DE8311327U1 - CONNECTING DEVICE FOR LIGHT GUIDE - Google Patents

Description

1 -

Cologne, August 8, 1983 vA. j

File number: G 83 11 327.4

Applicant: Thomas & Betts Corporation

920 route 202,

Raritan, New Jersey 08869,

UNITED STATES.

My reference: T 39/187

Connection device for light guides

i Field of Invention

The invention relates generally to a fiber optic cutter -connection device and relates in particular to optical fiber devices, in which the two phases of fiber optic cutting and connecting are bridged.

j Background of the invention

o j

! In the prior art schemes for connecting and joining of optical fibers, for example, according to DE-OS 3,223,121 were • light conductor locally in a labor-consuming process connected, wherein the light guide before the actual subse- \ SEN were prepared in a separate operation for this purpose . \ In the first stage of work, such steps as stripping off the fiber optic jacket, cutting the end face j and polishing it were carried out. In the second stage, the prepared conductor was then placed in a housing and fastened in it. j This housing was then held in relation to another housing with j a connection device to be inserted into it,] that the light guide end face and the connection device were exactly aligned with each other.

39/187

in the cited laid-open specification is an optical fiber connector or component disclosed, wherein a cutting and a connection device in a fixed mutual relationship, for Example be supported in a common housing. The light guide is held in another housing. The two Housings can be connected to one another to form a first arrangement which is used for pre-cutting, with the light guide between runs between the two housings. The two housings are further slidable into a second arrangement in which the conductor is cut will. Finally, the two housings can also be displaced into a third arrangement in which the connecting device and the connection end face resulting from the cutting process are aligned with one another. The common and the further housing existing device remains in place and forms a connector. In their availability a bridging connecting process between preparing the light guide for connection and connecting itself and a device both for cutting and for connecting a light guide leads in the laid-open specification said invention for a noticeable reduction in the work intensity when connecting optical fibers on site.

Brief description of the invention

One object of the present invention is education

. a device for cutting

and connecting a light guide to the bridging or connective character according to the above-mentioned laid-open specification.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved components of fiber optic connectors.

On the way to solving the above problem

the invention provides a device in the aforementioned Offen genre circumscribed with a progressive

tendency to move to achieve cutting and joining; but with the attachment of a light guide during this mutual displacement of the housing is realized.

The invention provides in a particularly preferred embodiment a housing as the main housing in front and the further housing {> is designed as an insert housing, which means that the main housing has an insertion channel for receiving the insert housing having. In addition to the insertion channel, the main housing has a cutting blade. The insert housing has one of the Light guide receiving channel and a deflectable device {), which in the course of insertion with a surface of the insertion channel comes into contact with it in order to hold the light guide in place, when this is cut by the cutting blade and when its connection face is then used for alignment a connector or the pad in the main housing is moved.

In other respects, the invention still provides a pre-locked relationship between its main and insert housings, around the light guide in preparation for cutting and connecting without further ado in a position that has not yet been finally held, and also a fully locked relationship between. see the two housings after setting, cutting and connecting the light guide.

The foregoing and other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed ones Description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings, in which like parts are given the same reference numerals are. In the drawing is:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention with the main housing and insert housing in the not yet assembled condition,

2 shows a perspective view of the device according to FIG. 1 39/187 with the housings in the pre-locked state

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Figure 2 (a) is a repetition of Figure 2 with one in the insert housing located but not yet held in this light guide,

3 shows a perspective illustration of the device from FIG. 1 with the device assembled in the light guide connection state Main and insert housing and with a light guide held in this,

Fig. 4 is a front view of the main housing of Fig. 1,

FIG. 5 is a side view of the insert housing of FIG. 1 of FIG left and

Fig. 6 is a section through the according to Flg. 3 assembled * housing and the light guide in plane VI - VI according to Fig. 3.

Description of the preferred embodiments

According to the illustration in FIG. 1, the light guide device 10 has a main housing 12 which carries the blade 14 with it a cutting edge 14a, the blade 14 being insertable into the housing 12 via the slots 16 and 1.8 and then into the latter is managed in a suitable manner or secured in some other way. In front of the blade 14, the housing 12 forms an introduction channel 20 which opens to the side wall 22 of the housing 12 and through the ceiling 24, the floor 26, the inner wall 28 and the rear wall 30 is limited. The cover 24 forms in cross-section arcuate locking guide grooves 32 and 34 and the bottom 26 is white corresponding locking guide grooves 36 and 38. Behind the blade 14, the housing 12 has an aligned with the rear wall 30 and outwardly open discharge channel 40 for light guide residues.

i The insert housing 42 has for receiving a light guide ei-j NEN through passage 44 through it. On his left J

• i, j _ν ·

Side wall 46, the housing 42 has ribs 48, 50, 52 and 54 (FIG. 5) which extend outwardly from housing surfaces 56 and 57 and have the same arcuate cross-section as these for mating with the detent guide grooves 32-38. At its right end, the housing 42 has a flange 48 extending upward from the housing top 56. This is | shaped to fit into guide 60 of main housing 12 can be inserted. A gripping device 62 for the light guide is attached and contained in a cantilevered manner in the insert housing 42

Sections 64 and 66 enclosing an angle with one another.

j Between them these close one above the surface 56 (') · Sensitive vertex 68 a. According to the illustration in FIG. 5

! the gripping portion 66 runs along a line on the surface 66a, which in turn lies below the surface 56 of the insert housing and a gripping section end section depending therefrom 69 has. Ribs 70 and 72 of the insert housing 42 are provided on the underside 62a of the gripping device 62. They lie in the light guide passage 44 and run from this underside 62a to a base 74.

The main housing 12 preferably forms an environment which is shielded from electromagnetic interference (EMI). Diejs is required to complete a communication channel for every optoelectronic transmitter or semiconductor, derlich and can therefore be made of aluminum, with carbon added; Plastic or a coated plastic are made, for example Chrome die on a nickel-copper plate The composition of the plastic must have sufficient strength and can be a polycarbonate. The insert housing 42 is a resilient element and can consist of a plastic with a high coefficient of friction, for example the one under] elastomer available from duPont under the trade name HYTREL. Such a selection of material enables the ribs 48 to be Pushing the housing 42 into the main housing 12 are compressed. In connection with Figures 2 and 3, this is now explained further.

39/187 In Fig. 2, the two housings 12 and 42 are in a pre-J

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f

Lock shown to be named position, that is, that the two Housing are connected to one another in a first assembly state. To achieve this pre-locked state, the Insert housing 42 disposed laterally of the main housing 12, the side wall 46 of the former to the side wall 22 of the latter and the ribs 48-54 bear against the side wall 22 and the flange 58 is aligned with the guide 60. The housing 42 is now pressed into the insertion channel 20. Under the action of the insertion force exerted in the process causes the ribs 48 - 54 to be pressed together on the surface 56. When this insertion process has reached the point at Q 'of the compressed ribs 48 and 52 with the groove 34 and when the compressed ribs 50 and 54 are aligned with the groove 38, they return to their original state and thus connect the two housings securely to one another. The contact between the flange 58 and the side walls of the guide 60 secures the parallel arrangement between the ribs and the silliin when pushed in. The housing parts are dimensioned so that jsich the cutting edge 14a of the blade is on the left, that is is unrelated to the light guide channel 44, and that the surface 66a of the gripping device 62 below the ceiling 24 of the main housing 12 is located.

With the device that has now been assembled so far, the light guide 76 to be connected from FIG Light guide 76 is a plastic fiber cable and, in the embodiment shown according to FIG. 6, consists of a core 76a, a coating 76b * and a sheath 76c. At this point in time, the light guide is held loosely in the insert housing 4 2, the gripping device 62 still being outside of its position shown in FIG. 5. That is, the light guide 76 is located in the openings 78 and 80 of the insert housing 42 and is aligned with the passage 44 and rests along the base 74 in the middle of the ribs 70 and 72.
39/187

The final assembly of the device 10 with the light guide 76 can be seen from FIGS. Here is a further insertion force exerted on the insert housing 42. This is removed from its shown in Fig. 2 (a), the pre-locked position containing the light guide. During this process, three characteristic features of the device occur Functions on.

In the first function, the light guide 76 is firmly held or secured in the passage 44. That is, the 6aß * gripping portion 66 when it enters the induction duct 20 \ Q 'of the ceiling 24 of the housing 12 comes into contact and then enters a lever action, whereby the gripper 62 downward _; bent and the held by this device portion of the ribs 70 and 72 is printed with the jacket 76c of the light guide 76 in contact. This leverage continues until the apex 68 abuts the ceiling 24 and the rear portion 64 of the gripping device 62 aligns with the surface 56 of the insert housing 12.

During the further insertion, and after the time punk on which the light guide 76 is securely retained in the insert housing 42 t, 80 of the blade covers the opening, the cutting edge 14a, and a second function, that is the complete severing of the optical fiber by a cut occurs on. During this separation process, the end face of the light guide connection is created at the opening 80. The remaining part of the light guide 76 enters the discharge channel 40 and is thus removed from the device 10.

During final insertion, the ribs 48, 54 of the insert housing 4 are subject to 2 upon exiting from the grooves 34 and 3 4-8- again squeezing in the direction of surface 56

'and then hit the ceiling 24 of the housing 12 again Coinciding with the grooves 32 and 36, the ribs remain compressed, whereupon the ribs 48 and 52 fit into the groove 32 and extend the ribs 50 and 54 into the groove 36. So that he-

T 39/187 the third function mentioned, namely that the

• I I I I I

housing 42 is finally held in the main housing 12. This The assembled state can be achieved by inserting a screwdriver or a similar tool into the dismantling slot 86 solve. This slot 86 extends from the front side 88 of the housing 12 to the inner side wall 28 and the insertion channel 20.

Since the distance D1 (Fig. 1) between the center of the opening 78 and the side wall 46 according to the invention equal to the distance D2 (FIG. 4) between the inner wall 28 of the housing 12 and the center point of the receiving channel 82 of an active device, (the core 76a of the light guide is centrally aligned with an active device 84, for example a photodiode, shown in FIG of the device 10 mounted forever or by a user can be built in. It can be seen that the cylindrical inner wall of the channel 82 forms a connection surface with which the core 76a is aligned, and the incorporation of an active device into channel 82 requires such inter-device alignment and core. For connecting two light guides in contrast to the connection shown for a single light guide At the connection of an active device, a second light guide is inserted into the channel 82 instead of this active device used.

In its various aspects, the invention relates to a bridging one Method between the preparation of an optical fiber for connection and this connection itself, a device Both for cutting and for connecting a light guide a light guide connector for both disconnecting and connecting a light guide and an individual part of a light guide connector for cutting off a light guide so as to be therewith to make it connectable on site.

Various changes can be made in the foregoing embodiments and practices without departing from the invention will. While the blade 14 as a separate from the housing ι Component is shown, it can also be integral with the main! 39/187 housing. During a pre-locked state,

is preferred, the invention can be practiced without it if so desired. In the foregoing was the connection of a single Described light guide to an active device. Connecting and connecting multiple light guides using a connecting loop in the main housing and a modification of the insert housing to hold these light guides securely however, is within the scope of the invention. The common connection of a light guide and an associated electrical Leiters is also within the scope of the invention. For this purpose, the light guide and the electrical conductor are together in the insert housing held and then with an active device and an electrical contact, for example by removing the insulation placed in the main housing. It was further described that the relative movement of the light guide and the Separating device takes place in a straight line. Within the scope of the invention, however, there is also a different movement than this linear relative movement or the successive displacements of the housings.

The above discussion has focused specifically on cutting and connecting plastic light pipes. Become a professional however, recognize the rapid adaptation of the invention to other types of light guides. The term "cutting" is , has been used above and the separation of the light guides * served to form connection end faces through complete Cutting the light guide. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other methods can be used to separate the light guides can be, for example, anchoring a light guide on its surface and then pulling it apart. Even this leads to a separation and the formation of a connection Stirr side.

The particularly disclosed and shown embodiments of the invention and the methods are therefore intended only for explanation and not in a restrictive sense. The true scope and scope of the invention can be seen from the following claims.
39/187

Claims (10)

(\ Expectations 1. Connection device for light guides, characterized by a device for holding a light guide, a separating device for forming a connection end face on the light guide, a housing for actuating the light guide holding device and for supporting these fiber optic holding means and separating means to allow mutual Movement, wherein the housing forms a connection surface on the light guide connection end face, whereby the Connection end face brought into congruence or aligned with one another through the housing with a connection device can be. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutting device has a cutting blade. 3. Connecting device according to claim 2, characterized in that that the housing holds the optical fiber holding device and the optical fiber separating device along an actuating path so that it can be displaced relative to one another, so that the cutting blade completely cuts through the light guide to form the connection end face. 4. Connecting device according to claim 1, characterized marked- ■ net that the separating device continues a light guide 39/187 has cutting device and that the connector continues ■ · ■■■ · rm r _{,, φ} j * "■■■ ·· ■ * - ^ s ■ ·· ·· ■ · · Λ.Μ -I. »'- has an optical fiber connector supported by the housing. 5. Connecting device according to claim 4, characterized in that that the housing further comprises a main housing for operating the optical fiber holding device and for supporting the Has cutting device and the holding device in fixed mutual relationship and that an insert housing, the can be inserted into the main housing, the light guide holding ^ facility includes. f O 6. Connecting device according to claim 5, characterized gekennzeichf net that the main housing on the cutting device is a has outwardly opening drainage channel, so that the drainage * ! cut part of the light guide after cutting through can be led away from the main housing. 7. Connecting device according to claim 5, characterized in that that the insert housing has a channel for receiving the light guide and light guide gripping devices become effective by contacting the main housing during the insertion process and thus hold the light guide in place. . v. 8. Connecting device according to claim 7, characterized in that that the optical fiber gripping device has a gripping portion has, which delimits the light guide receiving channel and by resting on the main housing during the insertion process can be bent away for a secure hold of the light guide. 9. Connecting device according to claim 8 ,. characterized, that the main housing to securely hold the insert housing after its complete insertion a first Has stop, 10. Connecting device according to claim 9, characterized in that that the main housing to securely hold the insert housing before it is completely inserted a second Γ 39/187 has a stop. * t I * II - 12 - 11 * connection device according to claim 10 / characterized / that the insert housing a common device for successive plant with the first and having second stop of the main housing.