US20030219214A1 - Optical fiber connector - Google Patents
Optical fiber connector Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20030219214A1 US20030219214A1 US10/154,637 US15463702A US2003219214A1 US 20030219214 A1 US20030219214 A1 US 20030219214A1 US 15463702 A US15463702 A US 15463702A US 2003219214 A1 US2003219214 A1 US 2003219214A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- inner housing
- housing
- optical fiber
- key ring
- outer housing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- 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
- G02B6/3834—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule
- G02B6/3843—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule with auxiliary facilities for movably aligning or adjusting the fibre within its ferrule, e.g. measuring position or eccentricity
Definitions
- This invention relates to plug and receptacle connections for joining two fiber optic cables together for optical energy transmission from one cable to the other. More particularly, it relates to the provision of an optical fiber connector that includes a tubular ferrule for receiving a bared end portion of an optical fiber and to a construction of the connector that allows for an adjustment of the angular position of the optical fiber by rotating the ferrule and an end portion of a fiber optic cable that extends into the connector until a desired rotational alignment of the optical fiber is achieved, at which time the end portion of the fiber optics cable is fixed in position relative to the connector so that the rotational alignment of the optical fiber is maintained.
- application Ser. No. 09/649,283 sets forth a detailed description of the need for rotational alignment of the two optical fibers that are to be joined in order to obtain optimum results in the transmission of optical energy from one optical cable to the other optical cable.
- application Ser. No. 09/649,283 discusses prior art alignment systems that allow for a set number of azimuthal positions of the two cables.
- 09/649,283 also discloses an alignment system in which an infinite number of azimuthal positions can be obtained.
- the present invention provides another way of adjustably positioning an end portion of a fiber optic cable and its optical fiber in an infinite number of azimuthal positions, for achieving optimum optical energy transmission from a first cable to a second cable.
- the optical fiber connector of the present invention is basically characterized by a tubular outer housing and a tubular inner housing within the outer housing.
- the tubular inner housing comprises a forwardly opening front socket and a rearwardly opening rear socket that is in axial alignment with the front socket.
- a rear portion of a tubular ferrule is received within the front socket of the inner housing.
- the tubular ferrule has a center opening that is sized to receive a bared optical fiber.
- the tubular ferrule also has a front portion that extends forwardly from the rear portion of the ferrule and the front socket.
- a key ring is provided in the outer housing surrounding the front socket of the inner housing. The key ring is held against rotation relative to the outer housing and it includes a cylindrical inner surface.
- the front socket has a cylindrical outer surface that is sized to receive the cylindrical inner surface of the key ring.
- the cylindrical surfaces are sized such that the cylindrical inner surface of the key ring frictionally engages the cylindrical outer surface on the front socket.
- the inner housing and the ferrule are rotatable in position relative to the outer housing and the key ring when a rotational force is applied to them that is sufficient to overcome the friction between the cylindrical inner surface of the key ring and the cylindrical outer surface on the front socket.
- the key ring periphery includes alternating projections and cavities and the tubular outer housing includes complementary projections and cavities.
- the projections on the key ring are received in the cavities in the outer housing and the projections on the outer housing are received in the cavities in the key ring.
- the projections and cavities lock the key ring to the outer housing and prevent the key ring from rotating relative to the outer housing.
- the tubular inner housing has a radially outwardly directed flange at its front end that is positioned to block forward movement of the key ring along the cylindrical outer surface of the front socket of the inner housing.
- the inner housing has a radially outwardly projecting girth ridge on it that is spaced axially rearwardly from the flange.
- the flange, the ridge and the cylindrical outer surface together define a girth groove surrounding the inner housing in which a base portion of the key ring is received.
- the ridge blocks rearward movement of the key ring along the cylindrical outer surface on the front socket of the inner housing.
- the tubular inner housing comprises a forwardly facing tool receiving portion that is radially outwardly of the front socket.
- the tool receiving portion is sized and shaped for receiving a complementary end portion of a tool that is used for rotating the tubular inner housing and the tubular ferrule relative to the outer housing.
- the tool receiving portion may comprise at least one forwardly directed tool-tip receiving opening in the forward end of the tubular inner housing.
- the tool engaging portion comprises at least two forwardly directed tool-tip receiving openings in the forward end portion of the tubular housing. These openings are circumferentially spaced apart and are radially outwardly from the front socket.
- the outer housing includes a front section and a rear section and the two sections are telescopically connected together.
- the front section of the outer housing has a rearwardly directed socket and the rear section of the outer housing has a forwardly directed tubular pin that fits into the rearwardly directed socket in the front section of the outer housing.
- a lock structure is provided for connecting the front section of the outer housing to the rear section of the outer housing.
- This lock structure may comprise of at least one opening in a side wall of one of the housing sections and a complementary projection on the other housing section.
- the front section of the outer housing may include side wall openings on opposite sides of the front section.
- the rear section of the outer housing may include projections sized and positioned to snap fit into the openings in the front section when the rear section is telescopically moved into the front section.
- the rear section of the outer housing includes a central opening in which a rear portion of the inner housing is received.
- the inner housing includes a radial shoulder, intermediate its ends.
- the rear section of the outer housing includes a radial shoulder intermediate its ends that is spaced rearwardly from the radial shoulder on the inner housing.
- a coil spring is positioned within the rear section of the outer housing in a position surrounding a middle portion of the inner housing. The spring has a first end that abuts against the radial shoulder on the inner housing and a second end that abuts against the radial shoulder on the rear section of the outer housing. This spring biases the inner housing, the lock ring and the ferrule axially forwardly within the outer housing.
- the front section of the outer housing may include a radially inwardly directed flange that is forwardly contiguous the radially outwardly directed flange at the front end of the inner housing.
- the coil spring biases the flange on the inner housing forwardly against the flange on the outer housing.
- FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an embodiment of the connector of the present invention and a turning tool that is provided for rotating an inner portion of the connector;
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged scale axial sectional view of the connector shown by FIG. 1, and the tip portion of the tool, such view showing the tip portion of the tool spaced axially outwardly from a ferrule portion of the connector;
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 3 - 3 of FIG. 2;
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 4 - 4 of FIG. 2;
- FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of an inner housing component of the connector shown by FIGS. 1 - 4 and a ferrule at the forward end of the inner housing, both spaced in position relative to the key ring that is shown in FIG. 4 to be connected to the outer housing of the connector;
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged scale fragmentary sectional view taken through the ferrule and an optical fiber in the ferrule, such view showing a first azmuthal position of the optical fiber;
- FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 6, but showing the optical fiber rotated into a second azmuthal position relative to the ferrule;
- FIG. 8 is an exploded pictorial view of the connector shown by FIGS. 1 - 5 ;
- FIG. 9 is an enlarged top plan view of the inner housing portion of the connector, including a fragmentary end portion of the turning tool, and showing the turning tips in axial alignment with the tip receiving recesses in the front end of the inner housing;
- FIG. 10 is an end view of the inner housing taken substantially along line 10 - 10 of FIG. 11;
- FIG. 11 is an axial sectional view of the inner housing taken substantially along line 11 - 11 of FIG. 10;
- FIG. 12 is an enlarged scale fragmentary view of the left end portion of FIG. 2, showing the turning tool in side elevation being moved into the end portion of the connector, in a position surrounding the ferrule, and showing the turning tips on the tool aligned with sockets for them provided in the outer end of the inner housing;
- FIG. 13 is a view like FIG. 12, but showing the turning tool moved further into the connector, and showing the tips of the turning tool positioned in the socket, provided for them in the forward end portion of the inner housing.
- FIG. 1 shows a connector 10 in a spaced relationship with a turning tool 12 that performs a function similar to that of a screwdriver.
- Tool 12 comprises a handle 14 , a cylindrical end portion 16 and a pair of tool tips or lugs 18 that axially project forwardly from the cylindrical portion 16 .
- the tips 18 are identical and are diametrically opposite each other.
- the cylindrical portion 16 of the tool 12 is sized to receive a ferrule 20 .
- the cylindrical portion 16 has a side wall that is positioned outwardly of and surrounds the ferrule 20 .
- tool 12 is adapted to be moved into the cavity 22 until its tips 18 are within tool-tip receiving openings 24 .
- the connector 10 comprises an outer housing 26 and an inner housing 28 .
- Outer housing 26 is a front section 30 and a rear section 32 .
- Front section 30 has a forwardly directed cavity 22 or socket and a rearwardly directed socket 34 .
- the rear section 32 has a forwardly projecting tubular pin portion 36 that is telescopically received within the socket 34 .
- Side wall openings 38 are provided in the wall that forms the socket 34 .
- the rear section 32 includes barbs 40 which have front surfaces that slope rearwardly and rear surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to center line 42 . The sloping front surfaces allows the rear section 32 to be moved forwardly into the rear socket 34 .
- the sloping front surfaces push outwardly on the wall portions of the housing that are rearwardly of the openings 38 .
- the barbs 40 become aligned with the openings 38 , they snap outwardly into the openings 38 .
- the rear surfaces of the barbs contact rear boundaries of the openings 38 and prevent easy withdrawal of the rear section 32 from the socket 34 .
- the inner housing 28 is best shown by FIGS. 9 - 11 . It is tubular in form and has a short and wide front socket 42 and a long and narrow rear socket 44 . As shown by FIG. 11, the front socket 42 opens forwardly and the rear socket 44 opens rearwardly. Inner housing 28 includes a radial flange 46 at its forward end. Flange 46 extends about the inner housing 28 except for in the regions of the tool-tip openings 24 .
- the outer surface 48 of the socket 42 is cylindrical.
- An annular ridge 50 projects radially outwardly form the outer surface at a location spaced rearwardly from the flange 46 . Ridge 50 has a cross-section like the barbs 40 . Its front surface is radial and its rear surface slopes rearwardly.
- the flange 46 , the cylindrical surface 48 and the ridge 40 together define a channel that extends about the socket 42 .
- This channel is herein sometimes referred to as a “girth” channel. It receives the base portion of a key ring 52 which is most clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 8.
- Key ring 52 has a width that is substantially equal to the axially distance between flange 46 and ridge 50 . It includes a cylindrical inner surface 54 and radial projections 56 and radial recesses 58 that alternate around the circumference of the key ring 52 .
- the front section 30 of the outer housing 26 includes a region composed of alternating projections 60 and recesses 62 .
- the projections 60 are sized to be received within the recesses 58 and the key ring 52 .
- the recesses 62 are sized to receive the projections 56 on the key ring 52 .
- the key ring 52 is slipped onto the inner housing 28 from the rear end of the inner housing 28 . It is moved forwardly until it reaches the ridge 50 . Then, it is forced forwardly over the ridge 50 and onto the cylindrical surface 48 .
- the sloping rear surface on the ridge 50 helps to cam the key ring 52 forwardly.
- the diameter of the flange 46 is slightly smaller than the diameter defined by the inner surfaces of the projections 60 . This allows the flange 46 to be moved into the position shown in FIGS. 2, 12 and 13 , by an insertion of the inner housing and the key ring 52 through the space formed by the projections 60 and then moved forwardly until the flange 46 contacts the flange 70 .
- the front section 30 of the outer housing 26 includes a radially inwardly extending flange 70 .
- Flange 70 includes a rear radial surface that is contacted by the front radial surface of the front end of flange 46 on the inner housing member 28 .
- inner housing 28 includes a radial shoulder 72 that provides an abutment for the forward end of a coil compression spring 74 .
- the rear section 32 of the outer housing 26 includes a radial flange 76 which forms an abutment for the rear end of the coil spring 74 .
- the spring 74 is slightly compressed when it is in the position shown by FIG. 2. It exerts a force on the inner housing 28 , moving it forwardly relative to the rear section 32 of the outer housing 26 .
- Spring 74 biases the radial flange 46 in the contact with the radial flange 70 .
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,594, granted Oct. 16, 2001, to Hsin Lee, and assigned to Fiberon Technologies, Inc. discloses one way of connecting an end portion of an optical fiber cable to the connector, with a bared end portion of the optical fiber extending through a center line opening in the ferrule.
- a fiber receiving opening in ferrule 20 is designated 78 and the optical fiber is designated F.
- the manner of securing the end portion of the cable to the rear housing 28 is not a part of the present invention and so it will not be discussed any further. The important thing is that an end portion of the optical cable is connected to the inner housing 28 and a bared portion of the optical fiber F extends forwardly through the opening 78 in the ferrule 20 .
- the end portion of the cable is connected to the inner housing 28 while the rear section 32 of the outer housing 26 is moved rearwardly along the cable.
- the spring 74 is installed and the outer section 32 of the outer housing 36 is moved forwardly until the barbs 40 are within the openings 38 .
- the spring 74 is compressed once the rear section 32 is connected to the front section 30 , by the barbs 40 being positioned within the openings 38 , the spring 74 biases the flange 40 on the front end of the inner housing 28 against the flange 24 that is inside of the forward section 30 of the outer housing 26 .
- the ferrule 20 , the inner housing 28 and the end portion of the optical cable, including the bared portion of the optical fiber F that is within the opening 78 in the ferrule 20 are rotated for the purpose of providing a desired rotation position of the optical fiber F.
- the cylindrical end portion 16 of the turning tool 12 is moved towards into the space 22 about the ferrule 20 .
- the tool 12 is moved forwardly until its tips or lugs 18 are within the opening 24 in the flange 46 that is at the forward end of the inner housing 28 .
- the turning tool 12 is moved inwardly and at the same time it is rotated. The inward movement will move the inner housing 28 rearwardly against the spring 74 .
- the rotational movement of the tool 12 will cause the lugs to function in the openings 24 much like the tip of a screwdriver in the slot of a screw.
- the tool 12 As the tool 12 is turned or rotated, it in turn rotates the inner housing 28 and the ferrule 20 that is carried by the inner housing 28 . It also rotates the optical fiber F about its axis. After a desired rotational position of the optical fiber F is achieved, the tool 12 is removed.
- the spring 74 once again forces the flange 46 forwardly against the flange 24 . Also, there is a frictional grip between the inner surface of key ring 52 and the cylindrical outer surface of the front end socket 42 in the inner housing 28 .
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Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to plug and receptacle connections for joining two fiber optic cables together for optical energy transmission from one cable to the other. More particularly, it relates to the provision of an optical fiber connector that includes a tubular ferrule for receiving a bared end portion of an optical fiber and to a construction of the connector that allows for an adjustment of the angular position of the optical fiber by rotating the ferrule and an end portion of a fiber optic cable that extends into the connector until a desired rotational alignment of the optical fiber is achieved, at which time the end portion of the fiber optics cable is fixed in position relative to the connector so that the rotational alignment of the optical fiber is maintained.
- FIG. 1 of my allowed, pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/649,283, filed Aug. 28, 2000, and entitled Plug And Receptacle Connection For Optical Fiber Cables With Alignment Feature, presents one example of a plug and receptacle connection for an optical fiber cable. application Ser. No. 09/649,283 sets forth a detailed description of the need for rotational alignment of the two optical fibers that are to be joined in order to obtain optimum results in the transmission of optical energy from one optical cable to the other optical cable. application Ser. No. 09/649,283 discusses prior art alignment systems that allow for a set number of azimuthal positions of the two cables. application Ser. No. 09/649,283 also discloses an alignment system in which an infinite number of azimuthal positions can be obtained. The present invention provides another way of adjustably positioning an end portion of a fiber optic cable and its optical fiber in an infinite number of azimuthal positions, for achieving optimum optical energy transmission from a first cable to a second cable.
- The optical fiber connector of the present invention is basically characterized by a tubular outer housing and a tubular inner housing within the outer housing. The tubular inner housing comprises a forwardly opening front socket and a rearwardly opening rear socket that is in axial alignment with the front socket. A rear portion of a tubular ferrule is received within the front socket of the inner housing. The tubular ferrule has a center opening that is sized to receive a bared optical fiber. The tubular ferrule also has a front portion that extends forwardly from the rear portion of the ferrule and the front socket. A key ring is provided in the outer housing surrounding the front socket of the inner housing. The key ring is held against rotation relative to the outer housing and it includes a cylindrical inner surface. The front socket has a cylindrical outer surface that is sized to receive the cylindrical inner surface of the key ring. The cylindrical surfaces are sized such that the cylindrical inner surface of the key ring frictionally engages the cylindrical outer surface on the front socket. The inner housing and the ferrule are rotatable in position relative to the outer housing and the key ring when a rotational force is applied to them that is sufficient to overcome the friction between the cylindrical inner surface of the key ring and the cylindrical outer surface on the front socket.
- In preferred form, the key ring periphery includes alternating projections and cavities and the tubular outer housing includes complementary projections and cavities. The projections on the key ring are received in the cavities in the outer housing and the projections on the outer housing are received in the cavities in the key ring. The projections and cavities lock the key ring to the outer housing and prevent the key ring from rotating relative to the outer housing.
- Preferably, the tubular inner housing has a radially outwardly directed flange at its front end that is positioned to block forward movement of the key ring along the cylindrical outer surface of the front socket of the inner housing. Preferably also, the inner housing has a radially outwardly projecting girth ridge on it that is spaced axially rearwardly from the flange. The flange, the ridge and the cylindrical outer surface together define a girth groove surrounding the inner housing in which a base portion of the key ring is received. The ridge blocks rearward movement of the key ring along the cylindrical outer surface on the front socket of the inner housing.
- In preferred form, the tubular inner housing comprises a forwardly facing tool receiving portion that is radially outwardly of the front socket. The tool receiving portion is sized and shaped for receiving a complementary end portion of a tool that is used for rotating the tubular inner housing and the tubular ferrule relative to the outer housing. The tool receiving portion may comprise at least one forwardly directed tool-tip receiving opening in the forward end of the tubular inner housing. Preferably, however, the tool engaging portion comprises at least two forwardly directed tool-tip receiving openings in the forward end portion of the tubular housing. These openings are circumferentially spaced apart and are radially outwardly from the front socket. Preferably, there are two tool-tip receiving openings that are spaced substantially one hundred and eighty degrees (180°) apart.
- In the preferred embodiment, the outer housing includes a front section and a rear section and the two sections are telescopically connected together. The front section of the outer housing has a rearwardly directed socket and the rear section of the outer housing has a forwardly directed tubular pin that fits into the rearwardly directed socket in the front section of the outer housing. A lock structure is provided for connecting the front section of the outer housing to the rear section of the outer housing. This lock structure may comprise of at least one opening in a side wall of one of the housing sections and a complementary projection on the other housing section. By way of an example, the front section of the outer housing may include side wall openings on opposite sides of the front section. The rear section of the outer housing may include projections sized and positioned to snap fit into the openings in the front section when the rear section is telescopically moved into the front section.
- Preferably, the rear section of the outer housing includes a central opening in which a rear portion of the inner housing is received. The inner housing includes a radial shoulder, intermediate its ends. The rear section of the outer housing includes a radial shoulder intermediate its ends that is spaced rearwardly from the radial shoulder on the inner housing. A coil spring is positioned within the rear section of the outer housing in a position surrounding a middle portion of the inner housing. The spring has a first end that abuts against the radial shoulder on the inner housing and a second end that abuts against the radial shoulder on the rear section of the outer housing. This spring biases the inner housing, the lock ring and the ferrule axially forwardly within the outer housing.
- The front section of the outer housing may include a radially inwardly directed flange that is forwardly contiguous the radially outwardly directed flange at the front end of the inner housing. The coil spring biases the flange on the inner housing forwardly against the flange on the outer housing.
- Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description of the best mode that is set forth below, form the drawings, from the claims and from the principals that are embodied in the specific structures that are illustrated and described.
- Like reference numerals and letters are used to designate like parts throughout the several views of the drawing, and:
- FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an embodiment of the connector of the present invention and a turning tool that is provided for rotating an inner portion of the connector;
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged scale axial sectional view of the connector shown by FIG. 1, and the tip portion of the tool, such view showing the tip portion of the tool spaced axially outwardly from a ferrule portion of the connector;
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line3-3 of FIG. 2;
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line4-4 of FIG. 2;
- FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of an inner housing component of the connector shown by FIGS.1-4 and a ferrule at the forward end of the inner housing, both spaced in position relative to the key ring that is shown in FIG. 4 to be connected to the outer housing of the connector;
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged scale fragmentary sectional view taken through the ferrule and an optical fiber in the ferrule, such view showing a first azmuthal position of the optical fiber;
- FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 6, but showing the optical fiber rotated into a second azmuthal position relative to the ferrule;
- FIG. 8 is an exploded pictorial view of the connector shown by FIGS.1-5;
- FIG. 9 is an enlarged top plan view of the inner housing portion of the connector, including a fragmentary end portion of the turning tool, and showing the turning tips in axial alignment with the tip receiving recesses in the front end of the inner housing;
- FIG. 10 is an end view of the inner housing taken substantially along line10-10 of FIG. 11;
- FIG. 11 is an axial sectional view of the inner housing taken substantially along line11-11 of FIG. 10;
- FIG. 12 is an enlarged scale fragmentary view of the left end portion of FIG. 2, showing the turning tool in side elevation being moved into the end portion of the connector, in a position surrounding the ferrule, and showing the turning tips on the tool aligned with sockets for them provided in the outer end of the inner housing; and
- FIG. 13 is a view like FIG. 12, but showing the turning tool moved further into the connector, and showing the tips of the turning tool positioned in the socket, provided for them in the forward end portion of the inner housing.
- FIG. 1 shows a
connector 10 in a spaced relationship with aturning tool 12 that performs a function similar to that of a screwdriver.Tool 12 comprises ahandle 14, acylindrical end portion 16 and a pair of tool tips or lugs 18 that axially project forwardly from thecylindrical portion 16. Thetips 18 are identical and are diametrically opposite each other. As will hereinafter be described in some detail, thecylindrical portion 16 of thetool 12 is sized to receive aferrule 20. Thecylindrical portion 16 has a side wall that is positioned outwardly of and surrounds theferrule 20. As shown by FIG. 2,tool 12 is adapted to be moved into thecavity 22 until itstips 18 are within tool-tip receiving openings 24. - The
connector 10 comprises anouter housing 26 and aninner housing 28.Outer housing 26 is afront section 30 and arear section 32.Front section 30 has a forwardly directedcavity 22 or socket and a rearwardly directedsocket 34. Therear section 32 has a forwardly projectingtubular pin portion 36 that is telescopically received within thesocket 34.Side wall openings 38 are provided in the wall that forms thesocket 34. Therear section 32 includesbarbs 40 which have front surfaces that slope rearwardly and rear surfaces that are substantially perpendicular tocenter line 42. The sloping front surfaces allows therear section 32 to be moved forwardly into therear socket 34. The sloping front surfaces push outwardly on the wall portions of the housing that are rearwardly of theopenings 38. When thebarbs 40 become aligned with theopenings 38, they snap outwardly into theopenings 38. The rear surfaces of the barbs contact rear boundaries of theopenings 38 and prevent easy withdrawal of therear section 32 from thesocket 34. - The
inner housing 28 is best shown by FIGS. 9-11. It is tubular in form and has a short and widefront socket 42 and a long and narrowrear socket 44. As shown by FIG. 11, thefront socket 42 opens forwardly and therear socket 44 opens rearwardly.Inner housing 28 includes aradial flange 46 at its forward end.Flange 46 extends about theinner housing 28 except for in the regions of the tool-tip openings 24. Theouter surface 48 of thesocket 42 is cylindrical. Anannular ridge 50 projects radially outwardly form the outer surface at a location spaced rearwardly from theflange 46.Ridge 50 has a cross-section like thebarbs 40. Its front surface is radial and its rear surface slopes rearwardly. Theflange 46, thecylindrical surface 48 and theridge 40 together define a channel that extends about thesocket 42. This channel is herein sometimes referred to as a “girth” channel. It receives the base portion of akey ring 52 which is most clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 8.Key ring 52 has a width that is substantially equal to the axially distance betweenflange 46 andridge 50. It includes a cylindrical inner surface 54 andradial projections 56 andradial recesses 58 that alternate around the circumference of thekey ring 52. - As shown by FIG. 4, the
front section 30 of theouter housing 26 includes a region composed of alternatingprojections 60 and recesses 62. Theprojections 60 are sized to be received within therecesses 58 and thekey ring 52. Therecesses 62 are sized to receive theprojections 56 on thekey ring 52. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 8, thekey ring 52 is slipped onto theinner housing 28 from the rear end of theinner housing 28. It is moved forwardly until it reaches theridge 50. Then, it is forced forwardly over theridge 50 and onto thecylindrical surface 48. The sloping rear surface on theridge 50 helps to cam thekey ring 52 forwardly. When thekey ring 52 is forwardly of theridge 50, it is trapped axially between theflange 46 and theridge 50. The radial front surface on theridge 50 confronts a radial rear surface on thekey ring 52 and blocks thekey ring 52 from sliding rearwardly past theridge 50. The interlockingprojections key ring 52 against rotation relative to thefront section 30 of thehousing 26. - The diameter of the
flange 46 is slightly smaller than the diameter defined by the inner surfaces of theprojections 60. This allows theflange 46 to be moved into the position shown in FIGS. 2, 12 and 13, by an insertion of the inner housing and thekey ring 52 through the space formed by theprojections 60 and then moved forwardly until theflange 46 contacts theflange 70. - Referring to FIG. 2, the
front section 30 of theouter housing 26 includes a radially inwardly extendingflange 70.Flange 70 includes a rear radial surface that is contacted by the front radial surface of the front end offlange 46 on theinner housing member 28. Intermediate its ends,inner housing 28 includes aradial shoulder 72 that provides an abutment for the forward end of acoil compression spring 74. Therear section 32 of theouter housing 26 includes aradial flange 76 which forms an abutment for the rear end of thecoil spring 74. Thespring 74 is slightly compressed when it is in the position shown by FIG. 2. It exerts a force on theinner housing 28, moving it forwardly relative to therear section 32 of theouter housing 26.Spring 74 biases theradial flange 46 in the contact with theradial flange 70. - U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,594, granted Oct. 16, 2001, to Hsin Lee, and assigned to Fiberon Technologies, Inc., discloses one way of connecting an end portion of an optical fiber cable to the connector, with a bared end portion of the optical fiber extending through a center line opening in the ferrule. Herein, a fiber receiving opening in
ferrule 20 is designated 78 and the optical fiber is designated F. The manner of securing the end portion of the cable to therear housing 28 is not a part of the present invention and so it will not be discussed any further. The important thing is that an end portion of the optical cable is connected to theinner housing 28 and a bared portion of the optical fiber F extends forwardly through theopening 78 in theferrule 20. - The end portion of the cable is connected to the
inner housing 28 while therear section 32 of theouter housing 26 is moved rearwardly along the cable. Once theinner housing 28 is connected to the end portion of the cable, and the bared optical fiber F is within theopening 78 andferrule 20, thespring 74 is installed and theouter section 32 of theouter housing 36 is moved forwardly until thebarbs 40 are within theopenings 38. During this movement, thespring 74 is compressed once therear section 32 is connected to thefront section 30, by thebarbs 40 being positioned within theopenings 38, thespring 74 biases theflange 40 on the front end of theinner housing 28 against theflange 24 that is inside of theforward section 30 of theouter housing 26. Next, theferrule 20, theinner housing 28 and the end portion of the optical cable, including the bared portion of the optical fiber F that is within theopening 78 in theferrule 20, are rotated for the purpose of providing a desired rotation position of the optical fiber F. Thecylindrical end portion 16 of theturning tool 12 is moved towards into thespace 22 about theferrule 20. Thetool 12 is moved forwardly until its tips or lugs 18 are within theopening 24 in theflange 46 that is at the forward end of theinner housing 28. Theturning tool 12 is moved inwardly and at the same time it is rotated. The inward movement will move theinner housing 28 rearwardly against thespring 74. The rotational movement of thetool 12 will cause the lugs to function in theopenings 24 much like the tip of a screwdriver in the slot of a screw. As thetool 12 is turned or rotated, it in turn rotates theinner housing 28 and theferrule 20 that is carried by theinner housing 28. It also rotates the optical fiber F about its axis. After a desired rotational position of the optical fiber F is achieved, thetool 12 is removed. Thespring 74 once again forces theflange 46 forwardly against theflange 24. Also, there is a frictional grip between the inner surface ofkey ring 52 and the cylindrical outer surface of thefront end socket 42 in theinner housing 28. The pressure of theflange 46 against theflange 24 and the friction between thecylindrical surface 48 and the cylindrical inner surface of thekey ring 52 hold the alignment that was obtained by the rotation of theinner housing 28, theferrule 20 and the optical fiber F. As can be appreciated, this matter of locking theinner housing 28 to theouter housing 26 provides for adjustably affixing the optical fiber F in an infinite number of azmuthal positions within the connector. - The illustrated embodiments are only examples of the present invention and, therefore, are non-limitive. It is to be understood that many changes in the particular structure, materials and features of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is my intention that my patent rights not be limited by the particular embodiments illustrated and described herein, but rather are to be determined by the following claims, interpreted according to accepted doctrines of patent claim interpretation, including use of the doctrine of equivalents and reversal of parts.
Claims (16)
Priority Applications (1)
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US10/154,637 US6655851B1 (en) | 2002-05-22 | 2002-05-22 | Optical fiber connector |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
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US10/154,637 US6655851B1 (en) | 2002-05-22 | 2002-05-22 | Optical fiber connector |
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US20030219214A1 true US20030219214A1 (en) | 2003-11-27 |
US6655851B1 US6655851B1 (en) | 2003-12-02 |
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US10/154,637 Expired - Fee Related US6655851B1 (en) | 2002-05-22 | 2002-05-22 | Optical fiber connector |
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US20040005121A1 (en) * | 2002-07-08 | 2004-01-08 | Sunney Yang | Optical connector assembly |
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US20040005121A1 (en) * | 2002-07-08 | 2004-01-08 | Sunney Yang | Optical connector assembly |
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WO2009010210A1 (en) | 2007-07-17 | 2009-01-22 | Euromicron Werkreuge Gmbh | Plug for termination of optical transmission media |
US20100254664A1 (en) * | 2007-07-17 | 2010-10-07 | Euromicron Werkzeuge Gmbh | Fibre optic duplex connector |
US8061906B2 (en) | 2007-07-17 | 2011-11-22 | Euromicron Werkzeuge Gmbh | Fibre optic duplex connector |
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US20190025525A1 (en) * | 2017-07-20 | 2019-01-24 | Te Connectivity Germany Gmbh | Wave Conductor, Waveguide Connector, and Communications Link |
US11041996B2 (en) * | 2017-07-20 | 2021-06-22 | Te Connectivity Germany Gmbh | Wave conductor, waveguide connector, and communications link |
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