JP3035867B2 - Waterproof optical connector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a waterproof type optical connector, which aims to provide a waterproof type optical connector which can improve fastening workability and maintain stable waterproofness for a long period of time. A waterproof optical connector which is mounted on the side housing, and the same number of jack ferrules as the plug side ferrule is mounted on the jack side housing via an alignment sleeve to prevent water from entering the ferrule portion from outside when both housings are fastened. In the above, a ring-shaped elastic member is provided so as to surround the entire circumference of either one of the pair of ferrules on the plug side and the ferrule on the jack side opposed to each other. A flat portion is provided on a surface where the ring-shaped elastic member is in pressure contact, and the flat portion is provided. The surface of the ring-shaped elastic member is pressed down to prevent water intrusion.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a waterproof optical connector.

In recent years, with an increase in transmission capacity and the like, optical fibers have been used as transmission paths in fields such as communication. As a method for connecting the optical fibers, there are a splicing method in which the bonded end faces are permanently connected by bonding or fusion, and a detachable optical connector method. The connection by the optical connector is usually such that the joint end face of the optical fiber to be connected is mounted on a centered ferrule, and this ferrule is abutted in a cylindrical sleeve to form an optical connection between the optical fibers. , The core system
A misalignment of about 1/10 or less and good adhesion between the joining end faces are required. In addition, since optical cables containing a plurality of optical fibers are often used outdoors, optical connectors for connecting these optical cables have good connection workability and optical connectors that can exhibit high waterproofness. A structure is desired.

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional waterproof optical connector will be described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 2 denotes a plug-side optical connector, in which ferrules 6 each having an optical fiber connected thereto are inserted into two ferrule insertion holes 5 provided in the housing 4, and a step portion of the ferrule 6 is removed by a coil spring 8. Each ferrule 6 is fixed in the housing 4 with a certain degree of freedom in the radial direction by pressing against the portion. A ring-shaped elastic member such as a gasket or an O-ring surrounding the two ferrules 6
10 is half embedded in the housing 4 and fixed.
Reference numeral 12 denotes a fastening nut having a threaded portion 12a formed at an inner peripheral end thereof, and is attached to the housing 4 so as to be movable in the axial direction.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a jack-side optical connector. An alignment sleeve 18 is inserted into each of two ferrule insertion holes 17 formed in the housing 16, and a ferrule 20 to which an optical fiber is connected is inserted into the alignment sleeve 18. It is configured.
The ferrule 20 is fixed to the housing 16 with a certain degree of freedom in the radial direction.
The ferrules 20 are mounted so as to directly face the ferrules 6 of the plug-side optical connector 2. A front end surface 16a of the housing 16 is formed in a flat surface, and a screw portion 16b with which the screw portion 12a of the fastening nut 12 is screwed is formed on the outer peripheral portion on the front end side.

However, in order to couple the plug-side optical connector 2 to the jack-side optical connector 14, the ferrule 6 of the plug-side optical connector 2 is inserted into the alignment sleeve 18 of the jack-side optical connector 14, and the fastening nut 12 is fully tightened. So,
The end faces of the ferrule 6 and the ferrule 14 are centered and joined, and the ring-shaped elastic member 10 is pressed against the flat end face 16a of the housing 1 of the jack-side optical connector 14,
Water is prevented from entering the ferrule joint from outside.

The conventional waterproof optical connector described above has a gasket on a front surface of a housing so as to surround a plurality of ferrules.
Due to the structure in which the ring-shaped elastic member such as the O-ring is arranged, the contact area of the elastic member in contact with the flat end surface of the jack-side housing is inevitably increased, so that a large torque is required to tighten the fastening nut. And there was a problem that workability was poor. Further, when the ring-shaped elastic member is a gasket, there is a disadvantage that the gasket is deformed because the deformation control section is not provided, and there is a problem that the gasket is easily removed because the gasket is not mechanically fixed.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point,
An object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof optical connector that can improve fastening workability and maintain stable waterproofness for a long period of time.

Means for Solving the Problems A plurality of plug-side ferrules are attached to the plug-side housing, and a jack-side ferrule similar to the plug-side ferrule is attached to the jack-side housing via an alignment sleeve. In a waterproof optical connector that prevents water from entering, a ring-shaped elastic member is provided so as to surround the entire circumference of one of the pair of plug-side ferrules and jack-side ferrules facing each other. When the two housings are fastened to each other, a flat portion is provided on a surface of the housing having the other ferrule of the pair of ferrules where the ring-shaped elastic member is in pressure contact, and the flat-shaped portion presses the ring-shaped elastic member to prevent water intrusion. The configuration is as follows.

Preferably, a convex step portion is provided on the outer periphery of the flat portion,
The configuration is such that deformation of the ring-shaped elastic member is suppressed by the convex step portion.

In order to connect the optical connector, the plug-side ferrule is inserted into the alignment sleeve and the two housings are fastened to each other. Thereby, the joining end surfaces of the plug-side ferrule and the jack-side ferrule are centered and abutted. At the same time, the ring-shaped elastic member provided on one housing presses against the flat portion of the other housing, effectively preventing light from entering the optical connector portions from the outside.

According to the present invention, instead of providing a single ring-shaped elastic member so as to surround the entirety of a plurality of ferrules as in the related art, a ring-shaped elastic member is provided for each ferrule pair. The required torque at the time of connector fastening is small, and fastening workability can be improved.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 22 denotes a plug-side optical connector which defines two ferrule insertion holes 25 in a housing 24 made of, for example, stainless steel or the like. A sleeve-shaped pressing member having a flange 27a is press-fitted, and a ring-shaped elastic member 30 made of rubber or the like is formed at the flange 27a of the sleeve-shaped pressing member 27.
The ring-shaped elastic member 30 is fixed to the housing 24 by pressing down a step 30a provided on the inner peripheral portion of the housing 24. By inserting the ferrule 26 into the sleeve-shaped holding member 27 press-fitted into the ferrule insertion hole 25 and pressing the flange of the ferrule 26 against the step formed in the housing 24 with the coil spring 28, a certain degree of radial freedom is provided. The ferrule 26 is fixed to the housing 24 with a certain degree.
Reference numeral 32 denotes a fastening nut having a threaded portion 32a at its inner peripheral end, which is attached to the housing 24 so as to be movable in the axial direction.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a jack-side optical connector. A housing 36 made of stainless steel or the like has a position facing the ferrule 26 of the plug-side optical connector 22 and two ferrule insertion holes.
37, a half-shaped alignment sleeve 38 made of, for example, phosphor bronze is inserted into each ferrule insertion hole 37, and a ferrule 40 connected to an optical fiber is inserted into each alignment sleeve 38. doing. That is, as shown in the enlarged sectional view of FIG. 3, the aligning sleeve 38 is inserted into the ferrule insertion hole 37, and the ferrule holder 46 is mounted in the bore defined in the housing 36.
The ferrule 40 is attached to the housing 36 with a certain degree of freedom in the radial direction by pressing the flange 40a of the ferrule 40 against the step of the ferrule holder 46 with 44.

And housings corresponding to the respective alignment sleeves 38.
An annular flat surface portion 41 is formed on the end face of 36, and a convex step portion 42 is formed around the annular flat surface portion 41.

However, in order to fasten the plug-side optical connector 22 to the jack-side optical connector 34, the plug-side housing 24 is jacked so that the ferrule 26 of the plug-side optical connector 22 is inserted into the alignment sleeve 38 of the jack-side optical connector 34. Push it into the side housing 36 and tighten the fastening nut 32 sufficiently. As a result, the joining end surfaces of the ferrule 26 and the ferrule 40 are centered and abutted, and the ring-shaped elastic member 27 is pressed against the flat portion 41 of the housing 36, crushed and deformed, thereby joining each ferrule. Water is prevented from entering the part from outside. At this time, since the convex step portions 42 are provided around the respective flat portions 41, the deformation of the ring-shaped elastic member 30 is controlled by the step portions 42, and the waterproof structure is stably maintained for a long time. .

As described above, in the present embodiment, a ring-shaped elastic member is provided so as to surround each ferrule on one of the housings to which the respective ferrule pairs to be joined are attached, and a ring-shaped elastic member is provided at the tip of the housing to which the other ferrule is attached. Since the flat portion on which the elastic member is pressed is provided, the pressed area of the ring-shaped elastic member can be reduced. For this reason, the optical connector can be fastened with a smaller torque than the conventional structure.

Effect of the Invention Since the waterproof type optical connector of the present invention is configured as described in detail above, the tightening torque at the time of connector fastening can be reduced, and as a result, there is an effect that the workability of connector fastening can be greatly improved. . In addition, since the deformation of the ring-shaped elastic member can be suppressed by the convex step portion provided at the distal end portion of the housing, stable waterproofness can be maintained for a long time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a plug-side ferrule mounting portion, FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a jack-side ferrule mounting portion, FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional example, and FIG. 6 is a view taken in the direction of arrow VI in FIG. 22… Plug-side optical connector, 24… Plug-side housing, 26 …… Plug-side ferrule, 30 …… Ring-shaped elastic member, 32 …… Tightening nut, 34 …… Jack-side optical connector, 36 …… Jack-side housing , 38: Alignment sleeve, 40: Jack-side ferrule, 41: Flat part, 42: Convex step.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Akira Mezaki 1015 Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fujitsu Limited (56) References JP-A-59-50414 (JP, A) JP-A-56-106213 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 6/36

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of plug-side ferrules (26) are attached to a plug-side housing (24), and the same number of jack-side ferrules (40) as the plug-side ferrules (26) are arranged on the jack-side via an alignment sleeve (38). A waterproof optical connector which is attached to a housing (36) and prevents water from entering the ferrule portion when the two housings are fastened to each other, and is provided so as to surround the entire circumference of each of the plug-side ferrules (26). When connecting the ring-shaped elastic member (30) and the jack-side housing (36) to the plug-side housing (24), the jack-side housing (36) is pressed against the ring-shaped elastic member (30) by a flat portion. (41) A waterproof optical connector characterized in that the flat portion (41) presses the ring-shaped elastic member (30) to prevent water from entering. 2. A convex step (4) is formed on the outer periphery of the flat portion (41).
2. The waterproof type optical connector according to claim 1, wherein 2) is provided, and the deformation of the ring-shaped elastic member (30) is suppressed by the convex stepped member (42). 3. A step (30a) is provided in an inner peripheral portion of the ring-shaped elastic member (30), and a sleeve-shaped pressing member (27) having a flange portion (27a) is inserted into a ferrule of the plug-side housing (24). 2. The waterproof optical connector according to claim 1, wherein said ring-shaped elastic member is fixed by pressing said step portion by said flange portion by press-fitting into said hole. .