JP3130349B2 - Optical underwater connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber for transmitting information to underwater equipment, for example, an underwater sensor or an underwater measuring instrument, and for receiving a signal from such underwater equipment. The present invention relates to a line connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Equipment that moves in water (underwater robot)
In the case where a sensor or the like and a controller arranged on a ship are connected by a signal line, a technique using an optical fiber transmission line capable of transmitting a large amount of information has been put to practical use.

[0003]

By the way, an optical fiber is extremely fragile as compared with a conductive wire, and a large transmission loss is caused by water infiltration. There has been a problem that the connector becomes expensive and large in size. Further, there is a problem that it is very difficult to have a sufficient waterproof function against high water pressure. Further, in the case of an optical fiber cord protected by a plastic material, there is a problem that water permeates through the plastic material due to the water pressure received in water and shortens the life of the fiber.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and has been developed as an optical underwater connector.
And the second shell is connected, and the first shell waterproofs the water running in from the outer periphery of the optical fiber cord whose outer peripheral surface is protected by a resin material. The pressure-resistant small-diameter pipe of the optical fiber cord is retained by the second shell. A guide sleeve for fixing a ferrule attachment for regulating the center position of the optical fiber at an accurate position can be used.

[0005]

Since the small-diameter pipe is fixed to the anchor with a caulking sleeve, and the plastic coating (sheet) protecting the small-diameter pipe is fixed by crimping with packing means, the waterproof function is completely performed. And the tensile strength can be increased. Further, since a guide sleeve is fitted to the tip of the ferrule attachment so that the center position with respect to the optical fiber provided on the receiving connector is regulated, transmission loss is reduced.

[0006]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an underwater optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a ferrule having a transparent optical material (glass) at its tip to hold an optical fiber core, and reference numeral 2 denotes a ferrule attachment supporting the ferrule. The ferrule attachment 2 is provided with a ring-shaped groove 4.
The O-ring 3 is inserted in. The center portion is a through-hole 5, in which a small-diameter fiber cord pipe is fixed with an adhesive or the like. The O-ring 3 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface 6 of the front shell 9 and slides slightly. A recess 7 into which a guide sleeve 21 to be described later can be inserted is provided at the tip of the front shell 9, and a coupling nut 8 is provided so as to cover the outer peripheral side thereof. O-rings 10 and 11 are placed at the joint with the connector on the receiving side and at the joint with the rear shell described below.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a cylindrical rear shell screwed and connected to the front shell 9, and a set screw 13 is screwed into the screwed portion. 14 is a compression spring inserted inside the front shell 9, and 15 is a spacer. The compression spring 14 urges the ferrule attachment 2 to the left and, as described below, serves to strongly press the optical fibers together when coupled to the receiving connector. Reference numeral 16 denotes an anchor part, and a swaging sleeve 17 is screwed into the anchor part 16. The caulking sleeve 17 secures the small diameter pipe 52 of the optical fiber cord 50 to the anchor 15 by caulking. The outer sheath 53 of the optical fiber cord 50 is compressed by the spacer 19 by tightening the packing retainer 20, so that the rear shell 12 is compressed.
Is fixed inside.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a connector (receptacle) on the receiving side of the optical fiber cord retained by the connector. In this figure, 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes a ferrule that regulates the position of the optical fiber core on the side to be connected, and 32 denotes a ferrule attachment, in which a small-diameter pipe 52 is held. 33 is an O-ring, 3
4 is a spacer, and 35 is a holding bolt for pressing the spacer 34. Reference numeral 36 denotes a shell on the receiving side. In this embodiment, the shell 36 is fixed to the outer wall of the sensor 40. The shell 36 is provided with a rotation stopping projection 36A, a mounting screw hole 36B, and a screw portion 36C into which the coupling nut 8 shown in FIG. 1 is screwed. 37 is a shell 36 and the outer wall 4 of the sensor
This is an O-ring for keeping the bonding surface of No. 0 secret. In addition,
When the connector on the receiving side shown in FIG. 2 is used for relaying the optical fiber cord 50, the external shape can be the same as that shown in FIG. .

Since the underwater optical connector of the present invention is configured as described above, it can be used as an underwater optical connector having no transmission loss by connecting an optical fiber cord as follows. First, an optical fiber cord 50 that protects a small-diameter pipe (stainless steel pipe) 52 in which an optical fiber core 51 is inserted at the center with a sheath 53 made of plastic or the like is placed inside a first shell (rear shell 12). And the packing presser 20 and the packing spacer 19
And packing 18 comprising packing means. Then, an adhesive is applied to the surface of the sheet 53, and molding is performed with a plastic material such as urethane. In a second shell (front shell 9) connected to the first shell, the sheath of the introduced optical fiber code 50 is provided.
In this case, the small-diameter pipe 52 is obtained by removing the thread 53. The small diameter pipe 52 is fixed in advance in the through hole of the ferrule attachment 2 by bonding or the like. The center position of only the optical fiber core 51 is restricted by the ferrule 1 portion. Further, inside the second shell, the small-diameter pipe 52 is crimped by the crimping sleeve 17 and retained by the anchor portion 16.

The connector holding the optical fiber cord 50 as described above is coupled to the receiving connector (receptacle) shown in FIG. In this case, since the ferrule 1 and the ferrule 31 on the receiving side are coupled with the guide sleeve 21 fitted,
The center positions of the fibers of the fibers are collided with extremely high precision. When the coupling nut 8 is completely tightened, the ferrule 1 is pushed in by the receiving ferrule 31 and slightly retracts against the compression spring 14. Therefore, the optical fiber cores collide with a predetermined pressure.

[0011]

As described above, in the underwater optical fiber of the present invention, the first shell and the second shell are connected, and the outer sheath of the optical fiber cord to be connected is provided in the first shell. Sufficient tensile strength can be given because the packing means provided secures and prevents running water, and the small-diameter pipe is stopped by the caulking sleeve provided on the second shell. .
In addition, the center position of the fiber core is fixed by the ferrule attachment, and the positioning is performed by the guide sleeve together with the ferrule on the receiving side. It has the effect of being performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an underwater optical connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a receiving connector of the underwater optical connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel 2 Fuel attachment 8 Cock ring nut 9 Front shell 12 Rear shell 14 Compression spring 16 Anchor part 17

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A connector for connecting fiber cords each having an optical fiber core wire inserted into the center of a small-diameter pipe covered with a resin material, wherein an anchor portion is arranged at a central portion, and a boot is covered on an outer periphery thereof. And a second shell provided with a ferrule attachment which is screwed with the first shell and to which a small-diameter pipe of the fiber cord is fixed. An underwater optical connector, further comprising a caulking sleeve for retaining the small-diameter pipe. 2. A packing device according to claim 1, wherein said first shell is provided with a packing means for adhering a surface of a resin material protecting said small diameter pipe to prevent water running. Optical underwater connector. 3. A ferrule attachment provided in the second shell, wherein a guide sleeve is fitted to the tip of the ferrule attachment so that the center of the receiving connector and the ferrule can be aligned. The optical underwater connector according to claim 1.