DE3326501A1 - FIBER OPTICAL CONNECTION ARRANGEMENT - Google Patents

Description

Fiber optic connector assembly

Fiber optic arrangements are because of their low signal loss, especially when bridging large distances, of use. This may require a connection between adjacent fibers, and it is important that the low signal loss is retained. There are useful connection arrangements, however, the spread of the Using fiber optic assemblies simpler and more robust connection assemblies - and not just for a single core Cable, but also for multi-core fiber optic cables.

The problem with such connector assemblies is that adjacent fibers are very precisely aligned otherwise the signal loss at the connection point is increased, and there must also be carelessness on the part of a user.

The invention is based on the object of creating a fiber optic connection arrangement which meets these requirements largely fulfilled.

The object set is thereby achieved according to the invention solved that the fiber optic connection arrangement contains two connecting elements which can be moved axially against one another for connection which take up the corresponding fibers, and which the fibers in the. connected state in extensive alignment with each other keep that between the connecting elements a V-groove arrangement it is provided that each connecting element is provided with a closure element which is resiliently resilient in the direction is biased to an extreme position in which an end part of the corresponding fiber is covered, and that when joining the Fasteners touched the V-groove arrangement and into a retracted Position in which the end part is exposed,

-H-

that the V-groove arrangement with a substantially V-shaped Is provided with a groove which serves to receive the exposed end portions of the fibers and that biasing means are provided which force the end portions into the apex of the groove so that the fibers face each other with their front ends.

In a preferred embodiment, the V-groove arrangement is made in one of the connecting elements before this is connected to the other.

The V-groove arrangement may include a cover that blocks access to the groove, the other connecting element Includes means for displacing the cover when the connecting elements are moved towards one another to close the entrance of the exposed end part one in the other. Connector to allow held fiber.

Preferably the connecting elements include keyway means to adjust the relative axial orientation of the connecting elements to be defined when plugging together.

Preferably, the biasing means includes a resilient sleeve surrounding the assembly and on a Unit acts in the V-groove and the unit acts in the direction of the Pretensioned apex of the groove.

The V-groove arrangement may contain guide recesses, which direct the closure elements in the direction of corresponding V-grooves before the elements assume the retracted position.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an example shown in FIG. ^1.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a z. T. cut perspective

Representation of a first connecting element; with a V-neck arrangement;

Fig. 2 shows a z. T. cut perspective

Illustration of a second connecting element;

Fig. 3 is an exploded section through the inner

Components of the first connecting element;

Fig. H an exploded section through the inner

Components of the second connecting element and

Figures 5A and 5B are side views of the V-groove arrangement along arrows A and B in FIG. 3.

In Figs. 1 and 3, a first connecting element 1 is shown, which is part of a fiber optic connecting arrangement forms. A fiber optic cable 2 contains a number of optical fibers, e.g. 3 and 4, connected from an outer one Protective cover are enclosed. The cable 2 is passed through a gland assembly 5 and held therein. the Stuffing box arrangement 5 is connected to a strain relief adapter 6. The gland assembly includes a gland nut 7> which acts on a seal 8 to fix the cable firmly in the arrangement. A thrust cone 9 (Fig. 3) is located furthermore, the cable is fixed to the adapter 6 when the gland assembly and adapter are assembled. The gland assembly can of course be flexible in order to prevent undue stresses on the connecting element via the cable 1 can be exercised.

Behind the adapter, the outer sheath of the cable is removed to expose individual optical fibers. The fibers are then fed to a fiber holding module, which consists of a bushing 10 and a carrier 11. The carrier contains a number of tubular closure members 12 supported in the carrier and extending therefrom a first predetermined distance extend outward. The elements cooperate with inner springs 13 which bias the elements so that they assume the above-mentioned position. The carrier is also adapted to extend the elements a second predetermined distance D can be withdrawn when axial pressure is exerted on the elements. To the fiber firmly in relation To keep the elements moving, a locking nut 1 * {is screwed into the carrier. The one inserted into the carrier Fiber is cut off when it protrudes over a corresponding element, and the secondary cover is removed from the end section removed from the fiber by a LHn ^ e D, which is exposed, when the above-mentioned pressure is applied to the element.

Immediately next to the module there is a V-RiI line arrangement, shown in Figures 5A and 5B. It contains a first disk 15 with a number of recesses 20 (Fig. 3) near the perimeter. The recesses are dimensioned so that that they can accommodate the elements 12. A middle disc 16 contains a number of grooves 19 extending from the edge are incised, each groove having a V-shaped apex, thereby forming V-shaped grooves. In each Groove is a unit 17 with a rounded base. The unit is in the direction of the groove crest by means of a Cuff 38 made of elastic material, e.g. B. made of metal, prestressed, which is placed around the circumference of the disk 16. Notches or impressions 18 in the sleeve act on the individual Units and generate the prestress in the direction of the groove apex.

Another disk 2 1 contains beveled edges and recesses 22 which are distributed over the circumference of the disk. The recesses are dimensioned in such a way that they can receive elements 12 ′ of a second connecting element 25. When the slices 15, 16 and 21 are attached to one another, the recesses 20 and 22 are both aligned with the area immediately above the Base of the grooves 19. This arrangement is fixed in a shell 23, and when the module of the first connecting element holding the fibers is connected to the shell, the elements 12 first get into the recesses 20. When the module is fully attached to the V-groove arrangement, the Elements 12 pressed into the module, and the exposed end portions the fibers 3 and 4 are inserted into the V-grooves 19, where the units 17 act on the fibers and hold them firmly on the apex of the grooves, the rounded base of the units prevents damage to the fibers. The exposed length of the fibers used is dimensioned so that they something is greater than half the thickness of the disk 16.

A second connection element 25, shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, also contains a fiber holding module, which is designed the same as in connection element 1. The same parts are designated with the same reference numerals for both connection elements, the reference numerals for the second connection element each containing an apostrophe. When joining the connecting elements 25 and 1, the elements 12 'are inserted into the recesses 22 of the V-groove arrangement and pressed back into the fiber holding module of the connecting element 25, the end portion of the fiber 3 ^{1 being} inserted into the V-groove 19, where again the Units 17 act on the fiber and hold it firmly on the groove apex. Here, too, the exposed fiber length used is somewhat greater than half the thickness of the disk 16. Therefore, the fibers 3 and 3 ^1, as a result of the V-groove arrangement and the fiber holding module, are brought tightly against one another and held exactly in correspondence with one another. Any excess fiber length will merely cause the fiber to flex slightly in elements 12 and 12 'which are dimensioned to permit this. The two connecting elements can be locked together by a locking nut 24, and keyways (not shown) in the shells 23 and 23 'can ensure precise relative orientation of the connecting elements.

It should be noted that the V-groove arrangement can form a separate cut that goes into the first connector is used before the two connection elements are joined together. The second connection element can also be either one fixed "bushing" as shown, or a loose bushing of the same construction as the first connector.

The connecting element 25 has a distinct advantage, if it serves as a fixed socket, because when the connection is removed

332650

extension element 1 the elements 12 'are biased towards the rear, to surround the optical fibers and thereby protect them from damage, with dirt being easily wiped off at the fiber end can be. This only applies to the connecting element 1 if it contains a separate V-groove arrangement. When the arrangement is an integral part of the connecting element, means are required to prevent the ingress of dirt to prevent the recesses 22.

A dust cap 26 is connected to a central rod 27 which passes through a central recess 28 in the disc 16 runs. The rod length is chosen so that - if a washer 29, which is arranged at the end of the rod, the Disk 16 touches - the dust cap completely touches the recesses 22 seals. It should be noted that the cap can be made of a resilient material, e.g. B. made of rubber.

The cap is pretensioned by a spring 30 so that the recesses 22 are only exposed when pressure is exerted on the central area of the dust cap. As a result, the recesses of the first connecting element are protected against the ingress of dirt even if the user is careless. When assembling the first and second connecting elements ^; ; the dust cap must be arranged so that the recesses 22 can be exposed so that the elements 12 'can enter them. The second connecting element therefore contains a rod element 27 'which, at the beginning of the assembly, hits the dust cap in the middle and displaces the cap so far that the recesses 22 are exposed. During the remainder of the assembly, the rod 27 'is withdrawn into the fiber-holding module of the second connecting element. When the connecting elements are separated, the rod 27 'is biased towards the dust cap by a spring 30' to ensure that the dust cap is clear of the recesses 22

• · · C · CV

- 10 -

remains free until the elements 12 'are completely removed therefrom are. Consequently, the spring 30 ′ is stronger than the spring 30.

A fiber optic connection arrangement is thus created which allows simple connection and in which the precise alignment of the fibers results in a connection with little signal loss, typically less than 5 dB. The arrangement looks Furthermore, protection for the fibers in the event of careless use, both in the case of single-core and multi-core fiber optic Cables, and no adhesives whatsoever.

It can be seen that the illustrated embodiment shows only one embodiment of the invention. For example the closure elements need not be tubular and the orientation of the recesses 22 and 22 'is not essential. In addition, the connecting elements 1 and 25 and the V-groove arrangement can be made of any suitable material, e.g. B. made of plastic. The connecting arrangement according to the invention is also not limited to circular connecting elements or on the pre-tensioning and fastening means shown. Therefore, the invention can be practiced in a number of different ways Configurations are applied.

Claims (6)

a · ϊ eikenber'g '&' br'ummerstedt 3326501 ■ PATENT LAWYERS IN HANNOVER THORN EMI Electrical Components Ltd. 100/657 claims 1. Fiber-optic connection arrangement, characterized in that it "contains two connecting elements (1, 25) which can be moved axially against one another for connection, which accommodate the corresponding fibers (3, * O, and which, in the connected state, largely align the fibers with one another hold that between the connecting elements a V-groove arrangement (16) is provided that each connecting element (1, 25) is provided with a closure element (12, 12 ') which is resiliently biased towards an extreme position in which a End portion of the corresponding fiber is covered, and that when the connecting elements are joined together, the V-groove arrangement (16) touches and is forced into a retracted position, in which the end portion is exposed, that the V-groove arrangement (16) with a substantially V-shaped Groove (19) is provided which serves to receive the exposed end portions of the fibers, and that biasing means (38) are provided which the end portions in the Sch Force vain the groove so that the fibers face each other with their front ends. 2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the V-groove arrangement (16) is mounted in one of the connecting elements before this is connected to the other. 3- Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the V-groove arrangement (16) includes a cover which blocks access to the groove (19) and in that the other connecting element includes means for displacing the cover when the connecting elements are on top of one another be moved closed to allow entry of the exposed end portion of a fiber held in the other connector. H. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting elements (1,25) include keyway means to define the relative axial orientation of the connecting elements when mated. 5. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the biasing means contain a resilient sleeve (38) which surrounds the arrangement (16) and acts on a unit (17) in the V-groove (19) and this unit in Towards the apex of the groove. 6. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the V-groove arrangement (16) contains guide recesses which guide the closure ^{elements (12, 12 f} ) in the direction of corresponding V-grooves before the elements assume the retracted position.