Field assembly optical connector configured to prevent optical fiber bending

Abstract

A field-assembly optical connector includes an inner sleeve module, a connector frame housing the inner sleeve module, and a cable boot coupled to the inner sleeve module to protect a sheath of an optical fiber. The inner sleeve module includes a sleeve body having a sleeve, an intermediate connector fitted on the sleeve body and having protrusions, a spring fitted on a threaded portion of the sleeve body, a fixing ring screwed to the threaded portion of the sleeve body, and a ferrule stub inserted into the sleeve body through the fixing ring. A cable boot is fixed to the sleeve body and is coupled to the intermediate connector to be moveable within a predetermined range.

Claims

1. A field-assembled optical connector preventing bending of an optical fiber, the optical connector comprising: an inner sleeve module; a connector frame 6 configured to house the inner sleeve module; and a cable boot 9 coupled to the inner sleeve module to protect a sheath of the optical fiber, wherein the inner sleeve module includes: a sleeve body 3 having a sleeve for aligning the optical fiber during optical fusion splicing, at one end thereof, and a threaded portion at the other end thereof; an intermediate connector 4 fitted on the sleeve body 3 while approaching toward a portion of the sleeve body to which the sleeve is provided, the intermediate connector having protrusions 4a at right and left surfaces thereof; a spring 5 fitted on the threaded portion of the sleeve body 3; a fixing ring 2 screwed to the threaded portion of the sleeve body 3 to prevent the spring 5 from disengaging from the sleeve body; and a ferrule stub 1 inserted into the sleeve body 3 through the fixing ring 2 to allow the optical fiber provided to the ferrule stub to extend to the sleeve of the sleeve body 3, and wherein the cable boot 9 is fixed to the sleeve body 3 and is coupled to the intermediate connector 4 to be movable within a predetermined range.

2. The field-assembled optical connector of claim 1, wherein one end of the connector frame 6 is coupled to the intermediate connector 4 by approaching from a portion of the sleeve body to which the ferrule stub 1 is provided, and a ferrule provided to the ferrule stub 1 is exposed from the other end of the connector frame.

3. The field-assembled optical connector of claim 1, wherein the cable boot 9 includes: fixing holes 9a provided to upper and lower surfaces thereof or right and left surfaces thereof; and variable slots 9b provided to the upper and lower surface or the right and left surfaces which are different from surfaces to which the fixing holes 9a are provided, wherein the sleeve body 3 is fixed to the fixing holes 9a, and the intermediate connector 4 is movably coupled to the variable slots 9b.

4. The field-assembled optical connector of claim 3, wherein the sleeve body 3 includes first protrusions 3c fitted into the fixing holes 9a.

5. The field-assembled optical connector of claim 3, wherein the intermediate connector 4 includes second protrusions 4a fitted into the variable slots 9b, and each of the variable slots 9b comprises a hole having a size greater than a size of the second protrusion 4a to allow the second protrusion 4a to move in a front-rear direction.

6. The field-assembled optical connector of claim 1, further comprising a boot cap 10 coupled to the cable boot 9 in a screw manner to fix a portion of the cable boot 9 fastened to the optical fiber.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view for explaining bending phenomenon occurring in a conventional optical connector.

(2) FIGS. 2 to 9 are diagrams showing exploded and coupled structures of a field-assembled optical connector that prevents bending of an optical fiber according to the present invention.

BEST MODE

(3) Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent through the detailed description of embodiments with reference to accompanying drawings.

(4) Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the configuration and operation of the present invention shown in the drawings and described based on such drawings are described as at least one embodiment, and the technical concept and the essential configuration and operation of the present invention are not limited by such description.

(5) Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a field-assembled optical connector for preventing bending of an optical fiber according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(6) FIGS. 2 to 9 are diagrams showing exploded and coupled structures of a field-assembled optical connector that prevents bending of an optical fiber according to the present invention.

(7) Referring to 2 to 9, the field-assembled optical connector according to the present invention comprises a ferrule stub 1, a fixing ring 2, a sleeve body 3, an intermediate connector 4, a spring 5, a connector frame 6, an optical fiber 7, a ferrule 8 receiving the optical fiber 7, a cable boot 9, a boot cap 10, a connector body 11, and a cap 12.

(8) The intermediate connector 4 is coupled to the sleeve body 3. The sleeve body 3 has a sleeve at one end thereof for aligning the optical fiber during optical fusion splicing, and the intermediate connector 4 is coupled on the sleeve body 3 by approaching or entering toward a position to which the sleeve is coupled, with being penetrated by the sleeve and the sleeve body 3. The sleeve is for aligning the optical fiber in the field assembly process which uses the optical fusion splicer, and has a structure in which two wing portions 3a and 3b are coupled. The sleeve may be removed after the optical fusion splicing is completed.

(9) The sleeve body 3 has a side portion which is flat, and the intermediate connector 4 is movably fitted on the flat side portion.

(10) The other end of the sleeve body 3 is provided with a threaded portion, and has an outer diameter is smaller than that of one end thereof. The spring 5 having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the threaded portion is fitted on the other end of the sleeve body 3, and the fixing ring 2 is screwed on the threaded portion of the sleeve body 3 to prevent the disengagement or separation of the spring 5.

(11) An outer diameter of one end of the fixing ring 2, that is, a portion screwed to the threaded portion of the sleeve body 3 is formed smaller than the inner diameter of the spring 5, and the other end of the fixing ring 2 has a step portion greater than the inner diameter of the spring.

(12) Accordingly, the threaded portion of the sleeve body 3 is inserted into one end of the spring 5, one end of the fixing ring 2 is inserted into the other end of the spring 5, and the spring 5 is pressed to some extent by the step portion of the fixing ring 2, while the fixing ring 2 is screwed to the threaded portion of the sleeve body 3.

(13) As described above, in the present invention, the spring 5 is fixed between the sleeve body 3 and the fixing ring 2 while the fixing ring 2 is screwed to the sleeve body 3.

(14) The ferrule stub 1 penetrates through the fixing ring 2 and is inserted into the sleeve body 3. The ferrule stub 1 has a middle portion for limiting an insertion depth during the insertion, and the middle portion has an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the fixing ring 2.

(15) As the ferrule stub 1 is inserted into an interior of the sleeve body 3, an optical fiber provided in the ferrule stub 1 is preferably formed to extend to the sleeve of the sleeve body 3. This is to allow the optical fiber to be aligned by the sleeve when the optical fiber is spliced using the optical fusion splicer.

(16) As such, with reference to the sleeve body 3, the ferrule stub 1 is fitted to one end of the sleeve body 3, the spring 5 is fixed to the other side of the sleeve body 3 by the fixing ring 2, and thereby an inner sleeve module of the optical connector is accomplished with the ferrule stub 1 coupled therein.

(17) The connector frame 6 is configured to house the inner sleeve module, and one end thereof enters or approaches from a position to the ferrule stub 1 is provided, and is coupled to the intermediate connector 4. Then, a ferrule provided to the ferrule stub 1 is exposed from the other end of the connector frame 6.

(18) As the connector frame 6 is coupled to the inner sleeve module, a connector head of the optical connector is accomplished.

(19) In the field assembly process using the optical fusion splicer, the splicing is performed while the connector body 11 is disassembled from the connector head.

(20) The above assembly structure has been described for a structure provided on one end with respect to an optical fusion splicing portion, and the optical fiber 7 to be optically spliced and the ferrule 8, the cable boot 9, and the boot cap 10 which receive such an optical fiber 7 are provided on the other end with respect to the optical fusion splicing portion.

(21) The cable boot 9 and the boot cap 10 are configured to be assembled after the optical fusion splicing is completed. The cable boot 9 is fixed to the sleeve body 3 and is coupled to the intermediate connector 4 to be movable within a predetermined range.

(22) The cable boot 9 is provided to protect a sheath of the optical cable and thus is preferably stiff. The cable boot 9 is provided with fixing holes 9a formed on upper and lower surfaces which are opposite to each other, respectively and variable slots 9b formed on left and right surfaces opposite to each other, respectively. The arrangement of the fixing holes 9a and the variable slots 9b are interchangeable.

(23) The sleeve body 3 is fixed to the fixing hole 9a, and for this purpose, upper and lower surfaces of the sleeve body 3 are provided with first protrusions 3c fitted into the fixing holes 9a.

(24) The intermediate connector 4 is movably coupled to the variable slot 9b, and for this purpose, second protrusions 4a fitted to the variable slots 9b are provided on left and right surfaces of the intermediate connector 4. In particular, each variable slot 9b preferably comprises a hole having a size greater than a size of the second protrusion 4a such that the second protrusion 4a is able to move in a front-rear (or back and forth) direction.

(25) The variable slot 9b and the second protrusion 4a have a structure that allows the inner sleeve module to be movably coupled while the elastic force of the spring 5 is applied thereto. Accordingly, the inner sleeve module is pushed back at a predetermined interval based on a slot size of the variable slot 9b, and is limited to be pushed back no more based on the slot size of the variable slot 9b. Therefore, the variable slot 9b also serves as a stopper for limiting the movement over a certain level while allowing the movement by the elastic force of the spring 5

(26) The boot cap 10 is coupled to the cable boot 9 in a screw manner to securely fix a portion of the cable boot 9 fastened to the optical fiber.

(27) In the optical connector according to the present invention, although the ferrule stub 1 is pushed toward an opposite ferrule, i.e., the ferrule 8 provided through the cable boot 9, since the cable boot 9 is fixed to the sleeve body 3, but is movably coupled to the intermediate connector 4 to be spaced by the predetermined interval, the cable boot 9 is pushed back and the bending phenomenon of optical fiber in the optical connector does not occur.

Mode for Invention

(28) Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been described in the above, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may implement a modified form within the scope not departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

(29) Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention described herein should be considered in a descriptive aspect rather than a restrictive aspect, the scope of the present invention is shown in the claims rather than the above description, and all differences within the scope equivalent thereto should be construed as being included in the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(30) The present invention may be used for an optical connector that assembles the optical connector using an adapter.