JPH04212112A - Connector for optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To offer the connector for an optical fiber by facilitating an optical fiber connecting work to have high engaging and holding power, and also freely recombining the wiring with high reliability and versatility. CONSTITUTION:The connector is provided with an inserting hole 4 for inserting the optical fiber 3 from both ends at the center of an axis, and also the connector is constituted of a cylindrical connector main body 1 having the outer circumferential surfaces which are threaded with an external screw 5 on both end parts and a cap type nut 2 for screwing and loading on both end parts of the connector main body, and the part of the circumferential surface of the both end parts of the aforesaid connector main body are notched, and then, an arm- like stopper 6 which projects in the optical fiber inserting hole by the screwing energy of the cap type nut and for engaging and holding the optical fiber on the inserted position is installed. And then, by inserting the cap type nut from both sides of the optical fiber and screwing it with reference to the connector main body, the stopper bites the jacket sheath of the optical fiber, so that the optical fiber can be engaged and held on a connection position.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the structure of an optical fiber connector for removably connecting optical fibers.

0002

[Prior Art] In an optical fiber application system that transmits signals using optical fibers, an optical fiber connector is installed in a control panel etc. as a relay connection means for optical fibers. A wide variety of structures have already been proposed and commercialized.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventionally used optical fiber connectors consist of a pair of plugs and sockets that are fixedly attached to the ends of the optical fibers to be connected, and the plugs are fitted into the sockets. A common method is to interconnect optical fibers. However, connectors using such a connection method have a wide variety of coupling structures and aperture sizes depending on the type and size, and there is almost no compatibility between different types of connectors, and furthermore, the structure of the connector is complicated and expensive.

The present invention has been developed in consideration of the above points, and is applicable to optical fibers of various diameter sizes, and allows connecting and disconnecting optical fibers with simple operations, and furthermore, does not require external force to be applied in the connected state. It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable and versatile optical fiber connector that prevents optical fibers from easily coming out.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the optical fiber connector of the present invention has an insertion hole in the center of the shaft into which the optical fiber is inserted from both ends, and has a male screw on the outer peripheral surface of both ends. It consists of a cut cylindrical connector body and a cap-shaped nut that is screwed into both ends of the connector body, and a part of the circumferential surface of both ends of the connector body is cut out, and the cap-shaped nut is inserted here. An arm-shaped stopper that protrudes inward of the optical fiber insertion hole and locks and holds the optical fiber in the insertion position by screwing is provided.

Furthermore, in order to enhance the holding function of the optical fiber, it is preferable to provide a wedge-shaped protrusion with an edge on the inner circumferential surface of the stopper in the above structure. Further, as a means for attaching the connector to a panel such as a control panel, a flange-like flange and a threaded surface can be formed on the circumferential surface of the connector body.

[0007]

[Operation] In the above structure, the stopper is an arm having one end connected to the connector main body, and a cam-like projection is formed on the outer circumferential side of the arm. Here, when a cap-shaped nut screwed onto both ends of the connector main body is screwed in, the stopper is pushed by the nut and is bent in the radial direction, so that its tip end protrudes into the optical fiber insertion hole. Furthermore, when the nut is loosened from the fastening position and moved back, the stopper becomes unrestricted and moves back to the outside of the optical fiber insertion hole.

Therefore, when the optical fiber is fully inserted into the insertion hole of the connector body from both sides to the fixed position with the cap-shaped nut loosened, and the cap-shaped nut is screwed in and moved to the fastening position, the tip of the stopper The portion protrudes inward of the optical fiber insertion hole and bites into the outer sheath (made of soft resin) of the optical fiber, thereby locking and holding the optical fiber in the position where it is inserted into the connector body. Furthermore, by providing a wedge-shaped protrusion on the inner circumferential surface of the stopper, the stopper can more reliably bite into the outer sheath of the optical fiber, so even if a tensile force is applied to the optical fiber, the wedge-shaped protrusion The anchoring effect works and prevents it from slipping out easily. In this case, the locking and holding force of the optical fiber is determined by the screwing stroke of the cap-shaped nut.

Furthermore, when installing the connector on a panel such as a control panel, place the flange provided on the circumference of the connector body against the panel surface, and insert a nut from the opposite side onto the threaded surface formed on the outer circumference of the connector body. Easy to install by screwing and tightening. In addition, if a waterproof packing is inserted between the flange and the panel, rainwater can be prevented from entering the panel, and if a waterproof cap is attached to the outer circumference of the connector body, including the cap-shaped nut, waterproofing can be achieved. The quality can be ensured.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. First, in FIGS. 1 to 3, 1 is a connector main body, and 2 is a cap-shaped nut screwed into both ends of the connector main body 1. These parts are combined to form an optical fiber connector. Here, the connector main body 1 is a cylindrical body, and an insertion hole 4 is bored at the center of its axis into which the optical fiber 3 is inserted from both ends, and a male thread is screwed onto the outer peripheral surface of both ends to be screwed into the cap-shaped nut 2. 5 is cut out. Furthermore, a pair of left and right arm-shaped stoppers indicated by reference numeral 6 are formed at both ends of the connector main body 1 by cutting a portion of the circumferential surface thereof. The arm-shaped stopper 6 has a base at one end connected to the connector main body, an edge surface 7 facing the optical fiber insertion hole 4 at the tip thereof, and a cam-shaped protrusion 8 formed at the outer circumferential side. Furthermore, a flange-like flange 9 and a threaded surface 10 are formed at the center of the peripheral surface of the connector body 1 as means for attaching the connector to a panel such as a control panel.

In the above configuration, when the cap-shaped nut 2 is loosened from the connector body 1 (the left side in FIG. 1), the arm-shaped stopper 6 is unrestrained and extends outward from the optical fiber insertion hole 4. It's retreating. Here, as shown on the right side of FIG. 1, insert the optical fiber 3 into the insertion hole 4 of the connector body 1.
When the cap-shaped nut 2 is screwed in to the predetermined fastening position, the cam-shaped protrusion 8 provided on the stopper 6 is pushed against the inner peripheral surface of the nut 2, and the arm of the stopper is bent in the radial direction, causing its tip to bend. The edge surface 7 protrudes inward of the insertion hole 4 and bites into the outer sheath 3b covering the core 3a of the optical fiber 3. As a result, the optical fiber 3 is locked and held at the position where it is inserted into the connector body 1. By performing this operation on the two optical fibers 3 inserted into the connector main body 1 from both ends, the optical fibers are interconnected via the connector. FIG. 5 shows an outline diagram with optical fibers connected.

[0012] When removing the optical fiber 3 from the connector body 1, the cap-shaped nut 2 is loosened and retracted in the opposite manner to the above operation. As a result, the stopper 6, which has been restrained at the locking position by the nut 2, becomes free, so that the optical fiber 3 can be freely pulled out from the connector body 1.

Next, an improved embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the stopper 6 shown in FIG. 1 has several wedge-shaped protrusions 6a, each having an edge at the tip, arranged on the inner peripheral surface thereof. With this configuration, when the optical fiber 3 is connected, the wedge-shaped protrusion 6a bites into the outer sheath 3b of the optical fiber, and its anchoring effect further ensures that the optical fiber is retained.

Furthermore, FIG. 5 shows a state in which the connector is attached to a panel such as a control panel. In the figure, 11 is a control panel panel, 12 is a rubber waterproof cap, 13 is a waterproof packing, and 14 is a fixing nut. That is, to attach the connector to the panel 11, fit the waterproof packing 13 into the connector main body 1 over the flange 9, then insert the connector main body 1 into the mounting hole of the panel 11, and insert the screw surface from the back side of the panel. A nut 14 is screwed into the connector body 10 to sandwich the panel 11 between the flange 9 and the nut 14 to fix the connector body 1. Furthermore, by covering the connector with the waterproof cap 12 as shown in the figure with the optical fiber 3 connected, waterproof and drip-proof functions can be obtained, preventing rainwater from entering the inside of the connector and the control panel. It can be prevented.

[0015]

[Effects of the Invention] Since the optical fiber connector of the present invention is constructed as described above, it achieves the following effects. In other words, (1) Insert the optical fiber into the connector body from both ends,
The optical fiber can be locked and held at the connection position with a simple operation of tightening the cap-shaped nut. Here, since the stopper itself or the wedge-shaped protrusion provided on the inner circumferential surface of the stopper bites into the outer sheath of the optical fiber, it does not easily come off even if a tensile external force is applied to the optical fiber, resulting in high reliability. . In addition, even optical fibers with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the insertion hole in the connector body can be locked and held in the connection position, and high versatility is achieved, such as the ability to freely insert and remove optical fibers and rearrange wiring. . (2) The retaining force of the optical fiber by the stopper does not depend on the tightening torque of the cap-shaped nut, and a constant retaining force can always be ensured by screwing the nut, making it easy to manage work on site. be. (3) By providing a flange and threaded surface on the outer periphery of the connector body, the connector can be easily attached to a control panel panel, etc., and can also be used with waterproof packing and a waterproof cap as shown in the example shown. This makes it possible to provide reliable waterproof and drip-proof functions.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

[Fig. 1] A cross-sectional view of the overall configuration of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Plan view of main parts in Figure 1

[Fig. 3] Cross-sectional view taken along arrow XX in Fig. 2

[Fig. 4] A cross-sectional view of the configuration of an applied embodiment of the present invention that is a partially improved version of Fig. 1.

[Figure 5] External view of the entire connector showing the connection state of optical fibers

[Figure 6] Usage diagram with the connector attached to the control panel panel

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Connector body 2 Cap-shaped nut 3. Optical fiber 4 Optical fiber insertion hole 5 Male thread 6 Stopper 6a Cuneiform process 9 Flange 10 Thread surface

Claims (3)

[Claims] Claim 1: An optical fiber connector for removably butt-connecting two optical fibers, which has an insertion hole in the center of the axis into which the optical fibers are inserted from both ends, and has male screws on the outer peripheral surfaces of both ends. It consists of a cut cylindrical connector body and a cap-shaped nut that is screwed into both ends of the connector body, and a part of the circumferential surface of both ends of the connector body is cut out, and the cap-shaped nut is screwed into the connector body. An optical fiber connector characterized in that an arm-shaped stopper is provided which projects into an optical fiber insertion hole when biased and locks and holds the optical fiber in the insertion position. 2. The optical fiber connector according to claim 1, wherein a wedge-shaped protrusion having an edge is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the stopper. 3. The optical fiber connector according to claim 1, wherein a collar-like flange and a threaded surface are formed on the peripheral surface of the connector body.