JPH1090525A - Branching/connecting device for optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the need for extra length housing work and to eliminate the need for a special protective member of separate coated fiber parts branched from optical fibers by previously building cords for connection having the extra length parts into an optical branch connecting box and providing this box with extra length housing parts and separate coated fiber housing parts. SOLUTION: Connectors 39 consisting of MT connectors are previously mounted at the front ends of optical fibers 1 desired to be connected. An operator removes the cap of an optical fiber optical multipoint connecting 2, connects the connectors 39 to connectors 7 for connection, houses and fixes these connectors into the connector housing parts 40 and puts the cap again. Since the extra length parts 8 as the extra lengths for connection are previously built into the optical multipoint connecting box 3, there is no need for the extra length treating work. Separate coated fibers 10 are built and fixed in the optical branch connecting box 3 and the optical branch connecting box 3 is segmented by the extra length housing parts 5 and the separate coated fiber housing parts 6, by which the possibility of coming into contact with the separate coated fibers 10 at the time of connection work is eliminated and the need for the protective member for the separate coated fibers 10 is eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a branch connection device for an optical fiber used for connecting an optical fiber.

[Prior art]

Generally, when an optical fiber is to be connected to another optical fiber, it is necessary to connect each of the optical fibers. Therefore, at the connecting portion, the optical fiber is branched for each optical fiber and each of the optical fibers is connected. Is done.

Conventionally, when branching and connecting such an optical fiber, an apparatus as shown in FIG. 2 has been used. FIG. 3A shows a conversion core 14 used as a connection part when connecting an optical fiber to another optical fiber, and FIG. 3B shows the conversion core 14 housed inside. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the optical branching connection device 15. The converted core 14 shown in (a) is connected to the MT connector 16, the cord part 17, the single-core separating part 18 serving as a branch point when separating the core contained in the cord part 17 into a single core, and the cord part. Single separated core 1 that separates each stored single core
9 and an SC connector 20 serving as a connection portion. The length of the cord section 17 is set with some allowance, and is configured to function as an extra connection length.

[0004] The converted core wire 14 is connected to an optical fiber cord 21 derived from an external optical communication trunk or the like. Optical branch connection device 1 when stored in
(B) shows the state of No. 5. The work of connecting the optical fiber cord 21 and the conversion core wire 14 and the work of storing the extra length are generally performed on site.

[0005]

When such an optical branching connection device is used, the extra length storing operation is required as described above, and the extra length storing operation is performed on site. As a result, there has been a problem that the time required for on-site construction is prolonged. In addition, since the extra length storage work is performed as on-site work, there is a high possibility that the core wire will be damaged due to contact with the single separated core wire at the time of work. It is necessary to provide a protection member in the portion, and there has been a problem in terms of the cost required for installing the protection member.

In view of such circumstances, according to the present invention, an extra-length storing operation is not required, and a special protective member is not required at a separated core portion branched from the optical fiber. It is intended to provide a branch connection device.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the following means has been adopted in the optical fiber branch connection device of the present invention. That is, the optical fiber branch connection device according to claim 1 is an optical fiber branch connection device used to connect an optical fiber to another optical fiber, and an optical branch connection box installed at a connection portion. A connection cord housed in the optical branching connection box and connected to an optical fiber, wherein the optical branching connection box is provided with an extra length storage portion and a separated core wire storage portion, and the connection The extra cord is stored in the extra length storage portion, the tip of which is terminated as a connector connectable to the optical fiber,
A separation core that is branched from the extra length portion, is housed in the separation core storage portion, and has a distal end terminated as an optical connector that can be connected to a core derived from another optical fiber. It is characterized by the following.

In this optical fiber branch connection device, an optical fiber connection cord is stored in advance in an optical branch connection box, and an optical fiber to be connected to a connection connector provided at one end of the connection cord is provided. And connecting the branched optical fiber of the second optical fiber to the optical connector provided at the other end, the two optical fibers can be connected. Further, the extra length of the connection cord functions as an extra connection length of the optical fiber to be connected. The optical branching connection box has a surplus storage portion and a separated core storage portion, and the extra length portion of the connection cord is stored in the extra length storage portion, and the separated core wire branched from the extra length portion is It is stored in the separated cord storage section. Therefore, in the installation work of the optical fiber branch connection device of the present invention, only the work of connecting the optical fiber connector to the connection connector provided on the connection cord is required. Further, since the storage location of the separated core is isolated, there is no danger of breaking the separated core during operation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical fiber branch connection device according to the first aspect, wherein the extra length storage portion and the separated core wire storage portion are configured to be separable, and are hingedly connected. The parts are connected by hinges and are rotatable about the hinges. In this optical fiber branch connection device, the extra length storage portion and the separated core wire storage portion are configured to be separable. For this reason, for example, the separation core storage section is fixed at the place where the connection of the optical fiber is to be performed, and in this state, the extra length storage section is separated, and the connection connector of the connection cord stored therein is used. Connection work. Furthermore, since the extra length storage portion and the separated core wire storage portion are connected by the hinge at the hinge connection portion, the extra length storage portion can be separated from the separated core wire storage portion by rotating the extra length storage portion with respect to the hinge, When separating the extra length storage section, the possibility of giving vibration or the like to the separated cord storage section is reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical fiber branch connection device as defined in the first or second aspect, wherein each of the separated core wires is fixed in the separated core storage portion. It is characterized in that a guide portion which can be provided is provided. In this optical fiber branch connection device, the guide portions installed in the separated core wires fix the respective positions of the separated core wires, so that the bending radius of each separated core wire is maintained and easily. No excessive force is applied to the breakable core.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of an embodiment of the present invention, showing an internal configuration of a branch connection device 2 for an optical fiber. As shown in the figure, the optical fiber branch connection device 2 has a configuration in which a connection cord 4 is built in an optical branch connection box 3. Optical junction box 3
Is composed of an extra-length storage section 5 and a separated core storage section 6, and the extra-length storage section 5 and the separated core storage section 6 are connected at a hinge connection section 11. Further, the hinge connecting portion 11 is formed as a thin hinge, and the optical branching connection box 3 is formed by integrally forming the extra-long storage portion 5 and the separated core wire storage portion 6.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the optical branching junction box 3 in detail. The extra length storage section 5 includes an upper plate 23, a side plate 24,
25 and a bottom plate 26. An extra length storage portion fixing plate 27 is provided at one end of the upper plate 23, and a handle 28 is provided on the extra length storage portion fixing plate 27. The side plate 24
The upper part is an R guide 29. On the other hand, the separated core wire storage section 6 includes an upper plate 30, side plates 31, 32, 33 and a bottom plate 34, and the side plate 32 is provided with the guide portion 12. Since the hinge connecting portion 11 forming the connecting portion between the bottom plate 26 and the bottom plate 34 is a thin hinge as described above, the extra-length storage portion 5 can be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow A in the figure. At this time, extra length storage section 5
Moves to the position shown by the two-dot chain line.
Also, at this time, the surface of the extra length storage unit 5 where the side plate is not provided is located above.

The extra-length storage section 5 rotatable as described above.
A handle (not shown) is provided at a portion of the side plate 31 corresponding to the extra-length storage unit fixing plate 27 to fix the side plate 31. The handle receiver is configured to be connectable to the handle 28, and is configured such that by rotating the handle 28, the handle receiver and the handle 28 can be connected or separated. ing. Further, the optical branching junction box 3 is configured such that a lid 35 as shown in FIG. 2 can be attached from the side with screws. The lid 35 is composed of a lid 36 of the extra length storage section and a lid 37 of the separated core storage section. The lid 36 of the extra length storage section and the lid 37 of the separated core storage section are integrally formed, It can function as one lid.

Next, the internal configuration of the optical fiber branch connection device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. Upper plate 2 of extra length storage section 5
An opening 38 is provided between 3 and the R guide 29 so that the optical fiber 1 can be introduced from the outside. In addition, the extra-length storage section 5 is provided with a connector storage section 40 for storing the terminated connector 39 of the optical fiber 1 introduced into the inside from the opening 38.

The connection cord 4 housed inside the optical branching connection box 3 includes a connection connector 7 connectable to the optical fiber 1, a surplus portion 8 following the connection connector 7, and a separation core branched from the surplus portion 8. It comprises a wire 10 and an SC connector (not shown) provided at the end thereof. The connection connector 7 and the extra length portion 8 are stored in the extra length storage portion 5, and the connection connector 7 is stored and fixed inside the connector storage portion 40, and the extra length portion 8 is stored therein.
Passes through the notch 31a of the side plate 31 and separates the core 10
Connect to The separated core 10 and an SC connector (not shown) are housed in the separated core storage unit 6,
Is supported and fixed by the guide portion 12, and SC (not shown)
The connector is inserted into an optical connector (optical adapter) 9. The optical connector 9 is fixed to the cutout 33 a of the side plate 33 of the separated core wire storage unit 6, and the tip is exposed outside the optical branching storage box 3. The connection connector 7 is formed of an MT connector, and the separated core wire 10 is formed of a single-core optical fiber.

When the optical fiber branch connection device 2 is actually used on site, the optical fiber branch connection device 2 is first transported to a place where the connection is desired. On the other hand, a connector 3 comprising an MT connector is provided at the tip of the optical fiber 1 to be connected.
9 is attached. Thereafter, the connector 39 and the connector 7 are connected. In this case, first, the lid 35 of the optical fiber branch connection device 2 is removed, and then the connector 39 is connected to the connector 7. Then, these are stored and fixed in the connector storage section 40, and the lid 35 is attached to the optical branching connection box 3 again. Finally, the optical fiber branch connection device 2 for which the connection work has been completed is installed at a place where connection is desired.

As described above, the optical fiber branch connection device 2
The connection switching operation of the optical fiber using the optical fiber can be performed very easily. That is, since the extra length portion 8 as the extra connection length is incorporated in the optical branching junction box 3 in advance, the extra length processing operation is unnecessary, and
Is incorporated in and fixed to the optical branching junction box 3 and is housed in a portion different from the extra-length portion 8, so that there is no need to provide a protective material on the separation core wire 10. For the connection work, the lid 35 is opened and the connector 39 and the connection connector 7 are opened.
And fixing them to the connector housing portion 40, and closing the cover 35 again is completed, and there is no danger that an excessive force will be applied to the part of the separated core wire 10 during work and the breakage will occur. Further, the optical fiber branch connection device 2 can be manufactured in advance outside a factory or the like. From the above, it can be said that the optical fiber branch connection device 2 remarkably improves the workability at the time of optical fiber connection construction work and associated work.

Also, since the optical branching junction box 3 is divided into the extra-length storage section 5 and the separated core storage section 6, there is no possibility of contact with the separated core 10 during the connection work. In addition, it is possible to eliminate the necessity of installing a protective member for the separation core wire 10 and to reduce the cost.

It is also preferable that the optical fiber branch connection device 2 is used for branching and connecting optical fibers in, for example, an optical wiring rack. The wall surface 41 shown in FIG.
Is an example of a part of a wall surface constituting an optical wiring rack. The wall surface 41 is provided with a plurality of adapter insertion holes 42. When it is desired to perform an optical fiber connection switching operation on the surface 41a of the wall surface 41, if the tip of the optical connector 9 is inserted into the adapter insertion hole 42, the optical connector 9 is arranged in parallel with the surface 41a. It is possible to easily connect an optical fiber connector or to perform switching.

When switching the connection of the optical fiber from the back surface 41b of the wall surface 41, first, the cover 35 of the optical fiber branch connection device 2 is removed, and then the connection between the handle 28 and the handle receiver is released. Then, rotate the extra length storage unit 5,
It is pulled out to the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
Next, the connector 39 and the connection connector 7 are taken out from the connector storage section 40, separated from each other, and then the connector 39 installed at the tip of another optical fiber 1 to be connected is connected.
Are connected to the connector 7, and these are stored and fixed in the connector storage section 40. Finally, the lid 35 is attached to the optical branching connection box 3 again, and the optical fiber branching connection device 2 is mounted on the optical wiring rack.

The connection switching work on the back surface 41b as described above can be performed while the separated core wire storing portion 6 is fixed to the optical wiring rack. Since the upper part of the long storage section 5 is in an open state, the work can be easily performed. In addition, the optical fiber generally has a property of being weak against vibration, and communication may be interrupted or damaged by giving the vibration. However, in the optical fiber branch connection device 2, since the extra length storage portion 5 can be rotated with respect to the hinge while the separated core wire storage portion 6 is fixed, the connection switching operation can be performed by pulling out from the optical wiring rack. The vibration of the optical fiber, in particular, the portion of the separated core wire 10 is less likely to occur, and the safety of the optical fiber can be secured.

Further, in the optical fiber branch connection device 2, the connection portions of the plurality of core wires are unitized, and the work can be performed independently for each of the plurality of unitized core wires. Further, the optical fiber branch connection device 2
With the separation core storage unit 6 fixed, it is possible to pull out the extra length storage unit 5 and perform the connection switching work. Therefore, the optical fiber is identified for each unit and a part of the unit is fixed. In this state, the connection switching operation can be executed, and it becomes very easy to identify each optical fiber. This effect is particularly remarkable when a large number of optical fiber branch connection devices 2 are juxtaposed and used on an optical wiring rack. The discrimination of the core wire is remarkably improved.

The separation core 10 is fixed in position by the guide portion 12. This is not only for the purpose of maintaining the bending radius of the separation core 10, but also for the vibration with respect to the separation core 10. It also has the purpose of preventing This means that the separation core wire 10 is protected when the connection is switched in the optical fiber 1 and the work is performed in the extra-length storage section 5. It is assumed that the cable is produced and transported to the site, and also has the meaning of protecting the separated core wire 10 during transportation.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be freely changed according to the required form of the optical fiber and connector, the situation of the installation place, the convenience of work, and the like. It can be changed. For example, in the present embodiment, the lid 36 of the extra length storage section and the lid 37 of the separated core wire storage section are configured as a single lid 35, but these may be separated. The extra-length storage section 5 can be pulled out with the lid still attached. Further, the hinge connecting portion 11 is a thin hinge corresponding to the fact that the extra length storage portion 5 and the separated core wire storage portion 6 are integrally formed, but the extra length storage portion 5 and the separated core wire storage portion are formed. 6 are formed separately, and the hinge connecting portion 1 is formed.
A new hinge may be installed at 1. In the present embodiment, an SC connector adapter is used for the optical connector 9, but an MPO connector adapter may be used instead. Correspondingly, the separated core wire may be a multi-core optical fiber, and the number of optical fibers used for the connection cord may be increased.

[0025]

According to the optical fiber branch connection device of the present invention, a connection cord is pre-installed inside the optical branch connection box, and the extra length of the connection cord is set as the extra connection length of the optical fiber. Therefore, extra storage work is unnecessary,
The operation at the time of connecting the optical fiber, which has been conventionally performed, can be simplified. Further, the optical branching connection box is configured to include a surplus storage section and a separated core storage section. The extra length section is separated into the extra length storage section, and the separated core is separated into the separated core storage section. Is stored. Therefore, no excessive force is applied to the separated core wire during connection work, etc., and extra length storage work is not required.Conventionally, it is necessary to protect the separated core wire during these operations. This eliminates the need for a protective member, which can reduce the cost. further,
In the optical fiber branch connection device of the present invention, the separated core storage portion is fixed to, for example, an optical wiring rack or the like by connecting the extra length storage portion and the separation core storage portion which are made separable by a hinge. It is possible to take out only the extra length storage portion by rotating it with respect to the hinge, take out the connection connector therefrom, and perform the connection switching operation.
This means that when the optical fiber branch connection device of the present invention is applied to an optical wiring rack or the like, not only can the optical fiber connection and switching work be performed in a short time, but also the optical fiber itself can be easily identified. It is to be. Further, in the optical fiber branch connection device of the present invention, a guide portion for fixing the position of the separation cord is provided, and functions to protect the separation cord of the built-in connection cord. This not only protects the separated core wire at the time of optical fiber connection work and the like, but also makes it possible to cope with, for example, a case where the present apparatus is manufactured in advance at another place and transported to the site. Also, from the above, when the optical fiber branch connection device of the present invention is actually used for an optical fiber connection portion, the device manufactured in advance is transported to the site, installed, and connected. It is only necessary to perform the construction, and the connection work and the switching work can be easily performed as described above. Therefore, the present invention significantly improves the workability regarding optical fiber connection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the inside of one embodiment of an optical fiber branch connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing in detail the optical branching junction box in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view and a cross-sectional view showing a conventional technique of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical fiber, 2 ... Optical fiber branch connection device, 3 ...
Optical branch connection box, 4 ... connection cord, 5 ... extra length storage section, 6
... Separate core wire storage part, 7 ... Connector, 8 ... Extra length part, 9
... Optical connector, 10 ... Separated core wire, 11 ... Hinge connection part, 1
2. Guide part

Claims (3)

[Claims] An optical fiber branch connection device (2) used for connecting an optical fiber (1) to another optical fiber, comprising: an optical branch connection box (3) installed at a connection portion; A connection cord (4) housed in the optical branch connection box (3) and connected to the optical fiber (1), wherein the optical branch connection box (3) is separated from the extra-length storage section (5) by a separation core. And a cable for connection (4).
Is composed of a surplus portion (8) housed in the surplus length storage portion (5), the tip of which is terminated as a connector (7) connectable to the optical fiber (1); A split core (10) which is branched and housed in a split core storage part (6) and whose end is terminated as an optical connector (9) which can be connected to a core led out of another optical fiber. An optical fiber branch connection device (2) characterized by being constituted. 2. A branch connection device (2) for an optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the extra length storage portion (5) and the separated core wire storage portion (6) are configured to be separable, and the hinge connection portion (2). 1
An optical fiber branch connection device (2), wherein the optical fiber branch connection device is connected by a hinge in (1) and is rotatable about the hinge. 3. The branch connection device (2) for an optical fiber according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:
A branch connection device (2) for an optical fiber, comprising a guide portion (12) for fixing a position of each of the separated core wires (10).