WO2020241055A1

WO2020241055A1 - Optical plug

Info

Publication number: WO2020241055A1
Application number: PCT/JP2020/015523
Authority: WO
Inventors: 行彦高橋
Original assignee: 株式会社フジクラ
Priority date: 2019-05-31
Filing date: 2020-04-06
Publication date: 2020-12-03
Also published as: JP2020197605A; JP7187386B2

Abstract

Provided is an optical plug that is capable of reducing the force needed to connect and disconnect a connector, and that facilitates the process of connecting or disconnecting an optical connector. An optical plug 1 is provided with: a socket 10 comprising a cylindrical part 12 that extends along the +Z direction; a slide ring 40 configured to be capable of moving within a prescribed range, in the axial direction, to the outside of the cylindrical part 12 in the radial direction; a coil spring 20 that biases the slide ring 40 in the +Z direction; a lock sleeve 30 disposed to the outside of the cylindrical part 12 in the radial direction; and balls 50 that are positioned to the inside of the lock sleeve 30 in the radial direction, and are received in holes 15 formed in the cylindrical part 12. A lock groove 42 including a first groove part 61 that extends in the axial direction is formed in the slide ring 40. The lock sleeve 30 comprises an actuation pin 33 that is capable of engaging the lock groove 42 in the slide ring 40. When the actuation pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30 is positioned in the first groove part 61 of the lock groove 42, the slide ring 40 is subjected to the biasing force of the coil spring 20, and the balls 50 become capable of moving in the radial direction of the cylindrical part 12 between the lock sleeve 30 and the cylindrical part 12.

Description

Optical plug

The present invention relates to an optical plug, and particularly to an optical plug connected to an optical connector provided at an end of an optical fiber that propagates laser light.

Generally, in the processing head of a laser processing system that welds or cuts using high-power laser light, an optical connector attached to the end of an optical fiber extending from a laser light source is connected to an optical plug (for example,). , Patent Document 1). FIG. 1A is a partial cross-sectional view showing a conventional optical plug 900 together with an optical connector 800. This conventional optical plug 900 includes a socket member 910 for receiving an optical connector 800 provided at an end of an optical fiber, a slide member 920 arranged radially outside the socket member 910, and a socket member 910 and a slide member 920. It has a coil spring 930 arranged in a compressed state between the two, and a ball 940 housed in a hole formed in the socket member 910.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the slide member 920 has a tapered surface 921 that gradually expands toward the open end of the slide member 920. Since the coil spring 930 urges the slide member 920, the ball 940 housed in the hole of the socket member 910 is pushed inward in the radial direction by the tapered surface 921 of the slide member 920. As a result, the ball 940 engages with the ball groove 810 formed in the optical connector 800, and the optical connector 800 and the optical plug 900 are fixed in the axial direction.

When removing the optical connector 800 from the optical plug 900, as shown in FIG. 1B, the slide member 920 is pushed in the axial direction against the urging force of the coil spring 930. As a result, the tapered surface 921 of the slide member 920 is separated from the ball 940, and the ball 940 can move in the radial direction of the socket member 910. When the optical connector 800 is pulled in the connector pull-out direction P in this state, the ball 940 is pushed outward in the radial direction by the tapered surface 812 of the ball groove 810 of the optical connector 800 and moves, so that the optical connector 800 is removed from the optical plug 900. be able to. Also, when connecting the optical connector 800 to the optical plug 900, the slide member 920 is pushed in the axial direction against the urging force of the coil spring 930 so that the ball 940 can be moved in the radial direction of the socket member 910. , The optical connector 800 is inserted inside the socket member 910 of the optical plug 900.

As described above, in the conventional optical plug 900, when attaching / detaching the optical connector 800, it is necessary to push the slide member 920 along the axial direction against the urging force of the coil spring 930. Since the urging force of the coil spring 930 is proportional to the displacement amount of the coil spring 930, when the distance for pushing the slide member 920 becomes long, both hands are used to move the slide member 920 in the axial direction when the optical connector 800 is removed from the optical plug 900. It becomes necessary to push the slide member 920 strongly by using it. Therefore, when attaching / detaching the optical connector 800 to / from the conventional optical plug 900, a large force is required, and the work is not easy.

European Patent Application Publication No. 1562058

The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and is an optical plug that can reduce the force required for attaching and detaching the optical connector and facilitates the attachment and detachment work of the optical connector. The purpose is to provide.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical plug that can reduce the force required for attaching / detaching the optical connector and facilitates the attachment / detachment work of the optical connector. This optical plug has a flange portion, a socket portion having a tubular portion extending from the flange portion in the connector pull-out direction, and a radial outer side of the tubular portion of the socket portion with respect to the tubular portion. A slide ring that is configured to be movable in the axial direction within a predetermined range and whose movement is restricted in the circumferential direction of the tubular portion, an urging member that urges the slide ring in the connector pull-out direction, and a socket. A lock sleeve arranged on the radial outside of the tubular portion of the portion and a ball located on the radial inside of the lock sleeve and received in a ball hole formed in the tubular portion of the socket portion are provided. .. The slide ring is formed with a lock groove including a first groove portion extending in the axial direction. The lock sleeve has an actuating pin engageable with the lock groove of the slide ring. When the operating pin of the lock sleeve is located in the first groove portion of the lock groove, the slide ring receives the urging force of the urging member, and the ball is of the lock sleeve and the socket portion. It becomes possible to move between the tubular portion and the tubular portion in the radial direction of the tubular portion.

FIG. 1A is a partial cross-sectional view showing a conventional optical plug with an optical connector connected. FIG. 1B is a partial cross-sectional view showing a conventional optical plug when the optical connector is removed. FIG. 2 is a front view showing an optical plug according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the optical plug shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the optical plug shown in FIG. FIG. 7A is a plan view of the socket portion of the optical plug shown in FIG. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the socket portion of FIG. 7A cut through the center of the ball hole and in a plane parallel to the axial direction. FIG. 8A is a front view of the lock sleeve in the optical plug shown in FIG. FIG. 8B is a plan view of the lock sleeve shown in FIG. 8A. FIG. 8C is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 8B. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the ball in a state where the optical connector is connected to the optical plug shown in FIG. FIG. 10A is a front view of the slide ring in the optical plug shown in FIG. FIG. 10B is a plan view of the slide ring shown in FIG. 10A. FIG. 11 is a developed view schematically showing the lock groove of the slide ring shown in FIG. 10B. FIG. 12A is a schematic view for explaining a procedure for connecting an optical connector to the optical plug shown in FIG. 2, in which a slide ring lock and a regulating hole are schematically shown on the left side and an optical light on the right side. The positional relationship between the plug and the optical connector is shown. FIG. 12B is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure for connecting the optical connector to the optical plug shown in FIG. 2, in which the lock and the regulating hole of the slide ring are schematically shown on the left side and the light on the right side. The positional relationship between the plug and the optical connector is shown. FIG. 12C is a schematic view for explaining a procedure for connecting the optical connector to the optical plug shown in FIG. 2, in which the lock and the regulating hole of the slide ring are schematically shown on the left side and the light on the right side. The positional relationship between the plug and the optical connector is shown. FIG. 12D is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure for connecting the optical connector to the optical plug shown in FIG. 2, in which the lock and the regulating hole of the slide ring are schematically shown on the left side and the light on the right side. The positional relationship between the plug and the optical connector is shown. FIG. 12E is a schematic view for explaining a procedure for connecting the optical connector to the optical plug shown in FIG. 2, in which the lock and the regulating hole of the slide ring are schematically shown on the left side and the light on the right side. The positional relationship between the plug and the optical connector is shown. FIG. 13A is a diagram showing the relationship between the angle formed by the tapered surface of the slide member in the conventional optical plug in the axial direction and the moving distance in the axial direction of the slide member. FIG. 13B is a diagram showing the relationship between the angle formed by the tapered surface of the slide member in the axial direction in the conventional optical plug and the moving distance in the axial direction of the slide member. FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating the force acting on the ball from the slide member in the conventional optical plug. FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically showing a connection portion of a lock sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing an optical plug according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the optical plug according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 16. In FIGS. 2 to 16, the same or corresponding components are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted. Further, in FIGS. 2 to 16, the scale and dimensions of each component may be exaggerated or some components may be omitted.

2 is a front view showing an optical plug 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a plan view, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. Is. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the optical plug 1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the optical plug 1 in the present embodiment has a socket portion 10 for receiving an optical connector attached to the tip of an optical fiber, a coil spring 20 attached to the socket portion 10, and a cylindrical lock. It includes a sleeve 30 and an annular slide ring 40. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, an outer cylinder sleeve 90 that covers and protects these components is provided on the radial outer side of the coil spring 20, the lock sleeve 30, and the slide ring 40. The outer cylinder sleeve 90 is fixed to the socket portion 10 by a mounting screw (not shown). In addition, in the drawings other than FIG. 6, the outer cylinder sleeve 90 is not shown for easy understanding.

FIG. 7A is a plan view of the socket portion 10. As shown in FIG. 7A, the socket portion 10 has a tubular portion 12 and a flange portion 11 extending radially outward from the end portion of the tubular portion 12 on the −Z direction side. The tubular portion 12 extends from the flange portion 11 in the + Z direction. Inside the tubular portion 12 of the socket portion 10, an optical connector attached to the end of the fiber is connected to the optical plug 1. To connect the optical connector to the optical plug 1, perform a predetermined operation on the lock sleeve 30 to unlock the optical plug 1, and then insert the optical connector in the −Z direction (connector insertion direction). It is done by. Further, the optical connector is removed from the optical plug 1 by similarly unlocking the optical plug 1 and then pulling out the optical connector in the + Z direction (connector pull-out direction).

The tubular portion 12 has a regulation pin 13 extending outward in the radial direction of the tubular portion 12. In the present embodiment, two regulation pins 13 extending in opposite directions along the Y direction are provided, and these regulation pins 13 are, for example, by press-fitting into holes formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion 12. It is installed. These regulating pins 13 regulate the movement of the slide ring 40 along the axial direction and the rotation around the axis, as will be described later. The number and position of the regulation pins 13 are not limited to those shown in the figure. In addition, such a regulation pin 13 may be formed integrally with a tubular portion 12.

Further, in the vicinity of the end portion of the tubular portion 12 on the + Z direction side, a plurality of ball holes 15 for receiving the balls 50 (see FIG. 6) are formed on the outer side in the radial direction of the tubular portion 12. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view when the socket portion 10 is cut through the center of the ball hole 15 in a plane parallel to the Z direction. As shown in FIG. 7B, each ball hole 15 has a tapered shape such that the inner diameter of the tubular portion 12 decreases inward in the radial direction. The inner diameter of each ball hole 15 on the innermost peripheral side is smaller than the outer diameter of the ball 50, so that the ball 50 cannot pass through the ball hole 15. In the present embodiment, eight ball holes 15 are formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the tubular portion 12, but the number and positions of these ball holes 15 are limited to those shown in the drawing. It's not a thing.

As shown in FIG. 6, the lock sleeve 30 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The inner diameter of the lock sleeve 30 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tubular portion 12 of the socket portion 10, and the tubular portion 12 of the socket portion 10 is inserted into the inner space S1 of the lock sleeve 30. There is.

8A is a front view of the lock sleeve 30, FIG. 8B is a plan view, and FIG. 8C is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 8B. As shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the lock sleeve 30 has a first cylindrical portion 31 and a second cylindrical portion 32 adjacent to the −Z direction side of the first cylindrical portion 31. The outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion 32 is smaller than the outer diameter of the first cylindrical portion 31.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the lock sleeve 30 has an operating pin 33 extending radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 32. The actuating pin 33 in this embodiment is attached to a hole formed in the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 32 of the lock sleeve 30 by, for example, press fitting. The actuating pins 33 in the present embodiment extend in the + X direction, but the number and positions of the actuating pins 33 are not limited to those shown in the drawing. In addition, such an actuating pin 33 may be formed integrally with the lock sleeve 30.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8A, two

elongated holes

34A and 34B extending in the circumferential direction are formed in the second cylindrical portion 32 of the lock sleeve 30. These

elongated holes

34A and 34B are formed corresponding to the regulation pin 13 of the socket portion 10, and the regulation pin 13 of the socket portion 10 is inserted through these

elongated holes

34A and 34B. The regulation pin 13 of the socket portion 10 has a length extending outward in the radial direction from the second cylindrical portion 32 of the lock sleeve 30 through the

elongated holes

34A and 34B. As will be described later, the lock sleeve 30 is rotatable around the axis with respect to the tubular portion 12 of the socket portion 10, but is locked because the

elongated holes

34A and 34B of the lock sleeve 30 extend in the circumferential direction. Even when the sleeve 30 rotates, the regulation pin 13 of the socket portion 10 does not interfere with the rotation of the lock sleeve 30.

As shown in FIG. 8C, the inner peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion 31 of the lock sleeve 30 includes a first cylindrical surface 35 having a diameter D1 and a second cylindrical surface 36 having a diameter D2 smaller than the diameter D1. It includes a connecting surface 37 that connects the first cylindrical surface 35 and the second cylindrical surface 36. A step is formed between the first cylindrical surface 35 and the second cylindrical surface 36, and the boundary between the second cylindrical surface 36 (first surface) and the connecting surface 37 (second surface). A contact portion 38 that can come into contact with the ball 50 is formed in the portion. In the present embodiment, the first cylindrical surface 35 and the second cylindrical surface 36 extend along the Z direction, and the angle formed by these

surfaces

35 and 36 with the Z direction is 0 degrees. Further, the connecting surface 37 extends perpendicularly to the Z direction, and the angle formed by the connecting surface 37 with the Z direction is 90 degrees.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the ball 50 in a state where the optical connector 500 is connected to the optical plug 1. As shown in FIG. 9, each ball 50 is received in the ball hole 15 on the radial outer side of the tubular portion 12, and the tapered shape of the ball hole 15 causes the ball 50 to move in the axial direction of the tubular portion 12. However, if the contact portion 38 of the lock sleeve 30 is not in contact with the ball 50, the ball 50 can move in the radial direction of the tubular portion 12. The distance G between the tubular portion 12 of the socket portion 10 and the first cylindrical surface 35 of the first cylindrical portion 31 of the lock sleeve 30 is smaller than the diameter of the ball 50, and the ball 50 is formed. It is designed so that it does not come off from the ball hole 15 of the tubular portion 12.

[0] When the lock sleeve 30 moves in the + Z direction, the contact portion 38 of the lock sleeve 30 contacts the ball 50 and applies a force along the + Z direction, but the force along the + Z direction causes the contact portion 38 to A force is generated inward in the radial direction of the tubular portion 12. In other words, the ball 50 is pushed inward in the radial direction of the tubular portion 12 by the contact portion 38 of the lock sleeve 30. Further, a force is generated by the contact portion 38 toward the inside of the tubular portion 12 in the radial direction and the tapered portion of the ball hole 15 of the tubular portion 12 to push the ball 50 in the −Z direction. In order to smooth the contact between the contact portion 38 of the lock sleeve 30 and the ball 50, the contact portion 38 of the lock sleeve 30 is rolled so that the contact portion 38 of the lock sleeve 30 and the ball 50 come into contact with each other on a curved surface. It is preferable to configure in.

As shown in FIG. 9, the optical connector 500 connected to the optical plug 1 is formed with a ball groove 510 into which the ball 50 of the optical plug 1 can be fitted. The ball 50 pushed inward in the radial direction by the contact portion 38 of the lock sleeve 30 protrudes inward in the radial direction from the ball hole 15 in the tubular portion 12, and the protruding ball 50 is a ball of the optical connector 500. It contacts and engages with the tapered surface 512 of the groove 510 to restrict the movement of the optical connector 500 in the + Z direction.

Further, the optical connector 500 includes an O-ring 520 that contacts the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion 12 of the socket portion 10. When the optical connector 500 is inserted into the optical plug 1, the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion 12 of the socket portion 10 and the O-ring 520 come into contact with each other, and foreign matter is introduced from the outside of the optical connector 500 to the inside of the optical plug 1. Intrusion is prevented. An optical fiber is connected to the optical connector 500, but the optical fiber is not shown for ease of understanding.

As shown in FIG. 6, the slide ring 40 has a substantially annular shape. The inner diameter of the slide ring 40 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion 32 of the lock sleeve 30, and the tubular portion 12 of the socket portion 10 and the lock sleeve 30 are formed in the inner space S2 of the slide ring 40. The second cylindrical portion 32 is inserted.

The coil spring 20 is arranged in a compressed state between the pedestal portion 11A of the flange portion 11 of the socket portion 10 and the slide ring 40. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the inner diameter of the coil portion of the coil spring 20 is larger than the outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion 32 of the lock sleeve 30 and smaller than the outer diameter of the slide ring 40. A part of the coil portion of the coil spring 20 is located on the radial outer side of the second cylindrical portion 32 of the lock sleeve 30, and the end portion on the + Z direction side engages with the end surface on the −Z direction side of the slide ring 40. ing. The coil spring 20 functions as an urging member that urges the slide ring 40 in the + Z direction.

FIG. 10A is a front view of the slide ring 40, and FIG. 10B is a plan view. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10A, the slide ring 40 is formed with two regulation holes 41 extending in the axial direction. These regulation holes 41 are formed corresponding to the regulation pins 13 of the socket portion 10, and inside the regulation holes 41,

elongated holes

34A and 34B of the second cylindrical portion 32 of the lock sleeve 30 are formed. The regulation pin 13 of the socket portion 10 extending through the second cylindrical portion 32 radially outward is accommodated. The width of the slide ring 40 along the circumferential direction of the regulation hole 41 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the regulation pin 13, and the regulation pin 13 of the socket portion 10 engages with the regulation hole 41 of the slide ring 40. As a result, the rotation of the slide ring 40 with respect to the socket portion 10 around the axis is restricted. On the other hand, since the regulation hole 41 of the slide ring 40 extends in the axial direction, the slide ring 40 can move in the axial direction within a range in which the regulation pin 13 of the socket portion 10 can move in the regulation hole 41 of the slide ring 40. It has become.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 10B, a substantially L-shaped lock groove 42 is formed in the slide ring 40. The lock groove 42 regulates the movement of the lock sleeve 30 along the axial direction and the rotation around the axis. That is, the operating pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30 is housed inside the lock groove 42, and the width of the lock groove 42 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the operating pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30. .. By engaging the actuating pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30 with the lock groove 42, the movement of the lock sleeve 30 along the axial direction and the rotation around the axis are restricted.

FIG. 11 is a developed view schematically showing the lock groove 42 of the slide ring 40. As shown in FIG. 11, the lock groove 42 has a first groove portion 61 extending in the axial direction (Z direction) and + Z from the end of the first groove portion 61 on the + Z direction side with respect to the circumferential direction of the slide ring 40. A second groove 62 extending diagonally in the direction, a third groove 63 extending in the circumferential direction of the slide ring 40 from the end of the second groove 62 on the + Z direction side, and a third groove 63 in the −Z direction. It includes a fourth groove 64 that extends slightly. By moving the actuating pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30 inside the lock groove 42, the force required for attaching and detaching the optical connector 500 to and from the optical plug 1 is reduced, as will be described later, and the optical plug is reduced. The work of attaching and detaching the optical connector 500 to 1 becomes easy.

Next, the operation of connecting the optical connector 500 to the optical plug 1 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 12A to 12E. To connect the optical connector 500 to the optical plug 1, first, as shown in FIG. 12A, the operating pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30 is the end of the first groove 61 of the lock groove 42 of the slide ring 40 on the −Z direction side. The lock sleeve 30 is moved in the −Z direction from the state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 until it is located at the portion (state I). At this time, the slide ring 40 is urged in the + Z direction by the coil spring 20, and the slide ring 40 is urged until the edge of the regulation hole 41 of the slide ring 40 on the −Z direction side abuts on the regulation pin 13 of the socket portion 10. It is in a state of moving in the + Z direction. That is, the slide ring 40 receives the urging force of the coil spring 20, and the urging force of the coil spring 20 does not act on the lock sleeve 30. Therefore, a large force is not required to bring the lock sleeve 30 into this state I.

In this state I, as shown in FIG. 12A, since the contact portion 38 of the lock sleeve 30 is retracted from the ball 50 in the −Z direction, the ball 50 is the first cylindrical portion 31 and the socket portion of the lock sleeve 30. It becomes movable in the radial direction with and from the cylindrical portion 12 of 10. Therefore, in the process of inserting the optical connector 500 inside the tubular portion 12 of the socket portion 10, the ball 50 moves to the outside in the radial direction of the tubular portion 12 according to the outer shape of the optical connector 500. As shown, the optical connector 500 can be inserted inside the tubular portion 12 of the socket portion 10.

In this way, when the operating pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30 is located in the first groove 61 of the lock groove 42 of the slide ring 40, the slide ring 40 receives the urging force of the coil spring 20, and the lock sleeve 30 receives the coil spring. Since it does not receive the urging force from 20, the operator can move the ball 50 in the radial direction of the tubular portion 12 of the socket portion 10, that is, the optical connector 500 without applying a large force to the lock sleeve 30. It can be in a state (unlocked state) in which it can be attached to and detached from the socket portion 10 of the optical plug 1. Therefore, the work of connecting the optical connector 500 to the optical plug 1 becomes easy.

After inserting the optical connector 500 inside the tubular portion 12 of the socket portion 10 as described above, the actuating pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30 is the first lock groove 42 of the slide ring 40, as shown in FIG. 12B. The lock sleeve 30 is moved in the + Z direction until it is located at the end of the groove 61 on the + Z direction (only the distance d1 in the illustrated example) (state II). Since the slide ring 40 receives the urging force of the coil spring 20 even when shifting from the state I to the state II, the urging force of the coil spring 20 does not act on the lock sleeve 30. Therefore, a large force is not required to bring the lock sleeve 30 into this state II.

In this state II, as shown in FIG. 12B, the contact portion 38 of the lock sleeve 30 comes into contact with the ball 50. The contact portion 38 of the lock sleeve 30 pushes the ball 50 inward in the radial direction of the first cylindrical portion 31. Then, the ball 50 protruding inward in the radial direction from the ball hole 15 of the tubular portion 12 of the socket portion 10 contacts and engages with the tapered surface 512 of the ball groove 510 of the optical connector 500 in the + Z direction of the optical connector 500. Movement to is restricted.

Next, rotate the lock sleeve 30 around the axis. At this time, as shown in FIG. 12C, the actuating pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30 moves through the second groove 62 of the lock groove 42 of the slide ring 40. Since the second groove 62 extends obliquely in the + Z direction with respect to the circumferential direction of the slide ring 40, the lock sleeve 30 tries to move further in the + Z direction with rotation, but the ball 50 emits light. Since the tapered surface 512 of the ball groove 510 of the connector 500, the tapered surface of the ball hole 15 of the first cylindrical portion 31, and the contact portion 38 of the lock sleeve 30 are in contact with each other, the lock sleeve 30 is in contact with the ball 50. I can't move. As a result, the actuating pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30 pushes the side surface of the second groove 62 on the −Z direction side in the −Z direction against the urging force of the coil spring 20, and the slide ring 40 pushes in the −Z direction. Moving. Along with this, as shown in FIG. 12C, the regulation pin 13 of the socket portion 10 is separated from the edge portion of the regulation hole 41 of the slide ring 40 on the −Z direction side. Therefore, not only the slide ring 40 but also the lock sleeve 30 receives the urging force of the coil spring 20. In FIG. 12C, the positions of the slide ring 40 in FIGS. 12A and 12B are shown by dotted lines.

Here, as shown in FIG. 11, the inclination of the second groove portion 62 with respect to the circumferential direction of the slide ring 40 and theta _G, the urging force of the coil spring 20 when the F _S, against the biasing force F _S of the coil spring force F _R required to rotate the locking sleeve 30,
F _R = F _S × tan θ _G
Can be represented by. Therefore, when theta _G is small, it is possible to rotate the locking sleeve 30 with a very small force F _R than the biasing force F _S of the coil spring 20 by the so-called wedge effect.

When the lock sleeve 30 is further rotated about the axis, as shown in FIG. 12D, the operating pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30 reaches the third groove portion 63 of the lock groove 42 of the slide ring 40. Since the third groove 63 extends in the circumferential direction of the slide ring 40, the lock sleeve 30 and the slide ring while the operating pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30 is moving through the third groove 63 of the lock groove 42. The position of 40 in the Z direction does not change, and the lock sleeve 30 rotates about the axis. At this time, the operating pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30 pushes the side surface of the third groove 63 on the −Z direction side in the −Z direction against the urging force of the coil spring 20. Also in FIG. 12D, the positions of the slide ring 40 in FIGS. 12A and 12B are shown by dotted lines.

Since the third groove 63 extends in the circumferential direction of the slide ring 40 from the + Z direction end of the second groove 62, the actuating pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30 is set to the third lock groove 42 of the slide ring 40. By moving the ball 50 to the groove 63, the lock sleeve 30 does not move in the axial direction even if the operator releases the lock sleeve 30, and the state in which the ball 50 is pressed inward in the radial direction of the tubular portion 12 is locked. can do.

Here, the fourth groove portion 64 extends in the −Z direction from the end of the third groove portion 63 of the lock groove 42 of the slide ring 40. When the actuating pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30 moves to the end of the third groove 63 of the lock groove 42, the slide ring 40 moves in the + Z direction due to the urging force of the coil spring 20 as shown in FIG. 12E, and the lock sleeve 30 moves. The actuating pin 33 moves to the fourth groove 64 of the lock groove 42 (state III). As the actuating pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30 moves to the fourth groove 64, a light impact is applied to the lock sleeve 30, and the operator operating the lock sleeve 30 receives the impact to cause the optical connector 500. You can know that it was locked.

Here, the axial length of the regulation hole 41 formed in the slide ring 40 is such that the lock sleeve 30 moves to a position where the ball 50 moves outward in the radial direction of the tubular portion 12 and the optical connector 500 can be pulled out. The length is such that the movement of the slide ring 40 in the axial direction can be restricted so as not to move. In the conventional optical plug, if a large force is applied to the optical connector connected to the optical plug in the connector pulling direction, the lock may be released and the optical connector may be pulled out from the optical plug. For example, even when a force equal to or greater than the urging force of the coil spring 20 acts on the optical connector 500 connected to and locked to the optical plug 1 in the + Z direction (connector pull-out direction), the optical connector 500 is transmitted from the optical plug 1. It becomes difficult to pull out.

That is, when the optical connector 500 is locked and a force equal to or greater than the urging force of the coil spring 20 acts on the optical connector 500 in the + Z direction (connector pull-out direction), the tapered surface 512 of the ball groove 510 of the optical connector 500 is pressed. Attempts to push the ball 50 outward in the radial direction of the tubular portion 12. Since the ball 50 is in contact with the contact portion 38 of the lock sleeve 30, when the ball 50 moves outward in the radial direction, the lock sleeve 30 moves in the −Z direction. Since the actuating pin 33 of the lock sleeve 30 is engaged with the fourth groove 64 of the slide ring 40, the slide ring 40 and the lock sleeve 30 are integrally formed in the −Z direction against the urging force of the coil spring 20. Moving. As described above, the axial length of the regulation hole 41 of the slide ring 40 can regulate the axial movement of the slide ring 40 so that the lock sleeve 30 does not move to a position where the optical connector 500 can be pulled out. Even if the lock sleeve 30 and the slide ring 40 move in the −Z direction, the regulation pin of the socket portion 10 is before the lock sleeve 30 moves to a position where the optical connector 500 can be pulled out. 13 engages with the edge of the regulation hole 41 of the slide ring 40. Therefore, the movement of the slide ring 40 in the −Z direction is restricted, and the movement of the lock sleeve 30 in the −Z direction is also restricted. Therefore, the locked optical connector 500 is difficult to disconnect from the optical plug 1.

When removing the optical connector 500 from the optical plug 1, in the state III, the lock sleeve 30 is rotated around the axis to bring the lock sleeve 30 into the state II, and then the lock sleeve 30 is moved in the −Z direction. Then, the optical connector 500 can be brought into the state I where it can be removed from the socket portion 10 of the optical plug 1. Even in this case, since the force that the operator needs to apply to the lock sleeve 30 is smaller than the urging force of the coil spring 20, the work of removing the optical connector 500 from the optical plug 1 becomes easy.

By the way, in the conventional optical plug, as shown in FIG. 1A, the ball 940 is pushed inward in the radial direction by the tapered surface 921 of the slide member 920. Here, the relationship between the angle formed by the tapered surface 921 with respect to the axial direction and the moving distance of the slide member 920 in the axial direction in the cross section along the axis of the optical plug will be considered. As shown in FIG. 13A, when the angle formed by the tapered surface 921 with respect to the axial direction is θ ₁ , the slide member 920 is moved in the axial direction in order to move the ball 940 inward in the radial direction of the slide member 920 by a distance r. Suppose it is necessary to move the distance L _{1 to} . As shown in FIG. 13B, when the angle formed by the tapered surface 921 with respect to the axial direction is set to θ ₂ larger than θ ₁ , the slide member 920 is moved inward in the radial direction of the slide member 920 by the same distance r. The distance that needs to be moved in the axial direction is shorter than L ₁ and becomes L ₂ . As described above, the larger the angle formed by the tapered surface 921 with respect to the axial direction, the shorter the distance required to move the slide member 920 in the axial direction in order to move the ball 940 inward in the radial direction of the slide member 920. This makes it possible to reduce the force that the operator needs to apply against the urging force of the spring when attaching and detaching the optical connector.

On the other hand, in order to increase the force for locking the optical connector attached to the optical plug, it is necessary to increase the force for pressing the ball 940 inward in the radial direction of the slide member 920. As shown in FIG. 14, acts biasing force F _S of the spring along the axial direction in the sliding member 920, the biasing force F _S of the spring, the force F _B1 along the radial direction of the slide member 920 It can be decomposed into a force F _B2 along the normal direction at the contact point between the slide member 920 and the ball 940. Assuming that the angle formed by the tapered surface 921 with respect to the axial direction is θ, F _B1 = F _S / tan θ. Therefore, the smaller the angle θ formed by the tapered surface 921 with respect to the axial direction, the greater the force for pressing the ball 940 inward in the radial direction of the slide member 920.

In this way, in order to shorten the distance required to move the slide member in the axial direction when attaching and detaching the optical connector, it is necessary to increase the angle formed by the tapered surface 921 with respect to the axial direction. In order to increase the locking force of the optical connector, it is necessary to reduce the angle formed by the tapered surface 921 with respect to the axial direction. From this point of view, the present inventor has diligently studied a structure capable of increasing the force for locking the optical connector while reducing the force required by the operator when attaching and detaching the optical connector. As a result, the present inventor has configured the contact portion 38 of the lock sleeve 30 described above as shown in FIG. 15 to reduce the force required by the operator when attaching and detaching the optical connector. We have found that the force to lock the optical connector can also be increased.

FIG. 15 schematically shows a cross section of the lock sleeve 30 along the axial direction. In FIG. 15, the contact portion 38 is formed at a boundary portion between the first surface 71 and the second surface 72. ing. The first surface 71 extends at an angle α with respect to the axial direction, and the second surface 72 extends at an angle β with respect to the axial direction. The angle formed by the tangent line T of the portion where the ball 50 contacts the contact portion 38 with respect to the axial direction is φ. At this time, the positions of the lock sleeve 30 and the ball 50 are designed so that the relationship of α <φ <β is established. The contact portion 38 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8C can be considered as a specific example of the contact portion 38 shown in FIG. That is, it can be considered that the second cylindrical surface 36 of FIG. 8C corresponds to the first surface 71 of FIG. 15 and the connecting surface 37 of FIG. 8C corresponds to the second surface 72. It can be considered that it corresponds to the case where α is 0 degrees and β is 90 degrees.

By designing the lock sleeve 30 and the ball 50 so that α <φ <β is established in this way, the lock sleeve 30 and the ball 50 are not connected to the first surface 71 or the second surface 72, but to the contact portion 38. As the lock sleeve 30 moves, the contact portion 38 pushes the ball 50 in the radial direction of the tubular portion 12. When the optical connector is pulled out from the optical plug 1, the ball 50 moves outward in the radial direction of the tubular portion 12, and the lock sleeve 30 moves in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the optical plug 1. When the slide member and the ball come into contact with each other on a surface like a conventional optical plug, the contact point with the taper on the ball is always at a constant position, and the movement amount of the slide member and the ball is always in a proportional relationship. When the lock sleeve 30 and the ball 50 come into contact with each other at the contact portion 38 instead of the surface as in the present invention, the contact point with the lock sleeve 30 on the ball 50 moves on the surface of the ball 50 and the lock sleeve. The amount of movement of 30 and the ball 50 changes in proportion to the sine curve (0 to π / 2rad). Therefore, the amount of movement of the lock sleeve 30 sharply decreases from the middle of the movement with respect to the amount of movement of the ball 50. Therefore, the distance required to move the lock sleeve 30 in the axial direction can be shortened as compared with the distance required to move the slide member in the axial direction in order to pull out the optical connector from the optical plug in the conventional optical plug. it can. Further, since the first surface 71 does not come into contact with the ball 50 and the force for locking the optical connector does not depend on the angle α formed by the first surface 71 with respect to the axial direction, the axial direction of the first surface 71 The length of the can be designed arbitrarily. As a result, the axial length of the first surface 71 can be shortened, and the portion where the lock sleeve 30 and the tubular portion 12 of the socket portion 10 come into contact with each other can be lengthened, and the lock sleeve 30 and the socket portion can be lengthened. The degree of concentricity with respect to the optical axis of the tubular portion 12 of 10 can be increased.

When the above-mentioned optical plug 1 is used as an optical plug for high-power laser light for processing an object to be processed, the reflected light from the object to be processed may be incident on the optical plug 1, so that, for example, water cooling It is preferable to incorporate a block to cool the optical plug 1. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing an optical plug 101 incorporating such a water cooling block 120. As shown in FIG. 16, the water cooling block 120 is arranged between the flange portion 11 of the socket portion 10 and the tubular portion 12. A cooling flow path (not shown) is formed inside the water cooling block 120 along the circumferential direction. The water cooling block 120 is provided with an introduction port 121 for introducing a cooling medium (for example, water) into the cooling flow path and a discharge port 122 for discharging the cooling medium from the cooling flow path.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which one operating pin of the lock sleeve 30 is used and one lock groove is formed in the slide ring corresponding to the operating pin has been described. However, the lock sleeve 30 is moved and rotated in the axial direction in a well-balanced manner. It is preferable that the number of operating pins and lock grooves is a plurality so that the above can be performed.

In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the regulation hole 41 is formed in the slide ring 40 and attached to the regulation pin 13 in the socket portion 10 has been described. However, the regulation hole extending in the axial direction is formed in the socket portion 10 and in the radial direction. A regulation pin protruding inward and engaging with the regulation hole of the socket portion 10 may be attached to the slide ring 40 or integrally formed with the slide ring 40.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and may be implemented in various different embodiments within the scope of the technical idea.

As described above, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical plug that can reduce the force required for attaching / detaching the optical connector and facilitates the attachment / detachment work of the optical connector. This optical plug has a flange portion, a socket portion having a tubular portion extending from the flange portion in the connector pull-out direction, and a radial outer side of the tubular portion of the socket portion with respect to the tubular portion. A slide ring that is configured to be movable in the axial direction within a predetermined range and whose movement is restricted in the circumferential direction of the tubular portion, an urging member that urges the slide ring in the connector pull-out direction, and a socket. A lock sleeve arranged on the radial outside of the tubular portion of the portion and a ball located on the radial inside of the lock sleeve and received in a ball hole formed in the tubular portion of the socket portion are provided. .. The slide ring is formed with a lock groove including a first groove portion extending in the axial direction. The lock sleeve has an actuating pin engageable with the lock groove of the slide ring. When the actuating pin of the lock sleeve is located in the first groove portion of the lock groove, the slide ring receives the urging force of the urging member, and the ball is of the lock sleeve and the socket portion. It becomes possible to move in the radial direction of the tubular portion from the tubular portion.

According to the present invention, when the actuating pin of the lock sleeve is located in the first groove of the lock groove of the slide ring, the slide ring receives the urging force of the urging member and the lock sleeve is from the urging member. Not subject to urgency. Therefore, the operator can make the ball movable in the radial direction of the socket portion, that is, the optical connector can be attached / detached without applying a large force to the lock sleeve. Therefore, the force required for attaching / detaching the optical connector to / from the optical plug can be reduced, and the work of attaching / detaching the optical connector becomes easy.

The lock groove may further include a second groove extending obliquely from the first groove in the connector pulling direction with respect to the circumferential direction of the slide ring. In this case, when the operating pin of the lock sleeve is located in the second groove portion of the lock groove, the lock sleeve is received by the ball hole of the tubular portion of the socket portion. Upon contact with the ball, the slide ring and the lock sleeve receive the urging force of the urging member. According to such a configuration, when the operating pin of the lock sleeve is located in the second groove portion of the lock groove of the slide ring, the lock sleeve receives the urging force of the urging member, but the second Since the groove portion extends diagonally with respect to the circumferential direction of the slide ring, the lock sleeve can be rotated with a smaller force than the urging force of the urging member due to the so-called wedge effect. Therefore, the work of attaching and detaching the optical connector becomes easy.

The lock groove may further include a third groove extending from the end of the second groove on the connector pull-out direction side in the circumferential direction of the slide ring. According to such a configuration, since the third groove portion of the lock groove of the slide ring extends in the circumferential direction of the slide ring from the end of the second groove portion on the connector pull-out direction side, the operating pin of the lock sleeve is slid. By locating it in the third groove of the lock groove of the ring, the lock sleeve does not move in the axial direction even if the operator releases the force from the lock sleeve, and the ball is pressed inward in the radial direction of the tubular part. Can be locked.

The lock groove may further include a fourth groove extending from the third groove in the connector insertion direction opposite to the connector pulling direction. According to such a configuration, when the operating pin of the lock sleeve that moves in the third groove portion of the lock groove reaches the connection portion with the fourth groove portion, the slide ring is moved in the connector pull-out direction by the urging force of the urging member. It moves and the working pin of the lock sleeve moves to the fourth groove of the lock groove. As the actuating pin of the lock sleeve moves to the fourth groove, a light impact is applied to the lock sleeve, and the operator operating the lock sleeve knows that the optical connector is locked by this impact. be able to.

Even if one of the slide ring and the socket portion is formed with a regulation hole extending in the axial direction, and the other of the slide ring and the socket portion is formed with a regulation pin that can be engaged with the regulation hole. Good. By engaging such a regulation hole with the regulation pin, it is possible to regulate the movement in the circumferential direction while allowing the axial movement of the slide ring with respect to the tubular portion within a predetermined range.

The axial length of the regulation hole is the axial length of the slide ring so that the lock sleeve does not move to a position where the ball moves outward in the radial direction of the tubular portion and the optical connector can be pulled out. It is preferably long enough to regulate movement. According to such a configuration, even when a force greater than the urging force of the urging member acts on the locked optical connector connected to the optical plug in the connector pull-out direction, the optical connector is disconnected from the optical plug. It becomes difficult.

The lock sleeve has a first surface extending at a first angle with respect to the axial direction in a cross section along the axial direction and a second angle with respect to the axial direction in a cross section along the axial direction. It may include a second surface extending from the first surface in the connector pulling direction. In this case, a contact portion capable of contacting the ball is formed at the boundary portion between the first surface and the second surface of the lock sleeve. The first angle is smaller than the tangent angle of the portion where the ball contacts the contact portion of the lock sleeve in the cross section along the axial direction, and is smaller than the tangent angle formed by the axial direction. The angle is preferably larger than the tangential angle. The first angle may be 0 degrees and the second angle may be 90 degrees.

According to such a configuration, the lock sleeve and the ball come into contact with each other not at the first surface or the second surface but at the contact portion, and the contact portion moves the ball in the radial direction of the tubular portion as the lock sleeve moves. Will be pushed to. When the optical connector is pulled out from the optical plug, the ball moves outward in the radial direction of the tubular portion, and the lock sleeve moves in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the optical plug. When the slide member and the ball come into contact with each other on a surface like a conventional optical plug, the contact point with the taper on the ball is always at a constant position, and the movement amount of the slide member and the ball is always in a proportional relationship. When the lock sleeve and the ball come into contact with each other at a contact portion instead of a surface as in the present invention, the contact point with the lock sleeve on the ball moves on the surface of the ball, and the amount of movement between the lock sleeve and the ball is determined. It will change in proportion to the sine curve (0 to π / 2rad). Therefore, the amount of movement of the lock sleeve sharply decreases from the middle of the movement with respect to the amount of movement of the ball. Therefore, the distance required to move the lock sleeve in the axial direction can be shortened as compared with the distance required to move the slide member in the axial direction in order to pull out the optical connector from the optical plug in the conventional optical plug. .. Further, since the first surface does not come into contact with the ball and the force for locking the optical connector does not depend on the angle formed by the first surface with respect to the axial direction, the axial length of the first surface is arbitrary. Can be designed to. As a result, the axial length of the first surface can be shortened, and the portion where the lock sleeve and the tubular portion of the socket portion come into contact with each other can be lengthened. Can increase the degree of concentricity with respect to the optical axis of.

Further, in order to smooth the contact between the contact portion of the lock sleeve and the ball, it is preferable to roll the contact portion of the lock sleeve so that the contact portion of the lock sleeve and the ball come into contact with each other on a curved surface.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the force required for attaching / detaching the optical connector can be reduced, and the work of attaching / detaching the optical connector becomes easy.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-102976 filed on May 31, 2019, and claims the priority of the application. The disclosure of such application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present invention is suitably used for an optical plug connected to an optical connector provided at an end of an optical fiber that propagates laser light.

1 Optical plug 10 Socket part 11 Flange part 12 Cylindrical part 13 Regulation pin 15 Ball hole 20 Coil spring 30 Lock sleeve 31 First cylindrical part 32 Second cylindrical part 33 Acting pin 35 First cylindrical surface 36 Second cylinder Surface (first surface)
37 Connection surface (second surface)
38 Contact part 40 Slide ring 41 Control hole 42 Lock groove 50 Ball 61 First groove part 62 Second groove part 63 Third groove part 64 Fourth groove part 71 First surface 72 Second surface 90 Outer cylinder sleeve 101 Light Plug 120 Water cooling block 121 Introduction port 122 Discharge port 500 Optical connector 510 Ball groove 512 Tapered surface 520 O-ring

Claims

A socket portion having a flange portion and a tubular portion extending from the flange portion in the connector pulling direction, and a socket portion.
A slide ring configured to be movable in the axial direction within a predetermined range with respect to the tubular portion on the radial outer side of the tubular portion of the socket portion, and movement is restricted in the circumferential direction of the tubular portion. ,
An urging member that urges the slide ring in the connector pull-out direction,
A lock sleeve arranged on the radial outside of the tubular portion of the socket portion, and
It is provided with a ball located inside the lock sleeve in the radial direction and received in a ball hole formed in the tubular portion of the socket portion.
The slide ring is formed with a lock groove including a first groove extending in the axial direction.
The lock sleeve has an actuating pin engageable with the lock groove of the slide ring.
When the actuating pin of the lock sleeve is located in the first groove portion of the lock groove, the slide ring receives the urging force of the urging member and the ball is of the lock sleeve and the socket portion. It becomes possible to move in the radial direction of the tubular portion with the tubular portion.
Optical plug.
The lock groove further includes a second groove portion extending obliquely from the first groove portion in the connector pull-out direction with respect to the circumferential direction of the slide ring.
When the actuating pin of the lock sleeve is located in the second groove of the lock groove, the lock sleeve comes into contact with the ball received in the ball hole of the tubular portion of the socket portion. , The slide ring and the lock sleeve receive the urging force of the urging member.
The optical plug according to claim 1.
The optical plug according to claim 2, wherein the lock groove further includes a third groove extending from the end of the second groove on the connector pull-out direction side in the circumferential direction of the slide ring.
The optical plug according to claim 3, wherein the lock groove further includes a fourth groove extending from the third groove in a connector insertion direction opposite to the connector pulling direction.
A regulation hole extending in the axial direction is formed in one of the slide ring and the socket portion.
A regulation pin that can be engaged with the regulation hole is formed on the other side of the slide ring and the socket portion.
The optical plug according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The axial length of the regulation hole is the axial length of the slide ring so that the lock sleeve does not move to a position where the ball moves radially outward of the tubular portion and the optical connector can be pulled out. The optical plug according to claim 5, which has a length capable of restricting movement.
The lock sleeve
A first surface extending at a first angle with respect to the axial direction in a cross section along the axial direction,
A cross section along the axial direction includes a second surface extending from the first surface in the connector pulling direction at a second angle with respect to the axial direction.
A contact portion capable of contacting the ball is formed at a boundary portion between the first surface and the second surface of the lock sleeve.
The first angle is smaller than the tangent angle formed by the tangential line of the portion where the ball contacts the contact portion of the lock sleeve in the cross section along the axial direction.
The second angle is larger than the tangential angle.
The optical plug according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
The optical plug according to claim 7, wherein the first angle is 0 degrees.
The optical plug according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the second angle is 90 degrees.
The optical plug according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the contact portion and the ball are configured to come into contact with each other on a curved surface.