JP2000075178A - Terminal part with optical connector of metallic pipe type optical fiber cable - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a terminal part with an optical connector of a metallic pipe type optical fiber cable which prevents the repulsive force by bending of a metallic pipe from affecting the coupling of the optical connector. SOLUTION: The terminal of the metallic pipe type optical fiber cable 5 provided with a coating part 4 having the metallic pipe 2 on the outer periphery of a coated optical fiber 1 of single fiber or multiple fibers is exposed with part in the longitudinal direction of the coated optical fiber 1 from the end of the coating part 4. The portion of the exposed coated optical fiber 1 is covered with one piece of tubular member 9 having the flexibility better than the flexibility of the coating part 4. The optical connector 10 mounted at the terminal of the coated optical fiber 1 and the coating part 4 are connected via a tube member 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal portion with an optical connector of a metal tube type optical fiber cable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A metal tube type optical fiber cable is used as a special purpose optical fiber cable which requires a particularly high lateral pressure strength. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of an example of the metal tube type optical fiber cable, FIG. 4B is a longitudinal cross section of the metal tube type optical fiber cable, and FIG. 4C is an optical fiber core. FIG. In FIG. 4, 1
Is an optical fiber core, 1a is an optical fiber, 1b is a wire coating, 1c is a collective coating, 2 is a metal tube, 3 is a plastic coating, 4 is a coating portion, and 5 is a metal tube type optical fiber cable.

The optical fiber 1a is an optical fiber made of quartz glass, plastic, or the like, and is covered with a wire coating 1b made of an ultraviolet curable resin or the like. Although the optical fiber 1a having the wire coating 1b may be used in a single core, a plurality of cores are arranged in parallel as shown in FIG. 1c may be applied and used as a tape-shaped multi-core optical fiber core 1. 4 (A) and 4 (C) show a tape-shaped optical fiber core having eight optical fibers, however, the number of cores may be different, for example, 12 or 4 optical fibers. In addition, there is also a case of single core.

As the metal pipe 2, a cylindrical pipe made of metal such as steel or aluminum may be used.
As shown in FIG. 4 (B), a thin tape of stainless steel is bent into a Z-shaped cross section, and it is spirally wound.
A thin tape is often used to form a flexible tubular body by hooking a side edge to an adjacent side edge and combining them.

The plastic coating 3 is made of vinyl chloride resin, polyethylene, or the like, and is extruded and coated on the metal tube 2. After a plastic coating 3 is provided on a metal tube 2 to form a coating portion 4, an optical fiber core 1 is provided inside the coating portion.
Into a metal tube type optical fiber cable 5. Further, depending on the type of the metal tube, the coating may be formed on the optical fiber core.

To attach an optical connector to the metal tube type optical fiber cable, the following is performed. FIG. 5 (A)
It is a side view of the metal tube type optical fiber cable with an optical connector, 5 is a metal tube type optical fiber cable, 10 is an optical connector, and 13 is a connection member. A multi-core optical connector is used when the optical fiber core contained in the metal tube type optical fiber cable is a multi-core optical fiber core, and a single-core optical fiber core is used for a single-core optical fiber core. Optical connectors are used.

[0007] At the end of the optical fiber core, the wire coating, the batch coating and the like are removed to expose the optical fiber,
The optical fiber is passed through the optical fiber insertion hole of the optical ferrule of the optical connector, and the optical fiber is bonded and fixed.
In addition, the covering portion of the metal tube type optical fiber cable 5 is provided on the housing of the optical connector 10 by connecting members 13 made of metal or the like.
Connect and fix with.

In the connection of metal tube type optical fiber cables with optical connectors shown in FIG. 5 (A), the coupling is usually performed by inserting the ends of the respective optical connectors from both sides of the adapter. When a metal tube type optical fiber cable is used for wiring between the bridges, the adapter 15
Is fixed to a panel 14 composed of a vertical surface of a frame as shown in FIG. Therefore, the metal tube type optical fiber cable 5
5B is pulled out from the adapter 15 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the panel 14 as shown in FIG. 5 (B), and its tip hangs down.

[0009]

A large number of adapters are arranged on the panel surface, and the optical connectors of the metal tube type optical fiber cable with optical connectors are inserted into each of the adapters, so that the overall size of the wiring tends to increase. There is a demand to make it as small as possible. For this reason, it is necessary to make the dimension protruding vertically from the panel surface as small as possible, and it is desired to bend the metal tube type optical fiber cable with a small radius of curvature.

[0010] The metal tube type optical fiber cable can be bent to some extent because the optical fiber core is accommodated in the above-mentioned flexible covering portion. However, since the metal tube is used, the bending rigidity is inevitably increased, and when the metal tube is bent with a small radius of curvature, a repulsive force for returning to the straight state is generated.

When an optical connector of a metal tube type optical fiber cable with an optical connector is inserted into an adapter and the metal tube type optical fiber cable is bent near the optical connector, the repulsive force due to the bending of the metal tube type optical fiber cable is as follows. It acts as a force for pressing the optical connector in the adapter in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. If the wiring is used for a long time in a state where the stress due to the repulsive force is applied, the transmission loss of the optical connector coupling may be deteriorated. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a terminal portion with an optical connector of a metal tube type optical fiber cable in which a repulsive force due to bending of the metal tube does not affect the coupling of the optical connector.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a metal tube type optical fiber cable having a terminal portion with an optical connector, the metal tube having a coating portion having a metal tube on the outer periphery of a single-core or multi-core optical fiber core wire. End portion of the optical fiber cable, exposing a part of the optical fiber core in a longitudinal direction from an end of the coating, and making the exposed portion of the optical fiber core more flexible than the coating. Covered with one tube member with excellent properties,
An optical connector attached to an end of the optical fiber core and the covering portion are connected via the tube member.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of a terminal portion with an optical connector of a metal tube type optical fiber cable according to the present invention. FIG. 1 (A) is a side view thereof, and FIG. ) Is X
1 (C) is an enlarged transverse sectional view in the Y direction, and FIG. 1 (D) is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the connecting portion. In FIG. 1, 1 is an optical fiber core, 2 is a metal tube, 3 is a plastic coating, 4 is a coated portion, 5 is a metal tube type optical fiber cable, 6 is an inner tube, 7 is a reinforcing member, 8 is an outer tube, 9 is a tube member, 10 is an optical connector, 11 is a connection part, and 11a is a heat-shrinkable tube.

The metal tube type optical fiber cable 5 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4 (C), an optical fiber core 1 is accommodated in a coating portion 4 formed by applying a plastic coating 3 to a metal tube 2, and the metal tube type shown in FIG. It is similar to an optical fiber cable. Further, in the metal tube type optical fiber cable 5 shown in FIG. 4, an example in which a thin stainless tape is processed into a Z-shaped cross section and the side edges thereof are combined to form a tubular body is used as the metal tube 2 of the coating portion 4. Although shown, a simple pipe-shaped metal tube can also be used. Further, a metal tube provided with a plastic coating such as a vinyl chloride resin on the metal tube is exemplified as the coating portion. However, the metal tube alone may be used, or a metal tube provided with a plastic layer inside and outside may be used.

At the end of the metal tube type optical fiber cable 5, the coating 4 is removed over a length of about 300 mm, and the optical fiber 1 is exposed from the coating 4. In addition, an optical connector 10 is provided at the end of the optical fiber core 1.
Is installed. When the number of optical fiber cores is multi-core, an optical connector for multiple cores is attached, and when the optical fiber core is single-core, an optical connector for single core is attached.

Further, the optical fiber core 1 from the sheath 4 of the metal tube type optical fiber cable 5 to the optical connector 10 is accommodated in a tube member 9. The tube member 9 has a high tensile strength reinforcing member 7 made of aramid fiber or the like on the outer periphery of the inner tube 6 made of polyamide resin or the like.
And an outer tube 8 made of vinyl chloride resin or the like is provided on the outer periphery of the outer tube 8. The outer tube 8 is a member that is more flexible than the covering portion 4 of the metal tube type optical fiber cable 5.

When the tape-shaped optical fiber 1 is accommodated in the tube member 9, the tube member is also easily bent in a direction in which the optical fiber 1 is easily bent. It is desirable that the cross section be substantially rectangular as shown in FIG. However, even when the optical fiber core housed inside the tube member is a tape-shaped optical fiber core, the cross-sectional shape of the tube member can be made circular.

In FIG. 1B, the tube member 9 includes the inner tube 6, the reinforcing member 7, and the outer tube 8. However, a large tension is not applied when the optical connector is attached or detached. In this case, the reinforcing member 7 is unnecessary. In addition, a plastic tube made of one layer can also be used as the tube member according to the present invention as long as it is more flexible than the covering portion of the metal tube type optical fiber cable.

FIG. 1D is a longitudinal sectional view of a connecting portion between the coating portion of the metal tube type optical fiber cable and the tube member. The optical fiber core wire 1 is accommodated without connection from the inside of the coating portion 4 to the inside of the tube member 9. In addition, the end of the covering portion 4 and the end of the tube member 9 are butted, and the outer periphery near the butted portion is continuously covered with the heat-shrinkable tube 11a to form the connection portion 11. Although the outer periphery of the covering portion 4 has a circular cross section and the outer periphery of the tube member 9 has a substantially rectangular cross section, there is no particular problem because the heat-shrinkable tube 11a shrinks according to the shape of the heat-shrinkable tube 11a.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are longitudinal sectional views of another embodiment of the connecting portion between the coating portion and the tube member of the metal tube type optical fiber cable according to the present invention. 2, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same components. 6a is a protruding end of the inner tube 6, and 12 is a stepped cylindrical body.

In the connecting portion shown in FIG. 2A, the end of the inner tube 6 of the tube member 9 is made to protrude from the end of the outer tube 8 and the end of the reinforcing member 7 to form a protruding end 6a. The protruding end 6a is arranged so as to be inserted into the inside of the covering portion 4. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the end face of the metal tube 2 of the coating portion 4 from being exposed inside the coating portion and damaging the optical fiber 1. The heat-shrinkable tube 11a is shown in FIG.
As in the case of (1), the coating is performed so as to cross the butted portion of the tube member 9 and the metal coating portion 5.

In FIG. 2A, only the protruding end 6a of the inner tube 6 is inserted into the inside of the covering portion 4, but the inner tube 6 constituting the tube member 9 is shown. , The entire end of the reinforcing member 7 and the outer tube 8 may be inserted into the inside of the covering portion 4,
Only the reinforcing member 7 of the tube member 9 and the end of the inner tube 6 may be inserted into the inside of the covering portion 4.

The connecting portion shown in FIG. 2 (B) uses a stepped cylindrical body 12 using stepped cylindrical bodies 12 having different cross-sectional dimensions at both ends.
2 is to cover the outer periphery of the end of the tube member 9 at one end, and to insert the other end inside the covering portion 4. In addition, since the outer peripheral cross section of the tube member 9 is substantially rectangular and the inner peripheral cross section of the covering portion 4 is circular, the stepped cylindrical body 1 is formed.
Match the shape of 2 to it. The stepped cylindrical body 12 can be made by plastic molding. The heat-shrinkable tube 11a is applied so as to cross the butted portion of the tube member 9 and the metal coating portion 5, as in the case of FIG.

The end of the tube member 9 on the optical connector side is fixed to the housing of the optical connector 10 using a heat-shrinkable tube or the like.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a mounting form of a terminal portion with an optical connector of the metal tube type optical fiber cable of the present invention. The optical connector is inserted from both sides into the adapter 13 fixed to the panel 14 of the frame to perform the connection. FIG. 3 shows only one side.

The terminal portion with the optical connector of the metal tube type optical fiber cable protrudes from the optical connector 10 in the horizontal direction and hangs down.
Since the portion m is covered with the tube member 9 having higher flexibility than the covering portion, it bends more easily than the covering portion, and the repulsive force due to the bending hardly acts on the optical connector. Further, since the bending radius can be reduced, the protruding length from the panel surface can also be reduced.

[0027]

According to the present invention, there is provided a metal tube type optical fiber cable having a terminal portion with an optical connector, a metal tube type optical fiber cable provided with a coating portion having a metal tube on the outer periphery of a single core or multi core optical fiber core wire. A terminal part of the optical fiber core wire which is exposed from the coating part in the longitudinal direction, and the exposed optical fiber core part is more flexible than the coating part.
Since it is covered with a tube member, the part directly connected to the optical connector is a tube member and its flexibility is better than the covering part, so use it by inserting the optical connector into the adapter fixed to the panel surface However, the repulsive force due to the bending of the cable near the optical connector does not act on the optical connector, and the reliability of the optical connector connection can be improved.

Further, at the connecting portion between the tube member and the covering portion, by inserting a part or all of the constituent members of the distal end portion of the tube member into the inside of the covering portion, the end face of the metal tube is placed inside the covering portion. Will not be exposed to
It is possible to prevent the core of the optical fiber housed inside the coating portion from being damaged at the end face of the metal tube. Also,
A similar effect can also be expected by using a stepped cylindrical body and fitting one end of the tube member so as to cover the outside of the end of the tube member, and inserting the other end inside the covering portion. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of a terminal portion with an optical connector of a metal tube type optical fiber cable of the present invention, wherein (A) is a side view thereof, and (B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view in a tube member X direction. (C) is an enlarged cross-sectional view in the Y-direction of the metal tube type optical fiber cable, and (D) is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a connection portion between the coating portion of the metal tube type optical fiber cable and the tube member.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are longitudinal sectional views of another embodiment of a connecting portion between a coating portion and a tube member of a metal tube type optical fiber cable according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a mounting mode of a terminal portion with an optical connector of the metal tube type optical fiber cable of the present invention.

4A is a cross-sectional view of an example of a metal tube type optical fiber cable, FIG. 4B is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the metal tube type optical fiber cable, and FIG. FIG.

FIG. 5 (A) is a side view of a metal tube type optical fiber cable with an optical connector according to the related art, and FIG. 5 (B) is a diagram illustrating a mounting form thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: optical fiber core wire 1a: optical fiber 1b: wire coating 1c: batch coating 2: metal tube 3: plastic coating 4: coating portion 5: metal tube type optical fiber cable 6: inner tube 6a: protruding end 7: Reinforcing member 8: Outer tube 9: Tube member 10: Optical connector 11: Connection portion 11a: Heat shrink tube 12: Stepped tubular body

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 24, 1999 (1999.8.2
4)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

1. A single or multi-core optical fiber core wire
Metal tube type optical fiber cable provided with coating part having metal tube
End portion of the cable, the longitudinal direction from the end of the covering portion
The part of the optical fiber core wire is exposed from the coating portion.
Is covered with a single tube member having excellent flexibility.
Optical connector attached to the end of fiber core and the sheath
Are connected via the tube member, and
The connection between the serial coating portion and said tube member, said Ju
At least a part of the member at one end of the
Inserted inside the metal tube from the end face of the metal tube in the coating part
Are, the outer periphery of the connecting portion near the cover portion and the tubular member shall be the being covered by the heat shrinkable tube
The optical connector with terminal portions of the metallic tube type optical fiber cable.

2. An outer periphery of a single-core or multi-core optical fiber core wire.
Metal tube type optical fiber cable provided with coating part having metal tube
End portion of the cable, the longitudinal direction from the end of the covering portion
The part of the optical fiber core wire is exposed from the coating portion.
Is covered with a single tube member having excellent flexibility.
Optical connector attached to the end of fiber core and the sheath
Are connected via the tube member, and
At the connecting portion between the covering portion and the tube member, one end of the stepped cylindrical body having different cross-sectional dimensions at both ends is fitted so as to cover the outside of the tube member, and the other end is inside the covering portion. It is inserted into the covering portion and the connecting portion outer peripheral optical connector with terminal portions of the feature and be Rukin genus tube type optical fiber cable that is covered by the heat shrinkable tube in the vicinity of the tube member.

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0021

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In the connecting portion shown in FIG. 2A, the end of the inner tube 6 of the tube member 9 is made to protrude from the end of the outer tube 8 and the end of the reinforcing member 7 to form a protruding end 6a. The protruding end 6a is arranged so as to be inserted into the inside of the covering portion 4. By doing so, the end face of the metal tube 2 of the coating portion 4 is exposed to the light inside the coating portion.
Damage to the fiber core 1 can be prevented. The heat-shrinkable tube 11a is applied so as to cross the butted portion of the tube member 9 and the metal coating portion 5, as in the case of FIG.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0028

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Further, at the connecting portion between the tube member and the covering portion, by inserting a part or all of the constituent members of the distal end portion of the tube member into the inside of the covering portion, the end face of the metal tube is placed inside the covering portion. Fiber optic cable housed in
It is possible to prevent the scratch. The same effect can also be obtained by inserting one end of the stepped tubular body so as to cover the outside of the end of the tube member and inserting the other end inside the covering part. Can be expected.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An end portion of a metal tube type optical fiber cable provided with a coating portion having a metal tube around an outer periphery of a single-core or multi-core optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber is connected to an end of the coating portion. A part of the optical fiber in the longitudinal direction is exposed, and the exposed portion of the optical fiber is covered with one tube member which is more flexible than the covering portion, and attached to the end of the optical fiber. A terminal part with an optical connector of a metal tube type optical fiber cable, wherein the optical connector and the covering part are connected via the tube member. 2. A connecting portion between the coating portion of the metal tube type optical fiber cable and the tube member, wherein one end of the tube member is provided such that an end face of the metal tube in the coating portion is not exposed to the inside of the coating portion. The metal tube type light according to claim 1, wherein an end portion is inserted inside the coating portion, and an outer periphery near a connection portion between the coating portion and the tube member is covered with a heat-shrinkable tube. Terminal part with optical connector for fiber cable. 3. A connecting portion between the coating portion of the metal tube type optical fiber cable and the tube member, so that one end of a stepped cylindrical body having different cross-sectional dimensions at both ends covers the outside of the tube member. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the other end is inserted inside the covering portion, and an outer periphery near a connection portion between the covering portion and the tube member is covered with a heat-shrinkable tube. Terminal with optical connector for metal tube type optical fiber cable.