WO2001092937A1

WO2001092937A1 - Optical connector

Info

Publication number: WO2001092937A1
Application number: PCT/JP2001/004521
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yuji Watanabe
Original assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
Priority date: 2000-05-31
Filing date: 2001-05-30
Publication date: 2001-12-06
Also published as: AU2001260644A1

Abstract

An optical connector capable of simplifying a fixing operation for fixing a tension member to the optical connector when the optical connector is attached to an optical cable having an optical fiber and the tension member so as to increase the efficiency of the fixing operation, comprising a hooking member fixed to the end part of the tension member so as to form the end part of the tension member, wherein an end part limiting part for limiting the movement of the end part is disposed in a housing where the end part of the optical cable is terminated.

Description

Specification

Optical connector Optical connector

Technical field ,

The present invention relates to an optical connector for terminating an optical cable having an optical fiber and a tension member and connecting the optical cable to a mating connector. Background art

In recent years, optical cables using optical fibers have been widely used from the viewpoint of securing the amount of communication information due to the development of electronic communication devices. The optical cable is composed of, for example, a resin optical fiber, a coating resin cable for protecting this fiber, and a tension member made of a reinforcing wire or the like embedded in the coating resin cable for suppressing the expansion of the resin optical fiber. Is done.

This tension member prevents the optical fiber from being affected by the transmission loss of the optical fiber even if it is pulled by the force that works when the optical cable is laid at the construction site. To ensure that the optical fiber is not cut by the tensile force, it has a tensile stiffness value equal to or higher than a predetermined value.

An optical cable having such a tension member is connected to an optical connector at an end. The optical connector is fitted with a housing that terminates the end of the optical cable, a spring member that terminates the end of the optical fiber, and elastically connected to the optical fiber of the mating connector. And components. On the other hand, the tension member has a structure that is fixed to the optical connector so that the optical fiber does not stretch even if the optical cable is pulled.There are various methods for fixing the tension member. It has been disclosed.

For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-2366736, in an optical cable in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a plane and a pair of reinforcing wires as tension members are arranged outside the optical fiber, the reinforcing wires are connected to an optical connector. There is disclosed a fixing method for directly fixing to a fitting pin hole provided in the above with an adhesive.

Also, as a method for fixing the tension member, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-160270 describes Discloses a method of directly fixing a tension member to a flange as an optical cable terminal member by caulking or the like in an optical cable terminal structure when laying an optical cable at a construction site or the like.

However, the optical cable has a plurality of reinforcing wires, etc., and it is necessary to adhere the reinforcing wires to the optical connector one by one with an adhesive. When the workability is reduced, there is a problem. When the tension member is directly fixed to the optical connector body using caulking or screws, it is necessary to correctly set the caulking member and the screw member to the appropriate positions on the optical connector and perform the tightening work. However, there are problems when working efficiency on the site is reduced.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention simplifies the work of fixing the tension member to the optical connector when attaching the optical connector to the optical cable having the optical fiber and the tension member, An object is to provide an optical connector that improves work efficiency. Disclosure of the invention

The present invention provides a housing that terminates an end of an optical cable having an optical fiber and a tension member, a termination that terminates an end of the optical fiber, and a connection to an optical fiber of a mating connector, the projection protruding from the housing. An optical connector having a mating part supported so as to be fixed to the end of the tension member and forming a terminal end of the tension member. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector characterized in that an end portion regulating means for hanging the end portion of the tension member formed by a member to regulate the movement is provided on the inner surface of the housing.

Here, it is preferable that the tension member is made of a plurality of reinforcing wires, and the hooking member integrally fixes the plurality of reinforcing wires to form an end portion. The engaging member includes an annular member, and a substantially columnar member that forms a gap when fitted into the annular member. The member is plastically deformed, and the substantially cylindrical member and the It is preferably formed by tightly fixing the member.

Further, the latching member is formed of an annular member, and the terminal portion is configured to insert the tension member into the annular member, and then plastically deform the annular member to tightly fix the tension member. What is formed by folding back the tension member protruding from the annular member is also preferable.

Further, it is preferable that the terminating-portion regulating means is a projection arranged at a substantially central portion of the inner surface of the housing.

In addition, the optical cable has two optical fibers disposed inside and two tension members embedded in the covering resin cable on both outer sides, and covered with a covering resin cable made of a resin material. Preferably, it is a flat optical cable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an optical connector which is a preferred embodiment of the optical connector of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an example of the subassembly shown in FIG.

FIG. 3: (a) is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the fitting part shown in FIG. 1, and (b) is a perspective view of the fitting part which has been assembled.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an arrangement configuration of a hooking member forming the terminal end shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an example of an end portion of the optical cable when assembling the sub-assembly shown in FIG.

However, the sign is as follows.

10: Optical connector

20: Outer housing, 21: Lower housing, 22: Upper housing

2 3: External cover receiving part

28a: Elastic engagement latch, 28b: Engagement shoulder

29 a: Press-fit post, 29 b: Engagement hole

30: Subassembly

40: Internal housing, 41: Lower housing, 42: Upper housing 43: Optical cable support, 45: Recess

46: terminal part, 47: protrusion

48a: Positive engagement latch, 48b: Engagement shoulder

49 a: Press-fitting bore, 49 b: Engagement hole

60: Mating parts

61: outer cover, 62: housing, 63: ferrule, 64: spring member 65: cylindrical body, 66: locking projection, 67: engagement hole, 68: flange

69: Lock projection, 70: Lock shoulder

100: Optical fiber

110: Hook member, 111: Annular member, 112: Substantially cylindrical member

113: air gap, 1 14: guide groove, 122: area

200: Optical cable

300: Best mode for carrying out the invention

Hereinafter, the optical connector of the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the optical cable described below, two optical fibers are arranged inside, and two reinforcing wires, which are tension members embedded in the sheathing resin cable, are provided on both outsides, and the sheathing resin consisting of a resin material is provided. It is a two-core flat optical fiber cable covered with a cable. However, in the present invention, another optical cable having one or three or more optical fibers and one or three or more tension members may be used. The optical connector described below is an optical connector used for the above-described two-core flat optical cable, but may be an optical connector used for the other optical cable. Here, as the reinforcing wire of the tension member, a wire made of aramid fiber, carbon fiber, or the like; metal wire; FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastics) wire, or the like can be given. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an optical connector 10 for suitably implementing the optical connector of the present invention.

The optical connector 10 is housed in the outer housing 20 and the outer housing 20. And a subassembly 30. The sub-assembly 30 has an inner housing 40 corresponding to the housing of the present invention, comprising a lower housing 41 and an upper housing 42, and a pair of fitting parts 60 protruding from the inner housing 40. . The pair of fitting parts 60 are fixedly supported by the inner housing 40 as described later. The optical connector 100 is provided at the end of the optical cable 200, and is terminated such that the end of the optical fiber 100 is flush with the distal end surface of a ferrule 63 of a fitting part 60 described later. No Elastically connected to the optical fiber of the mating connector.

The outer housing 20 is composed of a pair of lower housing 21 and upper housing 22 having the same configuration and the same dimensions, and is an outer housing that covers the subassembly 30. The latch 28 a and the engaging shoulder 28 b, the press-in boss 29 a and the engaging hole 29 b engage with each other and are integrated.

That is, the outer housing 20 arranges the sub-assembly 30 at a predetermined position, and furthermore, fits the fitting part 60 projecting forward from the inner housing 40 to the outer peripheral shape of the outer cover 61. Correspondingly, they are housed in a pair of external cover receiving portions 23 provided on the upper housing 21 and the lower housing 22, and are assembled by engaging the lower housing 21 and the upper housing 22.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sub-assembly 30. The sub-assembly 30 includes an inner housing 40 including a lower housing 41 and an upper housing 42, and a pair of mating parts 60. Then, the optical cable 200 is guided into the inner housing 40 from behind the inner housing 40.

Here, a pair of fitting parts 60 fixed to the inner housing 40 will be described.

3A and 3B are views showing the configuration and assembly of the fitting components 0, (a) is an exploded perspective view, and (b) is a perspective view showing the fitting component 60 that has been assembled.

The mating part 60 includes an outer cover 61, a housing 62, a ferrule 63, a spring member 64 and a tubular body 65, and a ferrule 63 and a tubular body 65 at the center. An optical fiber through-hole penetrating the optical fiber 100 is provided.

A locking projection 66 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 65 of the fitting part 60. The locking projection 66 is formed in a predetermined manner with an engagement hole 67 provided in the housing 62. In charge of position It is configured to match. On the other hand, a projection 63 a is provided at a substantially middle position in the longitudinal direction of the outer periphery of the ferrule 63, and a step for reducing the inner diameter is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 65 (see FIG. Is provided at a predetermined position, and the spring member 64 disposed between the protrusion 63 of the ferrule 63 and the step of the inner surface of the cylindrical body 65 presses the ferrule 63 forward with a predetermined urging force. It is configured as follows. At this time, a protrusion (not shown) for restricting the forward movement of the protrusion 63 a of the ferrule 63 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the housing 62, and the ferrule 63 is a cylindrical body. A predetermined urging force is given to the spring member 65 by a force pressing the spring member 64 from behind, and the spring member 64 is supported in the housing 62. Thus, the housing 62, the ferrule 63, the spring member 63, and the cylindrical body 65 are integrated.

Further, a lock projection 69 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 62, and by engaging with a lock shoulder 70 provided on the external cover 61, the external force par 61 is integrated. The housing 62, the ferrule 63, the spring member 63, and the tubular body 65 are put on, and an integrated fitting part 60 as shown in FIG. 3 (b) is assembled.

The mating part 60 is configured in this manner, and the ferrule 63 of the mating part 60 is biased by the spring member 64 so that the ferrule 63 is flush with the end face of the ferrule 63. The terminated optical fiber 100 is elastically connected to the optical fiber of the other optical connector terminated flush with the end face of the ferrule.

In the optical connector of the present embodiment, the optical fiber 100 is fixed to the optical fiber through-hole of the ferrule 63 with an adhesive, but in the present invention, the optical fiber 100 is pressed. An optical connector of a type in which a crimp member for gripping is provided and the optical fiber 100 is mechanically gripped may be used.

Next, the inner housing 40 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the inner housing 400, a pair of optical fibers 100 arranged one by one in a pair of gaps provided in the optical cable 200 is connected to the fitting part 60. In FIG. 2, the optical fiber 100 is omitted, and is indicated by a chain line. The inner housing 40, like the outer housing 20, includes a lower housing 41 and an upper housing 42 having the same configuration and the same dimensions. This is a housing that is engaged and integrated with each other by the positive engagement latch 48 a and the engagement shoulder 48 b, and the press-in boss 49 a and the engagement hole 49 b. Hereinafter, the inner eight housings 40 will be described as representatives of the lower eight housings 41.

The lower housing 4 1 (upper housing 4 2), together with the upper housing 4 2 (lower housing 4 1), terminates the end of the resin cable for covering the optical cable 200, and the mating part 60 This is a housing that supports and fixes a pair of reinforcing wires 300, which are tension members of the optical cable 200, and forms an internal housing 40. At the same time, the optical cable 200 is guided from the rear to the inner housing 40, and is located at the rear end of the optical cable supporting portion 43 supporting the optical cable 200 and the cylindrical body 65 of the fitting component 60. A pair of recesses 45, which receive the flange 68, arrange the pair of mating parts 60 in parallel, and project forward from the lower housing 41 (upper housing 42), and a reinforcing wire for the optical cable 200 The terminal end 46 formed at the end of the base plate 300 is provided in a predetermined position, and the terminal end 46 is provided with a projection 47 for regulating the movement so as not to move forward, backward, left and right.

Here, the end portion 46 is a feature of the present invention, and is formed by a hooking member 110 fixed near the end of the reinforcing wire 300 of the optical cable 200. Hereinafter, two examples of the preferred embodiment of the hook member 110 will be described.

As a first preferred embodiment, the hooking member 110 includes an annular member 111 and a substantially columnar member 112. FIG. 4 shows the arrangement of the hooking member 110 immediately before forming the terminal end portion 46 as viewed from the front and front. The inner diameter of the annular member 111 is larger than the outer diameter of the substantially cylindrical member 112, and when the substantially cylindrical member 112 is fitted, it is in a loosely-fitted state to form a gap 113. A pair of reinforcing wires 300 protruding from the optical cable 200 is inserted into the gap 1 1 3, and in this state, pressure is applied from the outer periphery of the annular member 1 1 1 1 to the substantially cylindrical member 1 1 2. The inner diameter of the annular member 1 11 is reduced by plastically deforming the annular member 1 1 1, and the pair of reinforcing wires 3 0 0 is brought into close contact between the substantially cylindrical member 1 1 2 and the annular member 1 1 1 The extra reinforcing wire 300 protruding forward from the annular member 111 and the substantially columnar member 112, which is fixed, is cut and bent rearward to form a terminal end portion 46. At this time, a guide groove 1 14 is formed on the outer peripheral side surface of the substantially cylindrical member 1 1 2 along the longitudinal direction of the substantially cylindrical member 1 1 2 to reinforce it. The wire rod 300 is tightly fixed between the substantially cylindrical member 112 and the annular member 111 while being guided at a predetermined position on the substantially cylindrical member 112 by the guide groove 114. Here, the shape of the annular member 111 is not particularly limited, and is, for example, a circular shape. The annular member 111 is circular or polygonal such as hexagonal when pressure is applied from the outer periphery. Processed into The material of the annular member 111 is preferably a plastically deformable metal material such as copper from the viewpoint of processing, and the substantially columnar member 112 is preferably a metal material such as aluminum. .

As a second preferred embodiment, the locking member 110 is composed of only the annular member 111. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an end portion of the optical cable 200 when assembling the sub-assembly 30, and shows a second preferred embodiment of the hanging member 110. A pair of reinforcing wires 300 protruding from the optical cable 200 is inserted into the annular member 111, and the annular member 111 is plastically deformed in this state, thereby flattening the annular member 111, A pair of reinforcing wires 300 are tightly fixed to the annular member 1 1 1, and an extra reinforcing wire 3 00 protruding forward of the annular member 1 1 1 1 is bent backward to form a terminal portion 4 6. . Here, the shape of the annular member 111 is not particularly limited, and is, for example, a circular shape. The annular member 111 is flattened by applying pressure from the outer periphery. Further, as the material of the annular member 111, it is preferable to use a plastically deformable metal material such as copper from the viewpoint of processing.

On the other hand, the projection 47 is a portion corresponding to the terminal end regulating means in the present invention, which locks the terminal end 46 of the reinforcing wire 300 and restricts the movement. As shown in FIG. Along with the protruding ribs 47a and 47b protruding from the inner surface of the inner housing 40 and the outer peripheral side surface 40a of the inner housing 40, the lower housing 4 1 (the upper housing 4 2) It is arranged at the substantially central part of the inner surface. The end portion 46 is inserted into the concave space 50, and further, a projection 47 is inserted into a region 122 surrounded by the end portion 46, the optical cable 200 and the reinforcing wire 300. The end portion 46 is hooked on the projection 47, and the front, rear, left and right movements in the lower housing 41 (upper housing 42) are restricted.

In this manner, the end that is inserted into the concave space 50 of the lower housing As described above, since the lower housing 41 is engaged with and integrated with the upper housing 42 having the same configuration as described above, the movement of the end portion 46 is restricted not only in front, rear, left and right but also in up and down. Thus, the reinforcing wire rod 300 is fixed in the inner housing 40. In the present embodiment, the end portion is regulated by the projection 47. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the movement of the end portion may be regulated by a protruding rib or the like. Any structure may be used as long as it has a structure for stopping.

In the above-described embodiment, the terminal portion 46 is formed by applying a force to the annular member 111 to plastically deform it. In the present invention, the locking member 110 is a first preferred embodiment. In this case, the reinforcing wire rod 300 inserted into the gap 113 between the annular member 111 and the substantially columnar member 112 may be bonded and fixed with an adhesive or the like.

Further, in the present embodiment, each of the outer housing 20 and the inner housing 40 is constituted by an upper housing and a lower housing having the same shape, but may be constituted by housings having different shapes.

The inner housing 40 is configured as described above.

Such an optical connector 100 is first attached to the optical cable 200 after the optical cable 200 is wired at the site where the optical connector 100 is laid.

First, the optical fiber 100 extending from the coating resin cable of the optical cable 200 is passed through the optical fiber through-hole of the cylindrical body 65, passed through the spring member 64, and further passed through the ferrule 63. Pass through the through hole for optical fiber and protrude from the end face of ferrule 63. At this time, the optical fiber through hole of the ferrule 63 and the optical fiber 100 are adhered and fixed with an adhesive, and the end of the optical fiber 100 is flush with the tip surface of the ferrule 63. Is terminated. Then, the housing 62 is put on, and the hook projections 66 of the cylindrical body 65 are engaged with the engagement holes 67 of the housing 6, so that the housing 62, the ferrule 63, and the spring member 6 are engaged. 4 and the cylindrical body 65 are integrated. Thereafter, the outer cover 61 is put on, the housing 62 is fixed at a predetermined position, and a fitting part 60 as shown in FIG. 3 (b) is assembled. Such fitting parts 60 are respectively created corresponding to the pair of optical fibers 100.

On the other hand, when the hooking member 110 is in the first preferred embodiment, the pair of reinforcing wires 300 protruding from the optical cable 200 is formed of a substantially cylindrical member 112 and an annular member 111. To 1 After being inserted into the gap 1 1 3 created when inserting and placing, the annular member 1 1 1 1 is pressed from the outer circumference toward the above-mentioned substantially cylindrical member 1 1 2, and is plastically formed into a hexagon as shown in FIG. Due to the deformation, the reinforcing wire 300 is tightly fixed between the substantially cylindrical member 112 and the annular member 111, and the terminal end 46 is formed. An extra portion of the reinforcing wire 300 protruding forward from the terminal end portion 46 is cut and further bent. In this way, a termination portion 46 as shown in FIG. 2 is formed.

On the other hand, when the hooking member 110 is in the second preferred embodiment, a pair of reinforcing wires 300 protruding from the optical cable 200 are inserted into the annular member 111, and then the annular member 110 is inserted. As shown in FIG. 5, pressure is applied to the outer periphery of 11 from the outer periphery, and the plastic wire is flatly deformed as shown in FIG. 5, and the reinforcing wire 300 is tightly fixed to the annular member 11 1 to form the end portion 46. An extra portion of the reinforcing wire rod 300 protruding forward from the terminal end portion 46 is cut and further bent. In this way, a termination portion 46 as shown in FIG. 5 is formed.

The formed end portion 46 is inserted into the concave space 50 of the lower housing 41 and is locked by the protrusion 47. Further, the pair of fitting parts 60 thus prepared is arranged such that the flange 68 is fitted into the concave part 45, the upper housing 42 is covered from above, and the sub-assembly 30 is assembled. Thereafter, the sub-assembly 30 is disposed at a predetermined position of the lower housing 21 of the outer housing 20, and the upper housing 22 is covered from above as shown in FIG.

As described above, since the end portion 46 of the reinforcing wire rod 300 is formed by the hook member 110, the reinforcing wire rod 300 is directly connected to the optical connector housing body as in the conventional case. The fixing work for fixing the position is unnecessary, and the terminal end portion 46 may be formed at the end of the reinforcing wire rod 300, and the plural reinforcing wire rods 300 are integrally formed to form the terminal end portion 46. Further, when the terminal end portion 46 is arranged in the concave space 50, the terminal end portion 46, the optical cable 200, and the reinforcing wire are arranged so that the terminal end portion 46 is hooked by the protrusion 47. The protrusions 47 may be inserted into the area 122 surrounded by 300 and the working time is shortened and the working efficiency is improved.

Thus, the optical connector 10 is efficiently provided at a desired position of the optical cable 200. As described above, the optical connector of the present invention has been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. is there. Industrial applicability

As described in detail above, since the terminal end formed at the end of the tension member is hooked by means such as a protrusion provided on the inner surface of the housing for restricting the movement of the terminal, it is possible to use an optical cable. The work of fixing the tension member to the optical connector when providing the optical connector is simplified and facilitated, and the work efficiency is improved.

In particular, in the case where the tension member is a plurality of reinforcing wires, the plurality of reinforcing wires are integrally fixed to form an end portion, which is compared with the conventional fixing work in which each reinforcing wire is directly fixed to the optical connector. Fixing work is further simplified, and work efficiency is further improved.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. Eight ends for terminating an end of an optical cable having an optical fiber and a tension member; and an end for terminating the end of the optical fiber, and connecting to an optical fiber of a mating connector, protruding from the housing. An optical connector having a mating part supported so as to be fixed to the end of the tension member and forming a terminal end of the tension member. An optical connector, comprising: an end surface regulating means provided on an inner surface of the housing, for suspending an end portion of the tension member formed by a member to restrict movement.

2. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the tension member is formed of a plurality of reinforcing wires, and the hooking member integrally fixes the plurality of reinforcing wires to form an end portion.

3. The latching member includes an annular member and a substantially cylindrical member that forms a gap when fitted into the annular member, and the terminal portion includes the tension member inserted into the gap, 3. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical connector is formed by plastically deforming an annular member and tightly fixing the substantially columnar member and the tension member.

4. The hooking member is formed of an annular member, and the terminal portion is configured such that, after inserting the tension member into the annular member, the annular member is plastically deformed, and the tension member is closely fixed to the annular member. 3. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical connector is formed by folding back the tension member protruding from a member.

5. The optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the terminal end regulating means is a projection arranged at a substantially central portion of an inner surface of the housing.

6. In the optical cable, two optical fibers are arranged inside, and two tension members buried in the covering resin cable are provided on both outer sides, and the covering member is covered with a covering resin cable made of a resin material. The optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is a flat optical cable.