JP3753836B2 - Pink lamp, optical connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pin clamp and an optical connector for fixing a guide pin for relatively positioning optical connector ferrules so that they can be butted and connected.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As an optical connector that connects optical fibers in a switchable manner, for example, a plastic multi-fiber optical connector (so-called MT type optical connector: Mechanically Transferable) as established in JIS C 5981 or the like is provided.
FIG. 3 shows an example of an MT type optical connector.
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an optical fiber (optical fiber ribbon), 2 denotes a ferrule (optical connector plug), 3 denotes a boot, 4 denotes a guide pin, 5 denotes a guide pin hole, and 6 denotes a clamp spring.
This MT-type optical connector has a structure in which a plurality of bare fibers 7 exposed at the tip of an optical fiber 1 are inserted and fixed in an optical fiber insertion hole 9 formed in a resin ferrule 2 molded using a precision mold. It has become. The optical fiber insertion hole 9 is opened in the joining end face 8 that is abutted with the other ferrule 2, and the bare fiber 7 is precisely positioned flush with the joining end face 8. The guide pin hole 5 is extremely precise in relative position and parallelism with respect to the optical fiber insertion hole 9, and the guide pin hole on both joint end faces 8 in which the metal guide pins 4 having precise cylindrical side faces are opposed to the pair of ferrules 2. The bare fibers 7 exposed on the joint end faces 8 of both ferrules 2 are precisely positioned by being inserted so as to span between 5 and 5.
When the clamp springs 6 are fitted between the rear end flange portions 10 of the ferrules 2 after the joint end surfaces 8 of the ferrules 2 are brought into contact with each other, the pressure contact between the joint end surfaces 8 is caused by the spring force of the clamp springs 6. The state is maintained, and a desired connection loss is stably ensured between the bare fibers 7 which are butted.
[0003]
In recent years, in view of improvement in connection workability, so-called MPO connectors (optical connectors having a structure in which an optical connector ferrule established in JIS C 5981 or the like is housed in a housing) are provided.
4 and 5 show the MPO connector 11. 5, this MPO connector 11 includes a ferrule 2 of an MT type optical connector and a pin clamp 12 for clamping a guide pin 4 at a rear end portion (right side of FIG. The rear end portion of the housing 13 is internally supported by a cylindrical coupling 14 and a coil spring 15 for generating a butt force is accommodated in the coupling 14. The ferrule 2 is movable in the front-rear direction (left and right in FIG. 5) in the housing 13, and the housing 13 is urged forward (left side in FIG. 5) by a separately installed spring 16 for the housing. If the housing 13 does not follow the ferrule 2 and is at the tip position of the MPO connector 11 when pushed into the connector 11, the entire ferrule 2 enters the inside of the housing 13 and is protected. The housing 13 has an engaging projection 13a projecting from its side surface so as to be detachably engaged with a receiving housing such as an optical connector adapter 17 (see FIG. 4), so that the MPO connector 11 inserted into the receiving housing. The plug-in state is maintained.
[0004]
FIG. 6 shows the pin clamp 12.
The pin clamp 12 is made of synthetic resin such as nylon, and the guide pin 4 is fitted and fixed in the fitting groove 18. An engagement groove 20 is formed inside the fitting groove 18, and the engagement portion 19 formed at the end of the guide pin 4 is engaged with the engagement groove 20. The guide pin 4 is not easily pulled out. The guide pin 4 can be moved in the guide pin hole 5 (see FIG. 4) of the ferrule 2, but by fixing it with the pin clamp 12, work such as connection and disconnection between the ferrules 2 and 2 can be performed. Even if it goes, it is not pulled out from the ferrule 2 on the MPO connector 11 side.
Moreover, the code | symbol 21 in FIG. 6 is a bearing surface, and as shown in FIG. 5, the coil spring 15 is contact | abutted. In the MPO connector 11, the biasing force of the coil spring 15 acts on the bearing surface 21 of the pin clamp 12, and the ferrule 2 is constantly biased forward by the pin clamp 12.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the MPO connector 11 as described above, since the coil spring 15 is in contact with the flat bearing surface 21 of the pin clamp 12, the relative position is likely to fluctuate. For this reason, the coil spring 15 is likely to be displaced with respect to the pin clamp 12, and the urging force of the coil spring 15 acts in a direction inclined with respect to the ferrule 2. There were concerns that would have an impact. Since the bare fibers 7 are arranged apart from each other at the joint end surface 8 of the ferrule 2, if the butt force is unevenly distributed between the butt-joined joint end surfaces 8 and 8, the bare fibers 7 and 7 cannot secure a sufficient butt force. There is a possibility that a desired connection loss cannot be ensured between such bare fibers 7 and 7.
[0006]
In the MPO connector 11, when the ferrules 2 and 2 are brought into contact with each other, the ferrule 2 and the pin clamp 12 on the MPO connector 11 side move in the housing 13 while pushing and shrinking the coil spring 15, and the back side of the MPO connector 11 ( It is pushed into the right side in FIG. The coil spring 15 initially has a shape that is uniformly wound around a predetermined center axis. However, when the coil spring 15 is compressed, the coil spring 15 tends to be deformed in a direction deviating from the center axis. Misalignment is likely to occur.
In view of the above problems, measures such as setting the guide means of the pin clamp 12 in the housing 13 to restrict the tilt of the pin clamp 12 can be considered. However, such as an increase in manufacturing cost and an enlargement of the MPO connector 11 It causes inconvenience and does not lead to a fundamental solution of the problem.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. (1) The spring engagement means can prevent displacement from the coil spring, and the biasing force of the coil spring can be set in a desired direction with respect to the optical connector ferrule. (2) The butt force can be applied evenly between the optical connector ferrules butt-connected according to (1), (3) the end of the coil spring on the optical connector ferrule side It is an object of the present invention to provide a pin clamp and an optical connector that can obtain an effect that the size can be reduced by the structure in which the portion is housed in the spring housing recess.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, a pin clamp for fixing a guide pin for relative positioning of both optical connector ferrules by arranging the optical fibers so as to be bridged between optical connector ferrules that are terminated so as to be butt-connected, and is butt-connected. Interposed between one optical connector ferrule and a coil spring for urging the optical connector ferrule in one direction, and engaged with an end of the coil spring on the optical connector ferrule side to A spring engaging means for restricting relative displacement in the vertical direction with respect to the central axis; and a storage groove for storing an optical fiber drawn from a side opposite to the joining end face of the optical connector ferrule. Accommodates the end of the coil spring on the optical connector ferrule side A circular spring accommodating recess, the pin clamp, characterized in that it is formed in the receiving groove coaxial to the solutions of the problems.
Further, in the present invention, a pin clamp for fixing a guide pin for relatively positioning both optical connector ferrules by arranging the optical fibers so as to be bridged between optical connector ferrules that are terminated so as to be butt-connected. One optical connector ferrule to be connected, and a coil spring provided inside the optical fiber drawn from the side opposite to the joining end face of the optical connector ferrule, and energizing the optical connector ferrule in one direction; is interposed between, and provided with a spring engagement means for restricting relative displacement in the direction perpendicular to the central axis of the optical connector ferrule side end engaged with the coil spring of the coil spring, said spring engaging A coupling means is an end of the coil spring on the optical connector ferrule side The pin clamp, characterized in that the spring accommodating recess for accommodating was solutions of the problems.
Since this pin clamp does not cause a position shift in the vertical direction with respect to the central axis of the coil spring by the spring engaging means, the urging force of the coil spring is always transmitted stably in a desired direction and distribution by the optical connector ferrule. Various configurations can be adopted as the spring engaging means. For example, as described in claim 3, it is possible to adopt a configuration such as a spring housing recess for housing the end of the coil spring on the optical connector ferrule side, a projection housed inside the coil spring, or the like. The spring engaging means may be configured to restrict the displacement of the pin clamp in the direction perpendicular to the central axis of the coil spring, so that the configuration is always engaged with the coil spring, and the configuration is detachably engaged with the coil spring. Either of these can be employed.
Further, in the present invention, an optical connector ferrule which is an MT type optical connector and a pin clamp for clamping a guide pin at the rear end portion of the optical connector ferrule are internally supported in a cylindrical housing, and the rear end portion of the housing is In an optical connector configured to be internally supported by a cylindrical coupling and accommodate a coil spring for generating a butt force in the coupling, as the pin clamp, any one of claims 1 to 3 Provided is an optical connector characterized by employing a pink lamp.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The implementation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, the same components as those in FIGS. 3 to 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be simplified.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 22 denotes an MPO connector. The MPO connector 22 has a configuration including a pin clamp indicated by reference numeral 23 in FIG. 1 in place of the pin clamp 12 of the MPO connector 11 shown in FIGS. In the MPO connector 22, the pin clamp 23 is interposed between the ferrule 2 and the coil spring 15, and the urging force of the coil spring 15 is transmitted to the ferrule 2 through the pin clamp 23.
[0010]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the pin clamp 23.
This pin clamp 23 is an integrally molded product formed in a U shape from a synthetic resin such as nylon, and a multi-core or single-core optical fiber 1 (optical fiber ribbon) or boot 3 drawn from the ferrule 2 is attached to the pin clamp 23. A storage groove 24 for storage is provided at the center. A fitting groove 26 for fitting and fixing the engaging portion 19 of the guide pin 4 is formed on both side portions 25 and 25 of the pink lamp 23 facing each other via the storage groove 24. An engagement groove 27 that engages with the engagement portion 19 is formed inside the engagement groove 26 so that the guide pin 4 fitted in the engagement groove 26 is not easily pulled out. Yes.
The engaging groove 27 has a hole shape penetrating from the fitting groove 26 to the outside of the side portion 25 and can be easily formed by cutting or the like.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 1, the MPO connector 22 includes a spring engaging means 29 on the rear surface 28 of the pin clamp 23 on the coil spring 15 side.
The spring engaging means 29 is a spring accommodating recess that accommodates the ferrule 2 side end 15a of the coil spring 15, and is specifically a circular counterbore hole as shown in FIG. The inside diameter of the counterbored hole substantially coincides with the outside diameter of the coil spring end 15a. The spring engaging means 29 is formed coaxially with the storage groove 24 so that the urging force of the coil spring 15 acts evenly on the joining end surface 8 of the ferrule 2 via the pin clamp 12.
Since the spring housing recess 29 is employed as the spring engaging means 29, an effect of reducing the installation space in the MPO connector 22 and reducing the cost due to easy formation can be obtained. In particular, the counterbore hole can be formed very easily by cutting or the like, so that the manufacturing efficiency of the pin clamp 23 can be improved.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 1, the MPO connector 22 is inserted into the optical connector adapter 17 to butt-connect the ferrules 2 and 2 together. In the butt connection work between the ferrules 2 and 2, the joining end faces 8 and 8 of the ferrules 2 and 2 are brought into contact with each other, and the pressure contact force between the ferrules 2 and 2 is further increased so that the ferrule 2 on the MPO connector 22 side becomes the MPO connector. It is pushed into the back side of 22 (right side in FIG. 1). As a result, the ferrule 2 and the pin clamp 23 are moved to the inner side of the MPO connector 22 while being guided by the inner surface of the housing 13, the coil spring 15 is compressed and contracted, and the urging force of the coil spring 15 is moved between the joining end surfaces 8 and 8 (light It acts as a butt force between the fibers 1 and 1. At this time, the coil spring end portion 15a is always engaged with the spring engaging means 29, and no displacement occurs between the pin clamp 23 and the coil spring 15, so that the biasing force of the coil spring 15 is in a desired direction (joining) Acting on the ferrule 2 in a direction perpendicular to the end face 8, and the butt force acts evenly between the joint end faces 8, 8, thereby preventing uneven distribution. Therefore, a butt force can be applied to all of the pairs of bare fibers 7 and 7 (see FIG. 3) positioned on the joining end faces 8 and 8 to ensure a desired connection loss.
[0013]
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in this MPO connector 22, even when the pin clamp 23 is positioned in the distal direction of the MPO connector 22 (left side in FIG. 1) within the movement range in the housing 13, the pin clamp 23, the biasing force of the coil spring 15 acts, and the coil spring end 15a is always engaged with the spring engaging means 29, and the relative displacement of the coil spring 15 in the direction perpendicular to the central axis is restricted. Even when the connection between the ferrules 2 and 2 is released, the coil spring end 15a does not leave the spring engaging means 29. For this reason, there is no fear of positional displacement between the pin clamp 23 and the coil spring end 15a even when the connection and disconnection of the ferrules 2 and 2 are repeated, and the butt force is evenly applied to the joining end surfaces 8 and 8. The effect of acting can be maintained.
[0014]
The present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and for example, it is possible to adopt a design change of the shape of the pin clamp and a spring engaging means other than the spring housing recess.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to this onset bright, provided with spring engagement means engaged with the end portion of the optical connector ferrule of the coil spring and to restrict the relative displacement in the direction perpendicular to the center axis of the coil spring This prevents misalignment with the coil spring, so that the urging force from the coil spring can always be applied to the optical connector ferrule in a desired direction and the butt connection between the optical connector ferrules. The uneven distribution of force can be prevented, and the desired connection loss can be reliably obtained between the optical fibers terminated and butt-connected by the optical connector ferrule.
[0016]
In addition, according to the present invention , since the spring engaging means is a spring housing recess that houses the end of the coil spring on the optical connector ferrule side, the size and cost can be reduced. There is an excellent effect that it is easy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a pin clamp of the present invention, and is a front sectional view showing an MPO connector provided with a pin clamp according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the pin clamp of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an MT type optical connector.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an MPO connector.
FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of the MPO connector of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional pin clamp.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical fiber (optical fiber tape core wire), 2 ... Optical connector ferrule, 4 ... Guide pin, 15 ... Coil spring, 15a ... Optical connector ferrule end (coil spring end), 23 ... Pin clamp, 29 ... Spring engagement means (spring storage recess).

Claims (4)

A pin clamp for fixing a guide pin (4) for relative positioning of both optical connector ferrules by arranging the optical fiber (1) so as to be bridged between optical connector ferrules (2, 2) which are terminated so as to be connected to each other. Because
One optical connector ferrule to be butt-connected and a coil spring (15) for biasing the optical connector ferrule in one direction, and an end (15a) of the coil spring on the optical connector ferrule side A spring engaging means (29) that engages with and regulates a relative displacement in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the coil spring;
A storage groove (24) for storing an optical fiber drawn from a side opposite to the joining end face (8) in the optical connector ferrule;
The spring engaging means is a circular spring accommodating recess (29) that accommodates an end of the coil spring on the optical connector ferrule side, and is formed coaxially with the accommodating groove. Lamp (23). A pin clamp for fixing a guide pin (4) for relative positioning of both optical connector ferrules by arranging the optical fiber (1) so as to be bridged between optical connector ferrules (2, 2) which are terminated so as to be connected to each other. Because
One optical connector ferrule to be butt-connected and an optical fiber drawn out from the side opposite to the joining end face (8) of this optical connector ferrule are housed inside and provided to bias the optical connector ferrule in one direction The coil spring is engaged with an end (15a) on the optical connector ferrule side of the coil spring to restrict relative displacement in the vertical direction with respect to the central axis of the coil spring. Spring engaging means (29) ,
The pin clamp (23) , wherein the spring engaging means is a spring housing recess for housing the end (15a) of the coil spring on the optical connector ferrule side . The pin clamp according to claim 2, wherein the spring housing recess is formed in a circular shape for housing an end portion of the coil spring on the optical connector ferrule side. An optical connector ferrule (2) which is an MT type optical connector and a pin clamp (12) for clamping the guide pin (4) at the rear end portion of the optical connector ferrule are internally supported in a cylindrical housing (13), An optical connector having a configuration in which a rear end portion of a housing is internally supported by a cylindrical coupling (14) and a coil spring (15) for generating a butt force is accommodated in the coupling.
An optical connector (22), wherein the pin clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is adopted as the pin clamp.

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