JPH0449605Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to an optical fiber protection connector used for connecting optical fibers, and more particularly to an optical fiber protection connector with an improved configuration of the connecting portion.

<Prior Art> When communicating using an optical fiber in a factory, the optical fiber is inserted into a protective tube, and an optical fiber connector is used for connection. However, with commercially available optical fiber protection connectors equipped with protection tubes, if a strong force is applied to the protection tube from the outside, this force will be transmitted to the connector section, resulting in a poor connection or, in some cases, the connector section may be destroyed. be.

Therefore, on December 17, 1985, the present applicant filed a utility model registration application (8) ``Name of invention: protective connector for optical fiber'' to improve this point. An overview of this will be explained below with reference to FIG.

10 is an optical fiber, and an inner connector metal fitting 11 is connected to one end of the optical fiber. The optical fibers are connected by inserting and screwing the inner connector fitting 11 into, for example, a mating optical member.

A protection tube 12 made of stainless steel, for example, is inserted into the outside of the optical fiber 10, and a cylindrical protection sleeve 13 is inserted onto the protection tube 12. One end of the protective sleeve 13 has a flared portion 14, and a threaded portion 15 is formed on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion behind the flared portion 14.

A cap nut-shaped outer connector fitting 17 having a threaded portion 16 is inserted into the outside so as to cover the flare portion 14 from the outside. This threaded portion 16 is screwed into a receptacle fitting 18 of an optical member to which the inner connector fitting 11 is connected, and is also screwed into a nut 19. By tightening this nut 19 toward the receptacle fitting 18, the outer connector fitting 17 is fixed to the receptacle fitting 18.

Further, a nut 20 is screwed onto the threaded portion 15 of the protective sleeve 13, and by tightening this onto the outer connector metal fitting 17 side, the protective sleeve 1
3 is integrally fixed with the outer connector fitting 17. In addition, at this time, the flare portion 14 of the outer connector fitting 17
A waterproof effect can also be obtained by providing an O-ring 21 at the portion that comes into contact with the.

A partial notch is provided near the other end of the protective sleeve 13, and an E-ring 22 is inserted therein to tighten the nut 20.
Prevents it from coming off. The outer end of the E-ring 22 is formed thinly and is swaged with a swage 23 to secure the protective tube 12.
and the protective sleeve 13 are fixed together.

Note that an O-ring 24 is inserted between the receptacle metal fitting 18 and the outer connector metal fitting 17 at a joint such as a bulge for waterproofing.

With this configuration, the optical fiber 10 is protected by the protection tube 12, the protection sleeve 13, etc., so even if external force is applied, the optical fiber 10
No force is applied to the inner connector fitting 11, and connection failures will not occur. Therefore, it can be used as an optical fiber protective connector for field instruments installed in places with poor environments.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> However, although such a conventional optical fiber protection connector has the above-mentioned advantages, on the other hand, the optical fiber 10 and the inner connector fitting 11 connected thereto, Since there is a gap between the protective tube 12 and the protective sleeve 13, there is a risk of damage to the optical fiber when carrying them, and the structure is complicated, making installation difficult when connecting the optical fibers. is complicated and inconvenient to handle.

<Means for solving the problems> In order to solve the above problems, this invention
A protective tube with an optical fiber penetrated inside to protect it, a protective sleeve inserted from the outside of the protective tube, and a protective sleeve disposed outside the protective sleeve and movable along the axis of the protective sleeve to protect the optical fiber. an outer connector which has coupling means on the outside for coupling with a mating connector to which a protective tube housing the fiber is connected, and an outer connector which houses an inner connector for coupling with the mating optical fiber; It comprises a fixing means fixed to the first outer connector for fixing the relative positional relationship in the longitudinal direction at an arbitrary position, and an elastic filler injected between the first optical fiber and the first protective sleeve. This is how it was done.

<Example> Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

An inner connector fitting 11 for connecting to a mating optical member is connected to one end of the optical fiber 10, a stainless steel protective tube 25 is inserted into the outside of the optical fiber 10, and a cylindrical tube is further inserted into the outside of the optical fiber 10. A protective sleeve 26 is inserted. A distal end portion 27 of the protective sleeve 26 that covers the protective tube 25 is made thin, and an end surface of the other thick portion 28 is flared outward to form a flared portion 29 . A portion A of this tip 27 is caulked to fix the protective tube 25 and the protective sleeve 26 together. Furthermore, an E-ring is inserted into a portion B of the thick portion 28.

A cylindrical outer connector fitting 31 having a space 30 in which the inner connector fitting 11 can be accommodated is inserted into the outside of the protective sleeve 26 . A screw 32 that is threaded into a screw hole opened in the radial direction is inserted into a part of the thick wall part 28 of the protective sleeve 26.
Press the circumferential surface to fix it. Furthermore, a thread is cut on the outer peripheral surface of the outer connector metal fitting 31, and a nut 33 is screwed into the outer peripheral surface of the outer connector metal fitting 31.

Further, a silicone resin 34 is injected between the optical fiber 10 and the protective sleeve 26 so that the optical fiber 1
0 is elastically fixed.

In the above configuration, first, the outer connector metal fitting 3
1, the nut 33 is loosened and the inner connector fitting 11 is separated from the optical member to which it is connected, and then the inner connector fitting 11 is screwed into the optical member of the other party, and then the outer connector fitting 31 is screwed onto the other optical member. After screwing into the mating member, the nut 33 is tightened, and the screw 32 is further tightened and fixed, thereby completing the connection. Therefore, the connection of the optical fiber protection connector is extremely easy, and its structure is also simple. Furthermore, since the optical fiber 10 is fixed to the protective sleeve using an elastic silicone resin, it is unlikely to be damaged even if force is applied to this portion.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention in which a part of the structure shown in FIG. 1 is improved.

In the structure shown in FIG. 1, it is difficult to inject silicone resin, so this point has been improved.

The protective sleeve 26 in FIG. 1 is divided into two protective sleeves 35 and 36. One end of the protective sleeve 35 is partially enlarged and a screw 37 is formed inside it, a screw 38 is cut at one end of the protective sleeve 36 to screw into the protective sleeve 35, and a flared portion 39 is formed at the other end. There is.

With this configuration, when injecting the silicone resin 34, these screws 37 and 38 are removed and the silicone resin 34 is injected, and after injection, these screws 37 and 38 are screwed together. This makes the injection operation easier.

<Effects of the invention> As explained above in detail with the embodiments, according to the invention, elastic resin is filled and fixed between the protective sleeve and the optical fiber, so that the optical fiber will not be damaged during transportation. Moreover, since the protective sleeve is fixed with screws, its structure is simplified and its handling is also easier.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the invention.
The figure is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of a conventional optical fiber protection connector. 10... Optical fiber, 11... Inner connector fitting, 12, 25... Protection tube, 13, 26, 35,
36...Protective sleeve, 17, 31...Outer connector fitting, 18...Receptacle fitting, 34...Silicone resin.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] a protective tube with an optical fiber penetrated thereinto to protect it; a protective sleeve inserted from the outside of the protective tube; and a protective sleeve disposed outside the protective sleeve and movable along the axis of the protective sleeve to protect the optical fiber. an outer connector which has coupling means on the outside for coupling with a mating connector to which the protective tube housing the protective tube is connected, and an outer connector that houses an inner connector that couples with the mating optical fiber inside; the outer connector and the protective sleeve in the longitudinal direction; and a fixing means fixed to the outer connector for fixing the relative positional relationship of the optical fiber and the protective sleeve at an arbitrary position, and an elastic filler injected between the optical fiber and the protective sleeve. Fiber optic protection connector.