WO2001065284A2 - Connecteur hybride, sous-marin avec mecanisme de pompage - Google Patents
Connecteur hybride, sous-marin avec mecanisme de pompage Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2001065284A2 WO2001065284A2 PCT/FR2001/000525 FR0100525W WO0165284A2 WO 2001065284 A2 WO2001065284 A2 WO 2001065284A2 FR 0100525 W FR0100525 W FR 0100525W WO 0165284 A2 WO0165284 A2 WO 0165284A2
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- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- contact
- housing
- connector
- assembly
- connection device
- Prior art date
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/381—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
- G02B6/3817—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres containing optical and electrical conductors
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/381—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
- G02B6/3816—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres for use under water, high pressure connectors
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/381—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
- G02B6/3818—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres of a low-reflection-loss type
- G02B6/382—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres of a low-reflection-loss type with index-matching medium between light guides
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/381—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
- G02B6/3818—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres of a low-reflection-loss type
- G02B6/3821—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres of a low-reflection-loss type with axial spring biasing or loading means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
- G02B6/3847—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture with means preventing fibre end damage, e.g. recessed fibre surfaces
- G02B6/3849—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture with means preventing fibre end damage, e.g. recessed fibre surfaces using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
- H01R13/52—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
- H01R13/523—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases for use under water
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a connection device for optical fibers, comprising a first connector intended to be associated with at least one first optical fiber and a second connector intended to be associated with at least one second optical fiber to be connected to the first fiber.
- optical fibers used to convey signals or information are usually formed by a sheath surrounding a core of refractive material, the diameter of which has a value between a few microns and a few tens of microns depending on whether it is a fiber single-mode or multi-mode.
- the present invention therefore aims to provide a connection device of the kind defined in the preamble, for connecting optical fibers in a polluted environment.
- connection device is characterized in that one of the two connectors carries a reserve of a fluid having a refractive index equal to that of the optical fibers, and at least one pumping means which is connected to said fluid reserve and which, in service, can be actuated in response to movements of connection and disconnection of the two connectors for injecting, with each movement connection / disconnection, of the fluid in a space encompassing the front ends of the two fibers moving towards or away from one another.
- connection device when the two connectors are connected to each other in a polluted fluid medium, fluid (gel) having a refractive index equal to that of optical fibers is injected into the space encompassing the front ends of the two fibers to be joined.
- This injection has the effect of expelling the polluted fluid which is possibly between the front ends of the two fibers to be joined, and of cleaning said front ends.
- the gel thus injected ensures optical continuity between the two fibers, even if there remains a small gap between them after their junction.
- gel is again injected into the space encompassing the front ends of the two fibers while they separate from each other, so that, after their separation, the front ends of the two fibers remain protected by a certain amount of gel, thus preserving the fibers against attack by the polluted fluid medium, in particular by the salt of sea water in the case where the invention is applied to connectors intended for use in seawater.
- the first connector comprises a first fixed casing or base, which has, in its end face facing the second connector, a first cavity which is open towards said second connector and on the bottom of which protrude, on the one hand , at least one fixed optical contact in the form of a socket, in which the first optical fiber is fixed, and on the other hand at least one pusher urged by a first spring towards the second connector;
- the first optical fiber is provided with a first rigid contact tip which extends axially beyond the end of the fixed optical contact projecting into said first cavity, and the fixed optical contact carries a protective cap which, at the 'state disconnected from the connection device, covers said first contact tip and is at least partially filled with said fluid;
- the protective cap can slide on the fixed optical contact and comprises, in the region where it covers the free end of the first contact tip, at least two contiguous lips made of elastomer material, which can move apart to let said first pass contact tip when the protective cap is subjected to a thrust directed in the direction of connection movement from the second connector to the first connector, against the force of a second spring urging said protective cap towards the second connector;
- the second connector comprises a second movable box or plug, which is nestable in the first cavity of the first case and which has, in its end face facing the first connector, a second cavity which is open towards said first connector and which contains at least one movable optical contact in the form of a socket, in which the second optical fiber is fixed, which is provided with a second rigid contact tip, said movable optical contact being axially aligned with the fixed optical contact of the first housing when the second housing is fitted into the first cavity of the first housing, and being slidably mounted relative to the second housing between a first position in wherein the first and second contact tips of the first and second optical fibers are spaced from each other, and a second position in which said first and second contact tips are in contact with each other;
- the second contact tip is located inside the movable optical contact in the form of a socket, which has, at its end directed towards the fixed optical contact, an input convergent for guiding the first contact tip of the first optical fiber, and the first and second housings have abutment surfaces cooperating to limit the penetration of the second housing into the first cavity of the first housing, so that when said abutment surfaces are in mutual contact and when the movable optical contact is in its first position, the first contact tip is partially engaged in the input convergent of the mobile optical contact;
- the second connector further comprises a portable sub-assembly which carries said reserve of said fluid and said pumping means and which is movable in the second cavity of the second housing in the direction of the connection-disconnection movement between a first position in which said portable sub-assembly is retracted into the second cavity of the second housing, and a second position in which it is partially exited from said second cavity;
- said portable sub-assembly is coupled to the movable optical contact by a lost movement link and by a third spring so that, in a first part of the travel of the portable sub-assembly in the direction of connection movement, the contact mobile optics is not driven by said portable sub-assembly and that, in a second part of said stroke, said portable sub-assembly drives with it, via the third spring, the movable optical contact until the second contact tip of the second optical fiber comes into contact with the first contact tip of the first optical fiber;
- the portable sub-assembly comprises a body in which are formed at least a first passage for mobile optical contact, a first chamber forming said fluid reserve and a second chamber, cylindrical, which is connected to the first chamber by a second passage containing a first non-return valve allowing the fluid to pass only from the first to the second chamber, and a piston, provided with a second non-return valve, is placed in the second chamber and divides the latter into a chamber suction, into which opens said second passage, and into a discharge chamber which communicates with said first passage by a third passage formed in the body of the portable sub-assembly and with a chamber situated inside the movable optical contact in the form of socket, in front of the second contact tip of the second optical fiber, by at least a fourth passage formed in said movable optical contact;
- the second non-return valve consists of a lip seal which surrounds said piston and which lets the fluid pass only from the suction chamber to the discharge chamber;
- the piston is provided with a piston rod which extends in the delivery chamber and which projects outside the body of the sliding sub-assembly in the direction of the first connector and in alignment with the pusher of the first connector when the second housing is engaged in the first cavity of the first housing, and a fourth spring having a lower stiffness than that of the first spring is disposed in the suction chamber and biases the piston and the piston rod towards said pusher, said piston being actuated by the pusher when the sliding sub-assembly is moved from its first to its second position, and by the fourth spring when the sub-assembly player is moved from its second to its first position;
- the second housing and the portable sub-assembly of the second connector furthermore include cooperating retention means for retaining the portable sub-assembly in its first position in the second cavity of the second housing, and the second housing carries a control means which is actuated by the first housing when said abutment surfaces of the first and second housings come into contact with each other, and which acts at this time on said retention means to put them in an inactive state such as the sub- player assembly can be moved from its first position to its second position;
- the second housing of the second connector comprises an anchoring ring of elastomeric material, which is fixed by one end to the second housing and which carries at its other end at least one anchoring element capable of hooking behind a cooperating element d anchoring formed on the first housing of the first connector when said abutment surfaces of the first and second housings are in contact with each other;
- the second connector further comprises an operating ring which can slide on the second housing of the second connector and which is connected to the portable sub-assembly in the second cavity by several radial connecting elements passing through oblong slots formed in the second housing; -
- the operating ring is dimensioned and configured so as to closely surround the anchoring ring when said operating ring is in a position corresponding to the second position of the sliding sub-assembly.
- FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of a hybrid connection device (electrical and optical) according to the present invention, the two connectors of the connection device being shown in the assembled state;
- FIG. 2 is a view along the arrow FI in Figure 1, showing a first of the two connectors of the connection device, seen at the end;
- FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of Figure 2;
- FIG. 4 is an end view, also along the arrow FI in Figure 1, showing a second of the two connectors of the connection device according to the invention
- FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line V-V of Figure 4.
- FIGS. 6 to 10 are views in longitudinal section of the two connectors of Figures 3 and 5, in the assembled state, the movable elements of the two connectors being shown in different positions occupied during a connection process;
- FIG. 1 1 is a diagram illustrating the relative strokes of some of the movable elements of the connection device according to the invention during a connection process.
- a connection device 1 according to the invention produced in the form of a hybrid connection device, that is to say comprising electrical contacts for making connections between electrical conductors and optical contacts for making connections between optical fibers.
- the connection device 1 comprises a first connector or male connector 2 ( Figures 2 and 3) and a second connector or female connector 3 ( Figures 4 and 5).
- the male connector 2 comprises a fixed casing or base 4 provided with a flange 5 enabling it to be fixed, using screws or bolts not shown, for example on a wall of underwater equipment, such as a wellhead.
- the housing 4 has, in its end face facing the female connector 3, a cavity 6 which, in the example shown, has a circular section, but the section of which could have any other desired shape.
- the cavity 6 is intended to receive a part 7, of corresponding circular section, of the housing 8 of the female connector 3.
- the housing 4 of the male connector 2 carries six electrical contact pins 9 and two fixed optical contacts 11 which protrude into the cavity 6 from the bottom 12 of the latter.
- On the bottom 12 of the cavity 6 also projects a cylindrical pusher 13 which can slide in a blind cylindrical hole 14 of the housing 4 and which is biased by a spring 15 in the direction of the female connector 3.
- Each of the two optical contacts 1 1 has the form of a socket in which is fixed an optical fiber 16 terminated by a rigid contact tip 17, for example made of ceramic, which extends axially beyond the end of the optical contact 1 1 protruding into the cavity 6.
- each optical contact 1 1 carries a protective cap 18 which, in the disconnected state of the connection device 1, covers the end piece 17 and is at least partially filled with a fluid in the form of a gel having a refractive index equal to or very close to that of the optical fiber 16.
- the cap 18 which is made partly of metal and partly of elastomeric material, can slide on the protruding end of the optical contact 11 when, as will be seen in detail below, it is subjected to a thrust directed towards the bottom 12 of the cavity 6 against the return force of a spring 19 which biases the cap 18 towards the female connector 3.
- the cap 18 comprises, in the region where it covers the free end of the end piece 17, at least two contiguous lips 18a and 18b made of elastomeric material, which can move apart to allow passage between them the end piece 17 when the cap 8 is pushed towards the bottom 12 of the cavity 6.
- the part 7 of the housing 8 of the female connector 3 has, in its end face turned towards the male connector 2, a cavity 21, for example of circular section, which, in the connected state of the connection device, is open in direction of the bottom 12 of the cavity 6 of the male connector 2.
- the casing 8 of the female connector 3 rigidly carries six electrical contact elements 22 which project into the cavity 21 from the bottom 23 thereof, and which, in the connected state of the two connectors 2 and 3, are respectively aligned with the contact pins 9 of the male connector 2.
- the housing 8 of the female connector 3 further carries two movable optical contacts 24 which also project into the cavity 21 and which, in the connected state of the two connectors 2 and 3, are respectively aligned with the two fixed optical contacts 1 1 of the male connector 2.
- Each of the two movable optical contacts 24 also has the form of a socket in which is fixed an optical fiber 25 provided with a rigid contact tip 26, for example made of ceramic.
- Each movable optical contact 24 can slide to a limited extent relative to the housing 8 between a first position in which the contact tips 17 and 26 of the mutually aligned optical fibers 16 and 25 are spaced from each other (FIG. 6), and a second position in which the contact tips 17 and 26 of the fibers optics 16 and 25 are in mutual contact (Figure 10).
- each movable optical contact 24 is provided, on its periphery, with a piston 27 which can slide in a blind cylindrical hole 28 which is formed in the bottom 23 of the cavity 21 of the housing 8 and which is closed by a cylindrical bell element 29 screwed into the blind hole 28.
- the contact tip 26 of the optical fiber 25 is located inside the corresponding movable optical contact 24 in the form of a socket and the latter has, at its end directed towards the contact fixed optic 1 1 of the male connector 2, an input convergent 31 which makes it possible to guide the contact tip 17 of the optical fiber 16 of the fixed optical contact 1 1 while it penetrates inside the corresponding mobile optical contact 24 when the latter is moved from its first to its second position in a manner which will be described in detail below.
- the two housings 4 and 8 of the connectors 2 and 3 have abutment surfaces 34 and 35 to limit the penetration of the part 7 of the casing 8 into the cavity 6 of the casing 4.
- the abutment surface 35 produced for example in the form of a circular flange on the periphery of the part 7 of the housing 8, is positioned in such a way that, when the two abutment surfaces 34 and 35 are in contact with each other and when the movable optical contacts 24 are in their first position, the contact tip 17 of the optical fibers 16 of the fixed optical contacts 1 1 are partially engaged respectively in the input convergers 31 of the movable optical contacts 24 as shown in FIG. 7.
- the female connector 3 carries a reserve 36 of a fluid (gel) having a refractive index equal to that of the optical fibers 16 and 25, and at least one pumping means 37, preferably two pumping means, which are associated respectively to the two movable optical contacts 24 for injecting, at each connection-disconnection movement of the connectors 2 and 3, a certain quantity of the fluid or gel into a space encompassing the front ends of the two contact ends 17 and 26 of the optical fibers 16 and 25 , in particular in the space 58 which is located in front of the endpiece 26 inside the socket forming the movable optical contact 24.
- the fluid reserve 36 and each of the two pumping means 37 is carried by a portable sub-assembly 38 which is movable in the cavity 21 of the housing 8 between a first position in which said portable sub-assembly is completely inside said cavity 21 (FIG. 1), and a seco nde position in which it is partially out of said cavity ( Figure 10).
- the portable sub-assembly 38 comprises a body 39, roughly cylindrical, which is crossed, from one end to the other, by two passages 41, respectively for the two movable optical contacts 24, and by six passages 42, respectively for the electrical contact elements 22.
- All the passages 41 and 42 extend parallel to the direction of the axis of the cylindrical body 39 of the sliding sub-assembly 38, that is to say parallel to the axis of the cavities 6 and 21 with circular section.
- In the passages 42 are fixed electrical contact sockets (not shown) which are in sliding contact with the electrical contact elements 22 carried by the housing 8 of the female connector 3.
- the six contact sockets located respectively in the six passages 42 slide over the six elements contact 22 and engage by sliding respectively on the six contact pins 1 1 of the male connector 2, thus establishing an electrical connection between each of the contact pins 9 and the corresponding contact element 22.
- the body 39 of the portable sub-assembly 38 is coupled to each of the two movable optical contacts 24 by a lost motion link 43 and by a spring 44.
- the coupling is such that, in a first part of the stroke of the sub-assembly player 38 in the direction of connection movement, each movable optical contact 24 is not driven by the body 39 of the player sub-assembly and that, in a second part of said stroke, the body 39 carries with it, by the intermediate of the spring 44, the movable optical contact 24 until the contact tip 26 of the optical fiber 25 comes into contact with the contact tip 17 of the optical fiber 16.
- the body 39 of the sub- walkman 38 continues on its own by compressing the spring 44 until the sliding sub-assembly arrives in its second position mentioned above (FIG. 10).
- annular shoulder 45 which, in the first position of the sliding sub-assembly 38, is spaced from a washer 46 which can slide on the movable optical contact 24 and which is located at one end of the spring 44.
- the other end of the spring 44 can bear against an annular shoulder 47 formed at the periphery of the movable optical contact 24.
- the body 39 of the portable sub-assembly 38 includes, in its cylindrical outer surface, a peripheral groove 48 which is tightly covered by a membrane 49 made of elastomeric material.
- the groove 48 and the membrane 49 together form a chamber which contains the fluid or gel having the same refractive index as the optical fibers 16 and 25, and which constitutes said fluid reserve 36.
- the membrane 49 made of elastomeric material makes it possible to balance the pressures prevailing on either side of said membrane, that is to say in the fluid reserve 36 and in the space surrounding the connection device 1.
- the body 39 of the portable sub-assembly 38 also has, for each pumping means 37, a cylindrical chamber 51, the axis of which extends parallel to the axes of the passages 41 and 42. At one of its ends, this chamber 51 is in communication with the chamber or reserve of fluid 36 via a passage 52 in which is arranged a non-return valve 53 which lets the fluid pass only from chamber 36 to chamber 51.
- a piston 54 is disposed in chamber 51 is divided the latter in a suction chamber 55 (FIG. 6), into which the passage 52 opens, and in a discharge chamber 56.
- This chamber 56 communicates with the passage 41, in which the movable optical contact 24 is located, by a passage 57 formed in the body 39 of the portable sub-assembly 38 and with the chamber 58 located inside the movable optical contact 24, in front of the contact endpiece 26, by several passages formed radially and longitudinally in the movable optical contact in the form of a socket, such that the passage 57 and the chamber 58 remain permanently in communication, regardless of the position of the movable optical contact 24 in the passage 41 of the body 39.
- the piston 54 is provided with a non-return valve which lets the fluid pass only from the suction chamber 55 to the discharge chamber 56.
- This non-return valve can for example consist of a lip seal 59 made of material elastomer, which surrounds the piston 54.
- the piston 54 is provided with a piston rod 61, which extends in the discharge chamber 56 and which projects outside the body 39 of the sliding sub-assembly 38 in the direction of the male connector 2 and in alignment with the pusher 13 of the latter when the part 7 of the housing 8 of the female connector 3 is engaged in the cavity 6 of the housing 4 of the male connector 2.
- a spring 62 disposed in the chamber d suction 55 urges the piston 54 and the piston rod 61 towards the pusher 13.
- the spring 62 has a lower stiffness than that of the spring 15 associated with the pusher 13, so that the piston 54 is actuated by the pusher 13 when this one comes in contact with the t piston rod 61 during the movement of the portable sub-assembly 38 from its first to its second position mentioned above.
- the pusher 13 has an outside diameter larger than that of the piston rod 61 and that the inside diameter of the bore of the body 39 in which the latter slides.
- these filling channels are closed by a screw 64, which acts as a plug, and by a needle screw 65 which acts as a tap in combination with a seat 66 formed in the body 39.
- a screw 64 which acts as a plug
- a needle screw 65 which acts as a tap in combination with a seat 66 formed in the body 39.
- the screw 64 is removed and a supply pipe fitted with a connection to screw is screwed in place of screw 64, then screw 65 is slightly unscrewed to move it away from seat 66.
- a fluid or gel having a refractive index equal to that of fibers 16 and 25 is injected into the fluid reserve 3 6 through the supply pipe and the filling channels 63.
- the screw 65 is tightened against the seat 66, the screw connection of the supply pipe is detached and the screw 64 is replaced.
- the housing 8 of the female connector 3 and the portable sub-assembly 38 comprise cooperating retention means for retaining the portable sub-assembly in its first position, that is to say in its fully retracted position in the cavity. 21 of the housing 8, as long as the part 7 of this housing 8 has not been engaged in the cavity 6 of the housing 4 of the male connector 2.
- the portable sub-assembly 38 comprises at least one flexible tongue 67 projecting from its peripheral surface, said tongue engaging in a recess 68 formed in the internal cylindrical surface of the cavity 21 of the housing 8 to retain the sliding sub-assembly 38 in said cavity 21.
- the housing 8 carries a control means, by example a ball 69, which is actuated by the housing 4 of the male connector 2 when the abutment surfaces 34 and 35 of the housings 4 and 8 come into contact with each other, to push the flexible tongue 67 out of the recess 68 and thus allow the displacement of the portable sub-assembly 38 from its first position fully retracted into the cavity 21 towards its second position partially extended from said cavity.
- a control means by example a ball 69
- the housing 8 of the female connector 3 may further include an anchoring ring 71 made of elastomeric material, capable of maintaining the two housings 4 and 8 in their assembled state after their abutment surfaces 34 and 35 have come into contact with one another. with the other.
- the anchoring ring 71 is fixed at one end to the housing 8 and carries, at its other end, at least one anchoring element 72 capable of hanging behind a cooperating anchoring element 73 formed on the peripheral surface of the housing 4 of the male connector 2 when the abutment surfaces 34 and 35 are in contact.
- the anchoring elements 72 and 73 may for example be constituted by circular beads formed respectively on the inner peripheral surface of the ring 71 and on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 4. However, at least one of the two beads 72 and 73 could be replaced by several anchoring elements regularly distributed over the internal periphery of the ring 71 or over the external periphery of the housing 4.
- the connector 3 also carries an operating ring 74 which can slide on the housing 8 and which is connected to the portable sub-assembly 38 by several radial screws 75, for example three screws spaced angularly by 120 °.
- Each screw 75 passes through an oblong slot 76 formed in the cylindrical wall of the housing 8 and opening into the cavity 21 thereof.
- the maneuvering ring 74 is extended, on one side, by a cylindrical skirt 74a which is dimensioned and configured so as to closely surround the anchoring ring 71 when the maneuvering ring 74 is in a position corresponding to the second position of the sub- player assembly 38, as shown in FIG. 10.
- the skirt 74a of the operating ring 74 prevents the ring 71 from expanding radially outwards, so that the two connectors 2 and 3 are firmly held in their connected state.
- openings 77 can be provided in the housing 4 and openings 78 can be provided in the housing 8, in addition to the lights 76, to allow balancing of the pressures on the two sides of the portable sub-assembly 38 in the cavities 6 and 21.
- orifices can be provided to balance the pressures on both sides of the piston 27 of each movable optical contact 24.
- connection device 1 which has been described above, with reference to Figures 6 to 1 1, Figure 1 1 illustrating the respective strokes of the sliding subassembly 38, the piston 54 of the means pumping 37 and each of the two movable optical contacts 24 during a connection or disconnection process. More precisely, in FIG. 11, the shaded strip 79 of total length L represents the stroke of the portable sub-assembly 38, the shaded strip 81 represents the stroke of the piston 54 and the shaded strip 82 represents the stroke of the movable optical contact 24.
- FIG. 6 shows the connection device 1 during the engagement of part 7 of the housing 8 of the female connector 3 in the cavity 6 of the housing 4 of the male connector 2, at a time when the front end of the cap 18 covering the contact tip 17 comes into contact with the front end of the movable optical contact 24, a little before the abutment surfaces 34 and 35 boxes 4 and 8 come into contact with each other.
- FIG. 7 shows the state of the connection device 1 after the abutment surfaces 34 and 35 have come into contact with each other and that the bead 72 of the anchoring ring 71 has come to hang behind the bead 73 of the housing 4.
- the cap 18 has been slightly pushed back, against the restoring force of the spring 19, by the front end of the movable optical contact 24, so that the front end of the contact tip 17 is now exposed and partially engaged in the input convergent 31 of the movable optical contact 24.
- the housing 4 has acted on the ball or balls 69 (FIG. 1) which repel the flexible tab (s) 67 radially inwards in order to bring them out of the recess 68 of the housing 8.
- the portable sub-assembly 38 can then be moved from the position shown in FIG. 7 to the position shown in FIG. 10 by pushing in. the direction of the arrow F2 on the operating ring 74.
- the gel cleans the surfaces front of the contact tips 17 and 26 and drives out the polluted medium, for example polluted sea water, which is possibly found in the chamber 58, towards the cavity 6 of the housing 4 through the input convergent 31 of the contact moving optic 24 and passages provided for this purpose between the front faces of said movable optical contact and of the cap 18.
- polluted medium for example polluted sea water
- the two contact ends 17 and 26 are kept pressed against each other by the spring 44, and the slightest gap possibly remaining between them is filled by the gel present in the chamber.
- the operating ring is moved in the opposite direction to the arrow F2 and brings with it the wander sub-assembly 38 in the same direction.
- the portable sub-assembly 38 moves from distance L5, the springs 15 and 44 are decompressed.
- the spring 19 and the cap 18 push the movable optical contact 24 so that the contact tip 26 separates from the contact tip 17.
- the housing 8 of the female connector 3 can then be separated from the housing 4 of the male connector 2 by pulling on the housing 8 in the opposite direction to the arrow F2.
- the anchoring ring 71 widens while being elastically deformed so that the bead 72 of the ring 71 crosses the bead 73 of the housing 4.
- the housing 4 ceases to act on the ball or balls 69 which can then move radially outwards under the thrust of the or flexible tongues 67. The latter then engage in the recess 68 of the housing 8, thus retaining the portable sub-assembly 38 in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 6.
- the cap 18 While the housing 8 of the female connector 3 moves away from the housing 4 of the male connector 2, the cap 18, pushed by the spring 19, covers the front end of the contact tip 17. By closing, the two lips 18a and 18b of the cap 18 trap part of the gel which was in the inlet convergent 31, and a certain amount of gel also remains in the space 58, inside the socket of the movable optical contact 24 in front the contact end piece 26. As a result, the two contact end pieces 17 and 26 remain isolated from the polluted medium surrounding the connection device 1 after separation of the two connectors 2 and 3.
- gel can be manually introduced into the cap 18 between the lips 18a and 18b thereof and that gel can also be manually introduced into the space 58 either by direct injection through the input convergent 31 of the movable optical contact 24, ie from the reserve 36 by manually exerting pressure on the piston rod 61 and releasing the latter.
- the two contact ends 17 and 26 and the corresponding ends of the fibers 16 and 25 are protected by the gel contained in the space 58 and in the cap 18 against any attack by the medium. surrounding the connection device 1, both before, while and after any process of connection or disconnection of the two connectors 2 and 3.
- the gel ensures optical continuity between the two contact tips 17 and 26 in case there is the slightest gap between them.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0220094A GB2376086B (en) | 2000-03-03 | 2001-02-23 | Optical fibre connection device with index matching fluid reserve |
US10/220,321 US6789952B2 (en) | 2000-03-03 | 2001-02-23 | Connection device for optical fibres |
BR0108430-5A BR0108430A (pt) | 2000-03-03 | 2001-02-23 | Dispositivo de conexão para fibras ópticas |
NO20024178A NO335572B1 (no) | 2000-03-03 | 2002-09-02 | Koplingsanordning for optiske fibre |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR00/02739 | 2000-03-03 | ||
FR0002739A FR2805900B1 (fr) | 2000-03-03 | 2000-03-03 | Dispositif de connexion pour fibres optiques |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2001065284A2 true WO2001065284A2 (fr) | 2001-09-07 |
WO2001065284A3 WO2001065284A3 (fr) | 2002-03-14 |
Family
ID=8847684
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/FR2001/000525 WO2001065284A2 (fr) | 2000-03-03 | 2001-02-23 | Connecteur hybride, sous-marin avec mecanisme de pompage |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6789952B2 (fr) |
BR (1) | BR0108430A (fr) |
FR (1) | FR2805900B1 (fr) |
GB (1) | GB2376086B (fr) |
NO (1) | NO335572B1 (fr) |
WO (1) | WO2001065284A2 (fr) |
Families Citing this family (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2864255B1 (fr) * | 2003-12-19 | 2006-02-24 | Inst Francais Du Petrole | Dispositif de connexion pour fibre optique |
US7572063B2 (en) * | 2005-09-12 | 2009-08-11 | Stratos International, Inc. | Opto-electric connector |
US7509000B2 (en) * | 2006-03-20 | 2009-03-24 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Downhole optic fiber wet connect system and method |
US20110097039A1 (en) * | 2009-10-28 | 2011-04-28 | Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. | Optoelectronic interconnection system |
US20110123159A1 (en) * | 2009-11-26 | 2011-05-26 | Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | Cable assembly having positioning means securing fiber thereof |
US8226303B2 (en) | 2009-11-30 | 2012-07-24 | Toth John R | Global link connector system |
US8985864B2 (en) | 2011-09-07 | 2015-03-24 | Adc Telecommunications, Inc. | Optical fiber alignment device and method |
US8979395B2 (en) | 2011-09-07 | 2015-03-17 | Adc Telecommunications, Inc. | Tools and methods for preparing a ferrule-less optical fiber connector |
US8985867B2 (en) | 2011-09-07 | 2015-03-24 | Adc Telecommunications, Inc. | Optical fiber connection system |
US10044134B2 (en) * | 2013-11-08 | 2018-08-07 | Onesubsea Ip Uk Limited | Wet mate connector |
US9927580B2 (en) | 2014-02-07 | 2018-03-27 | Commscope Technologies Llc | Hardened optical power connection system |
EP2977802A1 (fr) * | 2014-07-25 | 2016-01-27 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Procédé de protection d'une unité de connecteur |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4682848A (en) * | 1984-10-03 | 1987-07-28 | Lockheed Corporation | Underwater-mateable optical fiber connector |
US4696540A (en) * | 1984-12-12 | 1987-09-29 | Stc, Plc | Optical fibre connector having particular utility for underwater use |
US4756595A (en) * | 1986-04-21 | 1988-07-12 | Honeywell Inc. | Optical fiber connector for high pressure environments |
EP0298144A1 (fr) * | 1987-07-07 | 1989-01-11 | Japan National Oil Corporation | Connecteur optique submersible |
US4887883A (en) * | 1988-06-20 | 1989-12-19 | Honeywell Inc. | Undersea wet-mateable fiber optic connector |
US5146524A (en) * | 1989-03-03 | 1992-09-08 | Arne Berg | Fibre optic connector |
-
2000
- 2000-03-03 FR FR0002739A patent/FR2805900B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2001
- 2001-02-23 GB GB0220094A patent/GB2376086B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-02-23 US US10/220,321 patent/US6789952B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-02-23 BR BR0108430-5A patent/BR0108430A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2001-02-23 WO PCT/FR2001/000525 patent/WO2001065284A2/fr active Application Filing
-
2002
- 2002-09-02 NO NO20024178A patent/NO335572B1/no not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4682848A (en) * | 1984-10-03 | 1987-07-28 | Lockheed Corporation | Underwater-mateable optical fiber connector |
US4696540A (en) * | 1984-12-12 | 1987-09-29 | Stc, Plc | Optical fibre connector having particular utility for underwater use |
US4756595A (en) * | 1986-04-21 | 1988-07-12 | Honeywell Inc. | Optical fiber connector for high pressure environments |
EP0298144A1 (fr) * | 1987-07-07 | 1989-01-11 | Japan National Oil Corporation | Connecteur optique submersible |
US4887883A (en) * | 1988-06-20 | 1989-12-19 | Honeywell Inc. | Undersea wet-mateable fiber optic connector |
US5146524A (en) * | 1989-03-03 | 1992-09-08 | Arne Berg | Fibre optic connector |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
NO20024178D0 (no) | 2002-09-02 |
US6789952B2 (en) | 2004-09-14 |
NO335572B1 (no) | 2014-12-29 |
GB2376086B (en) | 2003-04-30 |
US20030147596A1 (en) | 2003-08-07 |
BR0108430A (pt) | 2003-03-25 |
WO2001065284A3 (fr) | 2002-03-14 |
FR2805900B1 (fr) | 2002-05-31 |
GB2376086A (en) | 2002-12-04 |
FR2805900A1 (fr) | 2001-09-07 |
NO20024178L (no) | 2002-10-30 |
GB0220094D0 (en) | 2002-10-09 |
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