WO2012034844A1

WO2012034844A1 - Coupling for a fiber optic connector

Info

Publication number: WO2012034844A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/064822
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adrian Peterhans; Patrick Zaina
Original assignee: Huber+Suhner Ag
Priority date: 2010-09-15
Filing date: 2011-08-29
Publication date: 2012-03-22
Also published as: BR112013006324A2; MX2013002734A; EP2616858A1; CH703705A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a coupler (1) for actively connecting two fiber optic connectors (9). The coupler (1) comprises a housing (2) having two recesses (3) opposite each other in a longitudinal direction (X-direction), for each receiving and latching a fiber optic connector (9). The recesses (3) are separated from each other by a cutoff wall (5). The cutoff wall (5) is designed to support a sleeve holder (6). At least one seal (8) is disposed between an end face (11) of a connector housing (10) and the cutoff wall (5) in the assembled state and produces a sealing connection between the connector (9) and the cutoff wall (5).

Description

COUPLING FOR FIBEROPTIC CONNECTORS

The present invention is in the field of fiber optic connectors and relates to a connector for fiber optic connectors.

A fiber optic connection consists of a coupling and two fiber optic connectors inserted into the coupling and thereby operatively connected. Couplings known in the prior art have the disadvantage that they insufficiently protect the fiber optic connectors against external influences, such as e.g. Dust or moisture, protect. As a result, the quality and reliability of the connection suffers. In an installation, it may be that initially only one of the two connectors are inserted into the coupling, the second connector can follow much later in time (weeks or months). It is important that the fiber end faces of the connectors responsible for signal transmission are not contaminated with dust or dirt in the meantime. In conventional couplings, the end surfaces are often insufficiently protected during this time. This can have a negative effect on the connection quality or the device must be subjected to a complex cleaning process. Various couplings for fiber optic connectors are known in the art. Below are a few enumerated.

US5363460 from Diamond SA was published in 1994 and deals with a coupling for optical connectors. The coupling has a comparatively complicated construction. To prevent the ingress of dirt, the clutch has protective flaps, which swung inwards and thus release the opening for the connector.

US5647043 from the company. Lucent Technologies Inc. was published in 1997 and is concerned with a coupling for so-called LC connectors, which have a projecting at a housing obliquely rearwardly resilient locking arm. The in US'703 described coupling has no measures to protect the connector against external influences.

US6425694B from Molex Inc. was published in 2002 and shows an adapter for fiber optic connectors, which has on one side a flap which must be swung out before inserting a connector to the outside. The adapter has a comparatively complicated construction.

US2006154529A from the company Tyco Electronics Corp. was published in 2006 and concerns an adapter for the operative connection of two fiber optic connectors. The adapter has a metal housing. In the area of a guide sleeve, which serves for the mutual alignment of the ferrules of the two fiber optic connectors, the adapter has inside an annular insert, which is described as a guide to the insertion of the connector. The annular insert is arranged at one end in the interior of the guide sleeve.

US5781680A from the company Siecor Corp. was published in 1998 and relates to a sealed adapter for optical connectors. The adapter has a multi-part housing which surrounds a guide sleeve. The part immediately surrounding the guide sleeve is designed to seal against a ferrule of an inserted optical connector.

The known from the prior art couplings for fiber optic connectors have the disadvantage that they either have a too complicated structure or provide insufficient protection.

An object of the invention is to show a coupling for fiber optic connectors, which offers better protection against external influences. An inventive coupling for the operative connection of two fiber optic connectors (connector) has a housing with a longitudinal axis. The outer housing has two opposite recesses, which are separated by a transverse to the longitudinal axis extending partition. The recesses serve to accommodate one parallel to the longitudinal axis inserted into the housing connector. The recesses have seen in the longitudinal direction undercuts, which serve to lock the connector. The recesses are designed so that the connectors from opposite sides inserted into this and engage when reaching a certain position in the undercuts.

In the interior of the housing, a partition wall piercing SIeevehalter is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis. The SIeevehalter serves to hold a guide bush (sleeve) arranged in the interior, which centered and axially aligns a ferrule of the connector comprising optical fiber. The SIevehalter is attached via the partition on the outer housing. The web serves as a partition between the first and the second connector. The SIeevehalter protrudes on both sides over the dividing wall.

In general, the SIeevehalter and the outer housing are integrally formed. Depending on the configuration of the SIeevehalter be designed segmented for better manufacturability. If necessary, the SIeevehalter and the outer housing can also be designed as two or more parts, which are operatively connected to each other during assembly.

A coupling according to the invention has at least on one side a seal which is arranged around the slide holder adjacent to the web. Depending on the embodiment, it is a foam sleeve, a flat gasket or a seal with a flexible sealing lip, which are compressed when plugging. In a further embodiment, a flexible bellows is used, which allows larger deformations. In a Another embodiment encloses the seal the entire SIeevehalter and protects it against external contamination. The seal is deformed only when first plugging a connector so that the SIeehehalter and the guide sleeve located therein are accessible.

The seal is preferably designed so that it can cooperate with a protective cap. The protective cap can be used instead of a connector in the coupling and prevents the ingress of dirt.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a coupling for operatively connecting two fiber optic connectors. The coupling has a housing with two mutually opposite in a longitudinal direction (x-direction) recesses, which serve for receiving and engaging each of a fiber optic connector. The recesses are separated by a partition wall. The partition serves to hold a sleeve holder. At least one seal is disposed between an end face of a connector housing and the partition wall in the assembled state and establishes a sealing connection between the connector and the partition wall. If necessary, the seal can be configured partially or entirely on the connector side. For example, it is possible to arrange a second seal on the connector side. In a preferred embodiment, the seal is disposed adjacent to the dividing wall. The seal can be arranged on the SIeevehalter. For example, the seal can be pushed onto the SIevehalter during assembly. For improved protection, the gasket can initially completely surround the silicon container and be designed such that it ruptures when a connector is first engaged, thereby releasing the silicon container. When inserting the connector, the seal is then pushed on the SIeehehalter backwards in the direction of the partition and forms there in the assembled state a tight connection between the front side of the connector housing and the partition wall. Depending on the field of application, the seal is made of elastomer or Foam made. The seal may be configured, for example, as an O-ring or has a forwardly projecting in sealing of the connector sealing lip. Other embodiments are possible. Depending on the embodiment, the housing of the coupling can be designed in several parts.

With reference to the following figures, embodiments of the invention will be described. Show it

Fig.1 a coupling and two fiber optic connectors; Fig.2 Detail A according to Figure 1;

3 shows the coupling according to FIG. 1 in a view from the front; 4 shows the coupling according to Figure 1 in a sectional view. 5 different embodiments of seals.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of an inventive coupling 1 in a perspective view obliquely from above. Figure 2 shows detail Avon Figure 1 in an enlarged view. The coupling 1 is shown partially cut in Figures 1 and 2, so that the interior is apparent. FIG. 3 shows the coupling 1 in a front view. FIG. 4 shows the coupling 1 in a sectional view along the section line BB according to FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows various embodiments of seals 8 in a perspective view.

The coupling 1 has a housing 2 with recesses 3, which are arranged opposite each other and through a partition 5 transverse to a longitudinal direction (x-direction) are separated from each other. In the embodiment shown, two recesses are arranged side by side for each side. Other embodiments are possible.

In the variant shown, each sleeve holder 6 connect two opposing recesses. The sleeve holders 6 have an opening 4 in the interior and pierce the partition wall 5 in the longitudinal direction (x-direction). In the interior of the Sleevehalter 6, respectively the opening 4 are each a guide sleeve 7 (sleeve) are arranged. Adjacent to the partition wall 5, a seal 8 can be seen on each side of the partition wall 5, which in the embodiment shown are arranged on the sleeve holder 6 coaxially with the latter and have a conically configured sealing lip 16. The seal 8 serves to seal off a connector 9 operatively connected to the coupling 1. Depending on the embodiment, a seal may also be provided on only one side.

When inserting a connector 9 in a recess 3, the seal 8 - as shown enlarged in Figure 2 can be seen - between a front end (end face 11) of a connector housing 10 and the partition 5 is pressed together, thus sealing the interior of the connector 9 against external influences. The connectors 9 shown are so-called LC connectors. These have a latching arm 12 projecting obliquely from the connector housing 10 at the rear and at the top and which, when operatively connected to the coupling 1, serves to lock the connector 9 in relation to the coupling 1. By depressing the latching arm 12 against the connector housing 10, the connector 9 can be unlocked again. The connectors 9 have a ferrule 13 which is arranged in an opening 14 of the connector housing 10. When operatively connected to the coupling 1, the ferrule 13, which surrounds the information-transmitting optical waveguide (not shown in more detail), inserted into the guide sleeve 7 and connected frontally with an opposite connector. In Figure 1, the connector 9 shown on the right is completely inserted into the coupling 1 and locked with this on the latching arm 12. The one on the left shown connector 9 is only partially inserted into the coupling 1 and not yet operatively connected with this.

The embodiment according to the invention makes it possible to retrofit existing couplings 1 with correspondingly configured seals 8. Depending on the embodiment and field of application of the coupling 1, seals 8 are inserted into the recesses 3 on both sides or only one side. The seals 8 may be attached to the housing 2 e.g. molded by injection molding or designed as separate parts. Depending on the field of application, the seals are made of rubber and have e.g. a obliquely projecting front sealing lip, which adapts flexibly to its end face 11 when inserting a connector 9 in the coupling 1.

In the embodiment shown, the sleeve holder 6 is segmented on one side and has three arms 15 extending in the axial direction. These are designed to be flexible, so that the guide sleeve 7 can be easily inserted in the axial direction between them and locked between them. The arms 15 are arranged at an angle of 120 ° to each other. By the inventively designed seal can, in contrast to the prior art, such embodiments are securely sealed. On the opposite side at the opposite end of the sleeve holder 6 is designed annular, so that it can be easily manufactured and removed from the mold in the longitudinal direction.

In the embodiment shown, the housing 2 has laterally arranged holders 17, which serve for fastening the coupling 1 to a housing of a device.

FIG. 5 shows diagrammatically different embodiments of seals 8. Variant a) shows a seal which is made of foam and is comparatively strongly compressed in the axial direction during operative joining. Variant b) shows a seal with a obliquely at the front and above projecting, conically extending sealing lip 1 6, which is spread when connecting a connector. Variant c) shows a seal of Gu mmi, which is reminiscent of an o-ring. Variant d) shows a sealing bellows, which is also comparatively strongly compressed in axial direction. Other configurations are possible.

LIST OF SIGNATURE SIGNS

1 clutch

2 housings

3 recess

4 second recess

5 partition

6 sleeve holder

7 guide sleeve

8 seal

9 connectors (fiber optic connector)

10 connector housing

11 face

12 detent arm

13 ferrules

14 opening for ferrule

15 arm (sleeve holder)

16 sealing lip

17 bracket

Claims

1. Coupling (1) for the operative connection of two fiber optic connectors (9), comprising a housing (2) with two mutually opposite in a longitudinal direction (x-direction) recesses (3) for receiving and locking each of a fiber optic connector (9) in which the recesses (3) are separated from each other by a partition wall (5) which serves to hold a sleeve holder (6) and at least one seal (8) which in the assembled state is arranged between an end face (11) of a connector housing (10). and the partition wall (5) arranged to make a sealing connection between the connector (9) and the housing (2) of the coupling (1).

2. clutch (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal (8) is arranged immediately adjacent to the partition wall (5).

3. Coupling (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal (8) on the SIeevehalter (6) is arranged.

4. clutch (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the seal (8) the SIeevehalter (6) completely surrounds and is designed so that it ruptures during the first operative connection of a connector (9) and then a tight connection between the end face (11) of the connector housing (10) and the partition wall (5).

5. Coupling (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal (8) consists of elastomer or foam.

6. Coupling (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal (8) has a forwardly projecting sealing lip (16).

7. clutch (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal is designed as a bellows.

8. Coupling (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) is designed in several parts.