JP4757728B2 - Light closure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical closure, and more particularly, to an optical closure that houses a connecting portion between an optical fiber cable and an optical drop cable branched from the optical fiber cable.

As the optical closure provided at the connection point between the optical fiber cable (main cable) and the optical drop cable branched from the optical fiber cable, as an end face plate provided so as to close the axial end of the cylindrical closure sleeve, In addition to the introduction hole of the optical fiber cable, a structure using an end face plate having a small hole (through hole; hereinafter also referred to as a drop cable introduction hole) functioning as an introduction hole of the optical drop cable is known ( For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
In the optical closure having this structure, the optical drop cable can be introduced by being pushed into the drop cable introduction hole.
Further, as in Patent Document 3, a first sleeve 5 having an end wall portion 5d in which a seal member (first seal member 7) for forming an introduction hole for an optical fiber cable is incorporated, and introduction of an optical drop cable And a second sleeve 6 having an end wall portion 6d in which a sealing member (second sealing member 8) is incorporated, and a split sleeve having a split structure, and the first and second sleeves 5 and 6 are separated. In this state, an optical closure having a structure in which the optical drop cable 3 is pushed into the slit 8a of the second seal member 8 exposed on the mating surface of the second sleeve 6 with the first sleeve 5 is also known. It has been.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-201953 JP-A-2005-70293 JP 2002-243978 A

In the optical closures as in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the optical drop cable is inserted into a small hole (hereinafter referred to as a drop cable introduction hole) that functions as an introduction hole of the optical drop cable, and the end face plate is penetrated. Introduce. However, the end face plate in which the packing for sealing the introduction hole of the optical fiber cable (main cable) is incorporated has a large thickness and a long drop cable introduction hole. Therefore, the optical drop cable is dropped during the piercing operation. It may be caught in the introduction hole, and it may take time and effort.
Also, in order to accommodate the introduction of a large number of optical drop cables on the end face plate, for example, a large number of drop cable introduction holes are arranged vertically and horizontally to form a high density (however, avoid the drop cable introduction holes). As a result, the workability of the work of inserting the optical drop cable into the drop cable introduction hole is reduced.
The optical closure as disclosed in Patent Document 3 is configured such that the optical drop cable 3 is inserted into the slit 8a of the second seal member 8 of the second sleeve 6 so that the optical drop cable is introduced as compared with the piercing. Is not easy. Moreover, it is not easy to cope with the introduction of a large number of optical drop cables due to the structure.
In addition, all of the techniques according to Patent Documents 1-3 have a structure that takes time to take out the introduced optical drop cable.

  In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention can easily and reliably carry out the operation of introducing an optical drop cable and the operation of taking out an optical drop cable that has already been introduced, and also by forming a large number of drop cable insertion grooves. The purpose is to provide an optical closure that can easily accommodate the introduction of optical drop cables.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following configuration.
1st invention is an optical closure which accommodates the connection part of an optical fiber cable and the optical drop cable branched from this optical fiber cable, Comprising: The closure sleeve which can be opened and closed, and the main cable for introduction of the said optical fiber cable And an end face plate provided inside the axial end of the closure sleeve. A plurality of drop cable insertion grooves for introducing the optical drop cable are provided in parallel on the side face of the end face plate. A drip-proof recess that is a recess recessed from the side surface of the end face plate and protrudes on both sides in the thickness direction of the end face plate via the drip-proof recess. And a rib-like projecting wall with which the inner surface of the closure sleeve abuts, and a thin plate-like shielding fin projecting in the drip-proof recess, and the both sides of the closure sleeve through the drip-proof recess Slot grooves formed on each of the projecting walls and functioning as both ends of the drop cable insertion groove communicate with each other through the drip-proof recess, and the shielding fins are formed at the slot grooves at both ends of the drop cable insertion groove. There is provided an optical closure characterized in that it is provided so as to be shielded from each other and pushed down by an optical drop cable inserted into the drop cable insertion groove from the outside of the closure .
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the end face plate has a half-split structure composed of a pair of left and right end face plate halves, and the drop cable insertion groove is opposite to the mating surface of the end face plate halves in the end face plate halves. The optical closure according to the first aspect of the present invention is provided on the side surface .
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the drip-proof recess is formed in a groove shape extending in the vertical direction on a side portion of the end face plate, and the ribs on both sides of the drip-proof recess extending along the drip-proof recess. The drop cable insertion groove is formed in upper and lower multi-stages on the shaped protruding wall, and the shielding fins are provided in upper and lower multi-stages for each drop cable insertion groove paired via the drip-proof recess. An optical closure according to the first or second invention is provided.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking piece for releasably locking the optical drop cable passed through the drop cable insertion groove and preventing the drop cable insertion groove from falling off. An optical closure according to any one of the first to third aspects , wherein the optical closure is provided so as to protrude in a recess.
In a fifth aspect of the invention, the end face plate has a half-split structure composed of a pair of left and right end face plate halves, and the drop cable insertion groove is opposite to the mating surface of the end face plate halves in the end face plate halves. The end plate half formed with the drop cable insertion groove on the side surface is a synthetic resin integrally formed product in which the rib-like projecting wall and the shielding fin are integrally formed. An optical closure according to any one of the first to fourth inventions is provided.
A sixth invention provides the optical closure according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, wherein the shielding fins are elastically deformable thin plates.
A seventh invention provides the optical closure according to any one of the first to sixth inventions, wherein the end face plate is provided with a lid for opening and closing the main cable introduction hole.

According to the present invention, the optical drop cable can be inserted into the drop cable insertion groove on the side portion of the end face plate from the outside of the closure.
The optical drop cable is inserted into the drop cable insertion groove on the side of the end plate that can be exposed if the closure sleeve is removed, so even if the optical drop cable gets caught during the insertion work, it is easy to catch The optical drop cable can be reliably inserted into the drop cable insertion groove. In addition, there is an advantage that the installed optical drop cable can be easily taken out.
Also, if the drop cable insertion groove is formed on the side of the end plate, there is no need to avoid the introduction hole of the optical fiber cable (main cable), and many drop cables can be inserted over a wide area on the side of the end plate. Since grooves can be formed, it is possible to easily increase the number of drop cable insertion grooves and the number of optical drop cables introduced. Moreover, even if a large number of drop cable insertion grooves are formed in the side portion of the end face plate, the introduction work of the optical drop cable and the already installed light are less than when the drop cable introduction holes are arranged vertically and horizontally. It is easy to secure the workability of taking out the drop cable.

Hereinafter, an optical closure embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a front view showing the internal structure of the optical closure 10, FIG. 2 is a side view of the optical closure 10 of FIG. 1 viewed from one side of end plates 30 at both axial ends, and FIG. 3 is the axial direction of the optical closure 10. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of one end face plate half 31 of the end face plate 30 of the split structure of the optical closure 10, wherein (a) is a plan view and (b) is a side view. FIGS. 5C and 5C are front views, and FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views showing the structure of the end plate half 31 shown in FIGS.
1, 2, 4 (b), (c), and FIG. 5, the upper side is the upper side and the lower side is the lower side.

  1 and 2, an optical closure 10 is an aerial optical closure, and includes a cylindrical closure sleeve 20, end face plates 30 provided at both axial ends of the closure sleeve 20, the closure sleeve 20, and the like. The closure sleeve 20 includes an internal unit 50 housed in an exterior case 40 constituted by end face plates 30 at both ends.

As shown in FIG. 2, the closure sleeve 20 of the illustrated optical closure 10 is formed in a straight cylinder shape having a rectangular cross section.
Specifically, the closure sleeve 20 is an integrally molded product made of synthetic resin, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an elongated upper plate portion 21 extending over the entire axial length of the closure sleeve 20, On both the left and right (left and right in FIG. 2) of the upper plate portion 21, openable and closable both side plate portions 23 and 24 provided continuously through a thin portion functioning as a hinge portion 22 are provided. .
The both side plate portions 23 and 24 are rotatable with respect to the upper plate portion 21 around the hinge portion 22 and can be individually opened and closed by this rotation.

In this optical closure 10, the closure sleeve 20 is provided with the upper plate portion 21 facing upward. When the side plate portions 23 and 24 are closed, the closure sleeve 20 having a rectangular cross section is assembled. Further, the outer case 40 is assembled by closing the both side plate portions 23 and 24 and holding the end face plates 30 inside the both ends in the axial direction of the closure sleeve 20 in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the closure sleeve 20.
In FIG. 2, the code | symbol 25 is a fastener which closes the lower ends of the both-sides board parts 23 and 24. In FIG. The both side plate portions 23 and 24 are firmly closed by being fastened by a fastener 25 at the lower part of the closure sleeve 20. When the fastening by the fastener 25 is released, the opening and closing operation of the side plate portions 23 and 24 can be performed freely.
In FIG. 2, a claw piece 25a with a lever provided at the lower part of one side plate part 23 and a claw piece 25a with a lever projecting from the lower part of the other side plate part 24 are detachably engaged. Although the fastener 25 having the structure to be the locking claw 25b has been illustrated, the fastener is not limited to this in the optical closure according to the present invention, and various configurations can be adopted.

The internal unit 50 is provided on an elongated connecting member 51 extending along the axial direction of the closure sleeve 20 and a vertical support member 51 a erected on both ends of the connecting member 51, and is drawn into the outer case 40. A cable gripping component 52 for gripping and fixing the optical fiber cable 1, an extra length storage tray 53 provided at the longitudinal center of the connecting member 51, and an axial direction of the closure sleeve 20 at the upper part of the outer case 40. And an upper connecting member 54 that connects the upper ends of the vertical support members 51 a at both ends of the connecting member 51.
The connecting member 51 disposed at the lower portion of the outer case 40, the vertical support members 51a provided upright at both ends, and the upper connecting member 54 constitute a rectangular frame-like rigid frame.
The cable gripping component 52 grips and fixes the optical fiber cable 1 introduced into the outer case 40 from the main cable introduction hole 33 (described later) of the end face plate 30.
The extra-length storage tray 53 includes an optical fiber 1 a (for example, an optical fiber core wire) led out from the optical fiber cable 1 and an optical drop cable 2 introduced into the outer case 40 from the drop cable insertion groove 34 of the end face plate 30. The connection part 3 (for example, fusion splicing part) with the optical fiber 2a (for example, optical fiber strand) exposed to the terminal is accommodated together with the extra length of the optical fibers 1a and 2a.
In FIG. 1, the extra length storage tray 53 is provided on the connecting member 51 in a plurality of layers.

Next, the end face plate 30 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the end face plate 30 has a half structure composed of a pair of left and right end face plate halves 31 and 32.
The end face plate 30 has a rectangular plate shape that is housed inside the axially opposite ends of the closure sleeve 20 having a rectangular cross section.
When the side plates 23 and 24 of the closure sleeve 20 are closed, the inner peripheral surface of the closure sleeve 20 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the end face plate 30 to ensure waterproofness (here, in detail, drip-proof). .

However, as shown in FIG. 3, at the left and right side portions of the end face plate 30, that is, at the side portion of the pair of left and right end face plate halves 31 and 32 opposite to the mating surfaces 31a and 32a to be joined to each other, Abutting walls 23a and 24a projecting on the inner surfaces of both side plate portions 23 and 24 of the sleeve 20 are formed on rib-shaped projecting walls 39a and 39b projecting at both ends in the thickness direction of the pair of end surface plate halves 31 and 32, respectively. Abutted.
The contact walls 23 a and 24 a on the inner surfaces of the both side plate portions 23 and 24 of the closure sleeve 20 protrude from two locations separated from each other in the axial direction of the closure sleeve 20. Recesses 23b and 24b are secured between the contact walls 23a and 23a and between the contact walls 24a and 24a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a main cable introduction hole 33 for introducing the optical fiber cable 1 to be drawn into the optical closure 10 and a drop cable insertion groove 34 for introducing the optical drop cable 2 are formed in the end face plate 30. ing.

The main cable introduction hole 33 is a through hole that penetrates the end face plate 30 in the thickness direction of the end face plate 30. The main cable introduction hole 33 is formed at a joining boundary when the pair of left and right end face plate halves 31 and 32 are closed, and can be opened and closed by opening and closing the left and right end face plate halves 31 and 32. In the end face plate 30 of the optical closure 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 and the like, the main cable introduction hole 33 is formed between the semicircular cutouts 31c and 32c that are recessed from the mating surfaces 31a and 32a of the end face plate halves 31 and 32, respectively. Is a hole having a circular cross section formed by combining them, and is formed at a plurality of locations (that is, a plurality of locations in the vertical direction) along the boundary between the end face plate halves 31 and 32.
The end which hold | maintains the optical fiber cable 1 with the packing 4 arrange | positioned on the outer periphery of this optical fiber cable 1 between the right-and-left side plate parts 23 and 24 of the closure sleeve 20 together, and a pair of right-and-left end plate half bodies 31 and 32 By sandwiching the face plate 30 from both the left and right sides and fastening the lower ends of the side plate portions 23, 24 with the fasteners 25, the waterproofness (or drip-proof property) of the main cable introduction hole 33 is ensured by the packing 4.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 37 denotes a support line insertion hole, which is formed on the end face plate 30.
The support line insertion hole 37 is formed above the main cable introduction hole 33 in the upper part of the end face plate 30. Further, like the main cable introduction hole 33, the support wire insertion hole 37 is formed by integrating recesses recessed from the mating surfaces 31a and 32a of the left and right end plate half bodies 31 and 32, The end face plate halves 31 and 32 are opened and closed.
The optical closure 10 is installed in an aerial manner by being suspended from the support line 5 that is passed through the support line insertion holes 37 of the end face plates 30 at both ends in the axial direction of the closure sleeve 20.

The drop cable insertion groove 34 is formed in multiple upper and lower stages on the side of the one end plate half (here, the left end plate half 31 in FIG. 2) opposite to the mating surface 31a.
Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C and FIG. 5B, the side surface 31d (the mating surface 31a and the side surface 31d of the end surface plate half 31 is provided on the side of the end surface plate half 31. A drip-proof recess 31e which is a recess recessed from the opposite side surface), rib-like protruding walls 39a and 39b projecting on both sides in the thickness direction of the end face plate 30 through the drip-proof recess 31e, A thin plate-like shielding fin 31h and locking pieces 31i and 31j are formed so as to protrude into the droplet recess 31e. Slot grooves 39a1 and 39b1 functioning as both ends of the drop cable insertion groove 34 are formed in the rib-like projecting walls 39a and 39b on both sides via the drip-proof recess 31e.

The end plate half 31 illustrated here includes rib-like projecting walls 39a and 39b, shielding fins 31h (specifically, vertical fins 31H divided into a plurality of shielding fins 31h), locking pieces 31i and 31j. As a whole, an integrated molded product integrally formed of synthetic resin is included.
The rib-like projecting walls 39a and 39b, the shielding fins 31h, and the locking pieces 31i and 31j are projecting pieces projecting from the side of the block-shaped half block part 31q in which the notch 31c is formed.
However, the end face plate half 31 is not necessarily limited to the configuration that is a resin integrated molded product. For example, the structure etc. which attached the shielding fin separate from the half block part 31q to the side part of the half block part 31q are employable.

  Regarding the rib-like projecting walls 39a and 39b on both sides in the thickness direction of the end face plate half 31, among the end faces on both sides in the thickness direction of the end face plate 30 (end face plate half 31), The rib-like projecting wall 39a on the side of the outer end face) is hereinafter referred to as the first rib-like projecting wall 39a, the end face plate 30 (end face plate half body 31) of the end faces on both sides in the thickness direction, and the optical closure 10 (details). In some cases, the rib-like projecting wall 39b on the side of the end face (hereinafter also referred to as the inner end face) facing the internal space S of the exterior case 40) is hereinafter referred to as a second rib-like projecting wall 32g.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a cross-sectional structure of the optical drop cable 2.
In FIG. 7, the optical drop cable 2 includes an optical fiber element 2d having a rectangular cross section in which an optical fiber 2a and a tensile body 2b disposed on both sides of the optical fiber 2a are embedded in a coating resin 2c and collectively covered. And a supporting wire portion 2f covered with a coating resin 2c extending from the optical fiber element portion 2d. The supporting wire portion 2f is attached to the side of the optical fiber element portion 2d.
The optical fiber element portion 2d and the support wire portion 2f are connected via a thin portion 2g of the coating resin 2c, and the support wire portion 2f is cut so as to cut the thin portion 2g. It can be separated from the part 2d. The support wire portion 2f functions as a support wire according to the present invention.
The optical fiber 2a is embedded in the central portion of the cross section of the optical fiber element portion 2d, and the optical fiber element portion 2d is embedded with tensile strength members 2b from notches 2h formed on both sides via the optical fiber 2a. The optical fiber 2a can be exposed by dividing into two element halves.

Here, the optical fiber 2a is an optical fiber, but may be, for example, a single-core optical fiber or a multi-core optical fiber tape. Further, the number of optical fibers 2a embedded in the coating resin 2c is not limited to one (in the illustrated example, one optical fiber), and may be plural.
The tensile body 2b is a linear body vertically attached along the optical fiber 2a, and the material thereof is, for example, FRP.
For example, a steel wire or the like is used as the metal wire 2e of the support wire portion 2f. However, the support wire portion 2f is not limited to the metal wire 2e used as the core material covered with the coating resin 2c, and various materials such as an FRP wire material can be used as the core material.
The optical drop cable 2 is not limited to the above-described configuration as long as it can separate the support line portion from the optical fiber element portion, and various known configurations can be adopted.

The optical drop cable 2 is a thin optical fiber cable having a flat cross-sectional shape as a whole. When the optical drop cable 2 is passed through the slot grooves 39a1 and 39b1 of the rib-like projecting walls 39a and 39b, the slot grooves 39a1 and 39b1 are closed and the drip-proof Can be secured.
The slot grooves 39a1 and 39b1 are grooves formed in a rectangular cross-section that is close to the cross-sectional shape of the optical drop cable 2 so that the drip-proof property can be secured when the optical drop cable 2 is passed.

As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, FIG. 5B, etc., the drip-proof recess 31e is a portion located between the slot grooves 39a1 and 39b1 at both ends of the drop cable insertion groove 34. It functions as an insertion groove expansion part that is expanded. However, in the end plate half 31 of the illustrated example, the drip-proof recesses 31e are formed in such a manner that the drip-proof recesses of the drop cable insertion grooves 34 of the upper and lower multi-stages are continuous with each other in the vertical direction on the side of the end plate half 31. It is formed in the shape of one extending groove.
Slot grooves 39a1 and 39b1 at both ends of one drop cable insertion groove 34 are formed at corresponding positions via the drip-proof recesses 31e of the rib-like projecting walls 39a and 39b, and through the drip-proof recesses 31e. They are in communication with each other.

In the end face plate half 31 of the illustrated example, in the drip-proof recess 31e, vertical fins 31H extending up and down along the drip-proof recess 31e are projected, and the vertical fins 31H are provided at a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction. The plurality of shielding fins 31h are divided by the slits 31h1 formed in the above.
Each shielding fin 31h is provided so as to cross a straight line connecting the slot grooves 39a1 and 39b1 at both ends of the drop cable insertion groove 34. Each shielding fin 31h is provided one by one between the slot grooves 39a1 and 39b1 functioning as both ends of one drop cable insertion groove 34.
Each shielding fin 31h is a thin plate-like elastic piece, and is elastically deformed so as to be pushed down by the optical drop cable 2 inserted from the slot groove 31a1 of the first rib-shaped protruding wall 39a toward the internal space S of the optical closure 10. Can be made.

  The vertical fin 31H is a central portion in the groove width direction of the groove-shaped drip-proof recess 31e formed to extend vertically at the side of the end-plate half 31, in other words, the end-plate half in the drip-proof recess 31e. The drip-proof recess 31e is divided into the inner side of the closure sleeve and the outer side of the closure in the axial direction of the closure sleeve 20 in the central portion in the thickness direction of 31 (more specifically, the slot grooves 39a1, 39b1 at both ends of the drop cable insertion groove 34). It is provided to do.

  The locking pieces 31i and 31j are provided on both sides in the thickness direction of the end face plate 30 (end face plate half 31) through the vertical fins 31H in the drip-proof recess 31e. Further, the locking pieces 31i and 31j are provided in multiple upper and lower stages corresponding to the set of the slot grooves 39a1 and 39b1 functioning as both ends of the single drop cable insertion groove 34. A set of locking pieces 31i and 31j provided on both sides in the thickness direction of the end face plate 30 (end face plate half body 31) via the vertical fins 31H corresponds to the upper and lower multistage shielding fins 31h of the vertical fin 31H. It is multi-stage up and down.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (a)-(c), the locking pieces 31i, 31j are located between the first and second rib-like projecting walls 39a, 39b on the side of the end face plate half 31. This is an elastic claw projecting from the part.
As shown in FIG. 6, the locking pieces 31i and 31j are formed from a plate-like elastic piece 31k protruding from the half block portion 31q of the end face plate half 31 and from the end face plate half 31 of the elastic piece 31k. A protruding locking claw 31m that protrudes so as to protrude from the side of the elastic piece 31k is provided at the protruding tip.

The elastic pieces 31k of the locking pieces 31i and 31j provided in the upper and lower stages on the side portion of the end face plate half body 31 are provided so as to project away from the slot grooves 39a1 and 39b1 of the rib-like protruding walls 39a and 39b. In addition, gaps secured between the elastic pieces 31k of the upper and lower adjacent locking pieces 31i and between the elastic pieces 31k of the upper and lower adjacent locking pieces 31j are slot grooves 39a1 of the rib-like protruding walls 39a and 39b. , 39b1 has a groove shape.
The groove-like gaps secured between the elastic pieces 31k of the locking pieces 31i and between the elastic pieces 31k of the locking pieces 31j are hereinafter also referred to as drop cable auxiliary grooves. In addition, about the auxiliary | assistant groove | channel for this drop cable, the code | symbol 31o is shown in the thing located between the elastic pieces 31k of the latching piece 31j, and the code | symbol 31o located in between the elastic pieces 31k of the latching piece 31j for distinction. It will be attached.
The auxiliary grooves 31n and 31o for the drop cable also function as part of the drop cable insertion groove 34.

  Note that the locking pieces 31i and 31j are not limited to the configuration in which the locking protrusion 31m is provided at the tip of the plate-like elastic piece 31k. For example, the protruding elastic piece 31k having a columnar or prismatic columnar shape. The structure etc. which comprise the latching protrusion 31m at the front-end | tip of can also be employ | adopted.

As shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the locking protrusions 31m of the locking pieces 31i and 31j have the same protruding direction from the elastic piece 31k (here, they are aligned downward). ), The protruding tip from the elastic piece 31k is close to the elastic piece 31k of the lower locking pieces 31i, 31j.
However, as shown in FIGS. 4 (b), 4 (c), and 5 (b), the protruding tip from the elastic piece 31k of the locking protrusion 31m of the lowermost locking piece 31i, 31j is the lowermost level. Close to the protruding wall 31p protruding from the half block portion 31q of the end plate half 31 on the lower side of the slot grooves 39a1 and 39b1 (lower side of FIGS. 4B, 4C, and 5B). Has been. The protruding wall 31p is a plate-like protruding piece protruding from the half block portion 31q, and protrudes below the lowermost locking pieces 31i, 31j with a gap therebetween.
For the lowermost locking pieces 31i, 31j, between the elastic pieces 31k of the locking pieces 31i, 31j and the projecting walls 31p, auxiliary grooves 31n for drop cables communicating with the lowermost slot grooves 39a1, 39b1, A gap functioning as 31o is secured, and in this specification, this gap is also treated as auxiliary grooves 31n and 31o for drop cable.

Each locking piece 31i, 31j forms a drop cable auxiliary groove 31n in the drip-proof recess 31e, and drops the optical drop cable 2 inserted into the drop cable auxiliary groove 31n by the locking protrusion 31m. It fulfills the function of preventing the cable from being detached from the cable auxiliary groove 31n.
In addition, the locking pieces 31i and 31j also function to keep the optical drop cable 2 that presses the shielding fin 31h largely curved and keep a substantially straight state (including a straight line shape).

In other words, the optical drop cable 2 introduced into the drop cable insertion groove 34 by pushing the rib-like protruding wall 39a on the outer end face side of the end face plate 30 into the drop cable insertion groove 34 is an auxiliary groove for drop cable related to the locking piece 31i. The shielding fin 31h corresponding to the drop cable auxiliary groove 31n that has passed through the optical drop cable 2 is pressed and pushed down among the upper and lower multistage shielding fins 31h of the vertical fin 31H to pass through the locking fin 31j. The drop cable auxiliary groove 31o and the slot groove 39b1 are passed through in this order and introduced into the internal space S of the outer case 40 of the optical closure 10, but the light pushed from the slot groove 39a1 of the rib-like protruding wall 39a on the outer end face side The drop cable 2 receives bending stress due to the pressing force when the tip presses the shielding fin 31h. The locking protrusion claw 31m at the tip of the locking piece 31i is a bending stress acting by the pressing force when the optical drop cable 2 presses the shielding fin 31h, and the drop cable insertion groove 34 (specifically, an auxiliary groove for drop cable) 31o) is prevented from being bent so as to be greatly raised.
Thereby, buckling of the optical drop cable 2 can be prevented, and the pushing force of the optical drop cable 2 from the outside of the outer case 40 to the drop cable insertion groove 34 works efficiently to push down the shielding fin 31h.

When the exterior case 40 is assembled, as shown in FIG. 3, the side plate of the closure sleeve 20 is formed by the recess 23b secured between the contact walls 23a, 23a of the side plate 23 of the closure sleeve 20 and the drip-proof recess 31e. A drip-proof space S1 surrounded by the portion 23 and the end plate half 31 is formed.
The vertical fins 31H and the locking pieces 31i, 31j projecting so as to project outward from the rib-like projecting walls 39a, 39b to the outside of the end face plate half 31 are such that the projecting tip from the end face plate half 31 is a closure sleeve. 20 is accommodated in the recess 23b between the contact walls 23a and 23a of the side plate portion 23.

However, in the illustrated optical closure 10, the protruding walls projecting from the contact walls 23 a, 23 a of the side plate portion 23 that accommodates the end plate half 31 are separated from each other in the axial direction of the closure sleeve 20. The recess 23b is divided into three divided recesses 23b1, 23b2, and 23b3 by 23c1 and 23c2.
The leading ends of the vertical fins 31H (shielding fins 31h) are stored in the central dividing recess 23b2, and the leading ends of the locking pieces 31i and 31j are stored in the dividing recesses 23b1 and 23b3 on both sides of the central dividing recess 23b2. The The two protruding walls 23c1 and 23c2 are inserted so as to be inserted into a gap between the vertical fin 31H and the locking pieces 31i and 31j on both sides of the vertical fin 31H.

The vertical fin 31H is provided between the pair of locking pieces 31i, 31j and closer to the locking piece 31i on the first rib-like protruding wall 39a side. Of the two protruding walls 23c1, 23c2, the first rib The protruding wall 39a and the protruding wall 23c1 on the side close to the locking piece 31i are arranged close to each other.
For this reason, the gap between the half block part 31q of the end face plate half 31 and the protruding wall 23c1 is closed by the vertical fins 31H, so that the first rib-shaped protruding wall 39a is submerged from the slit groove 39a1. Is blocked, and the waterproofness (drip-proof property) of the internal space S of the outer case 40 is ensured.

Between the vertical fin 31H and the protruding wall 23c2, it is pressed by the optical drop cable 2 inserted from the slot groove 39a1 of the first rib-shaped protruding wall 39a (the rib-shaped protruding wall 39a on the outer end surface side of the end face plate 30). Thus, a clearance is secured so that the shield fin 31h pushed down can avoid contact with the projecting wall 23c2, and the shield fin 31h can be pushed down by the optical drop cable 2.
In addition, since the shielding fin 31h pushed down by the optical drop cable 2 maintains a contact state with the optical drop cable 2 by its own elasticity, this also contributes to ensuring the drip-proof property of the optical closure 10.

3 exemplifies a configuration in which the protruding tips of the vertical fin 31H and the locking pieces 31i and 31j from the end plate half 31 do not contact the inner surface of the closure sleeve 20, but a configuration that contacts the inner surface of the closure sleeve 20. It is not something that excludes.
Further, with respect to the vertical fin 31H, if the projecting tip from the end plate half 31 is in contact with the inner surface of the closure sleeve 20, water intrusion from the slit groove 39a1 on the outer end surface side of the end plate 30 in the drip-proof space S1. Is preferable in terms of the function of blocking the water and securing the waterproof property (drip-proof property) of the internal space S of the outer case 40. However, in this case, the contact between the protruding tip of the vertical fin 31H from the end plate half 31 and the inner surface of the closure sleeve 20 can be easily released by pressing the shielding fin 31h by the optical drop cable 2, and the shielding by the optical drop cable 2 is possible. Needless to say, the fins 31h are not disturbed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the abutting walls 23a and 24a projecting from the inner surface of the side plate portion 24 of the closure sleeve 20 are brought into contact with the opposite end plate half 32 constituting the end plate 30. The rib-like projecting walls 39a and 39b are provided at both ends in the thickness direction in the same manner as the end face plate half 31, but no slot groove is formed in the rib-like projecting walls 39a and 39b. Further, neither shielding fins nor locking pieces are formed.
However, in the present invention, similarly to the end face plate half 31, an end face plate having a configuration in which a pair of left and right end face plate halves including slot grooves, shielding fins, and locking pieces are joined can also be used. .

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, an openable / closable lid 35 for closing the main cable introduction hole 33 of the end face plate 30 is provided on the outer end face side of the end face plate half 31. . The lid 35 is rotatably provided with respect to the end face plate half block 31q by a hinge portion 36 in which the molding resin constituting the end face plate half 31 is thinly formed, and can open and close the main cable introduction hole 33.
The lid 35 may maintain the state where the main cable introduction hole 33 is closed using, for example, an adhesive tape or the like. However, as a configuration for maintaining the state where the main cable introduction hole 33 is closed, For example, detachable fitting into the opening of the main cable introduction hole 33, detachable engagement with an engagement claw, and the like can be employed.
In this embodiment, the end face plate half 31 made of synthetic resin in which the lid 35 and the hinge part 36 are also integrally formed is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the inside of the lid 35 and the hinge part 36 is illustrated. A configuration in which at least the lid 35 is separate from the end face plate half 31 may be employed.

  In this optical closure 10, the introduction work (introduction method) of the optical drop cable 2 is realized by pushing the optical drop cable 2 into the slit groove 39a1 from the outer end face side of the end face plate 30 as described above. However, when this push-in operation is performed with the side portion of the end plate half 31 exposed by removing the closure sleeve 20, a finger or a tool is inserted into the drop cable insertion groove 34 on the side of the end plate half 31. Therefore, it is possible to easily eliminate the catch of the optical drop cable 2 in the middle of the drop cable insertion groove 34. For this reason, the operation of inserting the optical drop cable 2 into the drop cable insertion groove 34 can be realized efficiently and reliably.

Moreover, according to this optical closure 10, the optical drop cable 2 can be taken in and out of the drop cable insertion groove 34 on the side portion of the end face plate half 31 by elastically deforming the locking pieces 31i and 31j which are elastic claws. It is.
For this reason, in the state where the closure sleeve 20 is detached from the side of the end plate half 31 and the drop cable insertion groove 34 is opened, operations such as taking out and replacing the optical drop cable 2 with respect to the upper and lower multistage drop cable insertion grooves 34 There is an advantage that can be performed efficiently.

  As shown in FIGS. 4C, 5B, and 6, the locking protrusions 31m of the locking pieces 31i, 31j are side surfaces (locking surfaces) facing the half block portion 31q of the end plate half 31. The surface 31m1) is a vertical surface that rises perpendicularly from the side surface of the elastic piece 31k, or an inclined surface that rises obliquely from the side surface of the elastic piece 31k toward the half block portion 31q (vertical surface in the illustrated example). The side opposite to the locking surface 31m1 is a tapered shape in which the amount of protrusion from the side surface of the elastic piece 31k gradually increases from the protruding tip end of the elastic piece 31k from the end face plate half 31 toward the protruding base end side. Is formed. For this reason, the operation of pushing the optical drop cable 2 into the drop cable insertion groove 34 from the side of the end face plate half 31 is a taper from the protruding tip of the elastic piece 31k to the protruding tip of the locking projection claw 31m from the elastic piece 31k. By pushing along the inclined surface 31m2 formed by the portion, the engaging pieces 31i and 31j can be smoothly deformed while being elastically deformed.

The slot groove 39a1 of the rib-like protruding wall 39a on the outer end face side of the end face half plate 31 is secured between the closure sleeve 20 and the end face half plate 31 when the entire exterior case 40 and the entire optical closure 10 are assembled. It becomes a small hole.
The empty drop cable insertion groove 34 through which the optical drop cable 2 is not inserted is prevented from being immersed by the shielding fins 31h, and waterproof (here, drip-proof) is ensured.
The drop cable insertion groove 34 into which the optical drop cable 2 has already been inserted is waterproof (anti-proof) because the slot groove 39a1 of the rib-like protruding wall 39a on the outer end face side of the end face plate half 31 is closed by the optical drop cable 2 itself. Drip) is ensured. Further, maintaining the state in which the shielding fins 31h pushed down by the optical drop cable 2 are in contact with the optical drop cable 2 also contributes to improvement of waterproofness (drip-proof property).

The water that has entered the drop cable insertion groove 34 from the empty slot groove 39a1 of the rib-like protruding wall 39a on the outer end face side of the end face plate half 31 descends in the drip-proof space S1 when it reaches the drip-proof space S1. Thus, it flows down into the water receiving space 38 secured below the lowermost stage of the upper and lower multi-stage slot grooves 39a1, 39b1.
For this reason, in each drop cable insertion groove 34, retention of water, such as rain water, is prevented. For example, when the optical drop cable 2 is inserted into an empty drop cable insertion groove 34, the drop cable insertion groove 34 stays in the drop cable insertion groove 34. It is also possible to prevent the disadvantage that water enters the internal space S of the outer case 40 together with the optical drop cable 2.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, It can change suitably.
As an optical closure to which the present invention is applied, as in the above-described embodiment, the inside of an outer case constituted by a closure sleeve assembled into a cylindrical section having a rectangular cross section and end face plates provided at both ends of the closure sleeve. In addition, the optical closure is not limited to an optical closure configured to store a connection portion connecting an optical fiber of an optical fiber cable and an optical fiber of an optical drop cable. Applicable to so-called pot-shaped optical closures that have an exterior case composed of a half-splung closure sleeve assembled into a bottomed cylindrical shape and an end plate provided at the opening of the closure sleeve. Is possible.
The closure sleeve is not limited to the resin integrated molded product exemplified in the above-described embodiment, and may be, for example, a half-structure having two sleeve halves that are separate from each other.
Further, the outer case is not limited to the one having a rectangular cross section, and for example, it may be constituted by a closure sleeve having a circular cross section and a disk-shaped end face plate.

It is a front view which shows the internal structure of the optical closure of one Embodiment of this invention. It is the side view which looked at the optical closure of FIG. 1 from the one side of the end surface board of an axial direction both ends. FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of the optical closure of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of one end face plate half body of the end face board of the split structure of FIG. 2, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a front view. (A), (b) is a perspective view which shows the structure of the end surface board half body of Fig.4 (a)-(c). It is an expansion perspective view which shows the drop cable penetration groove vicinity of the end surface board half body of Fig.4 (a)-(c). It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the cross-section of an optical drop cable.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical fiber cable, 1a ... Optical fiber, 2 ... Optical drop cable, 2a ... Optical fiber, 3 ... Connection part, 10 ... Optical closure, 30 ... End face plate, 31, 32 ... End face plate half body, 31a, 32a ... Matching surface, 31d ... side face, 31e ... drip-proof recess, 39a, 39b ... rib-like protruding wall, 39a1, 39b1 ... slot groove, 31H ... vertical fin (shielding fin), 31h ... shielding fin, 31i, 31j ... locking piece 33 ... main cable introduction hole, 34 ... drop cable insertion hole, 35 ... lid.

Claims (7)

An optical closure for storing a connection portion between an optical fiber cable and an optical drop cable branched from the optical fiber cable,
A closure sleeve that can be freely opened and closed, and an end face plate that is provided with a main cable introduction hole for introducing the optical fiber cable and that is provided inside an axial end of the closure sleeve,
A plurality of drop cable insertion grooves for introducing the optical drop cable are formed in parallel on the side surface of the end face plate ,
A drip-proof recess that is a recess recessed from a side surface of the end face plate on both the left and right sides or one side of the end face plate, and protrudes on both sides in the thickness direction of the end face plate via the drip-proof recess. Each of the rib-like projecting walls on both sides has a rib-like projecting wall with which the inner surface of the sleeve abuts, and a thin plate-like shielding fin projecting in the drip-proof recess. Slot grooves that function as both ends of the drop cable insertion groove formed in communication with each other through the drip-proof recess,
The shielding fin is provided so as to shield between the slot grooves at both ends of the drop cable insertion groove, and is pushed down by an optical drop cable inserted into the drop cable insertion groove from the outside of the closure. And light closure. The end face plate is a half structure composed of a pair of left and right end face plate halves,
2. The optical closure according to claim 1, wherein the drop cable insertion groove is formed on a side surface of the end surface plate half opposite to the mating surface of the end surface plate halves. The drip-proof recess is formed in a groove shape extending in the vertical direction on the side portion of the end face plate,
The drop cable insertion groove is formed in upper and lower multi-stages on the rib-like protruding walls on both sides of the drip-proof recess extending along the drip-proof recess,
3. The optical closure according to claim 1, wherein the shielding fins are provided in upper and lower stages for each drop cable insertion groove paired via the drip-proof recess. Further, a locking piece for detachably locking the optical drop cable passed through the drop cable insertion groove and preventing the drop from the drop cable insertion groove is provided in the drip-proof recess. The optical closure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the optical closure is provided. The end face plate is a half structure composed of a pair of left and right end face plate halves,
The drop cable insertion groove is formed on the side surface opposite to the mating surface between the end surface plate halves in the end surface plate half,
The said end plate half body in which the said drop cable penetration groove | channel was formed is a synthetic resin integrally molded product in which the said rib-shaped protrusion wall and the said shielding fin were integrally formed, The 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned. The optical closure according to any one of the above. The shielding fin, light closure according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the elastically deformable sheet. On the end face plate, light closure according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that a lid for opening and closing said main cable entry hole.

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