阅读说明：本技术 集束式同轴连接器组件 (Cluster coaxial connector assembly ) 是由 吴建平 张玉俊 郑继恩 于 2018-07-11 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开涉及一种集束式同轴连接器组件,其包括公连接器,该公连接器包括：公连接器本体；和布置在公连接器本体中多个单元公连接器,每个单元公连接器均配置为2.2-5公连接器界面并且包括内接触件、外接触件和介电绝缘间隔件。所述集束式同轴连接器组件还包括母连接器,所述母连接器包括：母连接器本体；和布置在所述母连接器本体中的多个单元母连接器,所述单元母连接器的数量与单元公连接器的数量相同,并且每个单元母连接器在所述公连接器与母连接器配合时与每个单元公连接器一一对应,并且其中,每个单元母连接器均配置为2.2-5母连接器界面并且包括内接触件、外接触件和介电绝缘间隔件。(The present disclosure relates to a bundled coaxial connector assembly, comprising a male connector, the male connector comprising: a male connector body; and a plurality of unit male connectors arranged in the male connector body, each configured as a 2.2-5 male connector interface and including an inner contact, an outer contact, and a dielectric insulating spacer. The bundled coaxial connector assembly further includes a female connector, the female connector including: a female connector body; and a plurality of unit female connectors arranged in the female connector body, the number of the unit female connectors being the same as the number of the unit male connectors, and each unit female connector corresponding to each unit male connector one-to-one when the male connector is mated with the female connector, and wherein each unit female connector is configured as a 2.2-5 female connector interface and includes an inner contact, an outer contact, and a dielectric insulating spacer.)

1. A bundled coaxial connector assembly comprising:

a male connector, the male connector comprising:

a male connector body; and

a plurality of unit male connectors arranged in the male connector body, wherein each unit male connector is configured as a 2.2-5 male connector interface and includes an inner contact, an outer contact, and a dielectric insulating spacer;

a female connector, the female connector comprising:

a female connector body; and

a plurality of unit female connectors arranged in the female connection body, wherein the number of the unit female connectors is the same as the number of the unit male connectors, and each unit female connector corresponds one-to-one to each unit male connector when the male connector is mated with the female connector, and wherein each unit female connector is configured as a 2.2-5 female connector interface and includes an inner contact, an outer contact, and a dielectric insulating spacer.

2. The bundled coaxial connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the female connector body includes external threads that enable the female connector body to threadably receive a connection nut to secure the mating of the female connector body with the male connector body;

and wherein the female connector body further comprises an external feature that enables the female connector body to receive a push-pull self-locking mechanism to secure the mating of the female connector body with the male connector body.

3. The bundled coaxial connector assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the external feature is provided on an outer surface of the female connector body adjacent a proximal end of the female connector, and wherein the external thread is adjacent the external feature and extends in a direction toward a distal end.

4. The bundled coaxial connector assembly of claim 3 wherein the external feature comprises an annular groove and the external thread comprises a multi-start thread.

5. The bundled coaxial connector assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the female connector further includes guide pins, and the male connector further includes guide holes for receiving the guide pins when mated.

6. The bundled coaxial connector assembly of claim 5, wherein:

the cross sections of the guide pin and the guide hole are in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid.

7. The bundled coaxial connector assembly of any of claims 1-6, further comprising a push-pull self-locking mechanism disposed on the male connector, the push-pull self-locking mechanism comprising:

a cylindrical self-locking mechanism body arranged coaxially with the male connector body and radially spaced apart from an outer surface of the male connector body by a distance so as to form an annular gap therebetween;

a coupling sleeve at least partially covering the self-locking mechanism body;

an annular slider positioned in the annular gap;

a first biasing member biasing the annular slider toward a proximal end of the male connector;

a second biasing member biasing the coupling sleeve toward the proximal end of the male connector;

at least one retaining member, each retaining member positioned in a pocket of the self-locking mechanism body and radially movable, the retaining members configured to interact with the annular slider and the coupling sleeve;

wherein, in an unmated state, the first biasing member forces the annular slider to engage the retaining member and the coupling sleeve is in a first position relative to the self-locking mechanism body; in the mated state, the female connector forces the annular slider away from the retaining member, and the second biasing member forces the coupling sleeve against the retaining member and in a second position relative to the outer conductor body, the second position being closer to a proximal end of the male connector than the first position.

8. The bundled coaxial connector assembly of claim 7 wherein said retaining member is a ball.

9. The bundled coaxial connector assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1-6, further comprising a threaded coupling mechanism provided on the male connector, an inner surface of the threaded coupling mechanism being provided with a multi-start thread for securing the mating of the male and female connectors.

10. A bundled coaxial connector assembly comprising:

a male connector, the male connector comprising:

a male connector body; and

a plurality of unit male connectors arranged in the male connector body, wherein each unit male connector includes an inner contact, an outer contact, and a dielectric insulating spacer;

a female connector, the female connector comprising:

a female connector body; and

a plurality of unit female connectors arranged in the female connection body, wherein the number of the unit female connectors is the same as the number of the unit male connectors, and each unit female connector corresponds one-to-one to each unit male connector when the male connector is mated with the female connector, and wherein each unit female connector includes an inner contact, an outer contact, and a dielectric insulating spacer;

wherein the female connector body includes external threads that enable the female connector body to threadably receive a connection nut to secure the mating of the female connector body with the male connector body;

and wherein the female connector body further comprises an external feature that enables the female connector body to receive a push-pull self-locking mechanism to secure the mating of the female connector body with the male connector body.

Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of cable connectors. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a bundled coaxial connector assembly.

Background

Coaxial cables are commonly used in radio frequency communication systems. A typical coaxial cable includes an inner conductor, an outer conductor, a dielectric insulation layer separating the inner and outer conductors, and a jacket covering the outer conductor. Coaxial connectors may be used to terminate coaxial cables, for example, in communication systems requiring high levels of accuracy and reliability.

Coaxial connector interfaces provide functional connection/disconnection between (a) a cable terminated with a connector carrying a desired connector interface and (b) a corresponding connector with a mating connector interface mounted on an electronic device or another cable. Coaxial connector interfaces typically use a coupling nut or other retainer to draw the coaxial connector pairs together for reliable electromechanical engagement.

Generally, coaxial connectors are classified into male and female connectors by type. A typical male connector generally includes: an inner contact (typically a pin or post) for connection with an inner conductor of a cable; an outer contact circumferentially surrounding the inner contact and spaced from the inner contact, the outer contact generally for connection with a mating connector outer conductor; and a dielectric insulating spacer disposed between the inner contact and the outer contact. A typical female connector has a similar structure to the male connector, but the inner contact of the female connector is a sleeve that receives the inner contact (pin or post) of the male connector in an interference fit.

There is also presently a bundled coaxial connector that includes a plurality of unitary coaxial connectors arranged as a single integrated component. The existing bundled coaxial connector has complex structure, poor reliability and serious passive intermodulation distortion, so the improvement of the existing bundled coaxial connector is needed.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a bundled coaxial connector assembly that overcomes at least one of the deficiencies of the prior art.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a bundled coaxial connector assembly is provided. The bundled coaxial connector assembly includes a male connector, the male connector including: a male connector body; and a plurality of unit male connectors disposed in the male connector body, wherein each unit male connector is configured as a 2.2-5 male connector interface and includes an inner contact, an outer contact, and a dielectric insulating spacer. The bundled coaxial connector assembly according to the present disclosure further includes a female connector comprising: a female connector body; and a plurality of unit female connectors arranged in the female connector body, wherein the number of the unit female connectors is the same as the number of the unit male connectors, and each unit female connector corresponds to each unit male connector one-to-one when the male connector is mated with the female connector, and wherein each unit female connector is configured as a 2.2-5 female connector interface and includes an inner contact, an outer contact, and a dielectric insulating spacer.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the female connector body includes external threads that enable the female connector body to threadably receive a connection nut to secure the mating of the female connector body with the male connector body; and wherein the female connector body further comprises an external feature that enables the female connector body to receive a push-pull self-locking mechanism to secure the mating of the female connector body with the male connector body, thus improving the versatility of the female connector.

According to one embodiment of the disclosure, the external feature is disposed on an outer surface of the female connector body adjacent a proximal end of the female connector, and wherein the external thread is proximate the external feature and extends in a distal end direction.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the external feature includes an annular groove and the external thread includes a multi-start thread.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the female connector further comprises a guide pin, and the male connector further comprises a guide hole for receiving the guide pin when mated.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the guide pin and the guide hole each have a cross section in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the bundled coaxial connector assembly further comprises a push-pull self-locking mechanism disposed on the male connector, the push-pull self-locking mechanism comprising: a cylindrical self-locking mechanism body arranged coaxially with the male connector body and radially spaced apart from an outer surface of the male connector body by a distance so as to form an annular gap therebetween; a coupling sleeve at least partially covering the self-locking mechanism body; an annular slider positioned in the annular gap; a first biasing member biasing the annular slider toward a proximal end of the male connector; a second biasing member biasing the coupling sleeve toward the proximal end of the male connector; and at least one retaining member, each retaining member positioned in a pocket of the self-locking mechanism body and radially movable, the retaining members configured to interact with the annular slider and the coupling sleeve; wherein, in an unmated state, the first biasing member forces the annular slider to engage the retaining member and the coupling sleeve is in a first position relative to the self-locking mechanism body; in the mated state, the female connector forces the annular slider away from the retaining member and the second biasing member forces the coupling sleeve against the retaining member and in a second position relative to the outer conductor body, the second position being closer to a proximal end of the male connector than the first position.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the retaining member is a ball.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first biasing member is a spring.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second biasing member is a spring.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the annular slider comprises a recess in which the retaining member resides in the unmated state.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the bundled coaxial connector assembly further includes a threaded coupling mechanism provided on the male connector, an inner surface of the threaded coupling mechanism being provided with a multi-start thread for fixing the mating of the male connector and the female connector.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the threaded coupling mechanism is connected to the male connector body by a snap ring.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the multiple-start thread is a 3-start thread or a 4-start thread.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a bundled coaxial connector assembly is provided. The bundled coaxial connector assembly includes a male connector, the male connector including: a male connector body; and a plurality of unit male connectors arranged in the male connector body, wherein each unit male connector includes an inner contact, an outer contact, and a dielectric insulating spacer. The bundled coaxial connector assembly according to the present disclosure further includes a female connector comprising: a female connector body; and a plurality of unit female connectors arranged in the female connector body, wherein the number of the unit female connectors is the same as the number of the unit male connectors, and each unit female connector corresponds one-to-one to each unit male connector when the male connector is mated with the female connector, and wherein each unit female connector includes an inner contact, an outer contact, and a dielectric insulating spacer. The female connector body including external threads that enable the female connector body to threadably receive a connection nut to secure the mating of the female connector body with the male connector body; and the female connector body further comprises an external feature that enables the female connector body to receive a push-pull self-locking mechanism to secure the mating of the female connector body with the male connector body.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the outer feature includes an annular groove.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the external thread comprises a multi-start thread.

Drawings

Various aspects of the disclosure will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings in which:

fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a bundled coaxial connector assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a male connector of the bundled coaxial connector assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the male connector shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a female connector of the bundled coaxial connector assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the female connector shown in FIG. 4;

fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a bundled coaxial connector assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the male connector of the bundled coaxial connector assembly shown in FIG. 6; and

fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the male connector shown in fig. 7.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments of the disclosure. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, the embodiments described below are intended to provide a more complete disclosure of the present disclosure, and to fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. It is also to be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in various ways to provide further additional embodiments.

It should be understood that like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views. In the drawings, the size of some of the features may be varied for clarity.

It is to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. All terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the specification have the meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art unless otherwise defined. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

As used in this specification, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The terms "comprising," "including," and "containing" when used in this specification specify the presence of stated features, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features. The term "and/or" as used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The terms "between X and Y" and "between about X and Y" as used in the specification should be construed to include X and Y. The term "between about X and Y" as used herein means "between about X and about Y" and the term "from about X to Y" as used herein means "from about X to about Y".

In the description, when an element is referred to as being "on," "attached to," connected to, "coupled to," or "contacting" another element, etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled to, or contacting the other element, or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly attached to," directly connected to, "directly coupled to," or "directly contacting" another element, there are no intervening elements present. In the description, one feature is disposed "adjacent" another feature, and may mean that one feature has a portion overlapping with or above or below an adjacent feature.

In the specification, spatial relations such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", "high", "low", and the like may explain the relation of one feature to another feature in the drawings. It will be understood that the spatial relationship terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, features originally described as "below" other features may be described as "above" other features when the device in the figures is inverted. The device may also be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the relative spatial relationships may be interpreted accordingly.

In the specification, the end portions of the male connector and the female connector facing each other when mated are defined as proximal end portions, and the end portions distant from each other are defined as distal end portions.

A bundled coaxial connector assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to fig. 1-5, which is generally designated by reference numeral 10. The coaxial connector assembly 10 includes a male connector 100 and a female connector 200. The male connector 100 is integrated with a plurality of unit male connectors 120, and the female connector 200 is integrated with a plurality of unit female connectors 220. The number of the unit male connectors 120 is the same as that of the unit female connectors 220 so that they can correspond one to one when mated.

Referring to fig. 2 and 3, the male connector 100 includes a cylindrical male connector body 110. In the embodiment shown in fig. 2, five unit male connectors 120, the axial centers of which are arranged in parallel and evenly distributed along the circumference such that the axial centers of which are spaced 72 ° from each other, are provided in the male connector body 110. Other numbers of unit male connectors 120 may be provided in the male connector body 110 according to actual needs, for example, 4 or 6 unit male connectors 120 may be provided.

In the embodiment according to the present disclosure, each unit male connector 120 is directly inserted into a corresponding through hole provided in the male connector body 110. The proximal end of the unit male connector 120 is substantially flush with the proximal end of the male connector body 110. The distal end of the male connector body 110 includes an annular projection 112, in which annular projection 112 two stop plates 114 and 116 are provided. The stopper plate 114 abuts against the distal end of the unit male connector 120 to prevent the unit male connector 120 from moving. A sealing gasket 118 is interposed between the two stopper plates 114 and 116, and the sealing gasket 118 plays a role of dust-proof, water-proof, and the like. The sealing washer 118 may also allow a degree of axial "float" of the unit male connector 120 to compensate for any axial misalignment of the unit male connector 120.

The unit male connector 120 may also be arranged in the male connector body 110 in other ways. For example, the unit male connector 120 may be disposed in the male connector body by screwing, welding, or the like. The unit male connector 120 or a portion thereof (e.g., an outer contact thereof) may also be integrally formed with the male connector body 110.

The male connector 100 may also include a threaded sleeve 119. The threaded sleeve 119 is fixed to the inner surface of the annular projection 112 by a threaded connection. Threaded sleeve 119 may constrain a plurality of cables (not shown) connected to male connector 100. Additionally, the proximal end of the threaded sleeve 119 abuts the stop plate 116, which may serve to secure the stop plate 116.

Referring next to fig. 4 and 5, the female connector 200 includes a cylindrical female connector body 210. A plurality of unit female connectors 220 are provided in the female connector body 210. The number and arrangement of the unit female connectors 220 are the same as those of the unit male connectors 120 so that they can correspond one to one when mated.

The unit female connector 220 may be arranged in the female connector body 210 in various ways. For example, each unit female connector 220 may be directly inserted into a through hole provided in the female connector body 210 by interference fit. Each unit female connector 220 may also be disposed in the female connector body 210 by screwing, welding, or the like.

The proximal end of the female connector body 210 is provided with an annular protrusion 211, and the annular protrusion 211 surrounds the plurality of unit female connectors 220 of the female connector 200. The free end (i.e., proximal end) of the annular protrusion 211 is substantially flush with the proximal end of each unit female connector 220 or slightly beyond the proximal end of the unit female connector 220. An annular groove 213 is provided on the outer surface of the annular protrusion 211, the annular groove 213 being located near the free end of the annular protrusion 211. The annular groove 213 has inclined surfaces 214 and 215.

In one embodiment according to the present disclosure, the female connector 200 is configured as a panel-mounted female connector. In this embodiment, the distal end of the female connector body 210 is provided with a securing panel 212 in a square or rectangular shape. The securing panel 212 may be used to secure the female connector 200 to other devices or components.

The annular protrusion 211 and the securing panel 212 may each be formed integrally with the female connector body 210 (e.g., by machining the female connector body 210) or may be formed as separate components.

To facilitate mating of the male connector 100 and the female connector 200, the female connector 200 may include guide pins 230, as shown in fig. 4 and 5. The guide pin 230 may be disposed at a central position of the female connector body 210 and extend in a proximal direction along an axial direction of the female connector body 210. Accordingly, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the male connector 100 may include a guide hole 130 for receiving the guide pin 230. Likewise, the guide hole 130 may also be provided at a central position of the male connector body 110 such that the unit male connectors 110 of the male connector 100 are in one-to-one correspondence with the unit female connectors 210 of the female connector 200 when the guide pin 230 is inserted into the guide hole 130. The present disclosure is not limited thereto and the guide pin 230 and the guide hole 130 may be disposed at any suitable position.

As can be seen more clearly from fig. 5, the free end of the guide pin 230 extends beyond the free end of the annular protrusion 211. In this way, when the male connector 100 and the female connector 200 are mated, the free ends of the guide pins 230 may be first inserted into the guide holes 130 of the male connector 100, thereby enabling the respective unit male connectors 120 and unit female connectors 220 to be easily and correctly in one-to-one correspondence.

In the embodiment according to the present disclosure, as shown in fig. 2 and 4, the guide pin 230 and the guide hole 130 have a cross-section in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid. Referring to fig. 2, the upper edge of the guide hole 130 of the isosceles trapezoid corresponds to one unit male connector 120, and the four corners of the guide hole 130 of the isosceles trapezoid correspond approximately to the other four unit male connectors 120, respectively. In the case where four unit connectors are provided, the four sides of the isosceles trapezoid may be made to substantially correspond to the four unit connectors, respectively. Such an arrangement can easily achieve accurate fitting of the unit male connector 120 and the unit female connector 220, preventing erroneous insertion. The use of isosceles trapezoidal guide pins and guide holes is particularly advantageous for a cluster connector provided with four or five unit connectors. In addition, the isosceles trapezoid-shaped guide pin and guide hole are easier to machine than other shapes.

Further, the proximal end of the guide pin 230 may be rounded or tapered to facilitate its smooth insertion into the guide hole 130.

In the bundled coaxial connector assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the unit male connector 120 and the unit female connector 220 are each configured as a miniaturized model 2.2-5 (male/female) connector interface. The 2.2-5 connector interface is similar in construction to a 4.3-10 connector interface that meets IEC standards (such as IEC 61169-54), but is only about half the size of the latter. Specifically, the outer diameter of the inner contact of the 2.2-5 connector interface is nominally 2.2mm, while the inner diameter of the outer contact is nominally 5.00 mm. That is, the nominal rf mating dimensions of the 2.2-5 connector interface are about 2.2mm (for the inner contact) and about 5.00mm (for the outer contact), respectively. As with the 4.3-10 connector interface, the mechanical and electrical reference surfaces of the outer conductor are two separate surfaces.

Referring to fig. 3, the unit male connector 120 configured as a 2.2-5 connector interface includes an inner contact 122, an outer contact 124, and a dielectric insulating spacer 126. The inner contact 122 has a pin or post with a conical proximal end and is configured to attach the inner conductor of the coaxial cable at its distal end. The outer contact 124 has a cylindrical shape, and the inner surface of the proximal end portion thereof is chamfered to facilitate insertion of the unit female connector 220. A dielectric insulating spacer 126 (which is annular in shape) is positioned between the inner contact 122 and the outer contact 124, thereby dielectrically insulating the inner contact 122 from the outer contact 124.

Referring to fig. 5, the unit female connector 220 configured as a 2.2-5 connector interface includes inner contacts 222, outer contacts 224, and dielectric insulating spacers 226. The proximal end portion of the inner contact 222 is hollow forming a cavity 228 for receiving the inner contact 122 of the unit male connector 120. The distal end portion of the inner contact 222 is configured to attach to and make electrical contact with the inner conductor of the second coaxial cable. The outer conductor 224 is cylindrical in shape and includes a plurality of resilient fingers (see fig. 4). A dielectric insulating spacer 226 is positioned between the inner contact 222 and the outer contact 224 to dielectrically isolate the inner contact 222 from the outer contact 224.

The unit male connector 120 and the unit female connector 220 configured as a 2.2-5 connector interface may have the following advantages:

● saves about 50% space compared to a 4.3-10 connector interface;

● have better robustness and reliability;

● have very low passive intermodulation distortion (PIM), which can be below-166 dBc;

● the electrical characteristics are not affected by the tightening torque.

Accordingly, the bundled coaxial connector assembly 10 according to embodiments of the present disclosure not only retains the above-described advantages of a single 2.2-5 connector interface, but the bundled coaxial connector assembly 10 itself also occupies less space, enabling miniaturization of the bundled coaxial connector assembly. While the bundled coaxial connector assembly 10 as a whole may have superior electromechanical properties (e.g., very low PIM) and reliability over prior bundled connector assemblies.

Returning to fig. 1-3, in one embodiment according to the present disclosure, the bundled coaxial connector assembly 10 uses a push-pull self-locking mechanism 300 to maintain engagement of the male connector 100 and the female connector 200. As shown in fig. 2 and 3, a push-pull self-locking mechanism 300 may be provided on the male connector 100. The push-pull self-locking mechanism 300 includes a cylindrical self-locking mechanism body 301 that can be connected to the male connector body 110 of the male connector 100, such as by a threaded connection. The self-locking mechanism body 301 is coaxially disposed with the male connector body 110 and radially spaced apart from the outer surface of the male connector body 110 by a distance (e.g., implemented by providing a shoulder 312 on the outer circumference of the male connector body 110, see fig. 1) such that an annular gap 310 is formed between the inner surface of the self-locking mechanism body 301 and the outer surface of the male connector body 110. The inner spring 302 is located in the annular gap 310. One end of the inner spring 302 abuts a shoulder 312 and the other end abuts an annular slider 304 disposed within an annular gap 310. Four retaining members 305 (balls in the disclosed embodiment) are positioned in pockets in the self-locking mechanism body 301 near the proximal end. The annular slider 304 has a recess 341 (see fig. 1) at its outer surface, which contacts the ball 305.

A shoulder 311 is provided on the outer surface of the self-locking mechanism body 301, the shoulder 311 being near the distal end of the self-locking mechanism body 301. The outer spring 303 surrounds the outer surface of the self-locking mechanism body 301. Outside the outer spring 303 a coupling sleeve 306 is arranged. The coupling sleeve 306 at least partially covers the self-locking mechanism body 301. The inner surface of the coupling sleeve 306 is provided with a shoulder 361, the shoulder 361 being close to the proximal end of the coupling sleeve 306 (see fig. 1). An annular cavity is formed between the shoulder 311 and the shoulder 361 for accommodating the outer spring 303. One end of the outer spring 303 abuts the shoulder 311 and the other end abuts the shoulder 361.

Referring to fig. 1, a first annular undercut 362 and a second annular undercut 363 are provided on the inner surface of the proximal end portion of the coupling sleeve 306. First annular undercut 362 and second annular undercut 363 are configured to receive ball 305. The diameter of the first annular undercut 362 is greater than the diameter of the second annular undercut 363. An angled transition 364 is provided between the first annular undercut 362 and the second annular undercut 363.

In the unmated state (fig. 3), the coupling sleeve 306 is in a first position relative to the self-locking mechanism body 301 such that the ball 305 is received in the first annular undercut 362 of the coupling sleeve 306. In this first position, the outer spring 303 is compressed between the shoulder 311 of the self-locking mechanism body 301 and the shoulder 361 of the coupling sleeve 306. The inner spring 302 provides a slight biasing force on the slider 304 such that the ball 305 is received in the recess 341 of the slider 304.

Referring to fig. 1, when the male connector 100 is mated with the female connector 200, the male connector 100 and the female connector 200 are moved toward each other in the axial direction. The annular protrusion 211 of the female connector 200 enters the annular gap 310 of the male connector 100, contacts the slider 304 and forces the slider 304 to move away from the ball 305 in a direction that compresses the inner spring 302. As the slider 304 moves away from the ball 305, the ball 305 is able to move radially inward. In the process, the coupling sleeve 306 is also moved proximally relative to the self-locking mechanism body 301 under the urging of the outer spring 303, forcing the balls 305 radially inward through the inclined transition 364 between the first annular undercut 362 and the second annular undercut 363. The female connector 200 continues to move within the annular gap 310 of the male connector 100 until the balls 305 are received in the annular groove 213 of the female connector 200 and the second annular undercut 363 of the coupling sleeve 306. At this point, the coupling sleeve 306 is moved to the second position and the balls 305 are pressed between the annular groove 213 of the female connector 200 and the second annular undercut 363 of the coupling sleeve 306, thereby forming a secure connection between the male connector 100 and the female connector 200.

When it is intended to disconnect the connection between the male connector 100 and the female connector 200, pulling the coupling sleeve 306 and the male connector 100 towards the distal end pulls the coupling sleeve 306 from the second position to the first position, so that the first annular undercut 362 of the coupling sleeve 306 moves to the position where the ball 305 is located. At this time, the balls 305 are free to move radially outward. Pulling on the coupling sleeve 306 and the male connector 100 causes the balls 305 to move out of the annular groove 213 along the inclined surface 214. At the same time, the slider 304 moves towards the proximal end under the urging of the inner spring 301 and eventually to the position where the ball 305 is located, so that the ball 305 is received in the recess 341 of the slider 304. The self-locking mechanism 300 returns to the unmated state and the male connector 100 is disconnected from the female connector 200.

As can be seen from the above description, self-locking mechanism 300 achieves mating of male connector 100 and female connector 200 by a "push-pull" action rather than a rotational/screw action. This is simpler and faster than conventional threaded connections. Thus, self-locking mechanism 300 may be referred to as a push-pull quick self-locking mechanism.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other self-locking mechanisms may also be suitable for use with the connectors described herein, such as those shown in U.S. patent nos. 6,702,289, 6,692,286, 8,496,495, and 6,645,011, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Referring to fig. 6-8, another embodiment according to the present disclosure is shown. In this embodiment, the bundled coaxial connector assembly 10 uses a threaded coupling mechanism 400 to maintain the connection of the male and female connectors 100 and 200.

As shown in fig. 7 and 8, the screw coupling mechanism 400 has a cylindrical shape with a multi-start screw 401 provided on an inner surface thereof. The threaded coupling mechanism 400 is connected to the outer surface of the male connector body 110 of the male connector 100 by a snap ring 402 and is spaced a distance from the outer surface of the male connector body 110 such that an annular gap 403 is formed between the inner surface of the threaded coupling mechanism 400 and the outer surface of the male connector body 110. The annular gap 403 is used to receive the annular protrusion 211 of the female connector 200 when the male connector 100 is mated with the female connector 200.

On the outer surface of the annular protrusion 211 of the female connector 200, a mating multi-start thread 217 that mates with the multi-start thread 401 of the screw connection mechanism 400 is provided. The multi-start thread 401 and the mating multi-start thread 217 may be 3-start threads or 4-start threads. The multi-start thread can save the matching time of the male connector 100 and the female connector 200, thereby realizing the quick matching of the two. When 3-head threads are adopted, 66% of matching time can be saved; and when 4-head threads are adopted, 75% of matching time can be saved.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 5, both the annular groove 213 and the mating multi-start thread 217 are provided on the outer surface of the protrusion 211 of the female connector 200. The annular groove 213 is disposed near the proximal end of the protrusion 211, while the mating multi-start thread 217 is next to the annular groove 213 and extends in the distal direction. In this way, the female connector 200 can be mated with both the male connector 100 having the push-pull type self-locking mechanism 300 and the male connector 100 having the screw coupling mechanism 400, thereby improving the versatility of the female connector 200.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that while the unit connectors illustrated herein meet the requirements of a 2.2-5 interface, unit connectors having other interface configurations (such as a NEX10 interface, a 4.3-10 interface, etc.) can also benefit from the concepts discussed herein.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure without substantially departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims. The disclosure is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.