JP4481234B2 - Optical connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various optical connectors have been proposed that are connected to an optical fiber at an optical connector other than a factory, for example, at a connection work site. Such a so-called field-attached optical connector includes, for example, a housing, a ferrule with a connection mechanism, a stop ring, and a spring.

A ferrule with a connection mechanism is installed in a housing, and is composed of a ferrule for internally fixing a required length of connection optical fiber, and a connection mechanism for connecting and connecting the connection optical fiber and the routing optical fiber. Yes.
The stop ring is a cylindrical member provided on the rear side of the ferrule with a connection mechanism, and accommodates the connection mechanism therein and is attached so that the front end surface thereof faces the rear end surface of the flange portion of the ferrule. Yes.
The spring biases the ferrule with the connection mechanism in the axial direction, is housed in the stop ring, and is disposed behind the connection mechanism. With this spring, the ferrule with a connection mechanism is mounted in the housing in a state where the flange portion is pressed against the housing and is not rattling (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-10-206688

  However, since the above-mentioned conventional optical connector attached on site has a built-in connection mechanism, the overall length is longer than that of a connector without a connection mechanism. In recent years, there is an increasing demand for minimizing the overall length of the optical connector.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector capable of suppressing the overall length of the optical connector.

The present invention employs the following configuration in order to solve the above problems.
That is, the optical connector according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a ferrule in which an optical fiber is fixed internally and a flange portion is formed at the rear end, and a rear end portion of the optical fiber protruding from the rear end of the ferrule. A ferrule with a connection mechanism composed of a connection mechanism that clamps each optical fiber in a state of being aligned and aligned with each other, and a housing that houses the ferrule with the connection mechanism, and is mounted in the housing. A stop ring that houses the connection mechanism, and an element fastening portion that contacts the front end of the flange portion is provided inside the housing, and at least one of the rear end of the flange portion or the front end of the stop ring. And press against either the flange part or the stop ring facing it. It deformation portion which is in close contact with the elastic deformation or plastic deformation is provided in which is the rear end surface and the tip surface of the stop ring of the flange portion, a pair of uneven portions which are combined into hook-like are formed respectively, wherein The deforming portion is formed in the convex and concave portion .

According to the optical connector of the present invention, the element fastening portion that contacts the front end of the flange portion is provided inside the housing, and at least one of the rear end of the flange portion or the front end of the stop ring faces the front end. With a structure that has a deformed part that is elastically deformed or plastically deformed by being pressed against either the flange part or the stop ring, with a connection mechanism in the housing without using a biasing member such as a spring The rattling of the ferrule can be suppressed, whereby the overall length of the optical connector can be suppressed.

Hereinafter, first to third embodiments of an optical connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]

First, a first embodiment of an optical connector according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an optical connector 1 in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the optical connector 1 is a so-called field-attached optical connector that is attached to the tip of the optical fiber 7 for routing in the field, and includes a ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism, a housing (plug frame) 3, a stop ring ( (Push-in restricting member) 4 and movement restricting means 5 are provided. The optical connector 1 is one that is directly connected to another optical connector (not shown) (receptacle-plug system) or one that is connected via an adapter (not shown) (plug-adapter-plug system). One of the optical connector 1 or another optical connector (not shown) is provided with a spring (biasing member) (not shown) for applying a butt force between the ferrules.

  The ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism is disposed on the rear end side facing the joining end surface (front end surface) 21a of the ferrule 21 and the ferrule 21 for bonding and fixing the connecting optical fiber 6 (bare wire). A connection mechanism (clamping portion) 22 that butt-connects the optical fiber 6 and the routing optical fiber 7 is configured. Here, the ferrule 21 is similar to the ferrule used in, for example, the SC type optical connector or the MU type optical connector, and is a capillary type formed of ceramic such as zirconia, glass or the like. This is a (single-core) ferrule, and an optical fiber hole which is a very fine microhole is formed at the center thereof. The routing optical fiber 7 is a coated optical fiber such as an optical fiber or an optical fiber core. For example, it may be an optical fiber exposed at the tip of a drop cable or indoor cable, or an optical fiber core wire exposed at the tip of an optical fiber cord. In either case, the leading end portion of the routing optical fiber 7 is a bare wire.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a specific configuration of the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism. As shown in FIG. 2, a flange portion 23 that is fitted into the housing 3 is formed at the rear end of the ferrule 21. The connection mechanism 22 is, for example, a half of a cylindrical element, and clamps the rear end 6a of the connection optical fiber 6 between a pair of half elements 24, 25, and 26. The configuration is such that a portion 7 a made of a strand or a core wire at the tip of the routing optical fiber 7 and a portion 7 b made of a bare wire at the tip of the routing optical fiber 7 are clamped. Specifically, a semicircular extension 24 extending rearward from the flange portion 23 of the ferrule 21 and two semicircular cross sections arranged in series on the mating surface 24a of the extension 24 The lid-side elements 25 and 26 are housed inside a sleeve-like C-shaped spring (exterior member) 27 having a C-shaped cross section. The extending portion 24 is formed integrally with the flange portion 23, and is formed of a material having sufficient rigidity and high molding accuracy. Further, U grooves 24a, 25a, and 26a into which the optical fibers 6 and 7 are respectively fitted are formed on the mating surfaces of the extending portion 24 and the lid-side elements 25 and 26, and the optical fibers 6 and 7 are butted together. It is configured so that positioning is possible. In addition, the extension portion 24 and the lid-side elements 25 and 26 are maintained in a combined state by a C-shaped spring 27, and a butt connection state between the connection optical fiber 6 and the routing optical fiber 7 is maintained. .

  Further, when the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism described above is shipped, a ring-shaped insertion member (not shown) is inserted between the extension portion 24 and the lid-side elements 25 and 26. And when attaching the optical connector 1 to the front-end | tip of the optical fiber 7 for routing, in the state which opened between the extension part 24 and the lid | cover side elements 25 and 26 slightly, The leading end of the routing optical fiber 7 is abutted and connected, and thereafter, an insertion member (not shown) is pulled out and sandwiched between the extending portion 24 and the lid-side elements 25 and 26. It should be noted that the insertion member was pushed between the extended portion 24 and the lid-side elements 25 and 26 that were closed on site to slightly open the gap between the extended portion 24 and the lid-side elements 25 and 26. The tip of the routing optical fiber 7 may be connected.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 3 is a cylindrical member that accommodates the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism therein. Inside the housing 3 is formed an element fastening portion 31 for restricting forward movement (left side in FIG. 1) and shaft rotation of the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism, and the flange portion 23 of the ferrule 21 is connected to the element fastening portion. The ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism is mounted in the housing 3 in a state of being in contact with 31.

  The stop ring 4 is a cylindrical member that is fitted into the housing 3 from the rear end thereof and is mounted in the housing 3 with the connection mechanism 22 accommodated therein. Moreover, the stop ring 4 is arrange | positioned behind the flange part 23 (right side in FIG. 1) so that the front end surface of the stop ring 4 may oppose the rear-end surface of the flange part 23. FIG. The stop ring 4 is fitted and connected to the housing 3 so as to be pushed in from the rear end of the housing 3. When connecting the stop ring 4 to the housing 3, the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism is accommodated in the housing 2 and the stop ring 4. Specifically, the connection mechanism 22 of the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism is accommodated in the stop ring 4. Further, the ferrule 21 of the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism is inserted from the rear end side of the housing 3 into the ferrule hole formed in the element retaining portion 31 of the housing 3, and the ferrule 21 projects forward from the element retaining portion 31.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an engaged state between the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism and the stop ring 4, and FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating an engaged state between the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism and the stop ring 4. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the movement restricting means 5 moves back and forth of the ferrule 2 with the connection mechanism with respect to the housing 3 by eliminating the clearance X generated between the flange portion 23 of the ferrule 21 and the stop ring 4 ( (Movement in the axial direction) is controlled to prevent rattling of the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism. Specifically, the front end portion of the stop ring 4 is abutted against and pressed against the flange portion 23. The structure is provided with resin protrusions 9 and 9 (deformation portions) that are elastically deformed and closely attached. In other words, the flange portion 23 of the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism is sandwiched between the element retaining portion 31 and the resin projections 9 and 9 so that the ferrule 2 with the connection mechanism cannot be moved back and forth.

  The resin protrusions 9 and 9 are respectively projected in notches 4a and 4a (recesses) formed in a plurality (two in this embodiment) at the tip of the stop ring 4, and the notches 4a It is provided in a state protruding from the end face of 4a toward the front (left side in FIG. 4). Further, the resin protrusions 9 and 9 are made of resin, and when the stop ring 4 is mounted in the housing 3, the resin protrusions 9 and 9 are elastically deformed so as to be crushed by the contacted surface 23 a of the flange portion 23. Then, it is brought into close contact with the abutted surface 23a. Here, the abutted surface 23a of the flange portion 23 protrudes rearward (right side in FIG. 4) and is behind the key grooves (protrusions) 23b and 23b fitted into the notches 4a and 4a of the stop ring 4. When the rear ends of the key grooves 23b and 23b are fitted in the notches 4a and 4a, the resin protrusions 9 and 9 are pressed against the contacted surface 23a.

  According to the optical connector 1 having the above-described configuration, the movement restricting means 5 for restricting the back and forth movement of the ferrule 2 with the connection mechanism with respect to the housing 3 is provided, and the movement restricting means 5 is provided at the tip of the stop ring 4. Since the resin projections 9 and 9 that are elastically deformed and pressed into contact with the rear end of the flange 23 facing the flange 23 are provided, the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism is installed in the housing 3 and with the connection mechanism. When the connecting mechanism 22 of the ferrule 2 is accommodated in the stop ring 4 and the optical connector 1 is assembled, the resin projections 9 and 9 provided at the tip of the stop ring 4 are pressed against the contacted surface 23a of the flange 23, respectively. It is crushed and elastically deformed, and the clearance X generated between the flange portion 23 and the stop ring 4 is eliminated. Axial movement of the Le 2 is restricted by the stop ring 4. Accordingly, rattling of the ferrule 2 with the connection mechanism in the housing 3 can be suppressed without using a biasing member such as a spring disposed behind the connection mechanism 22, and the overall length of the optical connector 1 can be suppressed. be able to.

  Further, a contacted surface 23 a protruding in a convex shape is formed on the rear end surface of the flange portion 23, and concave notches 4 a and 4 a are formed on the front end surface of the stop ring 4. And the stop ring 4 are combined in a key shape, and the resin protrusions 9 and 9 are formed in the notches 4a and 4a. It is regulated and shakiness in the axial rotation direction of the ferrule 2 with the connection mechanism can be suppressed.

  In the first embodiment described above, two resin projections 9 are provided at the tip of the stop ring 4. However, in the present invention, one or three resin projections (deformation portions) are provided. It may be provided above.

  In the first embodiment described above, the resin protrusions 9 and 9 are provided in the notches 4a and 4a at the tip of the stop ring 4. However, in the present invention, the notch is provided at the tip of the stop ring. A resin protrusion (deformed portion) may be provided on the ring end surface of the stop ring without being formed.

  In the first embodiment described above, the resin projections 9 and 9 are provided on the stop ring 4 side, and the resin projections 9 and 9 are pressed against the contacted surface 23a of the flange portion 23. However, the present invention may have a configuration in which a resin projection (deformed portion) is provided on the rear end surface of the flange portion, and the resin projection is pressed against the tip surface of the stop ring.

  In the first embodiment described above, the rear end surfaces of the key grooves 23b and 23b are the contacted surfaces 23a with which the resin protrusions 9 and 9 abut. However, the present invention is not limited to the resin protrusions (deformation portions). As long as it is a part of the flange portion at a position corresponding to), the other part may be the contacted surface.

  Further, in the first embodiment described above, the resin protrusion 9 that is elastically deformed when a predetermined force or more is applied is provided as the deforming portion constituting the movement restricting means 5. The present invention is not limited to the above-described resin-made projections 9. For example, as the deformation part, a steel projection part that is easily elastically deformed may be provided, or a projection part made of another easily deformable material is provided. Moreover, the deformation | transformation part which concerns on this invention may be plastically deformed and closely_contact | adhered.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the convex resin projections 9 and 9 are provided as the deforming portion, but the deforming portion according to the present invention is not limited to the convex shape, For example, the entire end face on the rear side of the notch formed in the stop ring may be made of resin and used as a deformed portion. Also good.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the optical connector according to the present invention will be described. In addition, about the structure similar to above-mentioned 1st Embodiment, the description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the code | symbol same as 1st Embodiment.

  FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the optical connector 101 in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, in the movement restricting means 105 provided in the optical connector 101, an opening 3a is opened in the housing 3, and a wedge-shaped (triangular section) leaf spring 109 is inserted into the opening 3a. 109 is configured to press the flange portion 23 of the ferrule 2 with the connection mechanism.

  Specifically, the opening 3a formed in the housing 3 is formed at a position facing the gap (clearance X) between the flange portion 23 and the stop ring 4, and the tip of the leaf spring 109 (in FIG. 5). The lower end is an opening that can be inserted and is large enough to hook the base end (upper end in FIG. 5) of the leaf spring 109. When the leaf spring 109 is inserted into the opening 3a, the tip of the leaf spring 109 is inserted between the flange portion 23 and the stop ring 4 in the housing 3, and the clearance between the flange portion 23 and the stop ring 4 is inserted. X is eliminated. At this time, the rear end surface of the flange portion 23 is pressed forward, and the flange portion 23 is pressed against the element fastening portion 31. That is, the flange portion 23 is sandwiched between the element retaining portion 31 and the leaf spring 109, whereby the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism is mounted in a stable (not moving) state in the housing 3.

According to the optical connector 101 having the above-described configuration, after the ferrule 2 with the connection mechanism is installed in the housing 3 and the connection mechanism 22 of the ferrule 2 with the connection mechanism is accommodated in the stop ring 4 and the optical connector 1 is assembled. By inserting the leaf spring 109 into the opening 3 a formed in the housing 3, the front end of the leaf spring 109 is fitted between the rear end surface of the flange portion 23 and the front end surface of the stop ring 4. The clearance X generated between the ring 4 and the ring 4 is eliminated, and the axial movement of the ferrule 2 with the connection mechanism is restricted by the leaf spring 109 and the stop ring 4. Thus, rattling of the ferrule 2 with the connection mechanism in the housing 3 can be suppressed without using a biasing member such as a spring, and the overall length of the optical connector 101 can be suppressed.
[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the optical connector according to the present invention will be described. In addition, about the structure similar to above-mentioned 1st, 2nd embodiment, the description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol as 1st, 2nd embodiment.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing an optical connector 201 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the movement restricting means 205 provided in the optical connector 201 has a wave washer (a right end surface in FIG. 6) in contact with the rear end surface (the right end surface in FIG. 6) in the stop ring 4. A wave washer 209 is provided.

  According to the optical connector 201 configured as described above, when the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism is installed in the housing 3 and the connection mechanism 22 of the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism is accommodated in the stop ring 4 and the optical connector 201 is assembled, The wave washer 209 provided in the stop ring 4 comes into contact with the rear end surface of the connection mechanism 22, and the clearance X generated between the flange portion 23 and the stop ring 4 is eliminated, and the axial direction of the ferrule 2 with the connection mechanism is eliminated. The movement is restricted by the stop ring 4. Thus, rattling of the ferrule 2 with the connection mechanism in the housing 3 can be suppressed without using a biasing member such as a spring disposed behind the connection mechanism 22, and the overall length of the optical connector 201 can be suppressed. be able to.

  The first to third embodiments of the optical connector according to the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. is there. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the connection mechanism 22 clamps the rear end portion 6a of the connection optical fiber 6 between the pair of half-split elements 24, 25, and 26 and the front end of the routing optical fiber 7 In this embodiment, the present invention has, for example, a fine hole. The portion 7a is composed of a bare wire or a core wire and the portion 7b is composed of a bare wire at the tip of the routing optical fiber 7. A connection mechanism may be used in which the rear end of the connection optical fiber and the front end of the routing optical fiber are butted and fixed in the capillary by using a UV adhesive.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the flange portion 23 and the stop ring 4 are arranged side by side in the front and back, and the resin protrusions 9 and 9 that contact the rear end surface of the flange portion 23 are provided on the stop ring 4 to provide a housing. Although the movement restricting means 5 for restricting the back and forth movement of the ferrule 2 with the connection mechanism with respect to 3 is provided, in the present invention, the flange portion is fitted in the stop ring, and the movement restricting means provided in the optical connector is provided. However, the deformation | transformation part contact | abutted to the outer peripheral surface of a flange part may be provided in the inner peripheral surface of a stop ring, and the front-back movement of the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism with respect to the housing 3 may be controlled.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the optical connectors 1, 101, 201 are on the male side has been described as an example. However, the present invention may be an optical connector on the female side.
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the ferrule 21 is a capillary type has been described. However, in the present invention, the ferrule may be of other types. For example, the guide pin is fitted into the guide pin hole. It may be an MT type optical fiber connector (MT ferrule) that is positioned and butt-connected.

It is a conceptual diagram of the optical connector for demonstrating 1st Embodiment of the optical connector which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing of the ferrule with a connection mechanism for demonstrating 1st Embodiment of the optical connector which concerns on this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism and the stop ring 4 for demonstrating 1st Embodiment of the optical connector which concerns on this invention. It is a disassembled side view of the ferrule 2 with a connection mechanism and the stop ring 4 for demonstrating 1st Embodiment of the optical connector which concerns on this invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the optical connector for demonstrating 2nd Embodiment of the optical connector which concerns on this invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the optical connector for demonstrating 3rd Embodiment of the optical connector which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101,201 ... Optical connector, 2 ... Ferrule with connection mechanism, 3 ... Housing, 4 ... Stop ring, 5, 105, 205 ... Movement control means, 6 ... Connection optical fiber (optical fiber), 7 ... For routing Optical fiber (another optical fiber), 9 ... Resin protrusion (deformed part), 21 ... Ferrule, 22 ... Connection mechanism, 23 ... Flange part

Claims (1)

A ferrule (21) in which an optical fiber (6) is fixed internally and a flange portion (23) is formed at the rear end, and a rear end portion of the optical fiber protruding from the rear end of the ferrule and another optical fiber ( 7) a ferrule with a connection mechanism (2) consisting of a connection mechanism (22) that clamps each of the tip portions in a state where they are aligned and butt-connected with each other;
A housing (3) for housing the ferrule with the connection mechanism;
A stop ring (4) mounted in the housing and storing the connection mechanism;
An element retaining portion (31) that abuts the front end of the flange portion is provided inside the housing, and at least one of the rear end of the flange portion and the front end of the stop ring, the flange portion or A deformed portion (9) is provided which is elastically deformed or plastically deformed by being pressed against either one of the stop rings ,
The rear end surface of the flange portion and the front end surface of the stop ring are each formed with a pair of convex concave portions combined in a key shape, and the deforming portion is formed in the convex concave portion. connector.

Images