CA1112923A - Detachable connector for links by optical fibres - Google Patents
Detachable connector for links by optical fibresInfo
- Publication number
- CA1112923A CA1112923A CA313,459A CA313459A CA1112923A CA 1112923 A CA1112923 A CA 1112923A CA 313459 A CA313459 A CA 313459A CA 1112923 A CA1112923 A CA 1112923A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- rods
- monofibres
- triad
- monofibre
- connector
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
- G02B6/3834—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule
- G02B6/3841—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule using rods, balls for light guides
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3873—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
- G02B6/3874—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
- G02B6/3877—Split sleeves
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/389—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type
- G02B6/3894—Screw-lock type
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:
A detachable connector for the connection of two monofibres protected by claddings comprises for each monofibre a mechanical locking element attached to said mono-fibre end and bearing against the cladding of said monofibres, a bore and a triad of tangential cylindrical rods with a same diameter having a first extremity placed on said bore and a second extremity extending outside said bore, said triad of rods delimiting a central passage into which said two monofibres are introduced, said second extremity of said triad of rods and the corresponding monofibre being levelled to form a plane end face. The connector further comprises a slotted elastic sleeve and a rigid tube; said slotted elastic sleeve having an internal diameter at most equal to the diameter of the external circumference of contact around said triad of rods, and clamping said second extremities of said triads of rods associated to said two monofibres, said end faces being in contact; said rigid tube surrounding said slotted elastic sleeve and bearing on said mechanical locking elements to secure a rigid mechanical linking of said locking elements respectively attached to said two monofibres; the clamping of the free portions of said triads by said sleeve causing said two monofibres to remain in alignment; said sleeve being mechanically disconnected from said rigid tube.
A detachable connector for the connection of two monofibres protected by claddings comprises for each monofibre a mechanical locking element attached to said mono-fibre end and bearing against the cladding of said monofibres, a bore and a triad of tangential cylindrical rods with a same diameter having a first extremity placed on said bore and a second extremity extending outside said bore, said triad of rods delimiting a central passage into which said two monofibres are introduced, said second extremity of said triad of rods and the corresponding monofibre being levelled to form a plane end face. The connector further comprises a slotted elastic sleeve and a rigid tube; said slotted elastic sleeve having an internal diameter at most equal to the diameter of the external circumference of contact around said triad of rods, and clamping said second extremities of said triads of rods associated to said two monofibres, said end faces being in contact; said rigid tube surrounding said slotted elastic sleeve and bearing on said mechanical locking elements to secure a rigid mechanical linking of said locking elements respectively attached to said two monofibres; the clamping of the free portions of said triads by said sleeve causing said two monofibres to remain in alignment; said sleeve being mechanically disconnected from said rigid tube.
Description
1 This invention relates to electro-optical links by optical fibres and, more particularly, to a detachable connector which only introduces minimal losses into the - optical connection and which is simple to use.
Detachable connectors have been previously proposed for t.he assembly of optica] fib.res. One of these connectors, which is particularly intended for low-loss connections, effects very precise centring of two fibres to be assem- .
bled by means of ferrules equipped with a triad of tan- -gential cylindrical rods defining a central passage in which the fibre is placed. A calibrated connecting element comes to rest on the two calibrated ferrules surrounding the cylirdrical rods ~espors.ible for posi.ti.~ning the ~iDre.
Although a detachable connector of this type works well, it is expensive to manufacture because the calibration of certain mechanical e~ements used for forming the.connecto~
to tolerances of the order of 1 micrometre considerably increases the manufacturin~ costs.
. The present irvention relates to an improved deta-chable connector in relation to the connector succintly described above,such that the cylindrical rods responsible for centring the two fibres to be connected are automatical-ly locked in position by a slotted elastic ring slightly smaller in diameter than the circumference of contact
Detachable connectors have been previously proposed for t.he assembly of optica] fib.res. One of these connectors, which is particularly intended for low-loss connections, effects very precise centring of two fibres to be assem- .
bled by means of ferrules equipped with a triad of tan- -gential cylindrical rods defining a central passage in which the fibre is placed. A calibrated connecting element comes to rest on the two calibrated ferrules surrounding the cylirdrical rods ~espors.ible for posi.ti.~ning the ~iDre.
Although a detachable connector of this type works well, it is expensive to manufacture because the calibration of certain mechanical e~ements used for forming the.connecto~
to tolerances of the order of 1 micrometre considerably increases the manufacturin~ costs.
. The present irvention relates to an improved deta-chable connector in relation to the connector succintly described above,such that the cylindrical rods responsible for centring the two fibres to be connected are automatical-ly locked in position by a slotted elastic ring slightly smaller in diameter than the circumference of contact
- 2 ~ :
., , .
around the triad of tangential cylindrical rods, the contact obtained being rigid and the two fibres being automatically aligned.
According to the invention, there is provided a detachable connector for links by optical fibres, intended for the connection of two monofibres protected by claddings, the ends of said two monofibres to be connected being stripped of their cladding at their extremities, said connector comprising, for each monofibre, a mechanical locking element attached to said monofibre end and bearing against the cladding of said monofibre, and comprising a bore having a stop ring, and a triad of tangential cylindrical rods having the same diameter, placed in said bore and having a first extremity resting on said stop ring and a second extremity extending outside said bore, said triad or rods delimiting a central passage in which is located the stripped extremity of said monofibre, said second extremity of said triad of rods and the corresponding monofibre being levelled to form a plane end face, said eonnector further eomprising a slotted elastic sleeve and a rigid tube; said slotted elastic sleeve having an internal diameter at most equal to the diameter of the external cireumferenee of eontaet around said triad of rods, and elamping said seeond extremities of said triads of rods assoeiated to said two monofibres, said end faees being in contaet; said rigid tube surrounding said slotted elastie sleeve and bearing on said meehanieal locking elements to secure a rigid mechanical linking of said locking elements respectively attached to said~triads by said sleeve causing said two monofibres to remain in alignment; said sleeve being mechanically disconnected from said rigid tube.
The invention will be better understood and other features thereof will become apparent from the following f 2~3 1 description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, J wherein :
. Fi~. 1 is a lon~itudinal section through the deta-ch~ble connector nccordin~ to the ~nvcntion ;
Fig. 2 is a section through the detachable connector on the line A-A in Fig. 1 ;
Fig. ~ is a section through the detachable connector on the line B-B in Fig. 1.
As mentioned above, conventional detachable connectors 10 for optical fibres are expensive because some of their components have to be perfectly calibrated. For example, a corne tor using triads of cyl ndrical rods for pGSitioning the fibres to be connected comprises a ring for holding the rods and the fibre in position in such a way that there is J 15 no play, the outer surface of this ring, which is used as reference surface for aligning the two monofibres, having to be perfectly centred in relation to the inner bore in which the cylindrical retaining rods and the fibre are accomm~dated. In addi~ion, the corlnectiGr. eLement betw~en 20 the two retaining rings has to align the two rins along the axis Or the connector in such a wa~y that the ends of the monofibres are exactly opposite one another. The de-tachable connector accordin~ to the invention eliminates these constraints.
A detailed description of one embodiment of the detachable connector according to the invention is given in the following with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 which are respectively a longitudinal section and two cross-sections through the connector.
The connector consists of two ferrules, a connectin~ element and two transition elements each establishing the connection between a ferrule and the connecting element. The assembly is intended to join two monofibres end-to-end.
The ferrules comprise an inner bod~ 20 limited exter-nally towards its end by a frustoconical surface and to~Jards the transition element by a cylindrical surface. The frusto-conical 2art of this inner body comprises four radial slots at 90 from one another, one of which (the slot 23) is lO shown in the sectional view of Fig. 1 and which delimit four jaws. An outer body 21 is screwed onto the outer cylindrical surface, the inner body and the outer body each comprising a screwthread. Under the effect of this screwing, ', the jaws are radially displaced and grip the cladding of the J fibre and position it very precisely in relation to the longitudinal axis XX of the connector, the cylindrical surface of the outer body forming the reference surface of - the ferru]e.
In addition, the outer body comprises a secon~ screw-20 thread intended to establish connection with a corresponding transition element.
The transition elements each comprise a slotted ring 30 having an inner bore 33 inside which are accommodated three cylindrical rods such as 31, which is shown in sec-tion, and 32 which is not shown in section. The diameter of the cylindrical rods is selected in de?endence upon the diameter of the fibre in such a way that, when the three cylindrical rods are tangent, they delimit a pa;sage into which the optical fibre may be .~ .
1 introduced. The diameter D of the cylindrical rods and the diameter d of the fibre have the following relationship :
~ = dl sin 3/3 These rods are precision-machined so that the fibre is centred very accurately. The ring 30 by which the rods are held in position has a diameter equal to or slightly smaller than the external c;rcumference of contact around the three rods and is slotted and elastic in such a way that, when the three rods are introduced into it, this 10 slotted elastic ring comes to rest on the rods and thus ensures perfect mechanical stability and very precise cen-tring of the fibre because the reference surface is the cir-cumference of cantact around the three rods formed from the three points of contact. Thus, it is not necessary for 15 the bore of the ring to be precise.
The end of the ring 30 intended to be connected to a ferrule of the connector, as shown, comprises a bore formed with a screwthread intended far the connection with the ferrule.
The ring comprises stop surfaces : a stop ring 36, against which the cylindrical rods come to bear, a stop ring 37, against which a nut 35 comes to bear, and a stop ring 38 against which the cladding of the fibre comes to bear. The passage between the bore intended to receive the 25 fibre provided with its cladding and the bore against which these cylindrical rods come to bear in the longitudinal di~ection has a frustoconical form to facilitate the passa-ge of the stripped fibre.
The actual connecting element enables the two ,, . ,, ~ .... .. .. . .
Z,3 1 transition elernents to be aligned and cor-lnected. It com-prises a slotted elastic ring 40 which surrollrlds the free ends of the two triads of cylindrical rods which hold the ends of the two fibres to be connected. This second elastic ring has a diameter equal to or slightly smaller than the circumference of contact around the three rods, although if it were not slotted this ring could not be pla-ced around the rods. A rigid element 50 provided with a bore, which does not have to be very precise, surrounds the slot-ted elastic ring 40 and externally comprises two bores, suchas 42, intended for mechanical connection with the nuts, such as 35. Th~ slotted ring lo establishes the conr.ection, the ends of the two fibres to be connected thus being per-fectly centred in relation to the same reference and,hence, being perfectly ali~ned along the axis of the connector.
The assembly of two monofibres to be joined end-to-end in the connector described above is carried out as follows.
The slotted ring holding the rods, 30, is provided with three rentring rcd3 which are introduced into ~he bore 33 20 and which come into contact with the flat surface 36. This surface 36 has an orifice equal in diameter to the mono-fibre without its cladding. The inner body 20 of the ferrule is screwed to the slotted ring 30. The knurled screw 35 is applied against the stop surface 37 of the slotted ring 30 holding the rods. The monofibre is thus stripped of its cladding around the end to be connected and is introduced into the outer body 21 of the ferrule on the one hand and, on the other hand, into the assembly formed by the inner body 20 of the ferrule, the slotted ring 30 provided with the three centring rods and the knurled locking screw.
1 The claddin~ of the fibr~ rests on the stop surface 38 of the slotted ring 30 and the actual fibre stripped of its cladding, comprising a core surrounded by a protective sheath, is introduced into the passage formed by the cy-lindrical rods. Since at this stage no elements have beentightened, the fibre is easy to introduce by virtue of the slot 39 of the slotted ring 30. The outer body 21 of the ferrule is then screwed to the inner body 20, the effect of which is that the cladding of the fibre is gripped by the jaws. The fibre is then broken at the level of the cylindrical rods and polished in such a way that its polished end is flush with t~e ends of t~e three cyl-.rldrica' rcds.
The same method of assembly is used for the other monofibre to be connected. In this case, the slotted elas-tic ring 40 is introduced around the three rods holding oneof the monofibres, the introduction of this slotted ring simultaneously ensuring the locking and centring of the monofibre in relation to the circumference of contact around the ~ree calibrated cylindrical Iods. The mechanica. con-necting element 50 is then introduced around the slottedelastic connecting ring 40 and the end of the slotted ring holding the rods 30. This element 50 is then screwed into the nut 35. The other monofibre is then brought into contact with the first monofibre by introducing the end of the triad of cylindrical rods surrounding this monofibre into the slotted elastic ring 40 surrounded by the mechanical con-necting element 50, after which the second screw is screwed onto this mechanical element. Accordingly, assembly is simple and does not require the use of any sealing or connecting materials.
" ~
1 A connector Or the type described above has been produced, the slo~ted elastic ring holding the rods 30 being made of elastic brass and the slotted connecting ring "Delrinl'* The losses introduced by the connector are less than 1 dB without any additional means (in particular without an index-matching liquid being introduced between the two fibres).
The invention is by no means limited to the embodiment described. In particular, the ferrules have 10 been described as being hollow frustoconical elements pro-vided with four slots at angles of 90, the outer cylindri-cal body causing the jaws to be tighten?d when it is screwed onto the frustoconical surface. It is possible to use any other mechanical element enabling the fibre to be held 15 firmly in its cladding and centring it in relation to the axis of the connector. It is also possible for the stripped part of the monofibres to be held by a non-slotted heat-shrinkable ring surrounding the rods, the ring being positioned by heating. ~owever, th~ connecti~n between the 20 two monofibres held by triads of cylindrical rods has to be established by a slotted ring simultaneously surroun-ding the triads of rods, a rigid connection surrounding this flexible connection for ensuring the mechanical stability of the connector.
Before the optical connections are established, the ends of the monofibres may be equipped with ferrules and transition elements which condition the ends of the monofibres. In this way, all that is necessary for the connection is to add the actual connecting element between 30 the t~to ends thus conditioned.
* Trade Mark B~
2~
1 Conversely, the connection is readily detachable because it is sufficient to detach the connecting element, i.e the mechanical element 50 and the slotted rin~ 40, for the two ends Or the fibres previously connected to be separated.
., , .
around the triad of tangential cylindrical rods, the contact obtained being rigid and the two fibres being automatically aligned.
According to the invention, there is provided a detachable connector for links by optical fibres, intended for the connection of two monofibres protected by claddings, the ends of said two monofibres to be connected being stripped of their cladding at their extremities, said connector comprising, for each monofibre, a mechanical locking element attached to said monofibre end and bearing against the cladding of said monofibre, and comprising a bore having a stop ring, and a triad of tangential cylindrical rods having the same diameter, placed in said bore and having a first extremity resting on said stop ring and a second extremity extending outside said bore, said triad or rods delimiting a central passage in which is located the stripped extremity of said monofibre, said second extremity of said triad of rods and the corresponding monofibre being levelled to form a plane end face, said eonnector further eomprising a slotted elastic sleeve and a rigid tube; said slotted elastic sleeve having an internal diameter at most equal to the diameter of the external cireumferenee of eontaet around said triad of rods, and elamping said seeond extremities of said triads of rods assoeiated to said two monofibres, said end faees being in contaet; said rigid tube surrounding said slotted elastie sleeve and bearing on said meehanieal locking elements to secure a rigid mechanical linking of said locking elements respectively attached to said~triads by said sleeve causing said two monofibres to remain in alignment; said sleeve being mechanically disconnected from said rigid tube.
The invention will be better understood and other features thereof will become apparent from the following f 2~3 1 description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, J wherein :
. Fi~. 1 is a lon~itudinal section through the deta-ch~ble connector nccordin~ to the ~nvcntion ;
Fig. 2 is a section through the detachable connector on the line A-A in Fig. 1 ;
Fig. ~ is a section through the detachable connector on the line B-B in Fig. 1.
As mentioned above, conventional detachable connectors 10 for optical fibres are expensive because some of their components have to be perfectly calibrated. For example, a corne tor using triads of cyl ndrical rods for pGSitioning the fibres to be connected comprises a ring for holding the rods and the fibre in position in such a way that there is J 15 no play, the outer surface of this ring, which is used as reference surface for aligning the two monofibres, having to be perfectly centred in relation to the inner bore in which the cylindrical retaining rods and the fibre are accomm~dated. In addi~ion, the corlnectiGr. eLement betw~en 20 the two retaining rings has to align the two rins along the axis Or the connector in such a wa~y that the ends of the monofibres are exactly opposite one another. The de-tachable connector accordin~ to the invention eliminates these constraints.
A detailed description of one embodiment of the detachable connector according to the invention is given in the following with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 which are respectively a longitudinal section and two cross-sections through the connector.
The connector consists of two ferrules, a connectin~ element and two transition elements each establishing the connection between a ferrule and the connecting element. The assembly is intended to join two monofibres end-to-end.
The ferrules comprise an inner bod~ 20 limited exter-nally towards its end by a frustoconical surface and to~Jards the transition element by a cylindrical surface. The frusto-conical 2art of this inner body comprises four radial slots at 90 from one another, one of which (the slot 23) is lO shown in the sectional view of Fig. 1 and which delimit four jaws. An outer body 21 is screwed onto the outer cylindrical surface, the inner body and the outer body each comprising a screwthread. Under the effect of this screwing, ', the jaws are radially displaced and grip the cladding of the J fibre and position it very precisely in relation to the longitudinal axis XX of the connector, the cylindrical surface of the outer body forming the reference surface of - the ferru]e.
In addition, the outer body comprises a secon~ screw-20 thread intended to establish connection with a corresponding transition element.
The transition elements each comprise a slotted ring 30 having an inner bore 33 inside which are accommodated three cylindrical rods such as 31, which is shown in sec-tion, and 32 which is not shown in section. The diameter of the cylindrical rods is selected in de?endence upon the diameter of the fibre in such a way that, when the three cylindrical rods are tangent, they delimit a pa;sage into which the optical fibre may be .~ .
1 introduced. The diameter D of the cylindrical rods and the diameter d of the fibre have the following relationship :
~ = dl sin 3/3 These rods are precision-machined so that the fibre is centred very accurately. The ring 30 by which the rods are held in position has a diameter equal to or slightly smaller than the external c;rcumference of contact around the three rods and is slotted and elastic in such a way that, when the three rods are introduced into it, this 10 slotted elastic ring comes to rest on the rods and thus ensures perfect mechanical stability and very precise cen-tring of the fibre because the reference surface is the cir-cumference of cantact around the three rods formed from the three points of contact. Thus, it is not necessary for 15 the bore of the ring to be precise.
The end of the ring 30 intended to be connected to a ferrule of the connector, as shown, comprises a bore formed with a screwthread intended far the connection with the ferrule.
The ring comprises stop surfaces : a stop ring 36, against which the cylindrical rods come to bear, a stop ring 37, against which a nut 35 comes to bear, and a stop ring 38 against which the cladding of the fibre comes to bear. The passage between the bore intended to receive the 25 fibre provided with its cladding and the bore against which these cylindrical rods come to bear in the longitudinal di~ection has a frustoconical form to facilitate the passa-ge of the stripped fibre.
The actual connecting element enables the two ,, . ,, ~ .... .. .. . .
Z,3 1 transition elernents to be aligned and cor-lnected. It com-prises a slotted elastic ring 40 which surrollrlds the free ends of the two triads of cylindrical rods which hold the ends of the two fibres to be connected. This second elastic ring has a diameter equal to or slightly smaller than the circumference of contact around the three rods, although if it were not slotted this ring could not be pla-ced around the rods. A rigid element 50 provided with a bore, which does not have to be very precise, surrounds the slot-ted elastic ring 40 and externally comprises two bores, suchas 42, intended for mechanical connection with the nuts, such as 35. Th~ slotted ring lo establishes the conr.ection, the ends of the two fibres to be connected thus being per-fectly centred in relation to the same reference and,hence, being perfectly ali~ned along the axis of the connector.
The assembly of two monofibres to be joined end-to-end in the connector described above is carried out as follows.
The slotted ring holding the rods, 30, is provided with three rentring rcd3 which are introduced into ~he bore 33 20 and which come into contact with the flat surface 36. This surface 36 has an orifice equal in diameter to the mono-fibre without its cladding. The inner body 20 of the ferrule is screwed to the slotted ring 30. The knurled screw 35 is applied against the stop surface 37 of the slotted ring 30 holding the rods. The monofibre is thus stripped of its cladding around the end to be connected and is introduced into the outer body 21 of the ferrule on the one hand and, on the other hand, into the assembly formed by the inner body 20 of the ferrule, the slotted ring 30 provided with the three centring rods and the knurled locking screw.
1 The claddin~ of the fibr~ rests on the stop surface 38 of the slotted ring 30 and the actual fibre stripped of its cladding, comprising a core surrounded by a protective sheath, is introduced into the passage formed by the cy-lindrical rods. Since at this stage no elements have beentightened, the fibre is easy to introduce by virtue of the slot 39 of the slotted ring 30. The outer body 21 of the ferrule is then screwed to the inner body 20, the effect of which is that the cladding of the fibre is gripped by the jaws. The fibre is then broken at the level of the cylindrical rods and polished in such a way that its polished end is flush with t~e ends of t~e three cyl-.rldrica' rcds.
The same method of assembly is used for the other monofibre to be connected. In this case, the slotted elas-tic ring 40 is introduced around the three rods holding oneof the monofibres, the introduction of this slotted ring simultaneously ensuring the locking and centring of the monofibre in relation to the circumference of contact around the ~ree calibrated cylindrical Iods. The mechanica. con-necting element 50 is then introduced around the slottedelastic connecting ring 40 and the end of the slotted ring holding the rods 30. This element 50 is then screwed into the nut 35. The other monofibre is then brought into contact with the first monofibre by introducing the end of the triad of cylindrical rods surrounding this monofibre into the slotted elastic ring 40 surrounded by the mechanical con-necting element 50, after which the second screw is screwed onto this mechanical element. Accordingly, assembly is simple and does not require the use of any sealing or connecting materials.
" ~
1 A connector Or the type described above has been produced, the slo~ted elastic ring holding the rods 30 being made of elastic brass and the slotted connecting ring "Delrinl'* The losses introduced by the connector are less than 1 dB without any additional means (in particular without an index-matching liquid being introduced between the two fibres).
The invention is by no means limited to the embodiment described. In particular, the ferrules have 10 been described as being hollow frustoconical elements pro-vided with four slots at angles of 90, the outer cylindri-cal body causing the jaws to be tighten?d when it is screwed onto the frustoconical surface. It is possible to use any other mechanical element enabling the fibre to be held 15 firmly in its cladding and centring it in relation to the axis of the connector. It is also possible for the stripped part of the monofibres to be held by a non-slotted heat-shrinkable ring surrounding the rods, the ring being positioned by heating. ~owever, th~ connecti~n between the 20 two monofibres held by triads of cylindrical rods has to be established by a slotted ring simultaneously surroun-ding the triads of rods, a rigid connection surrounding this flexible connection for ensuring the mechanical stability of the connector.
Before the optical connections are established, the ends of the monofibres may be equipped with ferrules and transition elements which condition the ends of the monofibres. In this way, all that is necessary for the connection is to add the actual connecting element between 30 the t~to ends thus conditioned.
* Trade Mark B~
2~
1 Conversely, the connection is readily detachable because it is sufficient to detach the connecting element, i.e the mechanical element 50 and the slotted rin~ 40, for the two ends Or the fibres previously connected to be separated.
Claims (6)
1. A detachable connector for links by optical fibres, intended for the connection of two monofibres protected by claddings, the ends of said two monofibres to be connected being stripped of their cladding at their extremities, said connector comprising, for each monofibre, a mechanical locking element attached to said monofibre end and bearing against the cladding of said monofibre, and comprising a bore having a stop ring, and a triad of tangential cylindrical rods having the same diameter, placed in said bore and having a first extremity resting on said stop ring and a second extremity extending outside said bore, said triad of rods delimiting a central passage in which is located the stripped extremity of said monofibre, said second extremity of said triad of rods and the corresponding monofibre being levelled to form a plane end face, said connector further comprising a slotted elastic sleeve and a rigid tube; said slotted elastic sleeve having an internal diameter at most equal to the diameter of the external circumference of contact around said triad of rods, and clamping said second extremities of said triads of rods associated to said two monofibres, said end faces being in contact; said rigid tube surrounding said slotted elastic sleeve and bearing on said mechanical locking elements to secure a rigid mechanical linking of said locking elements respectively attached to said triads by said sleeve causing said two monofibres to remain in alignment; said sleeve being mechanically disconnected from said rigid tube.
2. A detachable connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanical locking element attached to each mono-fibre end comprises a slotted elastic bushing surrounding said triad of rods, said elastic bushing having a diameter at most equal to the diameter of the external circumference of contact around the triad of rods.
3. A detachable connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mechanical locking element further comprises a ferrule which is intended to grip the cladding of the fibre and which is mechanically connected to said slotted elastic bushing surrounding the corresponding triad of rods.
4. A detachable connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ferrule comprises an inner body equipped with jaws capable of being radially displaced towards the axis of the connector for gripping the cladding of said monofibre and an outer body which, in the event of axial displacement, ensures the radial movement of the jaws.
5. A detachable connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mechanical locking element further comprises a nut bearing against the slotted sleeve and capable of being connected to the rigid tube.
6. A detachable connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said stop ring comprises a first surface for abutting said triad of rods first extremity and a second surface opposing said first surface for abutting the stripped end of said cladding, a narrow longitudinal aperture being formed through said stop ring extending between said first and second surfaces, said aperture having a frustoconical shape adjacent said second surface to facilitate passing said stripped end of said monofibres therethrough.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR7731037 | 1977-10-14 | ||
| FR7731037A FR2406210A1 (en) | 1977-10-14 | 1977-10-14 | DETACHABLE CONNECTOR FOR OPTICAL FIBER LINKS |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1112923A true CA1112923A (en) | 1981-11-24 |
Family
ID=9196526
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA313,459A Expired CA1112923A (en) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-10-13 | Detachable connector for links by optical fibres |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5465558A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1112923A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2844744A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2406210A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2007868B (en) |
Families Citing this family (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU531372B2 (en) * | 1979-09-12 | 1983-08-18 | Bicc Ltd. | Optical fibre connector |
| FR2469725A1 (en) * | 1979-11-08 | 1981-05-22 | Lyonnaise Transmiss Optiques | CONNECTOR FOR OPTICAL FIBERS |
| NL184925C (en) * | 1980-06-19 | 1989-12-01 | Philips Nv | REMOVABLE OPTICAL PLUG CONNECTION. |
| FR2513392B1 (en) * | 1981-09-23 | 1986-06-27 | Clement Jean Joseph | CENTERING CELL FOR FIBER OPTIC CONNECTION |
| DE3365308D1 (en) * | 1982-09-10 | 1986-09-18 | G & H Technology | Optical fiber connector |
| FI69217C (en) * | 1984-03-05 | 1985-12-10 | Suomen Koneliike Helkama Oy | FOERFARANDE FOER FOGNING AV OPTISK FIBER |
| AU561715B2 (en) * | 1984-03-05 | 1987-05-14 | G. & H. Technology Inc. | Releasable connector for optical fibers |
| FR2578985B1 (en) * | 1985-03-18 | 1989-04-14 | Fibres Optiques Rech Technolo | CONNECTOR FOR QUICK FIXED OPTICAL FIBERS |
| JPS635311A (en) * | 1986-06-25 | 1988-01-11 | Oputosu:Kk | Relaying adaptor for optical fiber |
| DE3842368A1 (en) * | 1988-12-16 | 1990-06-21 | Quante Ag | DETACHABLE CONNECTOR FOR COUPLING TWO LIGHTWAVE LADDERS |
| JPH0336509A (en) * | 1989-07-03 | 1991-02-18 | Fuji Electric Co Ltd | Connector for optical fiber |
| US8978881B2 (en) * | 2009-10-29 | 2015-03-17 | Habasit Ag | Pivot rod and method of making thereof |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3946467A (en) * | 1974-12-09 | 1976-03-30 | Northern Electric Company, Limited | Clamp for an optical fibre |
| FR2338500A1 (en) * | 1976-01-14 | 1977-08-12 | Thomson Csf | DETACHABLE CONNECTION DEVICE FOR OPTICAL FIBERS |
-
1977
- 1977-10-14 FR FR7731037A patent/FR2406210A1/en active Granted
-
1978
- 1978-10-13 DE DE19782844744 patent/DE2844744A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1978-10-13 JP JP12605278A patent/JPS5465558A/en active Pending
- 1978-10-13 GB GB7840546A patent/GB2007868B/en not_active Expired
- 1978-10-13 CA CA313,459A patent/CA1112923A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2406210A1 (en) | 1979-05-11 |
| JPS5465558A (en) | 1979-05-26 |
| FR2406210B1 (en) | 1981-12-04 |
| GB2007868A (en) | 1979-05-23 |
| GB2007868B (en) | 1982-03-10 |
| DE2844744A1 (en) | 1979-04-19 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |