JPH0442806Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to an optical connector, and particularly to an improvement in an optical connector having a waterproof structure in the ferrule holding portion.

Prior Art In the above-mentioned waterproof optical connector, the ferrule 1 is inserted into the ferrule holder 2 as shown in FIGS. An O-ring accommodating chamber 5 is formed through the O-ring accommodating chamber 5, and the O-ring 6 accommodated in the O-ring accommodating chamber 5 is compressed by the pressing force of a spring 8 between the enlarged diameter step portion 4 and the flange portion 7 which are parallel to each other. As a reaction, the inner peripheral surface of the O-ring 6 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the ferrule 1, and the ferrule 1 is inserted into the ferrule insertion hole 3 as closely as possible to achieve waterproofing.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above-mentioned optical connector, the O-ring is compressed and held between the surface perpendicular to the optical fiber axis in the enlarged diameter step and the flange parallel to this. The inner circumferential surface of the ferrule cannot be sufficiently deformed, and as a result, it lacks adhesion with the outer circumferential surface of the ferrule inserted into the inner circumferential surface, resulting in waterproofing defects. Therefore, in order to improve the degree of adhesion of the O-ring, it is necessary to apply an excessive compressive force by the spring, etc., which causes problems such as promoting deterioration of the O-ring.

In addition, by strongly holding the ferrule with an O-ring and inserting it closely into the ferrule insertion hole, the ferrule becomes difficult to move in the direction of inclination, which prevents misalignment between it and the mating optical connector. In the case of a multi-core optical connector, in particular, in the case of a multi-core optical connector, the ferrule insertion force increases when connecting both optical connectors, resulting in a worsening of operability.

The present invention reliably solves the above-mentioned problem of waterproofing defects, and also has a structure that allows elastic slight movement of the ferrule in the direction of deflection, effectively solving the problems of alignment defects with the mating connector and deterioration of operability. This is what I did.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a means for solving the above problems, in which the ferrule is loosely inserted into the ferrule insertion hole provided in the ferrule holder, and
An O-ring accommodating chamber is connected to the ferrule penetration hole through a conical portion, and an O-ring contained in the O-ring accommodating chamber is provided on the conical wall surface of the conical O-ring accommodating chamber and the ferrule. By compressing and holding the ferrule between the flange and the flange, a sufficient amount of deformation to the outer circumferential surface of the ferrule is obtained, and the ferrule is tightly held within the O-ring with high elasticity due to the deformation, so that the tip of the ferrule closes to the holding portion. The ferrule is configured to move slightly in the deflection direction within the ferrule insertion hole under elastic support.

Function As described above, the present invention is capable of compressing the O-ring between the conical wall surface and the flange and strongly adhering it to the outer peripheral surface of the ferrule with a sufficient amount of deformation, thereby improving the waterproof effect. At the same time, while the ferrule is firmly and elastically held by the O-ring, the ferrule can be loosely inserted into the ferrule insertion hole under the elastic support of the holding part, and the ferrule can have good elastic slight movement in the direction of deflection on the tip side of the ferrule. can be obtained.

Therefore, even if there is a misalignment between the ferrule socket and the ferrule socket of the mating optical connector, the ferrule can elastically finely adjust itself in the direction of deflection to easily and reliably align with the ferrule socket. To facilitate insertion and removal operations even for optical connectors.

Embodiment Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

Figure 3 shows a multi-core or multi-core optical connector,
The figure shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a single-core optical connector. A complete explanation will be given below.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a cable holder for holding an optical cable, and the cable holder 11 is provided with a coupling ring 12 and a ferrule holder 13 inside the coupling ring 12 at the tip thereof.

The ferrule holder 13 is provided with a ferrule insertion hole 14, and a ferrule 15 is loosely inserted into the ferrule insertion hole 14. As shown in FIG. 5, the ferrule 15 has a sleeve-like shape and has a flange 16 near the proximal end, into which an optical fiber 17 led out from the tip of the optical cable is inserted. A lens 18 is held facing the core wire of the optical fiber 17.

The ferrule holder 13 is connected with an O-ring accommodating chamber 19 that communicates with the ferrule inlet side of the ferrule insertion hole 14 through a conical portion. As the O-ring housing chamber 19 having the conical portion, for example, a truncated conical housing chamber as shown in the drawing is planned.

The O-ring accommodation chamber 19 has a ferrule insertion hole 14.
The truncated conical cavity communicates with the ferrule penetration hole 14 on the converging side of the conical cavity, and opens on the cylindrical cavity side.

An O-ring 20 into which the ferrule 15 can be inserted is installed in the O-ring accommodating chamber 19, and the O-ring 20 is compressed between the conical wall surface 21 of the O-ring accommodating chamber 19 and the flange 16 provided on the ferrule 15. Hold. Reference numeral 22 denotes a pressurizing holding member for the O-ring 20, which is provided on the back side of the ferrule holder 13 in order to keep the O-ring 20 compressed and held. Press to obtain compression of the O-ring 20. The flange 16
The pressing may be performed by a pressing means such as a spring.

As shown in FIG. 6, the inner peripheral surface of the O-ring 20 is sufficiently deformed toward the outer peripheral surface of the ferrule as a reaction to the compression by the conical wall surface 21, and the amount of deformation causes the ferrule 15 to be moved inside the O-ring 20. It maintains close contact with the material with high elasticity. At the same time, the ferrule tip side is configured to elastically move finely within the ferrule insertion hole 14 in the deflection direction (direction of arrow a shown in FIG. 6B) under elastic support from the holding portion. As described above, the ferrule 15 is loosely inserted into the ferrule insertion hole 14, allowing fine adjustment in the direction of deflection.

In this way, the tip of the ferrule protrudes outward from the front surface of the ferrule holder 13 in the elastically supported state, and is connected to the mating optical connector 23 coupled by the coupling ring 12, that is, to the mating optical connector 23. The ferrule is aligned with the provided ferrule socket 24 with fine adjustment and matched with the ferrule on the other side.

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the present invention, the O-ring is compressed between the conical wall surface and the flange, and has a sufficient amount of deformation to strongly adhere to the outer peripheral surface of the ferrule, thereby improving the waterproof effect. At the same time, while the ferrule is firmly and elastically held by the O-ring, the ferrule is loosely inserted into the ferrule insertion hole under the elastic support of the holding part, and the ferrule is elastically well moved in the direction of deflection on the tip side. Can be finely adjusted.

Therefore, even if there is a misalignment between the ferrule socket and the ferrule socket of the mating optical connector, the ferrule can elastically finely adjust itself in the direction of deflection, and alignment with the ferrule socket can be easily and reliably achieved. Even if it is an optical connector, insertion and removal operations can be easily performed.

Therefore, the present invention reliably solves the problem of the waterproofing defect in the conventional example, and also eliminates the alignment defect with the mating connector and the operation in the conventional example by creating a structure that allows elastic slight movement of the ferrule in the deflection direction. The problem of sexual deterioration can be effectively solved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional optical connector, Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing an O-ring compression part in the same optical connector, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a multi-core optical connector showing an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a single-core optical connector showing another embodiment, Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ferrule in the same optical connector, and Fig. 6A shows the O-ring compression part in the same optical connector before compression. An enlarged cross-sectional view, and FIG. B is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the same compressed state. 11... Cable holder, 13... Ferrule holder, 14... Ferrule penetration hole, 15...
...Ferrule, 16...Brim part, 19...O-ring storage chamber having conical part, 20...O-ring, 2
1...Conical wall surface.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In an optical connector that includes a cable holder that holds an optical cable and a ferrule holder that holds a ferrule through which an optical fiber led out from the tip of the optical cable can be inserted, the ferrule is loosely inserted into the ferrule holder. An O having a ferrule through hole and a conical portion on the ferrule inlet side of the ferrule through hole.
A ring storage chamber is connected to the conical portion, the ferrule penetration hole is communicated with the convergent side of the conical portion, and an O-ring capable of penetrating the ferrule in the O-ring storage chamber is provided between the conical wall surface of the conical portion and the ferrule. The ferrule is compressed between the ferrule and the flange portion to elastically hold the ferrule in close contact with the O-ring, and the ferrule is configured to allow deflection within the ferrule insertion hole while maintaining the elasticity of the ferrule. A ferrule mounting structure in an optical connector characterized by: