Fiber optic receptacle and plug assemblies

Abstract

A fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly includes a receptacle adapted to be mounted within a wall of an enclosure and a plug mounted upon a fiber optic cable. The receptacle and the plug are provided with mating keys that permit the receptacle to receive only a plug of like ferrule configuration. The plug includes an adapter sleeve operable for receiving and optically connecting at least one plug ferrule and at least one receptacle ferrule when the plug is inserted into the receptacle. The receptacle is configured for use in a small volume enclosure requiring a minimal receptacle penetration depth. The receptacle is provided with a shoulder that engages the interior surface of the wall of the enclosure to provide strain relief against tensile pulling forces of up to about 600 lb / ft. The receptacle is provided with a dust cap and the plug is provided with a dust / pulling cap.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to fiber optic receptacle and plug assemblies for interconnecting optical fibers, and more specifically, to hardened fiber optic receptacle and plug assemblies including optical connectors and alignment features for interconnecting optical fibers at outside plant connection terminals in a fiber optic communications network. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Optical fiber is increasingly being used for a variety of broadband applications including voice, video and data transmissions. As a result, fiber optic networks must include an ever-increasing number of interconnection points in which one or more of the optical fibers are interconnected or mated. For example, fiber optic networks may include a number of connection terminals, examples of which include, but are not limited to, distribution enclosures, network access point (NAP) enclosures, aerial closures, belo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides various embodiments of fiber optic receptacle and plug assemblies, and more particularly, fiber optic receptacles and corresponding plugs of like optical connector configuration. Thus, the present invention provides fiber optic receptacle and plug assemblies designed to readily mate various types of optical connectors via the use of a connector port provided in a wall of a connection terminal. The present invention further provides a low form factor fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly adapted to be secured within a connector port of a connection terminal, while providing strain relief against tensile forces of up to about 600 lb / ft and protection against adverse environmental conditions.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly comprising a fiber optic receptacle adapted to be secured within a connector port of a connection terminal and a corresponding fiber optic plug mounted upon the end portions of one or more optical fibers of a fiber optic cable. The fiber optic receptacle and the fiber optic plug comprise keyed designs that allow the fiber optic receptacle to receive only a fiber optic plug of like ferrule configuration. The fiber optic plug engages a corresponding receptacle positioned within a connector port provided in an external wall or an internal wall of a connection terminal or other enclosure. The keyed design of the fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly allows non-centric positions of at least one ferrule and includes keys for radial alignment of the at least one ferrule. The fiber optic plug comprises an adapter sleeve operable for receiving and optically connecting at least one plug ferrule and at least one receptacle ferrule, thus minimizing the depth of the receptacle portion of the assembly. The fiber optic receptacle comprises a shoulder that is secured against a wall of the connection terminal in order to provide strain relief against tensile forces of up to about 600 lb / ft. A receptacle boot allows the assembly to be installed in a breathable enclosure.

[0013] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly comprising a fiber optic receptacle adapted to be secured within a connector port of a connection terminal. The fiber optic receptacle comprises a receptacle housing defining an internal cavity opening through opposed first and second ends, wherein the internal cavity is operable for receiving an adapter sleeve of a corresponding fiber optic plug through the first end. The receptacle housing further defines a shoulder that is secured against an interior surface of the wall operable for providing strain relief against tensile forces of up to about 600 lb / ft. At least one receptacle ferrule is disposed and mounted within the internal cavity via a ferrule retainer disposed proximate the second end. The assembly further comprises a fiber optic plug comprising a plug inner housing, a plug outer housing, a coupling nut, at least one plug ferrule and an adapter sleeve operable for receiving and optically connecting the at least one plug ferrule and the at least one receptacle ferrule. The fiber optic receptacle and the fiber optic plug comprise keyed designs that allow the fiber optic receptacle to properly receive only a fiber optic plug of like ferrule configuration. The receptacle may further comprise a bias member that operably engages the ferrule retainer to urge the at least one receptacle ferrule toward the first end of the receptacle housing.

Problems solved by technology

Obviously, maintaining a number of different types of fiber optic receptacles in inventory is not only difficult for the technician to manage, but also increases the overall costs associated with maintaining a sufficient inventory.

Current smaller designs, however, are not dimensioned for the high tensile loads typically specified for “FTTx” applications (up to about 600 lb / ft).

Contamination of the receptacle ferrule is also a significant issue, since many FTTx applications require that receptacles may remain unoccupied (i.e., not mated with a plug) for an extensive amount of time.

As yet, however, there is an unresolved need for a small form factor, hardened fiber optic receptacle that can receive a mating fiber optic plug utilizing various types of optical fiber connectors.

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