GB2300978A

GB2300978A - Shutter for connector

Info

Publication number: GB2300978A
Application number: GB9606153A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Shepherd
Original assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Current assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Priority date: 1995-04-19
Filing date: 1996-03-23
Publication date: 1996-11-20
Also published as: GB9606153D0

Abstract

A shutter 120, 410 for a connector is moved upon mating of a counterpart of the connector from a position protecting a connector element(s) of the connector to a position exposing the connector element(s). The shutter may be embodied as a pair of flaps associated with a seal 121 for the counterpart (figure 1), as a slidable cover which wipes clean connector element(s) (figure 3, not shown), or as a pair of curved shutters 416, 417 having a curvature corresponding to curvature of the connector, with each curved shutter having projections 418 for engaging and being moved by a counterpart (figure 9, not shown). The connector may be an electrical, optical or fluid connector.

Description

CONNECTORS AND ASSEMBLIES This invention relates to connectors and assemblies, such as, for example, fibre-optic, electrical or microwave connectors and assemblies.

One problem with connectors is that they can become contaminated by various substances, such as, dirt, grease, humidity and salt spray. The problem is particularly acute in fibre-optic connectors. Another problem with fibre-optic connectors is that, after disconnection, stray optical radiation from the connector can be of high intensity and lead to eye damage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved connector.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a connector including an outer housing containing at least one connector element by which signal connection is made with a cooperating connector element in a mating connector, the connector including a shutter assembly having a shutter which is displaceable by the mating connector from a first position in which the or each connector element is protected, to a second position in which the or each connector element is exposed to cooperating connector elements in the mating connector.

The outer housing may have a cavity for receiving a part of the mating connector, the shutter assembly being located in the cavity forwardly of the or each connector element. The outer housing preferably includes a peripheral seal around its surface forwardly of the shutter assembly, the seal being adapted to engage a surface of the mating connector when inserted.

The shutter assembly preferably includes two shutters which are displaceable away from one another to expose the or each connector element. The shutter may be hinged along one side to a side of the housing or be displaceable laterally. The shutter may include a wiper arranged to wipe a surface of the or each connector element when the shutter is displaced laterally. The shutter assembly may include a body having a curved forward surface, the shutter being curved and being displaceable along its plane of curvature over the curved surface. The or each shutter may have an inclined projection arranged for contact by a part of the mating connector so that displacement of the mating connector into engagement with the connector causes lateral displacement of the or each shutter. The or each shutter preferably has two inclined projections spaced from one another.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a connector including an outer housing containing a plurality of connector elements by which signal connection is made with cooperating connector elements in a mating connector, the connector including a shutter assembly having a semicylindrical body and two curved shutters mounted on the body, and the two shutters being displaceable laterally away from one another in the plane of curvature of the shutters by the mating connector from a first position in which the connector elements are protected, to a second position in which the connector elements are exposed to cooperating connector elements in the mating connector.

Preferably at least one of the or each connector elements is an optical connector element.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a connector assembly including a connector according to the above one or other aspect of the present invention and a mating connector.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a connector assembly comprising a first connector and a second connector, the first connector including an outer housing containing at least one connector element by which signal connection is made with a cooperating connector element in the second connector, the first connector including a shutter assembly having a shutter which is displaceable by the second connector from a first position in which the or each connector element is protected, to a second position in which the or each connector element is exposed to cooperating connector elements in said second connector.

Different forms of fibre-optic connector assembly in accordance with the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation view of one form of connector assembly; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the shutter assembly in the connector assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternative connector assembly; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an alternative shutter assembly for the connector assembly of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the body of the shutter assembly of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the shutters of the assembly of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the shutters of Figure 6 on the body of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cover of the assembly of Figure 4; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of a connector for use with a connector having a shutter assembly of the kind shown in Figure 4.

With reference first to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown an assembly of two connectors 100 and 200. The left-hand connector 100 is mounted in a backplane 19, whereas the righthand connector is connected to a module 220 or a flexible cable.

The left-hand connector 100 has an outer housing or shell 102 of rectangular shape and may be of metal or a rigid plastics material. A rectangular cavity 103 is formed in the forward, right-hand end of the shell 102, which is chamfered about the inside of its forward, open end. The cavity 103 extends to a depth approximately equal to one third the length of the shell 102 and opens externally on its forward face. Several bores, only two of which 104 and 105 are shown, extend from the rear face of the shell 102 opening into the cavity 103.

Within the bores 104 and 105 are located fibre-optic contacts or connector elements 106 and 107 connected to respective fibre-optic cables 108 and 109. The fibre-optic contacts 106 and 107 may be of any well-known kind such as straight butt contacts or expanded beam contacts. Alternatively, the contacts may be in groups in a common housing connected to ribbon cables. It is to be understood that the contacts only need make optical connection with mating contacts and need not necessarily be in mechanical contact.

An internal peripheral groove 110 extends around the cavity a short distance within its open, forward end. The groove 110 retains the edge of the shutter assembly 120, which is more clearly shown in Figure 2.

The shutter assembly 120 has an outer rectangular frame 121 of a resilient material, such as a fluorosilicone, and locates in the groove 110. The assembly is approximately 100mm wide by 20mm high. The internal edge ofthe frame 121 projects internally from the groove 110 into the cavity 103 to form a seal with the outside of the mating connector 200.

Attached to each ofthe longer sides 122 and 123 ofthe frame 121, there are two rectangular plates or shutters 124 and 125, which both extend across the entire width of the assembly and project to midway along the height ofthe assembly. The free edges 126 and 127 ofthe plates 124 and 125 overlap one another by a short distance. Attachment ofthe plates 124 and 125 to the sides 122 and 123 of the frame are by flexible, living hinges 128 and 129. In this respect, the frame 121, the plates 124 and 125 and the hinges 126 and 127 may be made as a single, one-piece, integral moulding.

The shutter assembly 120 is completed by two stiffening plates 130 and 131 attached to the rear surface of the shutters 124 and 125. The plates 130 and 131 may be of metal or plastics and project a short distance beyond the shutters at their ends, so as to provide stops 132 and 133 preventing forward displacement ofthe shutters beyond the frame 121.

The location of the shutter assembly 120, the height of each shutter 124 and 125, and the length of the cavity 103 are such as to enable the shutters to be folded rearwardly about their hinges 128 and 129 and lie against the upper and lower walls of the cavity. Two springs 134 and 135 are attached to the upper and lower walls ofthe cavity 103 and engage the stiffening plates 130 and 131 on the rear of the shutters, so as to urge them forwardly into the closed position.

i The rear end of the cavity 103 has a rectangular-shape recess 140, extending around the outside of all of the bores 104 and 105, the purpose of which will become apparent later.

A resilient sealing insert 141 is located at the bottom of the cavity 140.

The right-hand connector 200 is adapted to engage with the backplane connector 100.

The connector 200 has a rigid outer housing or shell 201, which may be of the same material as the shell 102. The shell 201 is of rectangular shape and has a nose portion 202 at its lefthand end of reduced height and width, so that it can be inserted within the cavity 103. Two bores 204 and 205 in the shell 201 align with the bores 104 and 105 in the other connector 100. Each bore 104 and 105 contains a fibre-optic contact 206 and 207 arranged to mate with the contacts 106 and 107 respectively. The contacts 106 and 107 are spring loaded in the connectors 100 . The contacts 106, 107, 206, and 207 all float within their bores so that the contacts engage one another resiliently. Fibre-optic cables 208 and 209 extend from the contacts 206 and 207 to parts of the module 220, or within the outer cable.The nose 202 of the shell 201 is provided by a rectangular wall 210 shaped for insertion within the recess 140.

The forward edge 211 of the wall 210 is chamfered to ease insertion.

When the two connectors 100 and 200 are separated from one another, the shutter assembly 120 is closed, with the two shutters 124 and 125 overlapping midway. This effectively protects the contacts 106 and 107 from contamination. The integral nature ofthe hinges 128 and 129 between the shutters 124 and 125 and the frame 121 ensures that no contamination can enter the cavity 103 at this point. The shutter assembly 120 also has the advantage of preventing the escape of stray optical radiation from the fibre-optic contacts 106 and 107, before connection, which could be hazardous to the eye.

When the right-hand connector 200 is brought up to the forward end of the left-hand connector 100, the frame 121 provides a peripheral seal contacting the outer surface of the connector shell 201. The nose 202 engages the two shutters 124 and 125 and displaces them rearwardly about their hinges 128 and 129 against the action ofthe springs 133 and 134.

Further insertion brings the two sets of fibre-optic contacts 106 and 107 and 206 and 207 into mating engagement and locates the wall 210 in the recess 140, in sealing contact with the insert 141. During insertion, the frame 121 makes a wiping seal with the outside of the righthand connector 200, so that contamination is prevented from entering between the two connectors. When fully mated, the peripheral seal 121 and the resilient seal 141 ensure that all contamination is excluded during normal use.

The two connectors 100 and 200 can be locked together in any conventional way, such as by means ofjackscrews, catches or the like (not shown). Compression ofthe seal 141 also acts as a damper and shock absorber during vibration.

When the connectors 100 and 200 are separated, the two shutters 124 and 125 fold back to their original position under the action ofthe springs 134 and 135. The lower shutter 125 preferably has at least one projection 136 on its external surface so that it is engaged first by the right-hand connector 200. This ensures that the lower shutter 124 is always the last to close when the connectors are separated, thereby allowing it to overlap the inside of the upper shutter. Alternatively, the nose 202 of the right-hand connector 200 could project further along its lower edge so that the lower shutter 125 is opened first on insertion and closed last on separation of the connectors An alternative form of connector 300 is shown in Figure 3.This connector 300 has an outer shell 301 with a peripheral shoulder 302 and a groove 303 in which a sealing O-ring (not shown) is located. The connector 300 is arranged to receive another connector (not shown), which encloses the forward, upper part of the connector, seating on the shoulder 302 with the O-ring sealing about the inside of the mating connector. At its forward end, the connector 300 has four ribbon fibre butt contacts 304 of the mechanical transfer (MT) type.

The shutter assembly 310 comprises two L-shape shutters 3 1 1 and 312 each of which has a vertical support strut 313 at opposite ends and a horizontal wiper bar 314 extending across the width of the connector above the contacts 304. The shutters 311 and 312 may be of a stiff plastics material or a metal. Beneath each bar 314 there is a resilient fluorosilicone wiper element 315 with a convex lower surface. In the natural position of the shutter assembly, before mating, the wiper elements 315 lie across the fibre-optic contacts 304, protecting them from contamination and preventing radiation escaping. The struts 313 of the two shutters 311 and 312 are spaced from one another by a short gap 316 and are urged together by a spring (not shown) or by the resilience of the struts 313.An actuating member on the mating connector can be inserted between the two struts 313 when the two connectors are mated so that they are displaced laterally, outwardly away from one another to expose the fibre-optic cdntacts 304. This lateral movement wipes the elements 315 across the surface of the contacts, thereby helping to clean them. When the two connectors are separated from one another, the resilience of the struts 313 urges them back to a central position in which the contacts 304 are covered by the wiper elements 315.

The connector assembly of Figure 3 can be modified by replacing the shutter assembly 310 with the shutter assembly 410 shown in Figures 4 to 8. The shutter assembly 410 has a body 411, as shown in Figure 5, with a semi-cylindrical shape and with raised flanges 412 at opposite ends. The body 411 has four rectangular apertures 413 located to align with the optical fibre contacts, the apertures being separated on opposite sides of a longitudinal rib 414 extending along the body. A spring-retaining channel 415 extends around the body 411 midway along its length. Two shutters 416 and 417, as shown in Figure 6, lie on the body 411 either side of the rib 414, in the manner shown in Figure 7. The shutters 416 and 417 are of curved planar form and rectangular shape, having a projection (not shown) on their undersides, locating in the channel 415. On their upper surfaces, the shutters 416 and 417 have two tabs 418 oftriangular section at opposite ends, located along adjacent edges ofthe shutters. Two springs (not shown) are located in the channel 415 to engage the shutters 416 and 417 and urge them together to a closed position in which the apertures 413 are covered.

A cover plate 419, as shown in Figure 8, is placed over the body 410 and the shutters 416 and 417 to retain the shutters on the body. The cover plate 419 is held on the body by means oftwo screws 420. The cover plate 419 has four apertures 421 shaped to align with the apertures 413 in the body 411 and has cut-aways 422, which receive the tabs 418 on the shutters 416 and 417 when they are open.

The modified connector assembly having the shutter assembly shown in Figure 4 is used in conjunction with a connector 500 of the kind shown in Figure 9. The connector 500 has four alignment sleeves 501 at one end surrounding respective fibre-optic contacts (not shown). The alignment sleeves 501 are of rectangular shape and each have a triangular extension 502 at opposite sides of the connector. The extensions 502 are shaped and located so that they contact the tabs 418 on the shutters 416 and 417 and urge the shutters apart, to an open position, when the connector 500 is pushed towards the shutter assembly 410. When fully engaged, the alignment sleeves 501 are located within the apertures 413.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not confined to optical connectors but can also be used in electrical connectors or in connectors including both optical and electrical contacts. In electrical connectors, the shutters can serve an electrical screening purpose as well as protecting from contamination. It would also be possible to use the invention with microwave connectors or with fluid connectors, such as hydraulic fluid connectors or the like.

Claims

1. A connector including an outer housing containing at least one connector element by which signal connection is made with a cooperating connector element in a mating connector, wherein the connector includes a shutter assembly having a shutter which is displaceable by the mating connector from a first position in which the or each connector element is protected, to a second position in which the or each connector element is exposed to cooperating connector elements in the mating connector.

2. A connector according to Claim 1, wherein the outer housing has a cavity for receiving a part of the mating connector, and wherein the shutter assembly is located in the cavity forwardly of the or each connector element.

3. A connector according to Claim 2, wherein the outer housing includes a peripheral seal around its surface forwardly of the shutter assembly, and wherein the seal is adapted to engage a surface of the mating connector when inserted.

4. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shutter assembly includes two shutters which are displaceable away from one another to expose the or each connector element.

5. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shutter is hinged along one side to a side of the housing.

6. A connector according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the shutter is displaceable laterally.

7. A connector according to Claim 6, wherein the shutter includes a wiper arranged to wipe a surface of the or each connector element when the shutter is displaced laterally.

8. A connector according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein the shutter assembly includes a body having a curved forward surface, and wherein the shutter is curved and is displaceable along its plane of curvature over the curved surface.

9. A connector according to any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the or each shutter has an inclined projection arranged for contact by a part of the mating connector so that displacement of the mating connector into engagement with the connector causes lateral displacement of the or each shutter.

10. A connector according to Claim 9, wherein the or each shutter has two inclined projections spaced from one another.

11. A connector including an outer housing containing a plurality of connector elements by which signal connection is made with cooperating connector elements in a mating connector, wherein the connector includes a shutter assembly having a semicylindrical body and two curved shutters mounted on the body, and wherein the two shutters are displaceable laterally away from one another in the plane of curvature of the shutters by the mating connector from a first position in which the connector elements are protected, to a second position in which the connector elements are exposed to cooperating connector elements in the mating connector.

12. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one ofthe or each connector elements is an optical connector element.

13. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 as modified by Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

15.. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 as modified by Figures 4 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A connector assembly including a connector according to any one of the preceding claims and a mating connector.

17. A connector assembly comprising a first connector and a second connector, wherein the first connector includes an outer housing containing at least one connector element by which signal connection is made with a cooperating connector element in said second connector, wherein the first connector includes a shutter assembly having a shutter which is displaceable by the second connector from a first position in which the or each connector element is protected, to a second position in which the or each connector element is exposed to cooperating connector elements in said second connector.

18. A connector assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A connector assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 as modified by Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A connector assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 as modified by Figures 4 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

21. Any novel feature or combination of features as hereinbefore described.