KR20000074785A - Water-resisted optic connector and adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A waterproof optical connector and an adaptor are provided to prevent deterioration of optical fibers due to moisture even when the optical connector is placed outside, thereby improving a lifespan of the optical fibers. CONSTITUTION: In an optical connector connection structure including an optical connector(10) having a ferrule and a plug frame and an adaptor(20) having a sleeve, a waterproof optical connector and adaptor include waterproofing means placed at the combined portion of the ferrule and the plug frame and outside the sleeve of the adaptor. The waterproofing means are O-rings. The waterproofing means are formed of a shape memory gel. The O-rings have first and second O-rings placed at both ends of a ferrule supporting projection, and a third O-ring located outside the sleeve of the adaptor. The shape memory gel is coated on the inner side of the plug frame and the exterior of the sleeve.

Description

Waterproof Optical Connectors and Adapters {WATER-RESISTED OPTIC CONNECTOR AND ADAPTER}

The present invention relates to a waterproof optical connector and adapter for preventing moisture or water from penetrating into the connector coupling when the optical connector is coupled, and in particular, the O-ring is applied to the outer circumference of the adapter sleeve and the contact portion between the plug frame and the ferrule of the optical connector. The present invention relates to a waterproof optical connector and an adapter which are inserted into a waterproof function.

In general, optical fiber connection by optical connector is made by coupling two optical connectors into which an optical fiber is inserted, respectively. The optical fiber connection is divided into FC (Factory Connector) optical connector and SC (Square Connector or Subscriber Connector) optical connector. More specifically, there are a Square Connector 2 or Subscriber Connector 2 (SC2) type optical connector, a Miniature Unit (MU) type optical connector, and a spring loaded twist and look bayout (ST) type optical connector.

Conventionally, the optical connector connection is mainly used to connect the optical cable and the optical transmission device, and most of them have been installed indoors. However, as the optical cable of the subscriber network is complex, the optical fiber network is complex and diversified to facilitate the distribution of the optical fiber network. Optical connector connections are also made in boxes, optical intermediate switchboards, and optical terminal boxes.

On the other hand, the optical fiber connection should be protected from moisture because the optical strength of the optical fiber decreases due to the deterioration caused by moisture, and the life span of the optical fiber is shortened. It is very likely that water will penetrate.

That is, in the conventional optical connector connection, the ferrule is mechanically tightly fixed to the plug frame by the sleeve of the adapter, but there is a minute gap between the end faces of the ferrule. Therefore, when the optical connector connection is installed in a humid area or wetted with water, moisture penetrated into the ferrule insertion hole of the plug frame or the connection point between the sleeve and the plug frame flows into the sleeve through the surface of the ferrule and penetrates the ferrule cross section. Therefore, the optical fiber deteriorates, and the moisture penetrated into the ferrule causes water film phenomenon of the optical fiber cross section, and when the optical signal propagates through the optical fiber, the loss of the optical fiber is increased due to the increase in the refractive index. In addition, there is a high concern that the optical connector performance is lowered due to the moisture penetration, and there is a problem that the maintenance cost due to the replacement of the optical connector is degraded in the future.

On the other hand, in order to solve such problems in the prior art, in order to protect the optical connector connector from moisture, waterproof structures such as junction boxes, optical intermediate switchboards, and optical terminal boxes, which are installed outdoors, have been variously researched and developed. Although it can be suppressed, there is a limit to the perfect waterproofing function for a long time, and there is a disadvantage that the cost of waterproofing greatly increases the production cost.

On the other hand, a waterproof optical connector has been proposed to change the internal coupling structure of the optical connector to have a waterproofing effect. However, this is not only high in price, but also due to the change in the optical connector standardized in the world and its coupling method. Therefore, there is a problem in practical use because it is not compatible with the widely used SC or FC optical connector.

As such, the existing optical connector can be used as it is, but no effort has been made to provide waterproofness to itself at a low cost.

Therefore, the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, the optical connector itself can be waterproof while having compatibility with the conventional optical connector, even if the connection of the optical connector is installed outdoors and exposed to moisture, It is an object of the present invention to provide a waterproof optical connector that can block moisture penetration and prevent degradation of optical fibers caused by moisture.

The present invention for achieving the above object is the ferrule for inserting and fixing the optical fiber, the plug frame for guiding the ferrule, the stop ring and spring is installed to apply a constant elastic force to the ferrule, the boot for guiding the optical fiber core wire, and In the optical connector connection structure consisting of an optical connector having a housing, and an adapter having a fixing pin for fixing the plug frame and a sleeve into which the ferrule is inserted, first and second O-rings are provided at both ends of the ferrule support jaw. It is characterized in that it further comprises a watertight means provided with a third O-ring outside the sleeve of the adapter.

The above objects and various advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the preferred embodiments of the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by those skilled in the art.

1 is an exploded view showing a connection structure of an optical connector according to the present invention;

2 is an exploded view of the optical connector according to the present invention;

3 is an exploded cross-sectional view showing a coupling structure of an optical connector and an adapter according to the present invention;

4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a plug frame and a ferrule in accordance with the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10; Optical connector 11; Ferrule

11a; Ferrule bracket 12; Plug frame

12a; Ferrule support jaw 13; Stop ring

14; Spring 15; Boot

16; Housing 20; adapter

21; Fixing pin 22; sleeve

30a, 30b, 30c; O-ring

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail an embodiment of the present invention.

1 is an exploded view showing the connection structure of the optical connector and the adapter according to the present invention, Figure 2 is an exploded view of the optical connector according to the present invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the optical connector applied in the preferred embodiment of the present invention is an SC type optical connector. The optical fiber connection by the optical connector 10 is made by coupling the two optical connectors 10 into which the optical fiber is inserted to the adapter 20, respectively. The optical connector 10 includes a ferrule 11 for inserting and fixing an optical fiber as shown in FIG. 2, and a plug for guiding the ferrule 11 to be easily inserted in line with the sleeve 22 axis of the adapter 20. It consists of a frame 12, a housing 16 for accommodating the stop ring 13 and the like, and a boot 15 for guiding the optical fiber core wires inserted into the optical connector 10 safely. In addition, a spring 14 is inserted between the ferrule 11 and the stop ring 13 so that a constant elastic force is applied to the ferrule 11 in the coupling direction of the optical connector 10 when the optical connector 10 is coupled to the adapter 20. In the sleeve 22 of the adapter 20, the cross section of the ferrule 11 is tightly pressed. In addition, the ferrule insertion hole 12b is placed at the center of the plug frame 12 so that the cross sections of the ferrule 11 inserted into the sleeve 22 of the adapter 20 in both directions are closely adhered to each other. The adapter 20 is provided with a fixing pin 21 for fixing the plug frame 12 and a sleeve 22 for inserting the ferrule 11.

Reference numeral 16 is a housing for increasing the fixing force of the optical connector 10, 17 is a support ring for fixing the jacket of the optical fiber core wire, 18 is a ring for connecting the boot 15 to the support ring 17.

In the optical fiber connection by the optical connector 10 and the adapter 20 having such a structure, if one optical connector 10 is first coupled to one side of the adapter 20, the ferrule 11 is connected to the sleeve of the adapter 20. 22 is inserted into the housing and the housing 16 is wound around the adapter 20 so that the ferrule 11 is fixed in the sleeve 22 and the other optical connector 10 is coupled to the other side of the adapter 20 so that the ferrule As the 11 is inserted into the sleeve 22 of the adapter 20, the housing 16 is wound around the adapter 20 so that the ferrule 11 is fixed to the sleeve 22. And the ferrule 11 of the optical connector 10 inserted into the sleeve 22 of the adapter 20 has a cross-section in a straight line by the force of the spring 14 between the ferrule 11 and the stop ring 13. By being in close contact, the optical fiber inserted into the ferrule 11 is connected.

As shown in FIG. 2, the optical connector 10 has a structure in which the ferrule 11 to which the optical fiber core wire is connected is inserted into the plug frame 12 through the boot 15, the stop ring 13, and the spring 14. The cross section of the ferrule 11 is led through the ferrule insertion hole 12b of the plug frame 12, and the ferrule insertion hole 12b is led to the plug frame 12 in the form of a jaw.

3 and 4, when the ferrule support jaw 12a is formed at the inner circumference of the ferrule insertion hole 12b of the plug frame 12 and the plug frame 12 is fixed by the housing 16. The ferrule bracket 11a opposite to the cross section of the ferrule 11 is caught by the ferrule support jaw 12a of the ferrule insertion hole 12b and no longer moves forward. Thus, before the optical connector 10 is coupled to the adapter 20, the ferrule 11 is pushed toward the front of the optical connector 10 by the force of the spring 14 between the ferrule 11 and the stop ring 13. State is maintained.

In particular, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first and second O-rings (30a, 30b) are provided at both ends of the ferrule support jaw (12a), adapter 20 The watertight means with the third O-ring 30c is mounted to the outside of the sleeve 22 of the.

The O-ring material used as the watertight means is preferably a silicone rubber having excellent elasticity and resilience. In addition, instead of the O-ring, the shape memory gel may be applied to the inside of the plug frame 12 and the outside of the sleeve 22 of the adapter 20. The shape memory gel has an intermediate property between a liquid and a solid, which can semipermanently remember the state of the first application. That is, by applying and fixing the shape memory gel inside the plug frame 12 using an adhesive or the like can exhibit a waterproof function similar to the O-ring.

Referring to the operation of the waterproof optical connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention having such a structure as follows.

First, when one optical connector 10 is coupled to one side of the adapter 20, the sleeve 22 of the adapter 20 is fitted to the plug frame 12 of the optical connector 10, and at the same time, the ferrule 11 is The ferrule 11 inserted into the sleeve 22 and inserted into the sleeve 22 is put forward by the force of the spring 14 acting between the stop ring 13 and the ferrule bracket 11a. Next, when the other optical connector 10 is coupled to the other side of the adapter 20, the ferrule 11 is opposed to the end face of the ferrule 11 of the opposite optical connector 10 inserted into the sleeve 22, and the end face is butted. The first and second ferrules 11 are pushed forward by the elastic force of the spring 14 between the ferrule 11 and the stop ring 13 in the sleeve 22, and the end faces of the ferrules 11 are in close contact with each other, thereby making the connection between the optical fibers. .

At this time, in the waterproof optical connector 10, the first and second O-rings 30a and 30b inserted into the plug frame 12 exhibit a watertight function. In other words, the first O-ring 30a is inserted into the exit ferrule support jaw 12a of the plug frame 12 while keeping the original shape and the second o-ring 30b in the intake ferrule support jaw 12a. ) Is inflated by the ferrule bracket 11a by the pushing force of the spring 14 between the stop ring 13 and the ferrule 11 so that it is in close contact with the surface of the ferrule insertion hole 12b and the ferrule 11. When the first optical connector 10 is coupled to one side of the adapter 20, the ferrule 11 is inserted into the sleeve 22 and the sleeve 22 is inserted into the plug frame 12, and the sleeve 22 is terminated. By pressing the first O-ring 30a on the outlet side ferrule support jaw 12a of the plug frame 12, the O-ring 30a is expanded to come into close contact with the surface of the ferrule insertion hole 12b and the ferrule 11. In addition, when the other optical connector 10 is coupled to the opposite side of the adapter 20, the ferrules 11 which are made in the same operation and abut against the sleeve 22 are pushed to the sleeve 22 in the opposite direction to the inlet. Although the second O-ring 30b of the support jaw 12a maintains its original shape, the O-ring 30b has a structure in which the inner diameter of the O-ring 30b is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the ferrule 11 even in this case. 12b) and the surface of the ferrule 11 is in close contact with the watertight effect.

On the other hand, in the waterproof adapter 20 according to the present invention, the third O-ring 30c is inserted into the outer sleeve 22 so that the end of the plug frame 12 when the optical connector 10 is coupled to the third O-ring 30c. Pressing) causes the O-ring 30c to expand and seal around the sleeve 22. Therefore, it is possible to prevent moisture penetrating into the plug frame 12 end coupling portion outside the sleeve 22.

Meanwhile, instead of the O-ring, the shape memory gel applied and fixed to the inside of the plug frame 12 and the sleeve 22 of the adapter 20 is present in a soft state, and the ferrule 11 inside the plug frame 12. When inserting the shape is deformed to seal the space between the ferrule 11 and the plug frame 12, and to remove the ferrule 11 is restored to the original state again. This effect is the same in the shape memory gel applied to the outside of the sleeve 21 of the adapter 20. Therefore, it is possible to prevent moisture penetrating into the optical connector.

In particular, the waterproof optical connector 10 and the adapter 20 of the present invention can be easily applied without changing the structure of the conventional widely used optical connector 10, and the original optical connector 10 has It can be easily implemented in manufacturing as a structure that does not affect the bonding force, high accuracy, optical properties, etc. at all.

In addition, although the embodiment of the present invention has been described to be applied to the SC optical connector 10, those skilled in the art can be easily applied to the FC optical connector 10, SC2 type optical connector, MU type optical connector, ST type optical The coupling structure of the connector and the like is also similar to the SC type optical connector described above and thus can be easily applied.

In the above description, it should be understood that those skilled in the art can make modifications and changes to the present invention without changing the gist of the present invention as merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the connection of the optical connector is installed outdoors to prevent moisture penetration of the optical fiber connecting portion to prevent the degradation of the optical fiber due to moisture to extend the life of the optical fiber and reduce maintenance costs It is possible to obtain an effect that can be compatible with the widely used SC or FC optical connector.

Claims (5)

In the optical connector connection structure consisting of an optical connector having a ferrule and a plug frame, and an adapter having a sleeve, And a watertight means outside the sleeve of the adapter and the portion where the ferrule and the plug frame are coupled to each other. The waterproof optical connector and adapter according to claim 1, wherein the watertight means comprises an O-ring. The waterproof optical connector and adapter according to claim 1, wherein the watertight means is formed of a shape memory gel. 3. The waterproof optical connector and adapter of claim 2, wherein the O-rings are provided with first and second O-rings at both ends of the ferrule support jaw, and third O-rings outside the sleeve of the adapter. The waterproof optical connector and adapter of claim 1, wherein the shape memory gel is applied to the inside of the plug frame and the outside of the sleeve.