JP2006195355A - Optical fiber fixing mechanism of field assembly optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber fixing mechanism equipped with a cable clamp unit that is suitable for a fixing means of a fine optical fiber. <P>SOLUTION: The cable clamp unit 21 mounted on the rear end of an optical connector 1 is composed of: a chuck body 22 which is formed with a cylindrical body bisected so as to hold the jacket Q of an optical fiber P from both sides and tapered so as to make the outer diameter gradually thinner from one end to the other; a holding inner cylinder 23 which becomes a hole part 23A tapered on the inner face by gradually reducing the bore inward from one open end for the purpose of inserting the chuck body 22; and a holding outer cylinder 24 which is provided with elastic cylinder pieces 24B dividedly formed through a plurality of slits 24A so that the holding inner cylinder 23 is elastically held with pressure from the outside and which is also provided with a locking groove 24C at the foot of the slits 24A so that the inner cylinder can be fitted into a boot 25 and locked. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a field-assembled optical connector that employs a mechanical splicing system that abuts the end faces of two bare fibers in connection of optical fibers and presses and fixes the vicinity of the butt joint portion from the side of the bare fibers. The present invention relates to an optical fiber fixing mechanism.

As an optical fiber fixing mechanism of a conventional field assembly optical connector, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the optical fiber fixing mechanism includes a cable clamp unit attached to the rear end portion of the optical connector, and the cable clamp unit includes an optical fiber. Body part and lid part comprising a central optical fiber through-hole to be penetrated, and a jacket insertion groove branched into left and right bifurcated for inserting and holding a jacket torn to the left and right with respect to the optical fiber The one formed by the two molded parts has already been proposed by the applicant himself, so that alignment between both optical fibers and fiber holding can be performed simultaneously without using an external tool for assembly. Therefore, it is possible to assemble easily and in a short time.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-432331

  However, the conventional cable clamp unit of the optical fiber fixing mechanism is an effective fixing means for a large-diameter optical fiber. It is very troublesome to insert it into the outer cover insertion groove of the part, and it is not so preferable in assembling workability.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the conventional circumstances as described above, and enables easy assembly in a short time by enabling alignment between both optical fibers and fiber holding at the same time. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber fixing mechanism for an on-site assembly optical connector provided with a cable clamp unit suitable as a means for fixing an optical fiber having a small diameter.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a cable clamp unit attached to the rear end portion of the optical connector, and the cable clamp unit is formed in half so as to sandwich the jacket of the optical fiber from both sides. In order to insert a chuck body formed by a tapered cylindrical body whose outer diameter gradually decreases from one end to the other end, and a chuck body sandwiching the outer cover from both sides, the inner diameter gradually increases from one end opening side to the inside. Elasticity divided and formed through a plurality of slits so that the holding inner cylinder that becomes an inner tapered hole so as to reduce the diameter and the holding inner cylinder into which the chuck body is inserted are elastically clamped and held from the outside. It has a cylindrical piece, and it has a locking groove at the base of the slit so that it can be locked by being inserted into the boot, and can be connected to a bush into which the rear end of the ferrule is inserted Those comprising a and the retaining outer cylindrical member.

  Further, the chuck body may be formed by interposing a spring body so as to urge the tapered cylindrical bodies away from each other.

  The holding inner cylinder can be provided with a locking groove on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and can be engaged with a protrusion provided in the hole of the holding outer cylinder.

  In the optical fiber fixing mechanism of the field assembly optical connector according to the present invention configured as described above, the outer cover of the optical fiber is clamped from both sides by the chuck body, and the inner surface of the holding inner cylinder is tapered. Then, the holding inner cylinder is inserted from the elastic cylinder piece side of the holding outer cylinder, and the holding inner cylinder is elastically clamped and held from the outside. This holds the fiber.

  The spring body interposed in the chuck body urges the tapered cylindrical bodies in a direction away from each other, and when the chuck body is inserted into the inner tapered hole of the holding inner cylindrical body, By maintaining the pressure-holding holding force with the holding inner cylinder, a space necessary for inserting the optical fiber can be secured at the center.

  When the holding inner cylinder is inserted into the holding outer cylinder from the elastic cylinder piece side, the locking groove portion of the holding inner cylinder is engaged with the protrusion provided in the hole of the holding outer cylinder. The holding inner cylinder is firmly fixed inside the holding outer cylinder.

  According to the present invention, by using a simple external tool for assembly, alignment of both optical fibers and fiber holding can be performed at the same time, so that assembly can be easily performed in a short time. In the field assembly optical connector, it is possible to provide an optical fiber fixing mechanism including a cable clamp unit suitable as a means for fixing a small-diameter optical fiber.

  That is, the present invention includes a cable clamp unit attached to the rear end portion of the optical connector, and the cable clamp unit is formed in half so as to sandwich the outer cover of the optical fiber from both sides. The inner surface is gradually reduced in diameter as it goes from one opening side to the inside so as to insert a chuck body formed of a tapered cylindrical body whose outer diameter gradually decreases as it goes to and a chuck body that sandwiches the outer cover from both sides. A holding inner cylinder that becomes a tapered hole, and an elastic cylinder piece part that is divided and formed through a plurality of slits so as to elastically hold the holding inner cylinder into which the chuck body is inserted from outside. In addition, a retaining groove portion is provided at the base of the slit portion so that it can be inserted into the boot and can be locked, and the rear end portion of the ferrule can be connected to a bush to be inserted. It is because comprising a body, thereby aligning the core of both the optical fibers are easily performed without removing the knob. Thus, the optical fiber can be easily attached to the cable clamp unit, and the cable clamp unit can be manufactured at a low cost with a reduced material cost.

  In addition, since the chuck body is provided with a spring body so as to urge the tapered cylinders away from each other, when the chuck body is inserted into the tapered hole on the inner surface of the holding inner cylinder body In addition, by always maintaining the pressure holding force between the chuck body and the holding inner cylinder, a space necessary for the insertion of the optical fiber can be secured at the center.

  The holding inner cylinder is provided with a locking groove on its outer peripheral surface so that it can be engaged with the protrusion provided in the hole of the holding outer cylinder, so that the holding inner cylinder is firmly fixed inside the holding outer cylinder. I can leave it to you.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Reference numeral 1 shown in the figure is a light that is inserted into a ferrule 2 by being abutted against a counterpart ferrule (not shown). This is an on-site assembling type optical connector having a substantially rectangular shape for connection with the fiber P. As shown in FIG. 1, the optical connector 1 includes a bush 3 into which the rear end portion of the ferrule 2 is inserted, a holding member 4 inserted so that the bush 3 is slightly movable in the front-rear direction, and a holding member. 4 is generally composed of a frame 5 fitted to 4 and a knob 6 covering the outside of the frame 5.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the ferrule 2 is formed with a fiber hole 2A having both ends opened in a rectangular shape in the axial direction, on the rear side where the abutting connection portion C of the optical fiber P to be inserted is located. Is provided with a rectangular recess 8 reaching the fiber hole 2A. In the fiber hole 2A, the optical fiber P 'is inserted in advance on the front side of the optical fiber P to the butting connection portion C, and the front end of the ferrule 2 is polished.

  A plate-like chuck 7 having a tapered surface 7A inclined forward from the front part toward the rear part on the upper surface side is placed so as to coincide with the concave part 8, so that the core wire butting connection part C of the optical fiber P is applied. Is pressed on the lower surface side so that the optical fiber P ′ inserted in the fiber hole 2A in advance and the optical fiber P to be inserted can be aligned and held. The rear end of the ferrule 2 and the chuck 7 is formed with a diverging guide fiber hole 2B having a diameter larger than that of the fiber hole 2A.

  Further, the bush 3 is provided with a bush 3 formed with a guide fiber hole 3A having a diameter larger than that of the fiber hole 2A of the ferrule 2 and widening toward the opening end on the rear end side. A rectangular fitting hole 9 having a tapered inner surface 9A in part is formed in the front end portion so as to be in close contact with the tapered surface 7A from the outside, and communicates coaxially with the fiber hole 2A of the ferrule 2 after assembly. It is.

  Furthermore, it has a rectangular holding member 4 having a diameter larger than that of the fiber hole 2A and having an opening into which a holding outer cylinder 24 of the cable clamp unit 21 described later is fitted on the rear end side. After the attachment, the bush 3 is coaxially connected to the guiding fiber hole 3A. A cable clamp unit 21 to be described later can be attached to the rear end of the holding member 4.

  In the rectangular annular space S1 formed between the front end portion of the holding member 4 and the flange-like engaging portion 3B formed on the outer surface side of the front end portion of the bush 3, for example, a coil spring as the elastic member 10 is provided. However, the bush 3 is interposed and disposed.

  The frame 5 is formed in a rectangular cylinder shape so that the rectangular holding member 4 can be inserted. A flange-like locking projection 4B is formed on the outer surface side of the holding member 4, and the frame 5 is engaged with the locking projection 4B. A tongue-like engagement claw piece 5A slightly inclined toward the inner side of the cylinder of the frame 5 is provided so as to be held on the rack. In addition, a pair of two lock member insertion holes 5C penetrating and opening in the vertical direction are provided on the right and left sides of the central portion of the frame 5 slightly forward.

  Further, by inserting into the optical connector 1, the bush 3 is moved to the holding member 4 side to release the close contact between the taper surface 7 A of the chuck 7 and the taper inner surface 9 A of the fitting hole 9 of the bush 3 while being removed. Accordingly, the lock member 11 is provided for moving the bush 3 toward the mating ferrule 2 so that the tapered surface 7A of the chuck 7 and the tapered inner surface 9A of the fitting hole 9 of the bush 3 are in close contact with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lock member 11 has a lock plate 12 and a predetermined interval on both sides of the lock plate 12, that is, an interval that can be inserted into the insertion hole 5 </ b> C of the frame 5 while passing both sides of the ferrule 2. A bifurcated leg portion 13 is provided. Each bifurcated leg portion 13 is formed with a thick base at the base side and a narrow width at the tip end via a tapered portion 13a.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 to 6, the cable clamp unit 21 includes a chuck body 22 that sandwiches the outer jacket Q of the optical fiber P, a holding inner cylinder body 23 that inserts and holds the chuck body 22, and The holding inner cylinder 23 is inserted and held, and is generally constituted by a holding outer cylinder 24 that can be connected to the bush 3 into which the rear end portion of the ferrule 2 is inserted.

  The chuck body 22 is formed by a tapered cylindrical body whose outer diameter gradually decreases from one end to the other end, and is cut in half along the cylindrical axis, so that the outer sheath of the optical fiber P is formed. Q is sandwiched from both sides. Further, an annular recess 22A is provided in a substantially intermediate inner peripheral portion of each of the semi-cylindrical bodies so as to bias the respective semi-cylindrical bodies of the chuck body 22 in the direction away from each other. A body 22B is interposed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the holding inner cylinder 23 is gradually reduced in diameter as it goes from the opening end to the inside in order to insert the chuck body 22 sandwiching the outer jacket Q of the optical fiber P from both ends. The inner surface of the holding inner cylinder 23 is engaged with, for example, a pair of front and rear projections 24D provided in the hole of the holding outer cylinder 24. An annular locking groove 23B is provided in a pair of front and rear.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the holding outer cylinder 24 includes an elastic cylinder piece portion 24 </ b> B that is dividedly formed via a plurality of slit portions 24 </ b> A on one end opening side, and the holding inner cylinder 24 is inserted into the holding inner cylinder 24. When the cylinder body 23 is inserted into the elastic cylinder piece 24B, the holding inner cylinder body 23 is elastically pinched and held from the outside. When the holding outer cylinder 24 is inserted into the boot 25 from the elastic cylinder piece 24B side, a plurality of locking protrusions 25A formed on the inner peripheral surface of the boot 25 are formed at the base of the slit 24A. Both cylindrical bodies 23 and 24 are integrated with each other by engaging with the formed annular locking groove 24C. The holding outer cylinder 24 itself is connected to the bush 3 into which the rear end portion of the ferrule 2 is inserted, for example, by screwing or the like.

  By the way, although the optical fiber P ′ inserted in advance in the ferrule 2 shown in the above embodiment has a structure dedicated to a general-purpose optical fiber, the optical connector 1 can be used for other optical fibers. Applicable. For example, a fiber for a fiber grating, a doped fiber (a fiber for an optical subtractor) or the like can be used, and the type of optical fiber to be incorporated is not limited.

  Next, in order to explain an example of use and assembly of the best mode configured as described above, first, the optical fiber P is attached to the cable clamp unit 21. That is, the boot 25 and the holding inner cylinder 23 are inserted in advance into the optical fiber P, and the outer jacket Q from which the core of the optical fiber P is exposed from the tip is sandwiched by the halved chuck body 22 from both sides. Let At this time, a C-ring shaped spring body 22B is interposed in the recess 22A of the chuck body 22.

  Then, the holding inner cylinder 23 is drawn toward the chuck body 22 along the optical fiber P, and the chuck body 22 is inserted into the inner tapered surface hole 23A of the holding inner cylinder 23, and then the holding inner cylinder. 23 is inserted into the elastic cylinder piece 24B side of the holding outer cylinder 24. At this time, for example, a pair of front and rear projections 24D provided in the hole of the holding outer cylindrical body 24 are engaged with the locking groove 23B on the outer peripheral surface of the holding inner cylindrical body 23, respectively, and are not removed. Become.

  Thus, at this time, the bifurcated leg portion 13 of the lock member 11 is inserted into the space portion S2 between the frame 5 and the bush 3 from the insertion hole 5C of the frame 5 through the opening 6A of the knob 6. The bush 3 is moved to the holding member 4 side to release the tightening force to the chuck 7.

  After the cable clamp unit 21 is connected to the optical connector 1, the bifurcated leg portion 13 of the lock member 11 is removed from the insertion hole 5 </ b> C of the frame 5 after abutment at the connection portion C of the core wire into which the optical fiber P is inserted. By detaching, the bushing 3 is biased and moved toward the counterpart ferrule 2 by the pressure expansion elastic force of the elastic member 10, and a clamping force is applied to the chuck 7, and the taper surface 7A of the chuck 7 and the bush Thus, the abutting connection portion C and the vicinity thereof are pressed on the lower surface side of the chuck 7 by bringing the tapered inner surfaces 9A of the three fitting holes 9 into close contact with each other.

  In this way, the core of the optical fiber P is held. That is, one side of the bush 3 contacts the ferrule 2 and the other side contacts the tapered surface 7A of the chuck 7 to convert the elastic force of the elastic member 10 into the fiber tightening direction. Thereafter, the boot 25 is fitted into the holding outer cylinder 24. Further, the outer side of the frame 5 fitted to the holding member 4 is covered with a knob 6 to obtain a finished product.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the optical connector in the best form for implementing this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which similarly connected the cable clamp unit to the optical connector. The state which connected the cable clamp unit to the optical connector is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a rear view, (c) is a front view, (d) is a side view. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which connected the cable clamp unit to the optical connector. The state which connected the cable clamp unit to the optical connector is shown, (a) is a sectional view of a state where an optical fiber having an outer diameter of 2 mm is attached, and (b) is a state where an optical fiber having an outer diameter of 0.9 mm is attached. Sectional drawing (c) is a sectional view showing a state in which an optical fiber having an outer diameter of 0.25 mm is attached. The cable clamp unit is shown, (a) is an enlarged sectional view showing a state in the middle of inserting the holding inner cylinder into the holding outer cylinder, and (b) is a state where the holding inner cylinder is inserted into the holding outer cylinder. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

P Optical fiber Q Outer sheath S1, S2 Space 1 Optical connector 2 Ferrule 2A Fiber hole 3 Bush 3A Guide fiber hole 4 Holding member 4B Locking protrusion 5 Frame 5A Inward protrusion 6 Knob 6A Opening 7 Chuck 7A Tapered surface 8 Recess 9 Fitting hole 9A Tapered inner surface 10 Elastic member 11 Lock member 12 Lock plate 13 Forked leg 15 Slit 16 Holder 21 Cable clamp unit 22 Chuck body 22A Recess 22B Spring body 23 Holding inner cylinder 23A Hole 23B Locking groove 24 Holding outer cylinder 24A Slit part 24B Elastic cylinder piece part 24C Locking groove part 24D Protrusion part 25 Boot 25A Locking protrusion

Claims (3)

  The cable clamp unit is attached to the rear end of the optical connector, and the cable clamp unit is formed in half so as to sandwich the optical fiber jacket from both sides, and the outer diameter gradually decreases from one end to the other end. A chuck body formed by a tapered cylindrical body and a holding hole that becomes an inner tapered hole so that the diameter gradually decreases from one opening side to the inside so as to insert a chuck body sandwiching the outer cover from both sides. The inner cylinder and the holding inner cylinder into which the chuck body has been inserted are provided with an elastic cylinder piece part that is divided and formed through a plurality of slits so as to be elastically pinched and held from the outside, and is fitted into the boot. And a holding outer cylindrical body that can be connected to a bush into which the rear end portion of the ferrule is inserted. And the field assembly optical connector of the optical fiber fixing mechanism.   2. The optical fiber fixing mechanism for an on-site assembly optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the chuck body is provided with a spring body so as to urge the tapered cylindrical bodies in a direction away from each other. 3. The optical fiber fixing mechanism for an on-site assembly optical connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding inner cylinder is provided with a locking groove on its outer peripheral surface and can be engaged with a protrusion provided in the hole of the holding outer cylinder. .

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