CA1200997A - Fiber optic polishing fixture - Google Patents
Fiber optic polishing fixtureInfo
- Publication number
- CA1200997A CA1200997A CA000484926A CA484926A CA1200997A CA 1200997 A CA1200997 A CA 1200997A CA 000484926 A CA000484926 A CA 000484926A CA 484926 A CA484926 A CA 484926A CA 1200997 A CA1200997 A CA 1200997A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- fiber optic
- ferrule
- bore
- cable
- end portion
- 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
Landscapes
- Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A fiber optic cable polishing fixture comprising a housing portion for coupling to a fiber optic cable and a plate portion affixed to the end portion of the housing which may be applied to a suitable polishing device for removing the protruding length of the fiber optic cable and polishing the end surface thereof.
A fiber optic cable polishing fixture comprising a housing portion for coupling to a fiber optic cable and a plate portion affixed to the end portion of the housing which may be applied to a suitable polishing device for removing the protruding length of the fiber optic cable and polishing the end surface thereof.
Description
t This application is a division of S.N. 402,062 filed April 30, 1982 ti~led "A fiber optic connector assembly".
I'his invention relates generally to a device used to aid the polishing of an end surface of a fiber optic cable and more particularly to a fiber optic polishing fixture comprising a housing portion for coupling to a fiber optic cable and a plate portion affixed to the end portion of the housing which may be applied to a suitable polishing device for removing the protruding length of the fiber optic cable and polishing the end surface thereof.
A fiber optic cable generally comprises a fiber optic element including a filamentary light conductor provided with an outer jac~et of opaque material, which is similar to the insula-tion on a filamentary wire in an electrical cable, for example.
The fiber optic element usually has opposing end surfaces polished to a suitably smooth finish for promoting efficient transmission of light into and out of the element. Thus, one end surface of the fiber optic element may be disposed to receive signals from a light producing device, such as a light-emitting diode, for 2n example, and the other end surface of the fiber optic element may be disposed to direct the transmitted light signals to a light responsive device, such as a photo-sensitive diode, for example.
Consequently, there has been developed in the prior art fiber connector assemblies for optically coupling -the opposing end surfaces of the fiber optic element to light producing and light resporlsive devices, respectively. Also, since the light responsive device may be located at a considerable distance ~2~
from the light producing device, there has been developed fiber optic connector assemblies for optically coupling one end surface of a fiber optic element in a cable to an end surface of another fiber optic element in a second cable. However, it has been found that these prior art connector assemblies may not provide the minimum signal loss required in optical coupling while damaging the polished end surEaces of the fiber elements. As a result, the transmission efficiency of light signals through the fiber optic cable is decreased.
Accordingly, this invention overcomes these and other disadvantages of the prior art by providing a fiber optic polishing fixture comprising: a housing portion having means for coupling to a fiber optic connector secured to a fiber optic cable, said cable having an end portion protruding from said connector and said housing portion; and a plate portion affixed to said housing portion and having a substantially flat outer surface provided with an aperture through which said fiber optic cable protrudes.
For a better understanding of this invention, reference is made in the following detailed description to the drawings wherein:
Figure 1 shows a plan view, partly in axial section, of a fiber optic cable assembly embodying a connector assembly;
Figure ~ is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1 and looking in the direc-tion of the arrows;
Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;
Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in axial section, oE the structure encircled by arcuate arrow 4-4 in E`igure l;
Figure 5 is an isometric view of the spacer cup shown in Figures 1 and 4;
Figure 6 is an e~ploded fragmentary view, in axial section, of one of the terminal cable coupling devices shown in Figure l;
Figure 7 is an axial sectional view of a fixture used for polishing end surfaces of fiber optic elements;
Figure 8 is an axial sectional view of the fixture shown in Figure ~ having secured thereto the assembled cable connector shown exploded in Figure 6; and Figure 9 is an enlaryed axial sectional view of -the finished cable connector shown unassembled in Figure 6.
Referring to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts, Figure 1 shows a fiber optic cable-to-cable coupling assembly 20 including a tubular coupling de~ice 22 having therein a longitudinally slidable spacer cup 24.
Cup 24 is axially disposed within the coupling device 22 for optically coupling an adjacent end portion of a fiber optic cable 26 to an adjacent end portion of another fiber optic cable 26a.
The fiber optic cables 26 and 26a include axial filamentary light conductors 28 and 28a, respectively, which are made of flexible light conducting material, such as fiber glass, for example, and coaxial outer jackets 30 and 30a, respectively, which are made of flexible opaque material, such as moldable plastic ~laterial, for example. Each of the light conductors 28 and 28a may be of the conventional type having an inner axial core (not shown) of fiber glass material and an outer coaxial sheath (not shown) of another fiber glass material having a lower index of refraction than the fiber glass material of the inner core. Thus, by means of total internal reflection, each of the light conductors 2~ and 28a is enabled to transmit light longitudinally from one end surface to its other end surface.
Coupling device 22 comprises a tubular body of rigid material, such as nickel plated brass alloy, for example, having a central portion 32 integrally joined to opposing end portions, 34 and 34a, respectively, of the device 22. A bore 36 extends axially through the central portion 32 and is defined by inner wall surfaces of the central portion which are substantially concentric with the axial centerline of the bore 36. Opposing end portions of the bore 36 communicate with respective aligned cavities 38 and 38a which extend axially through end portions 34 and 34a, respectively, to terminate at respective opposing open ends of the tubular device 22. The cavities 38 and 38a have respective diameters which are similar in magnitude to one another and are relatively larger than the diameter of bore 36 whereby the resulting thicker wall central portion 32 forms respective annular shoulders 40 and 40a at the inner ends of cavities, 38 and 38a, respectively. The outer cylindrical surfaces of cavities 38 and 38a are defined by the inner wall surfaces of end portions 34 and 34a, respectively, which are substantially concentric with the respective axial centerlines of the cavities 38 and 38a. The central portion 32 may be externally knurled to enhance frictional engagemen-t during coupling. Also, the respective end portions 34 and 34a of device 22 may be externally threaded for engagement with respective female connectors 42 and 42a attached to the adjacent end portions of fiber optic cables 26 and 26a, respectively.
~2~
In -the interests of conciseness, only the connector 42 will be described in detail. However, it is to be understood that the respective connectors 42 and 42a are identical to one another in construction and configuration. Consequently, structural components of the connector 42a are identified by reference numerals designating equivalent structural components of the connec-tor 42, but followed by the letter "a".
Connector 42 includes an outer cup-shaped shell 44 having an axially extending wall provided with internal threads for engaging the externally threaded end portion 34 of coupling device 22. The closed end of cup-shaped shell 44 has centrall~
disposed therein an aperture 46 through which loosely extends a neck-end portion 48 of a ferrule 50 which is made of suitable material, such as rigid plastic material, for example. Within shell 44, the neck-end portion 48 of ferrule 50 is encircled by a slip ring 52 made of suitably smooth material, such as polyester film, for example, and terminates in an outwardly extending, annular shoulder 54 of the ferrule. Flaring outwardly from the shoulder 54 is an annular skirt 56 having an opposing end portion of larger diameter which extends radially into an annular channel 58 disposed in the inner surface of shell 44 between the closed end thereof and i-ts internally threaded portion.
The ou-twardly flaring skirt 56 encircles an axially extending portion 60 of ferrule 50 which, as shown in Figure 2, is comprised of alternate flatted and rounded surface portions, 61 and 62, respectively, which extend longitudinally of ferrule 50.
~ounded surface portions 62 are substantiallly concentric with the axial centerline of ferrule 50 and are press-fitted into the open-end of cavity 38 in coupling device 22. The flatted surface portions 61 are provided to reduce the pressure required for press-fitting the portion 60 of ferrule 50 in cavity 38. Portion 60 merges with a slightly smaller diameter portion 63 of ferrule 50 which further reduces the pressure required to press-fit the ferrule 50 into the cavity 38.
The por-tion 63 of ferrule 50 abuts annular shoulder 40 in coupling device 22 and is joined integrally to a considerably smaller diameter portion 64 of ferrule 50. As shown in Figure 3, the portion 64 also comprises alternate flatted and rounded surface portions, 65 and 66, respectively, which extend longitud-i.nally of the ferrule 50. The rounded surface portions 66 are substantially concentric with the axial centerline of ferrule 50 and are press-fitted into the axial bore 36 in the central portion 32 of coupling device 22. Flatted surface portions 65 are provided to reduce the pressure required for press-fitting the portion 64 into the bore 36. The portion 64 merges with a terminal end portion 68 of ferrule 50 having a slightly smaller diameter which also reduces the pressure required for press-fitting -the portion 64 of ferrule 50 in -the axial bore 36.
As shown more clearly in Figure 4, the outer diameter end portion 68 is substantially less than the outer diameter of the spacer cup 24 which is axially disposed in bore 36 for :Longitudinal slidable movement along the bore 36. End portion 68 of :Eerrule 50 has a terminal end surface 70 which is polished and abuts an annular surface 73 of cup 24 encircling a centrally disposed aperture 72 in the cup. The outer periphery of cup 24 slidably engages the inner wall surface of central portion 32 defining axial bore 36 and, as shown in Figure 5, preferably has an axially extending rim 7~ which provides a bearing surface for supporting the cup 24 during longitudinal slidable movement thereof. The aperture 72 in cup 24 is larger in diameter -than a polished end surface 99 of the light conductor 28 which is centrally disposed in the polished end surface 70 oE ferrule 50.
As shown in Figure 6, the ferrule 50 is provided with an axial bore 76 which has an outwardly tapering end portion 77 in the neck-end portion 48 of the ferrule. End portion 77 of bore 76 leads to a portion 78 thereof which has a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of jacket 30 in cable 26. The portion 78 of bore 76 extends axially through portion 60 of ferrule 50 and intc the portion 63 where it terminates in an inwardly tapering shoulder 79. The shoulder 79 merges with a further inwardly tapering portion 80 of bore 76 which extends axially through the portion 64 and into the terminal end portion 68 of ferrule 50. In terminal end portion 68 of ferrule 50, the inwardly tapering portion 80 of bore 76 communicates with a small diame-ter end portion 81 thereof which terminates at the polished end surface 70 of ferrule 50.
In assembling the connector 42, slip ring 52 is placed :in encircling relationship with the neck-end portion 48 of ferrule 50 which is then inserted into the shell 44 un-til the neck-end portion 48 protrudes out of the aperture 46 and the skirt 56 snaps lnto the annular channel 58. An end portion of the outer jacket 30 of fiber optic cable 26 is stripped back to expose a predetermined length of light conductor 28. Then, a bonding material 82, such as epoxy cement, for example, is coated liberally on the exposed length of light conductor 28 as well as a length of outer jacket 30. This cemen-t coated length of cable 26 is then inserted into the outwardly tapering portion 77 of bore 76 in the protruding neck-end portion 48 of ferrule 50. The coated length of cable 26 then is pressed axially into the bore 76 un-til the end surface of jacket 30 abuts the tapered shouldered portion 79 which communi-cates with inwardly tapering portion 80 of the bore. The strippedlength of light conductor 28, still liberally coated with bonding material 82, is pressed axially through the portions 80 and 81 of the bore 76 to protrude from the end surface 70 of ferrule 50.
The excess bonding material 82 fills the inwardly tapering portion 80 and the outwardly tapering portion 77 of bore 76. Also, the bonding material 82 fills any clearance spaces between the outer jacket 30 of cable 26 and the inner surfaces of ferrule 50 defining the respective portions of bore 76. The bonding material 82 then is allowed to set and bond the coated end portion of cable 26 to the ferrule 50 such that they form a unitary structure.
This unitary structure is enabled to move laterally a slight amount within shell 44 by making the aperture 46 in the closed end o:E shell 44 slightly oversized, such as twenty thousandths, for example, with respect to the outer diameter of neck-end portion .
The assembled connector 42 having a length of light conductor 28 protruding from the end surface 70 of ferrule 50 ~L2~9~
then may be inserted, as shown in Figure 8, into a polishing fixture 84. Polishing fixture 84, as shown in F.igure 7, comprises a disc 86 having a substantially flat surface 88 and an opposing surface from which extends a centrally disposed stud 90. S-tud 90 has an axial bore 92 including a larger diameter end portion 94 terminating in a shoulder 95 which merges with an intermediate diameter portion 96 of the bore 92. The intermediate diameter portion 96 terminates in tapered shoulder 97 which merges with a small diameter end portion 98 of bore 92. Small diameter portion 98 of bore 92 terminates in a central portion of the flat surface 88. The ferrule 50 of connector 42 is inserted into the axial bore 92 of fixture 84 until the portion 63 of ferrule 50 is seated against the shoulder 95. As a result, the portion 64 of ferrule 50 is disposed in the portion 96 of bore 92; and the terminal end portion 68 of ferrule 50 protrudes slightly from the flat surface 88 of fixture 84. Also, the length of light conductor 28 protrud-ing from the end surface 70 of ferrule 50 extends further outward from the flat surface 88 of fixture 84.
The stud 90 of fixture 84 is provided with external threads for engagement with the internally threaded shell 44 of connector 42 whereby the closed end of shell 44 presses axially on the slip ring 52 which presses axially on the annular shoulder 54 of ferrule 50. Thus, the ferrule 50 is pressed axially into bore 92 of stud 90, such that the rounded surfa~e portions 62 of ferrule portion 60 are press-fitted into the portion 94 of bore 92 and the rounded surface portions 66 of ferrule portion 64 are press-fitted into the por-tion 96 of bore 92. After tightening the ~2~
shell 44 of connector 42 on stud 90, the flat surface 88 of fixture 84 then is applied to a suitable polishing device for removing the protruding length of light conductor 28 and polishing the end surface 99 thereof, as well as the end surface 70 of ferrule 50. In this manner, the end surface 99 of light conductor 28 is made flush with the end surface 70 of ferrule 50, as shown in Figure 9, ~nd is provided with a suitably smooth finish for enhancing the transmission of light into and out of the conductor 28.
I'his invention relates generally to a device used to aid the polishing of an end surface of a fiber optic cable and more particularly to a fiber optic polishing fixture comprising a housing portion for coupling to a fiber optic cable and a plate portion affixed to the end portion of the housing which may be applied to a suitable polishing device for removing the protruding length of the fiber optic cable and polishing the end surface thereof.
A fiber optic cable generally comprises a fiber optic element including a filamentary light conductor provided with an outer jac~et of opaque material, which is similar to the insula-tion on a filamentary wire in an electrical cable, for example.
The fiber optic element usually has opposing end surfaces polished to a suitably smooth finish for promoting efficient transmission of light into and out of the element. Thus, one end surface of the fiber optic element may be disposed to receive signals from a light producing device, such as a light-emitting diode, for 2n example, and the other end surface of the fiber optic element may be disposed to direct the transmitted light signals to a light responsive device, such as a photo-sensitive diode, for example.
Consequently, there has been developed in the prior art fiber connector assemblies for optically coupling -the opposing end surfaces of the fiber optic element to light producing and light resporlsive devices, respectively. Also, since the light responsive device may be located at a considerable distance ~2~
from the light producing device, there has been developed fiber optic connector assemblies for optically coupling one end surface of a fiber optic element in a cable to an end surface of another fiber optic element in a second cable. However, it has been found that these prior art connector assemblies may not provide the minimum signal loss required in optical coupling while damaging the polished end surEaces of the fiber elements. As a result, the transmission efficiency of light signals through the fiber optic cable is decreased.
Accordingly, this invention overcomes these and other disadvantages of the prior art by providing a fiber optic polishing fixture comprising: a housing portion having means for coupling to a fiber optic connector secured to a fiber optic cable, said cable having an end portion protruding from said connector and said housing portion; and a plate portion affixed to said housing portion and having a substantially flat outer surface provided with an aperture through which said fiber optic cable protrudes.
For a better understanding of this invention, reference is made in the following detailed description to the drawings wherein:
Figure 1 shows a plan view, partly in axial section, of a fiber optic cable assembly embodying a connector assembly;
Figure ~ is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1 and looking in the direc-tion of the arrows;
Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;
Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in axial section, oE the structure encircled by arcuate arrow 4-4 in E`igure l;
Figure 5 is an isometric view of the spacer cup shown in Figures 1 and 4;
Figure 6 is an e~ploded fragmentary view, in axial section, of one of the terminal cable coupling devices shown in Figure l;
Figure 7 is an axial sectional view of a fixture used for polishing end surfaces of fiber optic elements;
Figure 8 is an axial sectional view of the fixture shown in Figure ~ having secured thereto the assembled cable connector shown exploded in Figure 6; and Figure 9 is an enlaryed axial sectional view of -the finished cable connector shown unassembled in Figure 6.
Referring to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts, Figure 1 shows a fiber optic cable-to-cable coupling assembly 20 including a tubular coupling de~ice 22 having therein a longitudinally slidable spacer cup 24.
Cup 24 is axially disposed within the coupling device 22 for optically coupling an adjacent end portion of a fiber optic cable 26 to an adjacent end portion of another fiber optic cable 26a.
The fiber optic cables 26 and 26a include axial filamentary light conductors 28 and 28a, respectively, which are made of flexible light conducting material, such as fiber glass, for example, and coaxial outer jackets 30 and 30a, respectively, which are made of flexible opaque material, such as moldable plastic ~laterial, for example. Each of the light conductors 28 and 28a may be of the conventional type having an inner axial core (not shown) of fiber glass material and an outer coaxial sheath (not shown) of another fiber glass material having a lower index of refraction than the fiber glass material of the inner core. Thus, by means of total internal reflection, each of the light conductors 2~ and 28a is enabled to transmit light longitudinally from one end surface to its other end surface.
Coupling device 22 comprises a tubular body of rigid material, such as nickel plated brass alloy, for example, having a central portion 32 integrally joined to opposing end portions, 34 and 34a, respectively, of the device 22. A bore 36 extends axially through the central portion 32 and is defined by inner wall surfaces of the central portion which are substantially concentric with the axial centerline of the bore 36. Opposing end portions of the bore 36 communicate with respective aligned cavities 38 and 38a which extend axially through end portions 34 and 34a, respectively, to terminate at respective opposing open ends of the tubular device 22. The cavities 38 and 38a have respective diameters which are similar in magnitude to one another and are relatively larger than the diameter of bore 36 whereby the resulting thicker wall central portion 32 forms respective annular shoulders 40 and 40a at the inner ends of cavities, 38 and 38a, respectively. The outer cylindrical surfaces of cavities 38 and 38a are defined by the inner wall surfaces of end portions 34 and 34a, respectively, which are substantially concentric with the respective axial centerlines of the cavities 38 and 38a. The central portion 32 may be externally knurled to enhance frictional engagemen-t during coupling. Also, the respective end portions 34 and 34a of device 22 may be externally threaded for engagement with respective female connectors 42 and 42a attached to the adjacent end portions of fiber optic cables 26 and 26a, respectively.
~2~
In -the interests of conciseness, only the connector 42 will be described in detail. However, it is to be understood that the respective connectors 42 and 42a are identical to one another in construction and configuration. Consequently, structural components of the connector 42a are identified by reference numerals designating equivalent structural components of the connec-tor 42, but followed by the letter "a".
Connector 42 includes an outer cup-shaped shell 44 having an axially extending wall provided with internal threads for engaging the externally threaded end portion 34 of coupling device 22. The closed end of cup-shaped shell 44 has centrall~
disposed therein an aperture 46 through which loosely extends a neck-end portion 48 of a ferrule 50 which is made of suitable material, such as rigid plastic material, for example. Within shell 44, the neck-end portion 48 of ferrule 50 is encircled by a slip ring 52 made of suitably smooth material, such as polyester film, for example, and terminates in an outwardly extending, annular shoulder 54 of the ferrule. Flaring outwardly from the shoulder 54 is an annular skirt 56 having an opposing end portion of larger diameter which extends radially into an annular channel 58 disposed in the inner surface of shell 44 between the closed end thereof and i-ts internally threaded portion.
The ou-twardly flaring skirt 56 encircles an axially extending portion 60 of ferrule 50 which, as shown in Figure 2, is comprised of alternate flatted and rounded surface portions, 61 and 62, respectively, which extend longitudinally of ferrule 50.
~ounded surface portions 62 are substantiallly concentric with the axial centerline of ferrule 50 and are press-fitted into the open-end of cavity 38 in coupling device 22. The flatted surface portions 61 are provided to reduce the pressure required for press-fitting the portion 60 of ferrule 50 in cavity 38. Portion 60 merges with a slightly smaller diameter portion 63 of ferrule 50 which further reduces the pressure required to press-fit the ferrule 50 into the cavity 38.
The por-tion 63 of ferrule 50 abuts annular shoulder 40 in coupling device 22 and is joined integrally to a considerably smaller diameter portion 64 of ferrule 50. As shown in Figure 3, the portion 64 also comprises alternate flatted and rounded surface portions, 65 and 66, respectively, which extend longitud-i.nally of the ferrule 50. The rounded surface portions 66 are substantially concentric with the axial centerline of ferrule 50 and are press-fitted into the axial bore 36 in the central portion 32 of coupling device 22. Flatted surface portions 65 are provided to reduce the pressure required for press-fitting the portion 64 into the bore 36. The portion 64 merges with a terminal end portion 68 of ferrule 50 having a slightly smaller diameter which also reduces the pressure required for press-fitting -the portion 64 of ferrule 50 in -the axial bore 36.
As shown more clearly in Figure 4, the outer diameter end portion 68 is substantially less than the outer diameter of the spacer cup 24 which is axially disposed in bore 36 for :Longitudinal slidable movement along the bore 36. End portion 68 of :Eerrule 50 has a terminal end surface 70 which is polished and abuts an annular surface 73 of cup 24 encircling a centrally disposed aperture 72 in the cup. The outer periphery of cup 24 slidably engages the inner wall surface of central portion 32 defining axial bore 36 and, as shown in Figure 5, preferably has an axially extending rim 7~ which provides a bearing surface for supporting the cup 24 during longitudinal slidable movement thereof. The aperture 72 in cup 24 is larger in diameter -than a polished end surface 99 of the light conductor 28 which is centrally disposed in the polished end surface 70 oE ferrule 50.
As shown in Figure 6, the ferrule 50 is provided with an axial bore 76 which has an outwardly tapering end portion 77 in the neck-end portion 48 of the ferrule. End portion 77 of bore 76 leads to a portion 78 thereof which has a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of jacket 30 in cable 26. The portion 78 of bore 76 extends axially through portion 60 of ferrule 50 and intc the portion 63 where it terminates in an inwardly tapering shoulder 79. The shoulder 79 merges with a further inwardly tapering portion 80 of bore 76 which extends axially through the portion 64 and into the terminal end portion 68 of ferrule 50. In terminal end portion 68 of ferrule 50, the inwardly tapering portion 80 of bore 76 communicates with a small diame-ter end portion 81 thereof which terminates at the polished end surface 70 of ferrule 50.
In assembling the connector 42, slip ring 52 is placed :in encircling relationship with the neck-end portion 48 of ferrule 50 which is then inserted into the shell 44 un-til the neck-end portion 48 protrudes out of the aperture 46 and the skirt 56 snaps lnto the annular channel 58. An end portion of the outer jacket 30 of fiber optic cable 26 is stripped back to expose a predetermined length of light conductor 28. Then, a bonding material 82, such as epoxy cement, for example, is coated liberally on the exposed length of light conductor 28 as well as a length of outer jacket 30. This cemen-t coated length of cable 26 is then inserted into the outwardly tapering portion 77 of bore 76 in the protruding neck-end portion 48 of ferrule 50. The coated length of cable 26 then is pressed axially into the bore 76 un-til the end surface of jacket 30 abuts the tapered shouldered portion 79 which communi-cates with inwardly tapering portion 80 of the bore. The strippedlength of light conductor 28, still liberally coated with bonding material 82, is pressed axially through the portions 80 and 81 of the bore 76 to protrude from the end surface 70 of ferrule 50.
The excess bonding material 82 fills the inwardly tapering portion 80 and the outwardly tapering portion 77 of bore 76. Also, the bonding material 82 fills any clearance spaces between the outer jacket 30 of cable 26 and the inner surfaces of ferrule 50 defining the respective portions of bore 76. The bonding material 82 then is allowed to set and bond the coated end portion of cable 26 to the ferrule 50 such that they form a unitary structure.
This unitary structure is enabled to move laterally a slight amount within shell 44 by making the aperture 46 in the closed end o:E shell 44 slightly oversized, such as twenty thousandths, for example, with respect to the outer diameter of neck-end portion .
The assembled connector 42 having a length of light conductor 28 protruding from the end surface 70 of ferrule 50 ~L2~9~
then may be inserted, as shown in Figure 8, into a polishing fixture 84. Polishing fixture 84, as shown in F.igure 7, comprises a disc 86 having a substantially flat surface 88 and an opposing surface from which extends a centrally disposed stud 90. S-tud 90 has an axial bore 92 including a larger diameter end portion 94 terminating in a shoulder 95 which merges with an intermediate diameter portion 96 of the bore 92. The intermediate diameter portion 96 terminates in tapered shoulder 97 which merges with a small diameter end portion 98 of bore 92. Small diameter portion 98 of bore 92 terminates in a central portion of the flat surface 88. The ferrule 50 of connector 42 is inserted into the axial bore 92 of fixture 84 until the portion 63 of ferrule 50 is seated against the shoulder 95. As a result, the portion 64 of ferrule 50 is disposed in the portion 96 of bore 92; and the terminal end portion 68 of ferrule 50 protrudes slightly from the flat surface 88 of fixture 84. Also, the length of light conductor 28 protrud-ing from the end surface 70 of ferrule 50 extends further outward from the flat surface 88 of fixture 84.
The stud 90 of fixture 84 is provided with external threads for engagement with the internally threaded shell 44 of connector 42 whereby the closed end of shell 44 presses axially on the slip ring 52 which presses axially on the annular shoulder 54 of ferrule 50. Thus, the ferrule 50 is pressed axially into bore 92 of stud 90, such that the rounded surfa~e portions 62 of ferrule portion 60 are press-fitted into the portion 94 of bore 92 and the rounded surface portions 66 of ferrule portion 64 are press-fitted into the por-tion 96 of bore 92. After tightening the ~2~
shell 44 of connector 42 on stud 90, the flat surface 88 of fixture 84 then is applied to a suitable polishing device for removing the protruding length of light conductor 28 and polishing the end surface 99 thereof, as well as the end surface 70 of ferrule 50. In this manner, the end surface 99 of light conductor 28 is made flush with the end surface 70 of ferrule 50, as shown in Figure 9, ~nd is provided with a suitably smooth finish for enhancing the transmission of light into and out of the conductor 28.
Claims
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A fiber optic polishing fixture comprising:
a housing portion having means for coupling to a fiber optic connector secured to a fiber optic cable, said cable having an end portion protruding from said connector and said housing portion; and a plate portion affixed to said housing portion and having a substantially flat outer surface provided with an aperture through which said fiber optic cable protrudes.
a housing portion having means for coupling to a fiber optic connector secured to a fiber optic cable, said cable having an end portion protruding from said connector and said housing portion; and a plate portion affixed to said housing portion and having a substantially flat outer surface provided with an aperture through which said fiber optic cable protrudes.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000484926A CA1200997A (en) | 1981-06-01 | 1985-06-21 | Fiber optic polishing fixture |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US268,928 | 1981-06-01 | ||
| US06/268,928 US4461539A (en) | 1981-06-01 | 1981-06-01 | Fiber optic connector assembly with slidable spacer |
| CA000402062A CA1193476A (en) | 1981-06-01 | 1982-04-30 | Fiber optic connector assembly |
| CA000484926A CA1200997A (en) | 1981-06-01 | 1985-06-21 | Fiber optic polishing fixture |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000402062A Division CA1193476A (en) | 1981-06-01 | 1982-04-30 | Fiber optic connector assembly |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1200997A true CA1200997A (en) | 1986-02-25 |
Family
ID=25669670
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000484926A Expired CA1200997A (en) | 1981-06-01 | 1985-06-21 | Fiber optic polishing fixture |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1200997A (en) |
-
1985
- 1985-06-21 CA CA000484926A patent/CA1200997A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |