JP2011203682A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector which allows maintenance work of a ferrule to be easily performed by replacement, exchange, or the like.SOLUTION: A housing 71 of an optical connector 1 includes: a spring insertion part to and from which a spring member 91 for urging a ferrule 41 toward a partner connector can be attached and detached; and a holding member insertion part to and from which a ferrule holding member 81 housing and holding the ferrule 41 and the spring member 91 in the housing 71 can be attached and detached. When being housed and held in the ferrule holding member 81, the spring member 91 is engaged with and united to the ferrule holding member 81 and can be attached to and detached from the housing 71 integrally with the ferrule holding member 81.

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector used for connecting optical fibers in an automotive LAN, for example.

  FIG. 6 shows a conventional example of an optical connector used for connecting optical fibers in an automotive LAN or the like.

  An optical connector 101 shown in FIG. 6 is disclosed in the following Patent Document 1, and includes a ferrule 121 fixed to the tip of an optical fiber of an optical fiber cable 111, a housing 131 that houses the ferrule 121, and a housing 131. A ferrule holding member 141 to be assembled and a spring member 151 are provided.

  The housing 131 has a structure in which a connector fitting portion 133 that fits into the housing of the mating connector is provided on the distal end side, and a ferrule accommodation space 135 that accommodates the ferrule 121 is provided on the proximal end side.

  The ferrule holding member 141 is mounted in the ferrule housing space 135 of the housing 131 and positions the ferrule 121 in the housing 131.

  The spring member 151 biases the ferrule 121 in the ferrule housing space 135 toward the mating connector. This spring member 151 is provided in order to improve the transmission performance by reducing the gap value between the ferrule end faces facing each other by the fitting connection between the connectors.

  In the case of the optical connector 101 of Patent Literature 1, the ferrule 121 and the spring member 151 are assembled to the ferrule holding member 141 in advance. The ferrule holding member 141 has a spring mounting portion 143 into which the spring member 151 is inserted so as to face the part where the ferrule 121 is assembled.

  When the ferrule holding member 141 is assembled with the ferrule 121 and the spring member 151 is inserted into the spring mounting portion 143, the spring member 151 urges the ferrule 121 toward the counterpart ferrule.

  By mounting the ferrule holding member 141 on which the ferrule 121 and the spring member 151 are mounted in the ferrule housing space 135, the ferrule 121 is positioned in the housing 131.

JP 2009-237496 A

  By the way, in the optical connector, maintenance work such as replacement or replacement of the ferrule 121 may occur.

  In the optical connector 101 of Patent Document 1 described above, for example, when the ferrule 121 is replaced, (a) the ferrule holding member 141 is removed from the housing 131, (b) the spring member 151 is removed from the ferrule holding member 141. c) Remove the ferrule 121 to be replaced from the ferrule holding member 141, (d) install a new ferrule 121 on the ferrule holding member 141, (e) attach the spring member 151 to the ferrule holding member 141, and (f) the ferrule holding member 141. There is a problem in that workability is poor because a six-step work process of attaching to the housing 131 is necessary.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector capable of facilitating maintenance work such as replacement and replacement of ferrules in order to solve the above-described problems.

The above-described object of the present invention is achieved by the following configuration.
(1) A ferrule fixed to the distal end of the optical fiber, and a housing provided with a ferrule housing space for housing the ferrule on the proximal end side while a connector fitting portion that fits into the housing of the mating connector is provided on the distal end side An optical connector comprising: a ferrule holding member that is mounted on the housing and positions the ferrule in the housing; and a spring member that biases the ferrule in the housing toward the mating connector.
The housing is
A spring insertion part that can open the spring member detachably facing the ferrule housing space and insert the spring member to engage the spring member with the ferrule in the ferrule housing space;
When the ferrule holding member is detachably opened to face the ferrule housing space and the ferrule holding member is inserted, the ferrule holding member inserts a holding member for housing and holding the spring member and the ferrule in the ferrule housing space. And comprising
When the spring member is housed and held in the ferrule holding member, the spring member is engaged with and integrated with the ferrule holding member and is detachable integrally with the ferrule holding member with respect to the housing. .

  According to the configuration of (1), when the ferrule holding member is removed from the housing in a state where the assembly is completed, the spring member is also detached from the housing together with the ferrule holding member, so that the ferrule can be detached from the housing. Further, the ferrule holding member can be attached to the housing even when the spring member is engaged and integrated.

  Therefore, when exchanging the ferrule, (a) remove the ferrule holding member from the housing, (b) remove the ferrule to be exchanged from the housing, (c) mount a new ferrule on the housing, (d) an integral spring member 4 steps of attaching the ferrule holding member to the housing is sufficient, and the work process can be reduced as compared with the conventional optical connector that required 6 steps of work. Maintenance work can be facilitated.

  According to the optical connector of the present invention, the spring member can be attached to and detached from the housing on which the ferrule is mounted in an integrated state with the ferrule holding member. Since it is not necessary to attach and detach the spring member and the work process can be reduced, maintenance work such as replacement and replacement of the ferrule can be facilitated.

It is a disassembled perspective view of one Embodiment of the optical connector which concerns on this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the state by which the ferrule shown in FIG. 1 was fixed to the front-end | tip of an optical fiber. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the spring member shown in FIG. 2 and a ferrule holding member that holds the spring member. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ferrule holding member in a state where the spring member shown in FIG. 3 is engaged and integrated with the ferrule holding member. In the optical connector shown in FIG. 1, it is explanatory drawing of the work process when exchanging a ferrule. It is a disassembled perspective view of the conventional optical connector.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an optical connector according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 4 show one embodiment of an optical connector according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the optical connector according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the ferrule shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a state of being fixed to the tip of the optical fiber, FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the spring member shown in FIG. 2 and a ferrule holding member for holding the spring member, and FIG. 4 is a spring member shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the ferrule holding member in a state in which the ferrule holding member is integrated with the ferrule holding member.

  FIG. 1 shows a male optical connector 1 that is an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a female optical connector 3 as a mating connector that is fitted and connected to the male optical connector 1. .

  The male optical connector 1 is assembled at the tip of the first optical fiber cable 11. The female optical connector 3 is assembled at the tip of the second optical fiber cable 21.

  When the male optical connector 1 and the female optical connector 3 are fitted and connected, the optical fiber 13 that is the core of the first optical fiber cable 11 connected to the male optical connector 1 and the second optical fiber cable 21. The optical fiber 23, which is the core wire, is in a connected state in which the tip ends.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the distal end portion of the first optical fiber cable 11 is attached with a caulking sleeve 31, a caulking ring 32, and a boot 33 for inserting the optical fiber 13 that is a core wire by end processing. The ferrule 41 is assembled to the tip of the optical fiber 13. The ferrule 41 assembled at the tip of the optical fiber 13 is fixed to the optical fiber 13 with an adhesive or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the distal end portion of the second optical fiber cable 21 is attached with a caulking sleeve 31, a caulking ring 32, and a boot 33 for inserting the optical fiber 23, which is a core wire, by end processing. The ferrule 41 is assembled to the tip of the optical fiber 23. The ferrule 41 assembled at the tip of the optical fiber 23 is fixed to the optical fiber 23 with an adhesive or the like, as in the case of the optical fiber 13.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the female optical connector 3 includes a ferrule 41 fixed to the tip of the optical fiber 23, a cylindrical split sleeve 44 fitted to the tip of the ferrule 41, and a split sleeve 44. A housing 51 that accommodates the ferrule 41 and a dust cap 61 that is attached to the housing 51 are provided.

  The split sleeve 44 has a cylindrical shape in which the cylindrical portion at the tip of the ferrule 41 is fitted to both ends. The split sleeve 44 is separated at one place in the circumferential direction and can be expanded in diameter when fitted to the ferrule 41.

  The housing 51 includes a housing main body 52 and a ferrule fixing plate 53 that is assembled to the housing main body 52.

  The housing body 52 is provided with a connector fitting portion 55 having a rectangular tube shape (hood shape) on the distal end side. The connector fitting portion 55 is a portion into which the distal end side of the housing 71 of the male optical connector 1 described later is fitted.

  A ferrule housing space 56 for housing the ferrule 41 connected to the split sleeve 44 is provided on the proximal end side of the housing body 52. The ferrule housing space 56 is a space where one side (the upper side in FIG. 1) is opened, and the ferrule 41 connected to the split sleeve 44 can be housed from the upper open portion.

  The ferrule fixing plate 53 is attached to the housing main body 52 so as to cover the open portion of the ferrule accommodation space 56. When the ferrule fixing plate 53 is attached to the housing main body 52, the split sleeve 44 and the ferrule 41 housed in the ferrule housing space 56 are pressed and fixed.

  When the female optical connector 3 is not connected to the male optical connector 1, the dust cap 61 is fitted and attached to the connector fitting portion 55 to close the opening of the connector fitting portion 55, and the connector fitting portion 55. This prevents dust and the like from entering the housing through the opening.

Next, the male optical connector 1 which is one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 1, the male optical connector 1 includes a ferrule 41 that is fixed to the tip of the optical fiber 13, a housing 71 that houses the ferrule 41, a ferrule holding member (retainer) 81 that is assembled to the housing 71, A spring member 91 and a dust cap 64 are provided.

  Here, the ferrule holding member 81 is mounted on the housing 71 on which the ferrule 41 is mounted, and positions the ferrule 41 in the housing 71.

  The spring member 91 is attached to the housing 71 on which the ferrule 41 is attached, and biases the ferrule 41 in the housing 71 toward the mating connector.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 71 is provided with a connector fitting portion 73 that fits into the housing 51 of the female optical connector 3 on the distal end side. When the male optical connector 1 is not connected to the female optical connector 3, the dust cap 64 is fitted to the connector fitting portion 73 to close the opening of the connector fitting portion 73, and the connector fitting. Dust and the like are prevented from entering the housing from the opening of the portion 73.

  Further, the housing 71 includes a ferrule housing space 75 for housing the ferrule 41 on the proximal end side.

  The ferrule housing space 75 has a substantially cylindrical structure with the rear opened. The ferrule 41 fixed to the tip of the optical fiber 13 is accommodated in the ferrule accommodation space 75 by being inserted into the ferrule accommodation space 75 along the axial direction as indicated by an arrow A in FIG.

  The housing 71 according to the present embodiment includes a spring insertion portion (not shown) and a holding member insertion portion (not shown) on an outer surface portion (not shown in FIG. 2) serving as a lower surface.

  The spring insertion portion is an accommodation space in which the spring member 91 is detachably accommodated, and opens toward the ferrule accommodation space 75. The spring insertion portion can accommodate the spring member 91 by inserting the spring member 91 in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 2, and can engage the spring member 91 with the ferrule 41 in the ferrule accommodation space 75.

  The holding member insertion portion is an accommodation space in which the ferrule holding member 81 is detachably accommodated, and opens toward the ferrule accommodation space 75. This holding member insertion part accommodates the ferrule holding member 81 by inserting the ferrule holding member 81 in the direction shown by arrow C in FIG. The ferrule holding member 81 housed in the holding member insertion portion houses and holds the spring member 91 and the ferrule 41 in the ferrule housing space 75, and positions the spring member 91 and the housing 71 at a fixed position in the ferrule housing space 75. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the ferrule holding member 81 in the present embodiment has a spring positioning portion 83 that houses and positions the spring member 91. A locking groove 85 for fixing the spring member 91 accommodated in the spring positioning portion 83 is formed in the wall portion 84 forming the spring positioning portion 83.

  When the spring member 91 is assembled in the ferrule housing space 75, the spring piece portion 94 located on the distal end side of the housing 71 presses the flange portion of the ferrule 41 toward the distal end side of the housing. On the distal end side of the spring piece portion 94, a pick-up portion 95 inclined toward the housing proximal end side is formed so as to be surely engaged with the inner side (housing proximal end side) of the flange portion of the ferrule 41.

  In addition, the spring member 91 is provided with an elastic locking piece 93 that is engaged with the ferrule holding member 81. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the elastic locking piece 93 engages with the locking groove 85 when being accommodated in the spring positioning portion 83 of the ferrule holding member 81, thereby holding the spring member 91 with the ferrule. The member 81 is engaged and united.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the spring member 91 of the present embodiment is held and held in the spring positioning portion 83 of the ferrule holding member 81 so that the ferrule is held by the engagement between the elastic locking piece 93 and the locking groove 85. Engaging with the member 81, the housing 71 can be attached to and detached from the ferrule holding member 81.

  In the male optical connector 1 of the embodiment described above, when the ferrule holding member 81 is removed from the housing 71 in a state where assembly is completed, the spring member 91 is also detached from the housing 71 integrally with the ferrule holding member 81. The ferrule 41 can be detached from the housing 71. Further, the ferrule holding member 81 can be attached to the housing 71 even when the spring member 91 is engaged and integrated.

  Therefore, when replacing the ferrule 41, first, the ferrule holding member 81 is removed from the housing 71 as shown in FIG. Next, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the ferrule 41 to be replaced is removed (extracted) from the housing 71. Next, a new ferrule 41 is mounted on the housing 71 as shown in FIG. Next, as shown in FIG. 5D, the ferrule holding member 81 in which the spring member 91 is integrated is attached to the housing 71 to complete the process.

  That is, the replacement work of the ferrule 41 is a four-stage work shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, and the work process is reduced as compared with a conventional optical connector which requires a six-stage work. Thus, maintenance work such as replacement or replacement of the ferrule 41 can be facilitated.

  The optical connector of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate modifications and improvements can be made. Further, the material, shape, dimensions, and the like of each component constituting the optical connector of the present invention are arbitrary as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited to the above-described embodiments.

1 Male optical connector (optical connector)
11 First optical fiber cable 13 Optical fiber 41 Ferrule 71 Housing 81 Ferrule holding member (retainer)
91 Spring member

Claims (1)

A ferrule fixed to the distal end of the optical fiber, a housing provided with a connector fitting portion that fits into the housing of the mating connector on the distal end side, and a ferrule housing space for housing the ferrule on the proximal end side; and the housing An optical connector comprising: a ferrule holding member that is mounted on the housing and that positions the ferrule in the housing; and a spring member that biases the ferrule in the housing toward the mating connector,
The housing is
A spring insertion part that can open the spring member detachably facing the ferrule housing space and insert the spring member to engage the spring member with the ferrule in the ferrule housing space;
When the ferrule holding member is detachably opened to face the ferrule housing space and the ferrule holding member is inserted, the ferrule holding member inserts a holding member for housing and holding the spring member and the ferrule in the ferrule housing space. And comprising
When the spring member is housed and held in the ferrule holding member, the spring member is engaged with and integrated with the ferrule holding member and is detachable integrally with the ferrule holding member with respect to the housing. .

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