Device for an optical fibre connection

Description of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for coaxially joining glass fibers comprising a sleeve seat and a coupler housing for receiving a sleeve seat.

It is known to connect glass fibers coaxially by means of couplings. The joined ends of the glass fibers are provided with plug-in connectors that are inserted into the connector. The plug-in fittings are provided with high-precision ferrules which are inserted into the sleeve of the respective fitting so that their faces come into contact. The sleeve is seated in the seat. In order to accommodate the plug connectors, the socket of the sleeve has, for example, snap-locks at both ends. The outer shape of the connector housing is determined by the predetermined geometry of the known mounting holes. It is known to easily manufacture and assemble the coupling housing in a two-part form, preferably consisting of two identical halves. In order to avoid the possible formation of a gap between the two housing halves, they are welded together, for example.

From US 5,317,663 a connector housing is known to house a two-part sleeve seat, the connector housing comprising a body and a clapboard wall. In the housing of the coupler there are grooves in which complementary tongues are mounted, made on the socket of the sleeve. The displacement of the weld seam is advantageous for the stability of the coupling. However, this construction requires the use of two different tools for manufacturing the body and the flap.

Japanese patent application JP 2000 266 963 discloses a one-piece coupling housing in which a one-piece sleeve seat is fitted. The sleeve seat is provided with latch lugs that snap into complementary holes in the coupling housing. Holes in the housing of the coupler are cheap to make. However, the weakening of the connector housing in the contact area of ​​the plug-in connectors and the ingress of dust are disadvantages.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for coaxial joining of glass fibers comprising a coupling housing and a sleeve seat, which device has a high stability with a small number of parts.

The solution to this task is the object of the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

The one piece sleeve seat snaps into the one piece coupling housing, the latch seat on the coupling housing being provided with at least one latch lock and at least one stop. The coupler with one-piece housing and one-piece bushing seat has higher stability compared to two-piece solutions. The one-piece construction of the coupling housing prevents any possible gap formation where the two housing halves meet. The coupler housing can be made in one tool.

No locking elements or similar additional parts are required to snap-fit ​​the sleeve seat into the coupler housing. The use of a snap fastening is also suitable for automated assembly. The design of a snap-fit ​​socket on the connector housing can be realized without openings in the housing.

In a preferred embodiment, the stop and the latch catch of the latch seat are designed without undercuts. This reduces tool costs and enables precise finishing without the use of special tools.

In another embodiment, the latch catch is provided with a slant to aid assembly. The angle should be selected according to the required load capacity of the snap-fit ​​seat, as well as the maximum allowable forces in the bonding operation.

In another embodiment, the latch seat of each latch projection includes two stops and one latch latch, the latch latch being positioned between the stops. This solution allows for a stable mounting of the latch projection of the sleeve seat. The design of the latch projection, which is stable with respect to pivoting, may also be characterized by two latching catches and a centrally located stop. However, the embodiment with two stops and one snap catch is advantageous for technological reasons.

In a further embodiment, the snap fit comprises two snap-fit ​​seats on opposite walls of the housing. The design with two snap-fit ​​sockets enables a stable connection. For mounting the sleeve seat in the coupling housing, it is necessary to temporarily deform the housing in order to overcome the geometry of the protruding snap hook. It is advantageous here if the housing has a thinner material thickness at this point. The housing is usually intended to engage with a front plate provided with flanges on the outer surfaces of two facing walls, so that the snap-fit ​​seats in this embodiment are preferably provided on the inner surfaces of the two other walls of the housing.

For special applications, a connection element is required, which serves, for example, as a safety device against escaping laser light. In order to avoid altering the external dimensions of the coupler as determined by the existing mounting holes, the connection of the possible connection element to the housing of the coupler can be made by means of an additional internal snap fit. The design of the snap-fit ​​seats for the sleeve seats on two mutually opposite housing walls allows for an additional snap-fit ​​mounting on both other housing walls. The design of the snap-on connection element does not impede the design of snap-fit ​​sockets for the sleeve seat.

The subject of the invention is illustrated in the drawing examples, in which fig. 1 shows a diagram of a connector for coaxial joining of glass fibers, fig. 2 - a sleeve socket in a perspective view, fig. 3 - a cut housing of the connector in a perspective view, and fig. 4 - a casing couplings with mounted sleeve socket, cross-section.

1, a connector 1 for the coaxial connection of glass fiber cables is shown schematically. The connector 1 comprises a housing 10 in which a hidden socket 20 of the sleeve is mounted. The end of the glass fiber cable is provided with a plug-in connector 30, which on both connecting sides of the hidden socket 20 of the sleeve is inserted into the connector 1. The connector housing 10 is provided with a key 11. In order to correctly orientate or position the plug-in connector 30 in the coupling 1, the plug-in connector 30 is provided with a tongue 31 complementary to this groove.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the sleeve seat 20. The sleeve seat 20 is provided with a latching projection 21, a latch 22, an axial opening 23 and a spacer 24. The latching projection 21 is part of a snap fit for locking the sleeve seat 20 in the coupling housing 10 shown in FIG. 1. The cross-section of the latch projection 21 is preferably rectangular, which both makes it easier to make and provides high strength to the respective latch fitting. The latching catches 22 serve to support the plug-in connector 30 shown in FIG. 1. In order to mount the plug-in connector 30 with the latching catches 22, it is necessary to displace the latching catches 22. The socket 20 of the sleeve must therefore be inserted into the socket not shown in FIG. 2 housing 10 of the coupler so that this displacement will not be impeded and the male coupler 30 is captured by the latch catches 22. In addition, good lateral guidance of the socket 20 in the housing 10 of the coupler is required. For this purpose, spacers 24 are arranged on the socket 20 of the sleeve. The contact point of two plug-in connectors 30 connected by a nipple 1 lies in a sleeve, not shown, which is inserted into the opening 23 of the socket 20. The material of the sleeve must be selected in accordance with the requirements for the quality of the connection.

FIG. 3 shows the cut housing 10 of the coupling in a perspective view. The coupler housing 10 is provided on the outer surfaces of the two walls 12 with flanges 16 by means of which the coupler housing 10 is connected to a front plate, not shown. A rectangular opening is provided in the coupling housing 10 for receiving the sleeve seat 20 shown in FIG. 2. On the wall 13 of the housing and on the opposite wall, not shown, there are latching seats which include a latch 14 and two stops 15. Between the latching hooks 14 and the stops 15, the latching projection 21 of the socket 20 of the sleeve, shown in FIG. 2, is secured. The sleeve seat 20 is mounted automatically in the latching direction R into the one-piece housing 10 of the coupling. To assist the snapping-in, the snap-lock 14 is provided with a slant 141. During snapping-on, it is necessary to slightly deform the housing 10 of the coupling in order to get past the snap hook 14. The housing walls 12 have a material thickening in this area due to the flanges 16 usually existing therein. The snap-on seats are thus preferably provided on the housing walls 13. Due to the elimination of undercuts, the housing 10 of the fitting can be made inexpensively by using a simple tool as a plastic injection molded part. Hidden in fig. 3 contact surfaces 151 of the stops 15 can be precisely machined thanks to the latch-on access R. Due to the counter-latch access4

By means of R, it is possible to machine the contact surface 142 of the latch 14. The finishing of the contact surfaces 142, 151 therefore does not require the use of a special tool.

FIG. 4 shows the coupling housing 10 with the sleeve seat 20 mounted. The reference numbers correspond to the previous figures. The sleeve seat 20 is fixed between the snap catch 14 and the stops 14. The locking of the sleeve seat 20 requires no additional locking elements. The contact surfaces 142, 151 of the snap-fit ​​seat are accurately machined to eliminate play.

The outer shape of the connector 1 is determined by the given geometry of the mounting hole, only the length of the connector 1 is variable within certain limits. For example, the housing 10 of the connector can be extended with a connecting element that protects against escaping laser radiation. In addition, it is also possible to attach the anti-dust devices to the housing 10 of the coupling when the plug-in connector 30 is pulled off.

In order to accommodate the connecting element of the wall 12 of the housing 10, the couplings are provided at their ends with additional latching projections 17. The implementation of the latching projections 17 does not prevent the implementation of a latching socket for the sleeve socket. To avoid undercuts, the latching lugs 17 are diagonally offset from each other.