JPH0432642Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an optical transmission line used for transmitting high-energy light.

[Prior art]

Generally, optical fibers are widely used to transmit high-power laser light, but if the optical fiber breaks during transmission of such high-power laser light, the laser light will leak from the broken end face and damage peripheral equipment. It is extremely dangerous as it may cause damage. However, in the past, sufficient countermeasures have not been taken, and the only measures taken are simply restricting access to the surrounding area or blocking peripheral equipment.

[Purpose] The present invention was developed in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to prevent laser light from being emitted to the outside for a predetermined period of time even if a disconnection accident occurs in the optical fiber. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a high-energy optical transmission line in which appropriate measures such as stopping the laser device can be taken during this period.

〔composition〕

A high-energy optical transmission line according to the present invention includes a flexible metal tube, an end member having a movable core inside, and one end connected to the flexible metal tube,
A metal holder whose other end is connected to the core, and a high-energy light that is inserted through the flexible metal tube, the metal holder, and the core of the terminal member, and has its tip fixed within the core. It is characterized by comprising a transmission optical fiber.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be specifically explained below based on drawings showing embodiments thereof.

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a high-energy optical transmission line according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the proposed product), and Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view taken along the - line in Fig. 1, where 1 is a single-core optical fiber. 2 is a cord, 2 is a flexible metal tube, 3 is a plug constituting an optical connector as a terminal member, and 4 is a receptacle. The optical fiber cord 1 is constructed by laminating and covering the outer periphery of an optical fiber 1a with a nylon jacket 1b, a Kevlar jacket 1c, and a polyvinyl chloride jacket 1d.
In this state, a tube 2 made of polyvinyl chloride is attached to the outer periphery.
It is arranged in a flexible metal tube 2 with a watertight structure covered with a. The flexible metal tube 2 is a cylindrical structure made by spirally winding a belt-shaped stainless steel material, and there are no particular limitations on its structure. It may be selected as appropriate, but since a stretchable material may apply a large external force to the optical fiber, it is desirable to have as little stretchability as possible and also have appropriate flexibility.

The plug 3 includes a holder 31, a skirt member 32,
It is composed of a core member 33, a cap nut member 34, and the like. The holder 31, skirt member 32, and cap nut member 34 are made of brass and stainless steel.
Further, the core member 33 is made of copper or the like which is a good thermal conductor. The holder 31 has an inner diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the fiber cord 1, excluding the tip, and a slightly smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the flexible metal tube 2, excluding the tip. Both diameters are enlarged, and a thread 31a is provided on the outer peripheral surface, and the flexible metal tube 2 and the optical fiber cord are attached using epoxy adhesives 31b and 31c applied to the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the proximal end. It is fixed concentrically and integrally with respect to 1. The skirt member 32 is formed into a cylindrical shape whose inner diameter is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the sheath 2a placed over the flexible metal tube 2, and is provided with a thread 32a on the inner circumferential surface of the distal end, making the proximal end flexible. A set screw 32 is inserted into the sheath 2a through a threaded hole 32b fitted externally on the metal tube 2 and bored in the peripheral wall of the proximal end thereof, and is tightened.
The holder 31 is attached via the thread 32a on the inner peripheral surface of the tip.
The holder 31 and the flexible metal tube 2 are fixed concentrically and integrally by being screwed and tightened into the thread 31a of the holder 31 and the flexible metal tube 2.

The core member 33 has a flange 33a on the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate portion in the axial direction, and the inner diameter is approximately equal to the diameter of the optical fiber 1a at the intermediate portion in the axial longitudinal direction, and both ends are connected to the circumferential surface of the optical fiber 1a. Space part 33b between,
33c, and the proximal end of the optical fiber cord 1 is covered with the exposed Kevlar 1c of the holder 31.
A set screw 31 is fitted inside the tip of the holder 31 and is threaded through a screw hole 31c bored in the peripheral wall of the tip of the holder 31.
At step d, attach the Kevlar 1c to the holder 31 and the core member 33.
It is fixed in such a way that it is sandwiched between the two. The cap nut member 34 has the thread 4 of the receptacle 4 on the inner peripheral surface of the tip.
A is provided with a thread 34a to be screwed together with the inner diameter of the flange 33a of the core member 33 on the inner circumferential surface near the proximal end.
The inner flange 34 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the inner flange 34.
A coil spring 35 is interposed between the inner flange 34b and the flange 33a of the core member 33, and the cap nut member 34 is always biased and held in the direction of retreating from the receptacle 3 side. There is.

The receptacle 4 has a cylindrical shape, and has a thread 4a on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end for screwing the cap nut member 34, and a flange 4b on the outer peripheral surface of the proximal end.
On the other hand, on the inner diameter, the tip side in the axial direction is the core member 33.
The diameter of the lens 4c is approximately equal to the diameter of , and the base end side is slightly reduced, and the lens 4c is disposed on the inner surface of this reduced base end.

In the case of the present product as described above, the lens 4c of the receptacle 4 is inserted into the receptacle 4 by inserting the core member 33 of the plug 2 and tightening the cap nut member 34 onto the receptacle 4.
and the optical fiber 1a are positioned and fixed concentrically, and the laser beam is made to enter the optical fiber 1a through the lens 4a, propagated within the optical fiber 1a, and emitted from the other end toward the workpiece. The Rukoto. Even if the laser beam enters the optical fiber 1a with a misalignment, a space 3 remains around the optical fiber 1a.
3b and 33c exist, there is nothing to burn, and no damage to the optical fiber 1a occurs.

Furthermore, even if the optical fiber 1a is damaged, since the optical fiber 1a is placed in the space formed by the metal holder 31 and the flexible metal tube 2, the laser beam emitted from the broken part will be damaged at least temporarily. In other words, it is kept confined within the space. Of course, the metal holder 31 and the flexible metal tube 2
However, since the holder 31 and the flexible metal tube 2 themselves are made of a good thermal conductor, it takes a certain amount of time to heat and melt the optical fiber 1a. This provides sufficient time to detect an output abnormality due to breakage of the laser and take necessary measures such as stopping the laser device.

〔effect〕

As mentioned above, in the case of this product, since the optical fiber is arranged in the space formed by the metal holder and the flexible metal tube, the temporary optical fiber may break.
Even if high-energy light leaks from the broken part or is emitted, the high-energy light is transferred to the flexible metal tube 2.
It becomes possible to keep the object inside for a specified period of time,
It is possible to prevent the risk of high-energy light being projected outside and entering the human body, as well as damage to peripheral equipment, and by utilizing the flexibility of flexible metal tubes, it is possible to install optical fibers, change direction, The present invention has excellent effects, such as making it possible to freely switch the connection targets and making it extremely easy to handle the optical fiber itself.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the product, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view taken along the - line in FIG. 1. 1... Optical fiber cord, 1a... Optical fiber, 1c... Kevlar, 2... Flexible metal tube, 2a
...Sheath, 3...Plug, 4...Receptacle, 4c...Lens, 31...Holder, 32...
... Skirt member, 33 ... Core member, 34 ... Cap nut member.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A flexible metal tube, a terminal member having a movable core therein, one end connected to the flexible metal tube, and the other end connected to the terminal member. a metal holder connected to the core, and an optical fiber for transmitting high-energy light that is inserted through the flexible metal tube, the metal holder, and the core of the terminal member, and has its tip fixed within the core. A high-energy optical transmission line characterized by comprising: