Multiple channel connector for fibre optic cables

The invention relates to a connector for fiber optic cable segments that provides a coupling for the transfer of light between these segments.

It is known the use of systems ⁵light transmission through optical fibers, wherein a single conductive optical fiber or a plurality of parallel optical conductive fibers are arranged to form a flexible optical cable bundle with ¹⁰ductive for the transfer of light from one place to another, not only for the provision of lighting, but also for the transmission of data from one place to another; at one end of the cable bundle, the source of¹⁵light is modulated by the data to be transmitted, and at the other end of the cable bundle, the data is retrieved by a photosensitive detector; As the data are transmitted in a-2C environment without detection or radio frequency interference, such light transmission systems are particularly well suited to high security applications, as is the case in the fields of data processing and military communications. With the spread of the use of fiber optic systems, the need for connecting connector segments has developed for a connector. ³⁰ optical conductive cable with minimal damage to the path. optical transmission.

The current connectors in the art, made for this purpose, are not completely satisfactory, especially where frequent connections and disconnections must be made in harsh environmental conditions, or where the circuits with multiple optical fibers must be connected to a single connector, due to the difficulties of to maintain precise, rigorous alignment between the ends of the cable segments in such conditions.

The connector, according to the invention, removes the above-mentioned disadvantages in that it is made up of an outlet that includes a metal housing having a front contact end and an extended circular channel behind the contact end, a housing assembly being disposed within the housing. insert for positioning the terminal end of a, first cable segment, and from a plug including a housing having a front contact end and a circular groove arranged behind it, Inside the housing being also an insertion assembly for positioning the terminal end of the second cable segment in a front position

PRICE LEI 8.13 adjacent axial with the terminal end of the first cable segment, for alignment in the lateral direction of the cable ends using alignment sleeves in which slide the terminal ends of the tubular segments.

The following is an example of embodiment of the invention in connection with FIG.

1 ... 12, which represents:

FIG. 1, perspective view of the connector in the offline position;

FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of the connector portion of the connector, along line I-I, of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the socket portion of the connector along line II-II of fig. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, with a rupture of a fiber optic terminal pin used in the connector for terminating the ends of segments of optical conductive cable bundles;

FIG. 5, enlarged, top, side view in partial cross section, of the connector in the offline position;

FIG. 6, enlarged top, side view, in partial cross-section, of the connector in the contact position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the terminal pin of FIG. 4, shown in connection with a pin removal device, FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the connector portion, illustrating the use of the pin removal device when removing a terminal pin from the connector;

-. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the connector of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the socket portion of the connector, along line III-III of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the connector portion of the connector, taken along line IV-IV of fig. 9;

FIG. 12 is a side view, from above, partially separated, of the connector of FIG. 9 in the connected position.

According to FIG. 1 ... 3, the connector is made of a socket A, mounted on a flange and a plug B mounted on the cable; The socket A can also be mounted on the cable or on a separating wall. The socket A includes a metal housing 1, in the form of a sleeve, having a front or contact end for receiving the plug B and a flange 2 behind the contact end for mounting the socket A to a wall or a separating wall (not shown); the individual segments of the optical fiber cable bundle 4, for which the interconnections must be established by the connector enter through the devices of the socket A. in housing 1 is. provided with a circular groove for receiving the plug B in the rear, from the front end of the socket A. inside the housing 1, an insertion assembly 4 is arranged which supports the projecting ends of four sleeves 5 with inner thread of optical fiber alignment, forming the connecting assemblies associated with the corresponding 3 segments of optical conductive beam cable. The sheet B includes an elongated cylindrical housing 6, of the general shape of a sleeve, having a front or contact end b, and a circular channel is placed behind the front end of the sheet for incorporating, in a telescopic connection, the front end of the housing 1 of the socket A. The fiber optic cable segments 7, for which the interconnections must be made, are located behind the connector. An insertion assembly 8, generally cylindrical; dimensioned for the telescopic insertion in the circular channel c, includes four d-axial holes, in which four assemblies 9 with internal thread for connecting optical fibers are located. A clamping ring 10, of ordinary construction, is arranged concentricly on the housing 6 in order to perform a locking engagement, with projections e on the housing 1 when the socket A and the plug B are connected; a plurality of locating keys f on a side wall of the insertion assembly 8 cooperates with the grooves g provided in the inner wall of the circular channel a to ensure direct orientation between the two insertion assemblies.

According to FIG. 5 and 6, the fiber optic cables 3 and 7 may be entirely conventional in design and construction, having an outer insulation 11 and a single-fiber or multi-fiber conductive optical core 12; the fiber core may be made of either glass or a suitable plastic material; each fiber of core 12 may consist of a central heart of methacryl polymers coated with a transparent polymer with a lower refractive index; the outer insulation 11 may be made of a polyethylene resin.

The ends of each optical conductive cable segment 3 and 7 (fig. 4) are individually terminated by means of terminal pins 13; each of these pins comprises a metal tubular housing, generally cylindrical h, having an axial hole i in which the fiber core 12 of the cable is placed; Between the fiber core 12 and the wall of the hole i, a layer a75302 bypass j, such as, for example, epoxy, holds the core rigidly in place. The fiber core end runs along the hole and the terminal pin and is cut almost at the same level as the open end of the termination to provide a smooth surface of optical coupling; the slot h of the terminal pin 13 includes a small diameter front portion and a larger diameter rear portion, and, between these two portions, an annular flange 14; the hole i has a front portion corresponding to the small diameter and a rear portion corresponding to the enlarged diameter, connected by a suitable angle transition or through a taper, the sleeve 11 of the fiber optic cable bordering the conical shoulder formed by these two portions.

According to FIG. 5 and 6, the insert assembly 4 of the housing A of the socket A consists of a disc-shaped front seal element 15, a cylindrical pin insertion element 16, a pin retaining disc 1.7 and an annular gasket rear 18, which is preferably constructed from high temperature elastomeric material, such as, for example, plastic and rubber; the front sealing member 15 includes four holes 1 which are aligned with four holes m of the insertion element 16, with four holes n of the retaining disc 17 and with four rib holes one of the annular gasket 18, to make four continuous axial holes straight passages for receiving the terminal pins 13 associated respectively with some of the four optical conductive cable segments 3. The insertion assembly 8 of the housing 6 of the plug B includes a cylindrical insert 19, a retaining disc 20 and an annular gasket 21 (fig. 6); the insertion element 19 comprises a hole p aligned with a hole q in the retaining disc 20 and with a hole r in the ring seal 21 to form a continuous axial passage for receiving the terminal pins 13 associated respectively with some of the four segments 7 of optical cable conductive.

According to the invention, the precise alignment between the terminal pins associated with the respective optical fiber cables 3 and the terminal pins associated with those corresponding to the optical fiber cables 7 is maintained by means of a sleeve 22 placed in the passages formed in the insertion assembly 4; the alignment sleeves, which can be made of metal or similar rigid material, are easily inserted into these holes, · the sleeves are kept elastic, during insertion or removal of the sheet B, by means of ring flanges s on the outer surfaces of sleeves.

The sleeve is allowed a certain elastic axial movement until contact by virtue of the flange s catch in a circular channel formed in the elastomeric material of the front sealing member 15 so, when the end ends of the cable are held together, the stops u push the rear part of ring 14; the front of the ring 14 rests tightly on the end of the sleeve, and the sleeve moves axially in the channel m, achieving the balance between similar forces associated with the other half of the coupled connector pair; slight axial movement allows optimal alignment of both end ends on a channel base, while maintaining the correct axial separation between the faces k; this movement also allows the stops 12 to be freely released from the ring 14 in a recontacted position, allowing the end end 13 to be removed without hindrance by means of a tool 23 (fig. 7). The terminal pin 13, installed on one end of each of the four fiber optic cables 3 is inserted into its corresponding sleeve 22 from the rear, thereby the annular flange 14 supporting the back side of the sleeve; the inner dimensions of the sleeve 22 are so chosen that the assembly of the terminal pins 13 is inserted comfortably and maintained in correct alignment with it, · the pair of stops u, executed inside the orifice n, rests on the back surface of the annular flange to lock the pin. in position and thereby preventing axial movement. In the sheet B, the terminal pin 13 of each fiber optic cable 7 is received in the hole p and, respectively, q, and bolted, by means of the stops v, designed inwardly from the walls of the channel q against the back surface of the ring flange 14 for pins terminals; the front part of the annular flange rests on the shoulder formed on the rear surface of the insertion element 19, thereby preventing the flange from being pulled out with terminal pins during contacting or decoupling the contactor; Since the alignment sleeve is in the plug B, the terminal pin assembly associated with each fiber optic cable 7 is not rigidly maintained, but is free to move axially and laterally between certain limits, · when the plug A and the plug B, (fig. . 6) are inserted the insertion assembly 8 enters the circular channel, while the housing 6 of the plug B enters the end of the housing 1 of the socket, which causes the four alignment sleeves 22 to enter the corresponding holes ρ of the insertion assembly. 8 in which the terminal pin assemblies 13 associated with the 7 fiber optic cables are located; as a result, the small diameter portions of the terminal pins associated with the cables 7 are embedded in those corresponding to the sleeve 22; The elastic mounting of the terminal pins in the housing is marked by this allowing the rare alignment of the airframe of the shank with the neighboring manjyoaneie. the egg compiet contacted the irza and the outlet, the output of the end κ has the coil uuuâ axisamotun cie shot cannon terminals come into contact sumsa, the river, «rarely unmurged, for the transier of sea encased of light; as long as the alignment sleeve 22 determines the positions of the terminal sutures, the non-alignment of the transfer surfaces κ in the same direction of light is precluded, in addition, when the connector is fully assembled, as shown in fig. b, the ring gaskets 18 and 21, the front closure 15 are in a compression state; as a result, the connector is sealed for any impurities or contaminations that may surround the environment in which the connector is used.

The assembly 13 of optical fiber terminal pins associated with each fiber optic cable is removed from the corresponding passageways by inserting in the back sleeve of a tool 23 in the form of a small sleeve; this tool, as shown in FIG. 7 serves in the case of socket A, to compress the stop u on the side walls of the orifice n, or in the case of the plug h, to compress the stop v on the side walls of the orifice q with the result that the pin assemblies are released and can be removed from the connector elements ; this is an important advantage because, by doing so, the individual optical fiber pins are allowed to be removed during the correction of the installation errors or the replacement of the defective connectors or components.

Another variant of arrangement, for maintaining the alignment of the terminal pins in a corrector type housing, is shown in fig. 9 ... 12; In these examples, a socket C having an elongated housing 24 is defined defining a circular channel w in which an insertion assembly 25 is placed having four assemblies 13 of optical fiber terminal pins; the socket C is adapted to contact a plug D having an elongated housing 26 defining a circular channel x in which four additional assemblies .13 of terminal pins are recessed; the housing 26 of the sheet D is dimensioned to penetrate telescopically over the embedding portion of the sheet of the housing 24; The insert assemblies 25 and 27, similar to the socket A and plug B, are provided with socket C and a plug D to hold the fiber optic terminal pins in place. As soon as the terminal pin assemblies 13 are located with their surface k coupling parallel to the exposed surfaces of the insertion assemblies, the coupling surfaces of the corresponding terminal pins are brought into the immediately adjacent position when the connector is connected, as shown in FIG. 12; in order to maintain the precise alignment required by good efficiency between the coupling surfaces k, the insert insert of the socket includes five axial pins 28 which cooperate with five corresponding alignment guides x practiced on the surface of the insert assembly 27 of the sheet D, 'sizing these elements for a comfortable, but without clogging, the surfaces of the two insertion assemblies are maintained in a correct alignment throughout their employment, independent of the movement of any insert relative to its housing.

The connector, according to the invention, has the following advantages:

- ensures precise alignment of the terminal ends of the segments of optical fiber cable bundles;

- performs a rigid coupling of the corresponding contact segments.