JPS6128165Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to an optical connector used to connect an optical fiber to another optical fiber or device.

Generally, the center of the outer diameter of an optical fiber and the center of the core are slightly misaligned, so in conventional optical connectors, this positional misalignment is precisely adjusted using a V-groove board, etc., and the center of the connector plug is After aligning the center of the optical fiber with the center of the fiber core, the optical fiber is fixed to the plug by adhesive. Its basic structure consists of a plug that adhesively fixes the tip of the optical fiber, a guide pipe that supports this plug and the optical fiber, a plug part that is made up of a rubber coating, etc. that covers the whole, and this other part. The adapter consists of an adapter, etc. for connection to a connector, etc., and after supporting the tip of the optical fiber by butting it against the tip of the other optical fiber within the sleeve built into this adapter, the above-mentioned plug and adapter are connected and fixed. The connection structure includes a screw lock method in which a connecting nut integrated into the plug part is screwed into the adapter screw, other magnetic lock methods, and a chuck method. However, in any case, not only does the number of component parts increase and the structure becomes complicated, but also the processing steps such as adjusting the above-mentioned positional deviation and polishing the sleeve end face and plug end face are complicated, making it difficult to manufacture the connector. In addition, there is a drawback that the production cost is high, and in particular,
For connection points where the diameter of the optical fiber used is relatively large and the above-mentioned axis alignment accuracy is not a problem, a connector with the above configuration would be complicated to handle, and would be unsuitable in terms of structure and cost, so it was not adopted. I can't. Therefore, there is a need for an optical connector that can be used extremely easily at such connection locations.

In view of this point, this invention uses an elastic member that is approximately U-shaped with its longitudinal center portion bulging outward.
The elastic member is arranged so as to surround the outer periphery of the guide pipe that guides and supports the optical fiber element, and the elastic force of this elastic member allows the connection between the connecting member such as a jack into which a mating connector is inserted, and this elastic member. The present invention aims to provide an optical connector which is structured so that the connector is fixed by contact pressure acting on the optical connector, and which is thereby easy to attach and detach, has a simple structure, and is inexpensive.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of this invention will be described in detail based on the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, a support hole 1a of the coating portion A is provided in the axial direction of the cylindrical mounting body 1, and the diameter of the coating portion A is slightly larger than that of the optical fiber.
The covering portion A is inserted into and supported by the
And this support hole 1a is provided on the front side (right side in the figure).
A stopper-shaped support fitting 2 is screwed and fixed into a screw hole provided in communication with the screw hole. This support fitting 2 has a screw hole 2a formed in the axial direction that communicates with the support hole 1a, and a large diameter opening 2b that is connected to the screw hole 2a on the front side thereof. A guide pipe 3 for guiding and supporting the strand B of the optical fiber is inserted into the support hole 1 through the threaded hole 2a.
An elastic member 4, which is screwed and fixed coaxially with the guide pipe a, surrounds the outer periphery of the guide pipe 3.
4 is arranged, and its free end side base is connected to the opening 2.
It is inserted and supported in b.

Thus, the elastic members 4, 4 are made by bending two elongated leaf spring members into a substantially U-shape with a longitudinally central portion 4a bulging outward, and then bending this into a cross shape in the circumferential direction. An insertion hole 4b having a diameter slightly larger than that of the fiber strand B is formed in the center of the tip of the bent part, and the strand B is inserted and supported through the insertion hole 4b. . Then, the free end side base is inserted into the opening 2b of the support fitting 2, and the peripheral edge 2c of the opening 2b is pressed inward and plastically deformed, thereby attaching both elastic members 4, 4 to the support fitting 2. 2, thereby both elastic members 4, 4
An elastic force is applied to the outer circumferential direction.

Next, on the tip side of the optical cable, a predetermined length of the coating layer has been removed to expose the fiber wire B, and the end face has been treated, and
The strand B is connected to the guide pipe 3 and the insertion hole 4.
b, and the covering part A is inserted into the mounting body 1.
is inserted and supported in the support hole 1a of the strand B.
After the projections from the tips of the elastic members 4, 4 are adjusted to a predetermined length, the covering portion A is adhesively fixed to the mounting body 1.

Next, FIG. 2 shows the state in which the optical connector configured as described above is used.
, connector fixing holes 6 and 6' are bored to face each other in the axial direction and have a diameter slightly smaller than that of the elastic members 4 and 4, and the fixing holes 6 and 6' are in communication with each other. A hole 7 having a slightly larger diameter than the wire B is provided.

Then, the optical connector is inserted together with the mating connector through both fixing holes 6 and 6' so that the fiber wires B and B' are abutted in the hole 7. , when the elastic members 4, 4 are inserted into the fixing holes 6, 6',
Contact pressure due to the elastic force of the elastic members 4, 4 is applied between the elastic members 4, 4 and the fixing holes 6, 6', so that the optical connector is reliably supported by the coupling fitting 5. Moreover, this prevents the optical connector from being accidentally pulled out of the coupling fitting 5 during use, and when the connector is to be removed, it is sufficient to simply pull it out from the coupling fitting 5. Therefore, the optical connector can be freely attached and detached, and the attachment and detachment work can be performed extremely easily.

In addition, 8 is a male screw provided on the outer periphery of the connecting metal fitting 5, and is used when fixing the connecting metal fitting 5 to another member by screwing.

As is clear from the above description, in the optical connector according to the present invention, the elastic force of the elastic member acts between the elastic member and a mating member into which it is inserted, such as a connecting member such as a jack. Since the connector is configured to be fixed using contact pressure, it is extremely easy to attach and detach, and compared to conventional connectors, there is no need for fixing nuts or chucks, making the structure extremely simple. Ru.

Furthermore, the hole having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the optical fiber allows the optical fiber to be positioned easily and with high precision, resulting in high coupling efficiency.

In addition, it is possible to directly connect to other optical fibers or devices within a hole that is slightly larger than the diameter of the optical fiber strand, further improving the coupling efficiency.

In addition, the number of component parts is reduced and the pretreatment process required for conventional connectors, such as polishing the end face of the plug, is significantly omitted, and the manufacturing process does not require much effort, reducing manufacturing costs and providing inexpensive optical connectors. There are advantages that can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the optical connector according to the invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing the state in which the optical connector is used. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Mounting body, 2... Supporting metal fittings, 2b... Opening, 3... Guide pipe, 4, 4... Elastic member, 4a... Insertion hole, A... Optical fiber coating part,
B...Optical fiber wire.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The input part and the output part are integrally molded, a fixing hole is provided in the axial direction, and a connecting member is provided with a hole having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the optical fiber strand, which communicates with the fixing hole. An optical connector is an optical connector that is connected to a mounting body, the mounting body having a support hole provided in the axial direction into which an optical fiber coating part is inserted and supported, and an opening communicating with the support hole on the front side. A guide pipe is attached to the opening and guides and supports the optical fiber strand, and a guide pipe is attached to the opening of the mounting body to surround the outer periphery of the guide pipe, and a part of the longitudinal direction bulges outward at the tip. An elastic member is provided with an insertion hole for the optical fiber wire, and the elastic member is inserted into the fixing hole of the connecting member and fixed by contact pressure acting between the bulge and the connecting member. An optical connector characterized in that an optical fiber is inserted and positioned through a hole having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the optical fiber wire.