JPS6161649B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fixing structure for an optical communication unit,
In particular, the present invention relates to a structure for preventing erroneous operation of the unit.

Since the development of low-loss optical fibers in recent years,
Optical communication technology is rapidly developing, and various optical communication systems are being put into practical use. This optical communication system uses various devices including devices such as an optical transmission system, an optical reception system, and an optical relay system.

Conventionally, these devices are usually formed by storing multiple optical communication units with predetermined functions inside a housing, attaching them in a removable manner for maintenance and inspection needs, and further wiring them together. There are many cases where In addition, the above-mentioned optical communication unit (hereinafter simply referred to as a unit) usually has an optical semiconductor element, optical components, etc. mounted inside a box whose outer surface is surrounded by a panel, and performs a predetermined function, such as electrical signals. It is configured to have functions such as converting it into an optical signal and transmitting it. In addition, these units usually include an optical module (or optical adapter) at the top or bottom of the unit for optical wiring from one unit to another unit or device, etc.
is attached to the optical module, and an optical fiber connector is connected to the optical module by screw fixing or other means.
In this case, the optical fiber (or optical fiber cable) extending from the optical fiber connector is held and fixed at a predetermined location of the casing with a minimum extra length. Therefore, when operating the unit for maintenance inspection, parts replacement, etc., be sure to first remove the optical fiber connector from the optical module or optical adapter on the unit side to prevent damage to the optical fiber. It is then necessary to pull out the unit from the housing. Conventional units of this type are only provided with a normal unit insertion/extraction handle having a locking claw as a means for fixing the unit to the housing. That is, this unit insertion/extraction handle is, of course, used for inserting/extracting the unit, but when the unit is inserted, the locking claw provided on the handle is automatically engaged by the spring means with the receiving claw on the casing side. They are formed so as to engage and fix the unit to the housing. When pulling out the unit from the housing, rotate the handle of the insertion/extraction handle approximately 90 degrees to the left or right to release the engagement between the lock pawl and receiving pawl, and then move the handle toward you in this state. The unit can be easily pulled out by pulling it to the side. However, at this time, as mentioned above, it is necessary to remove the optical fiber connector from the unit side in advance, but even inexperienced workers and even experienced workers accidentally forget to remove the optical fiber connector. It is often the case that the unit is accidentally pulled out while it is still connected. When the unit is pulled out in this way, an excessive tensile force is applied to the optical fiber still connected to the unit, damaging the optical fiber and possibly cutting it. be. As is clear from the above description, the conventional unit fixing structure has a problem in that it inevitably causes the above-mentioned erroneous operation of the unit not only by inexperienced workers but also by experienced workers.

Therefore, in view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to improve the fixing structure of the unit so that it has a simple structure and is easy to operate, and also to prevent the above-mentioned erroneous operation of the unit in any case. It is an object of the present invention to provide a structure for preventing erroneous operation of an optical communication unit, which can perform normal operation at all times.

To achieve this objective, according to the invention:
In a case in which an optical communication unit equipped with an optical module or an optical adapter for connecting an optical fiber connector is removably housed, a lock holding a lock screw for connecting the unit and the case is provided on the side of the unit. A screw holding member is provided, and the head of the lock screw is arranged near the outer peripheral surface of the connector, so that the lock screw cannot be released when the connector is connected, and the lock screw is released only when the connector is removed. There is provided a structure for preventing erroneous operation of an optical communication unit, which is characterized in that the unit can be pulled out.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 5 are views showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a side view thereof, FIG. 2 is a front view seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1, and FIG. Arrow B
4 is a diagram showing a state in which the optical fiber connector 15 in FIG. 1 is removed and the lock screw 25 is released, and FIG. 5 is a detail of the lock screw 25 in FIG. 1 and its attachment part. It is a diagram. In the figure, only a portion of the housing 1 is shown, and it is assumed that the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1 is the rear direction, and the opposite direction is the front direction. Therefore, when facing in the direction of arrow A, the left hand side is called the left direction, and the right hand side is called the right direction. In FIG. 1, fixing members 1b, 1'b are fixed to the rear wall 1a of the housing 1, arranged vertically with a predetermined interval, and the fixing members 1b, 1'b are fixed to the rear wall 1a of the housing 1.
Holding plates 3 and 3' are respectively attached and fixed to the inside of 1'b facing each other in upper and lower positions, and an electrical connector 5 is sandwiched between the fixing members 1b and 1'b facing the rear wall 1a. It is worn. Further, the holding plates 3, 3' are further held and fixed at their front ends by holding frames 7, 7' from above and below, respectively. The holding frames 7, 7' extend in the left-right direction of the housing 1, and their ends (not shown) are fixed to the side walls (not shown) of the housing 1. The holding plates 3, 3' have guide rails 3a, 3' extending in the front-rear direction and having a concave cross section on an inner lower surface and an inner upper surface facing each other.
a (see FIG. 2) is provided. unit 9
has a box-like appearance, and its dimensions are often about 50 mm in left and right width, about 200 mm in height, and about 180 mm in depth. This unit 9 is provided with convex rails 9, 9'a extending in the front-rear direction on its upper and lower surfaces, respectively, and these rails correspond to guide rails 3a, 3'a of holding plates 3, 3', respectively. and are formed to slidably fit together. Therefore, the unit 9 is inserted into the housing 1 from the front opening of the housing 1 through these guide rails 3a, 3'a, and then the electrical connector 9b provided on the back side of the housing is inserted into the housing at a predetermined position. Electrical connector 5 on body 1 side
electrically and mechanically matingly connected. There is an L-shaped unit insertion/extraction handle 1 at the lower front of the unit 9.
1 is provided, and the unit 9 is inserted or pulled out in the front-rear direction via the handle. Further, the unit 9 is fixed to the housing 1 by the locking claw 11a provided at the tip of the horizontal portion of the insertion/extraction handle 11 engaging with the receiving claw 13 on the housing 1 side. The lock pawl 11a and the receiving pawl 13 are configured to automatically engage with each other by known spring means when the unit 9 reaches a predetermined insertion position. The engagement state between the lock pawl 11a and the receiving pawl 13 is released by rotating the handle portion 11b of the insertion/extraction handle 11 approximately 90 degrees to the left or right.
When b is pulled forward, the unit 9 can be easily pulled out from the housing 1. An optical module 14 (or an optical adapter) is attached to the upper front side of the unit 9, and an optical fiber connector 15 is connected to the optical module 14 by screwing means. The connector 15 is a known one, and the connecting portion 15
b is formed separately from the body 15a, and the body 15
The connection portion 15 is rotatably incorporated in the connection portion a.
Female screw provided inside the tip of b (not shown)
is formed so as to be screwed into a male thread 14a provided on the protrusion of the optical module 14. The optical fiber 15c (or optical fiber cable) connected to the optical fiber connector 15 and extending from its rear end is held and fixed to the overhead terminal board 17 near the rear wall 1a with the minimum necessary length (as shown in the figure). None), guided by other optical circuits. Overhead terminal board 1
7 is arranged at a distance above the optical fiber connector 15 and extends in the left and right direction of the housing 1 (see FIG. 2), and a temporary for the optical fiber connector 15 is provided at the lower side of its front end. A stop holding member 19 is provided. The holding member 19, as shown in FIG.
It is made up of a pair of opposing spring plates, the middle parts of which in the longitudinal direction are curved into an arc shape that projects outward from each other, and the free ends are formed to expand outward, and are removed from the unit 9. The optical fiber connector 15 is easily and temporarily held.

Now, with respect to the holding and fixing structure of the unit 9 constructed as described above, the lock screw holding plate 21, the bush 23 and the lock screw 25 according to the present invention are on the unit 9 side, and the lock screw receiving plate 27 is on the housing side. It is provided on the first side. FIG. 5 is a detailed view of how these parts are attached. Lock screw retaining plate 2
1 is made of a normal thin iron plate or the like and is formed into a rectangular shape as shown in FIG. It is attached and fixed to the unit 9 in an upright position. An insertion hole 21a through which the tip threaded portion 25c of the lock screw 25 can be inserted is formed at a position above the retaining plate 21 corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber connector 15. Butsuyu 2
3 (see FIG. 5) is formed into a cylindrical shape and has an axial through hole 23a into which the threaded end portion 25c of the lock screw 25 can be freely inserted. The middle part of the through hole 23a has an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the through hole 23a, and a tip threaded part 25 of the lock screw 25.
A female screw 23b that can be screwed into the groove 23c is provided with a step 23c interposed therebetween. This step 23c serves to prevent the lock screw 25 from falling off by receiving the step of the threaded end portion 25c after the lock screw 25 is inserted. The bush 23 has a through hole 2.
3a is aligned with the insertion hole 21a of the holding plate 21 and fixed upright to the surface of the housing 1 side of the holding plate 21 by an appropriate means such as welding, and when the unit 9 is inserted in a predetermined position, its free end surface 23d The length is taken into consideration so that it just abuts the right-angled surface 27b of the receiving plate 27. Incidentally, the holding plate 21 and the bush 23 may be integrally molded with a resin material or the like. The lock screw 25 consists of a head 25a, an intermediate shaft 25b, and a threaded end portion 25c. The outer circumferential surface of the head 25a is knurled, and the outer diameter of the step end surface bordering the intermediate shaft 25b is larger than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 21a of the holding plate 21. Intermediate shaft 25b
The outer diameter of the bush 23 is smaller than the inner diameter of the female thread 23b, and the tip screw 25c is formed as the female thread 23.
After passing through b, it is designed to be able to be freely inserted through the inside of the female thread 23b. The lock screw receiving plate 27 is cut and formed from a material such as an iron plate into a square shape (see Fig. 3), and one edge 27
a is bent at a substantially right angle, and is fixed to the upper surface of the holding frame 7 with its right-angled surface 27b facing the free end surface 23d of the bush 23. Furthermore, the receiving plate 2 corresponds to the axis of the bush 23.
A female thread 27c is provided on one side edge 27a of the lock screw 25. Therefore, the unit 9 is fixed to the housing 1 via the lock screw 25 by screwing and fastening the end threaded portion 25c of the lock screw 25 to the female screw 27c. FIGS. 1 and 5 show the immobilized state in this manner. In this fixed state, the locking screw head 25
The free end surface 25d of the optical fiber connector 15 is disposed opposite to and close to the outer circumferential surface of the optical fiber connector 15, and the distance between the two ends is smaller than the stroke length required to release the lock screw 25. Therefore,
If you try to release the lock screw 25 while the optical fiber connector 15 is still connected to the optical module 14, the free end surface 25d will be blocked by the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber connector 15 and the lock screw 25 will be released (the tip screw The part 25c cannot be released from the female thread 27c. That is, it is impossible to release the lock screw 25 unless the optical fiber connector 15 is removed from the unit 9 side. Therefore, the optical fiber connector 1
Even if you accidentally release the lock claw 11a of the insertion/extraction handle 11 and pull the unit 9 forward while the unit 5 is connected to the unit 9, the unit 9 will still be fixed to the housing 1 side by the lock screw 25. I can't pull it out because it's there. Therefore, the optical fiber connector 15 is removed from the unit 9 side, the lock screw 25 is released, and the unit 9 is pulled out. In other words, fiber optic connector 1
Since it is impossible to pull out the unit 9 from the housing unless the unit 5 is first removed from the unit 9 side, erroneous operation of the unit 9 as in the prior art is completely prevented in any case. Also, when inserting the unit 9 into the housing 1, the fourth
As shown in the figure, since the head 25a of the unlocked lock screw 25 is located close to the common axis C of the optical module 14 and the optical fiber connector 15, the lock screw 25 is now reversely inserted into the lock screw receiver. The optical fiber connector 15 cannot be connected to the optical module 14 unless it is screwed and fastened to the plate 27. Therefore, when the unit 9 is inserted into the housing 1 and the optical fiber connector 15 is connected to the unit 9 side, the lock screw 25 is always inserted into the lock screw receiver as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. This means that it has already been screwed and fastened to the plate 27. As mentioned above, in the conventional unit fixing structure, there is no means to prevent the above-mentioned erroneous operation, and prevention of erroneous operation of the unit 9 depends only on the operator's attentiveness. The optical fiber 15 was also operated incorrectly by a worker who
(or fiber optic cables) were often damaged. This also involves the additional cost and effort of having to repair damaged optical fibers (or fiber optic cables).

As is clear from the above explanation, the structure for preventing erroneous operation of the optical communication unit according to the present invention has a simple structure and is easy to operate. Misoperation of the unit is completely prevented and normal operation is possible at all times.

In the above embodiment, the optical fiber connector 15
Although only the case where the connector 15 is connected to the upper part of the unit 9 is illustrated, the case where the connector 15 is connected to the lower part or side of the unit 9 is also described.
The present invention can be easily implemented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1, and FIG.
A top view seen from the direction of arrow B in the figure, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the optical fiber connector 15 in FIG. 1 is removed and the lock screw 25 is released, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the lock screw 25 in FIG. FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view of the attachment part. 1... Housing, 3, 3'... Holding plate, 3
a, 3'a... Concave guide rail, 7, 7'...
Holding frame, 9... Optical communication unit, 14... Optical module 14 (or optical adapter), 15... Optical fiber connector, 15a... Optical fiber (or optical fiber cable), 21... Lock screw holding plate , 23...Button, 25...Lock screw, 2
7...Lock screw receiving plate.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a case in which an optical communication unit equipped with an optical module or an optical adapter for connecting an optical fiber connector is removably housed, a lock screw for connecting the unit and the case is held on the side of the unit. A lock screw holding member is provided, and the head of the lock screw is arranged near the outer peripheral surface of the connector, so that the lock screw cannot be released when the connector is connected, and the lock screw is released only when the connector is removed. A structure for preventing erroneous operation of an optical communication unit, characterized in that the unit can be pulled out.