Terminal assembly for a coaxial cable

Abstract

A terminal for a coaxial cable includes an electrically conductive core mounted in a dielectric member. The dielectric member along with the conductive core are positioned within an electrically conductive ground shield. The ground shield includes two identical split-barrel housing members which are joined together. When joined, the housing members form a cylindrical channel having surfaces which intimately contact an exposed length of cable outer conductor layer, creating a conductive connection between the outer conductor layer and the ground shield and structurally maintaining the outer conductor layer concentric to the dielectric sheath and inner conductor of the cable.

1 . A terminal for an end of a coaxial cable, said coaxial cable including an inner conductor, an inner dielectric sheath around said inner conductor, an outer conductor layer having a cylindrical outer surface and concentrically surrounding said inner dielectric sheath and inner conductor, and an outer dielectric sheath around said outer conductor, and in which said coaxial cable end has been stripped back to expose a tip of said inner conductor, an axial length of said inner dielectric sheath, and an axial length of said outer conductor layer outer surface, said terminal comprising: 
 an electrically conductive core conductor for electrically connecting with said inner conductor of said coaxial cable;    a dielectric member having a body for receipt therein of said core conductor, wherein said dielectric member comprises a material comparable to said inner dielectric sheath;    a ground shield comprising first and second electrically conductive housing members, each said housing member including a channel comprising a substantially half cylindrical surface intimately matching the shape of the exposed length of outer surface of said cable outer conductor layer, wherein each of said housing members also includes first and second mating, integral attachment members capable of being joined together to thereby form said channels into a complete cylinder,    whereby, when said ground shield housing members are joined together, said channel surfaces intimately contact said exposed length of outer conductor layer, creating a conductive connection between said outer conductor layer and said ground shield and structurally maintaining said outer conductor layer concentric to said dielectric sheath and said inner conductor.    
   
   
       2 . The terminal of  claim 1 , further comprising a conductive bonding agent disposed between said ground shield and said exposed length of outer conductor layer, wherein said conductive bonding agent comprises epoxy.  
   
   
       3 . A ground shield for an end of a coaxial cable, said coaxial cable including an inner conductor, an inner dielectric sheath around said inner conductor, an outer conductor layer having a cylindrical outer surface and concentrically surrounding said inner dielectric sheath and inner conductor, and an outer dielectric sheath around said outer conductor, and in which said coaxial cable end has been stripped back to expose an axial length of said outer conductor layer outer surface, said ground shield comprising: 
 first and second electrically conductive, rigid ground shield housing members, each said housing member including a channel comprising a substantially half cylindrical surface intimately matching the shape of the exposed length of outer surface of said cable outer conductor layer, said housing members capable of being joined together to thereby form said channels into a complete cylinder,    whereby, when said ground shield housing members are joined together, said channel surfaces intimately contact said exposed length of outer conductor layer, creating a conductive connection between said outer conductor layer and said ground shield and structurally maintaining said outer conductor layer concentric to said dielectric sheath and said inner conductor,    wherein said rigid ground shield housing members comprises a nickel plated zinc alloy.