting is configured to detachably connect the frame to the compression tool and includes an aperture for receiving the force input from the compression tool. The structural member defines at least one surface configured to guide the compression member along the axis in response to the force input. The compression member imposes an axial force on the other end of the connector and is guided along the axis by the guide surface of the frame.

A method is also provided for connecting a coaxial cable to a cable connector including the steps of preparing an end of a coaxial cable, sliding a compression ring over the prepared end of the coaxial cable and inserting the prepared end of the coaxial cable into an end of the connector. The method further includes the steps of attaching a frame to a compression tool such that an extensible plunger extends through an aperture of the frame at one end and aligns with a cradle at other end. The connector is then inserted into the cradle such that one the end of the connector is retained by a shoulder of the cradle and is received into a compression sleeve connected to an outboard end of the extensible plunger. The compression tool is then activated to drive the extensible plunger along the elongate axis of the connector such that: (i) the frame guides the extensible plunger along the longitudinal axis of the connector and (ii) the compression ring is compressed over an end of the connector to attach the prepared end of the coaxial cable to the connector.

