GB2053506A

GB2053506A - Improvements in or relating to connector devices for connecting a camera to an optical system or an endoscope

Info

Publication number: GB2053506A
Application number: GB8021029A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
Current assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
Priority date: 1979-06-27
Filing date: 1980-06-26
Publication date: 1981-02-04
Also published as: GB2053506B; FR2459645A1

Abstract

This invention relates to connector devices for connecting a camera to an optical system of an endoscope, of the kind comprising a base ring 1 which is screwable into an internal screw thread of a camera lens mount, and having a distal annular flange 9 on which a clamping ring 14 may be turned to a limited degree against a spring-loading means 17 so that the latter thrusts a plurality of locking balls 10 inwardly so that they only partially project from radial bores of the flange to lock an ocular cone forming part of the optical system of an endoscope. Rotation of the clamping ring 14 against the spring loading is arranged to release the cone. According to the invention, the annular flange 9 has an external screw thread 12 to receive an internal screw thread 13 of the clamping ring 9, which ring is also axially displaceable in the proximal direction, and which has an internal annular recess 15 having a bevelled proximal wall 16 which, under the spring action of the clamping ring, pushes the locking balls 10 inwards radially from their bores into the position for locking the ocular cone. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to connector devices for connecting a camera to an optical system of an endoscope This invention relates to connector devices for connecting a camera to an optical system of an endoscope, of the kind comprising a base ring having an external screw thread which is screwable into an internally screw-threaded camera lens mount and having a distal annular flange on which a clamping ring may be turned to a limited degree against spring leading means, so that the spring loading means thrusts a plurality of locking balls inwardly so that they only partially project from radial bores of the annular flange thereby to lock an ocular cone forming part of the optical system of an endoscope inserted into the annular flange, rotation of said clamping ring against the spring loading being arranged to release the ocular cone.Hereinafter such devices will be referred to as "of the kind described".

Connectors of the kind described are known from German Gebrauchsmuster No. 6,926,837 in which the optical system of comparatively heavy e.g. flexible, endoscopes are prone to separate from the connector.

Consequently, it is an object of the invention to provide a more stable joint between the camera and the optical system of the endoscope.

Accordingly, the invention consists in a connector device of the kind described, wherein said annular flange has an external screw thread to receive an internal screw thread of the clamping ring, which ring is also axially displaceable in the proximal direction and which has an internal annular recess having a bevelled proximal wall which, under the spring action of the clamping ring, pushes the locking balls inwards radially from their bores into the position for locking the ocular cone.

The stability of the joint provided by the connector in accordance with the invention is primarily due to the fact that an internal screw thread of the clamping ring engages in an external screw thread of the annular flange of the base ring, so that the thread engagement in each case forms a lock against any accidental axial displacement of the clamping ring, which may be neutralised only by manual turning of the clamping ring.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show one embodiment thereof by way of example and in which: Figure 1 shows an axial section through a connector in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 shows a view of the connector shown in Figure 1, looking towards the distal side, and Figure 3 shows a view of the connector shown in Figure 1, looking towards the proximal side.

Referring now to the drawings, in the embodiment shown the connector comprises a base ring 1 having a proximal annular flange 2 which is externally threaded to receive an internally-threaded ring 3 that has an external screw-thread 4 for engagement in an internally threaded camera lens mount. For protection of the camer objective, a glass pane 7 is secured by means of a ring 8 against a radial flange 6 centrally perforated at 5. Distally, the base ring 1 is provided with a co-axial annular flange 9 along whose periphery is distributed a plurality of radial bores to receive locking balls 10, which may project only partially out of the bores and inwards into the space 11, which serves the purpose of receiving the ocular cone or funnel of the optical system of an endoscope and wherein the ocular funnel is held secured by the projecting parts of the locking balls 10.

The annular flange 9 is provided with an external screw-thread 12, preferably of steep pitch, to receive an internal screw thread 13 of a clamping ring 14. This clamping ring is provided with in internal annular recess 15 whose proximal delimiting side 16 is tapered or bevelled. In the stable condition of the connector, shown in Figure 1, the clamping ring 14 is biased axially in the distal direction by a spring system 17, so that the bevelled surface 16 acted on by spring force thereby thrusts the locking balls 10 inwardly out of their bores and the annular recess 1 5, the balls projecting inwards into the space 11 thereby to lock and secure the position of an ocular funnel of an optical system of an endoscope (not shown) which had previously been inserted into the space 11.The aforesaid spring system 17 is a tension spring, one end 1 7a of which is connected to a base ring 19, and the other end 1 7b of which is connected to the clamping ring 14, and which enflanks the major part of the periphery of the annular flange 9.

Between the spring ends 1 7a, 1 7b is situated a loose ring segment 18 which may be entrained by rotary displacement of the locking ring 14 against the spring tension by means of the fastening 1 7b, until it impinges against the fastening 17a. The spacing of the fastenings 1 7a and 1 7b as well as the length of the segment 18 determine the angle of the clamping ring rotation, which is 300 for example.

In view of the rotation of the clamping ring against the action of the spring, the clamping ring 14 is displaced axially in the proximal direction into an unoccupied space 19 between the clamping ring 14 and the threaded ring 3, in such degree that the locking balls 10 are pushed back into the annular recess 15 upon insertion of an ocular funnel of the optical system of an endoscope into the space 11, and jump forward again as soon as the clamping ring 14 is released.

Instead of the displaceable ring segment 18, it is also possible to incorporate a fixed stop on the base ring 19 or on the threaded ring 3, to limit the rotary displacement of the clamping ring.

Claims

1. A connector device of the kind described, wherein said annular flange has an external screw thread to receive an internal screw thread of the clamping ring, which ring is also axially displaceable in the proximal direction, and which has an internal annular recess having a bevelled proximal wall which, under the spring action of the clamping ring, pushes the locking balls inwards radially from their bores into the position for locking the ocular cone.

2. A connector device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping ring spring loading means comprises a tension spring connected at one end to the clamping ring and at the other to the annular flange and wherein the rotary displacement of the clamping ring is limited by a stop.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rotary displacement occurs over an angle of 300

4. A connector device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.