A shortened MPO fiber optic connector

Abstract

The present invention provides a shortened MPO fiber optic connector, which relates to the technical field of connectors. The shortened MPO fiber optic connector includes an outer housing and a connector body. The outer housing is sleeved on the connector body movably back and forth. A stop boss for restricting the backward movement of the outer housing is provided on the connector body. A chute is provided at the rear end of the outer housing on the side wall of the outer housing. The stop boss is arranged at a position corresponding to the chute on the connector body. Through the accommodation and cooperation between the chute and the stop boss of the connector body, it is ensured that the outer housing can move back and forth axially relative to the connector body. The chute meets the stroke requirement for the backward movement of the outer housing, and when the outer housing moves to the last position, the outer housing is restricted by the stop boss. Compared with the existing fiber optic connectors, the axial dimension is shortened, the structural compactness is higher, and it is more suitable for the situation where the assembly space is limited.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of connectors, and particularly to a shortened MPO fiber optic connector. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of data communication such as big data and cloud computing, higher requirements are put forward for the network bandwidth of data transmission, and the traditional fiber optic wiring network cannot meet the development needs. The MPO fiber optic connector has many advantages such as high connection density, stable and reliable performance, small size, convenient operation, and easy wiring management, and can cope with the connection problems brought by the increasing number of optical fibers, and thus has become the development direction of high-density connection.

[0003] While the network density increases, the chassis and cabinet are becoming increasingly miniaturized, and the assembly space left for the connector is getting smaller and smaller. For example, in the Chinese Taiwan patent document with the publication number TW201819972A and the publication date of June 1, 2018, a fiber optic connector is disclosed. The fiber optic connector (equivalent to the connector body) includes a housing (equivalent to the inner body), and a fiber optic ferrule (equivalent to the ferrule), a spring seat (equivalent to the positioning seat), a spring (equivalent to the pushing spring), and a push spring portion (equivalent to the spring limiting seat) are sequentially inserted into the housing from front to back. The push spring portion is fixed at the rear end position in the housing, and the rear end of the spring is supported by the push spring portion to elastically push the fiber optic ferrule forward to the front end position in the housing.

[0004] In order to lock and fix the connector body, an outer housing is usually added on the basis of the existing fiber optic connector. The outer housing is sleeved on the inner housing, and the unlocking and locking of the connector are realized by the forward and backward movement of the outer housing on the inner housing. However, if the outer housing is directly sleeved on the original structure of the connector body, and the rear end stop edge on the inner housing is used for stop cooperation with the rear end face of the outer housing, an activity space still needs to be reserved between the rear end face of the outer housing and the rear end stop edge of the inner housing to ensure that the outer housing has a sufficient activity stroke. In this case, the bearing size of the entire fiber optic connector is long and the structural compactness is low. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a shortened MPO fiber optic connector to solve the problems of long bearing size and low structural compactness of the existing fiber optic connector.

[0006] To achieve the above purpose, the technical solution of the shortened MPO fiber optic connector of the present invention is as follows:

[0007] The shortened MPO fiber optic connector includes a housing and a connector body. The housing is sleeved on the connector body in a forward and backward movable manner. A stop boss for restricting the backward movement of the housing is provided on the connector body. A chute is provided on the side wall of the housing at the rear end of the housing. The stop boss is arranged at a position on the connector body corresponding to the chute.

[0008] Beneficial effects: A chute is provided on the side wall of the housing at the rear end of the housing. Through the accommodation and cooperation between the chute and the stop boss of the connector body, it is ensured that the housing can move back and forth axially relative to the connector body. The chute meets the stroke requirements for the backward movement of the housing, and when the housing moves to the last position, the housing is restricted by the stop boss. Compared with the existing fiber optic connectors, the axial dimension is shortened, the structural compactness is higher, and it is more suitable for the situation where the assembly space is limited.

[0009] Further, in order to improve the structural compactness, the connector body includes an inner housing. The housing is sleeved on the inner housing. A spring limit seat is provided at the rear end of the inner housing. The spring limit seat includes a tail sleeve joint part at the rear end and a base part adjacent to the tail sleeve joint part. The stop boss is arranged on the side surface of the base part.

[0010] Further, in order to avoid increasing the axial dimension of the fiber optic connector due to the setting of the stop boss on the spring limit seat, a notch for avoiding the stop boss is provided on the side wall at the rear end of the inner housing, and the stop boss is arranged in the notch.

[0011] Further, in order to enable the rear end of the spring limit seat to enter the inner housing, at least one side edge of the rear end opening of the inner housing is provided with a flared structure formed by a chamfer. The rear end of the base part is provided with a flared adaptation section. The flared adaptation section has an inclined side surface adapted to the flared structure, and the rear end surface of the flared adaptation section is near the rear end surface of the inner housing.

[0012] Further, in order to shorten the effective length of the fiber optic connector in the axial direction, the rear end surface of the flared adaptation section is flush with the rear end surface of the inner housing, or the rear end surface of the flared adaptation section is recessed or protruded from the rear end surface of the inner housing by no more than 5 mm.

[0013] Further, in order to improve the tensile reliability of the fiber optic connector, the connector body includes an inner housing. A housing pin channel is provided on the inner housing, and a corresponding limit seat pin channel is provided on the spring limit seat. The spring limit seat is axially positioned in the inner housing along the inner housing by a positioning pin that simultaneously penetrates the housing pin channel and the limit seat pin channel.

[0014] Further, in order to prevent deformation and improve the overall structural strength, the limit seat pin channel is a groove provided on the side surface of the spring limit seat, and the housing pin channel includes an opening part and a groove part. The groove on the side surface of the spring limit seat and the groove part of the housing pin channel are aligned with each other when the spring limit seat is positioned in the inner housing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 FIG. is an exploded schematic view of Embodiment 1 of the MPO fiber optic connector of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a cross-sectional view of the upper and lower sides of the MPO fiber optic connector in

[0017] Figure 3 FIG. is a cross-sectional view of the upper and lower sides of the MPO fiber optic connector of Embodiment 1 of the MPO fiber optic connector of the present invention after being assembled in place;

[0018] Figure 4 FIG. is a three-dimensional half-sectional view of the MPO fiber optic connector of Embodiment 1 of the MPO fiber optic connector of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 5 FIG. is a three-dimensional schematic view of the spring limit seat of Embodiment 1 of the MPO fiber optic connector of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 6 FIG. is an exploded schematic view of Embodiment 4 of the MPO fiber optic connector of the present invention.

[0021] Figures 1 to 5 In the figures: 1 - inner housing, 10 - inner housing notch, 100 - inner housing end face, 11 - tail flange, 12 - clamping hole, 13 - flared section, 15 - guiding platform, 2 - outer housing, 20 - outer housing chute, 21 - outer housing flange, 22 - front flange, 200 - outer housing end face, 3 - spring limit seat, 30 - elastic cantilever, 31 - inclined surface protrusion, 32 - clamping protrusion, 33 - guiding surface, 34 - arc transition, 35 - step protrusion, 37 - tail sleeve joint, 300 - spring limit seat end face, 4 - ferrule, 5 - positioning seat, 51 - pin, 6 - optical fiber, 7 - pushing spring, 8 - return spring;

[0022] Figure 6 In the figures: 1b - inner housing, 10b - pin hole, 3b - spring limit seat, 30b - pin slot, 9b - pin. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The embodiments of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Specific Embodiment 1 of the MPO fiber optic connector of the present invention is as follows Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the MPO fiber optic connector includes an inner housing 1 and an outer housing 2 axially sleeved on the inner housing 1 and capable of moving forward and backward. The middle part of the inner housing 1 has a middle cavity for accommodating the insertion of the optical fiber 6. It also includes an optical ferrule 4, a positioning seat 5, a pushing spring 7, and a spring limiting seat 3 arranged in sequence from front to back in the middle cavity of the inner housing 1. The optical fiber 6 is sequentially inserted through the optical ferrule 4, the positioning seat 5, the pushing spring 7, and the spring limiting seat 3. The cross-sectional profile of the inner housing 1 is generally rectangular. Define the two long sides of the rectangle corresponding to the upper and lower sides of the inner housing, and define the two wide sides of the rectangle corresponding to the left and right sides of the inner housing. Correspondingly, the upper, lower, left, and right sides of other components also refer to the upper, lower, left, and right sides corresponding to the inner housing.

[0025] As Figure 4 shown, on the upper and lower sides of the inner housing 1, there are guide platforms 15 extending axially forward and backward. The guide platforms 15 are arranged at the front end of the inner housing 1 and form a guide end face at the rear of the guide platforms 15. The inside of the outer housing 2 has a receiving cavity matching the rectangular profile of the inner housing 1. At the front end of the corresponding side in the receiving cavity, there is a guide groove guidingly cooperating with the guide platform 15. The rear end of the guide groove forms a first stop surface cooperating with the guide end face of the corresponding guide platform 15. The front end of the outer housing 2 is stopped by the guide end face of the guide platform 15 against the first stop surface. At the positions corresponding to the left and right sides of the inner housing 1 and the outer housing 2, there are receiving grooves for accommodating the return spring 8. The receiving grooves of the inner housing 1 and the outer housing 2 are buckled to form a return spring receiving cavity. On the left and right sides of the tail end of the inner housing 1, there are tail end flanges 11. The front end face of the tail end flanges 11 forms the rear groove wall of the receiving groove of the inner housing 1. The rear end face of the tail end flanges 11 forms the inner housing tail end face 100. The return spring 8 is supported forward by the front end face of the tail end flanges 11. Correspondingly, on the left and right inner walls of the outer housing 2, there are front end flanges 22. The rear end face of the front end flanges 22 forms the front groove wall of the receiving groove of the outer housing 2. The return spring 8 is supported backward by the rear end face of the front end flanges 22. When the outer housing 2 is pulled backward, the return spring 8 is compressed and deformed under the supporting action of the tail end flanges 11 at the tail end of the inner housing 1 and the backward extrusion force of the front end flanges 22 of the outer housing 2, thereby changing the front and back position of the outer housing 2 on the inner housing 1. And through the cooperation between the guide platform 15 of the inner housing 1 and the first stop surface of the guide groove of the outer housing 2, the outer housing 2 is prevented from being disengaged from the inner housing 1 forward.

[0026] The inner housing 1 is provided with a stepped surface. The front end portion of the inner housing 1 is a small-diameter section and the rear end portion is a large-diameter section. The inserted ferrule 4 is blocked and fitted through this stepped surface, ensuring that the front part of the ferrule 4 extends out of the front port of the inner housing 1 after assembly in place so as to cooperate with the corresponding device interface. A positioning seat 5 for pushing the ferrule 4 forward is provided at the rear end of the ferrule 4. Insertion holes extending forward and backward in the axial direction are provided on the left and right sides of the ferrule 4. Corresponding to the insertion hole positions of the ferrule 4, insertion pins 51 for inserting into the insertion holes are provided at the front end of the positioning seat 5. By aligning the insertion pins 51 with the insertion holes of the ferrule 4, the guiding of the positioning seat 5 is achieved, ensuring that the positioning seat 5 always pushes the ferrule 4 forward along the axis, and the elastic pushing force of the rear pushing spring 7 is borne by the positioning seat 5 and evenly transmitted to the front ferrule 4. A pushing spring receiving groove for the front end portion of the pushing spring 7 to extend into is provided at the rear end of the positioning seat 5. The front groove wall of the pushing spring receiving groove supports the pushing spring 7, and through this pushing spring receiving groove, it is ensured that the pushing spring 7 is assembled on the positioning seat 5 without dislocation, ensuring the stable force of the ferrule 4. In this embodiment, both the reset spring 8 and the pushing spring 7 are cylindrical compression springs.

[0027] A spring limit seat 3 is provided at the tail end position in the inner housing 1. The pushing spring 7 is supported and limited at the rear end by the spring limit seat 3, ensuring that the position of the rear end portion of the pushing spring 7 remains stable all the time. Thus, the ferrule 4, the positioning seat 5, the pushing spring 7, and the spring limit seat 3 together form the connector body. As Figure 5 shown, the spring limit seat 3 includes a tail sleeve joint portion 37 at the rear end and a base portion adjacent to the tail sleeve joint portion 37. The base portion includes elastic cantilevers 30 extending forward axially. There are two elastic cantilevers 30 distributed on the left and right sides of the spring limit seat 3. A clamping protrusion 32 is provided at the front end portion of the elastic cantilever 30. The front end portion of the clamping protrusion 32 also has a guiding surface 33 inclined backward. Through the guiding surface 33, it is convenient to insert the spring limit seat 3 into the inner housing 1. Clamping holes 12 are provided at the positions corresponding to the clamping protrusions 32 of the elastic cantilevers 30 on the left and right side walls of the inner housing 1. Moreover, the thickness of the clamping protrusion 32 is not greater than the side wall thickness of the inner housing 1 at this position, avoiding the protrusion of the clamping protrusion 32 from the side wall of the inner housing 1 when it enters the clamping hole 12 and preventing interference with the telescopic deformation of the reset spring 8. The rear end face of the clamping protrusion 32 is an inclined surface inclined backward. Relatively, the front wall surface of the clamping hole 12 of the inner housing 1 is also an inclined surface inclined backward. Through the inclined surface of the clamping hole 12 and the inclined surface of the clamping protrusion 32 for blocking and fitting, the stability of the clamping protrusion 32 in the clamping hole 12 is improved after being clamped, and it is not easy to loosen, and the structural reliability is higher. Moreover, an arc transition 34 is provided at the root position where the rear end of the clamping protrusion 32 is connected to the elastic cantilever 30, thereby increasing the connection strength between the clamping protrusion 32 and the elastic cantilever 30.

[0028] The tail end face of the elastic cantilever 30 constitutes the tail end face 300 of the spring limit seat. At the tail end position of the elastic cantilever 30, there is an inclined surface protrusion 31. The front end of the inclined surface protrusion 31 is an inclined surface and the rear end is a plane coplanar with the tail end face 300 of the spring limit seat. Correspondingly, on the left and right sides at the tail end of the inner housing 1, there are flared sections 13. The inclined surfaces of the flared sections 13 cooperate with the inclined surfaces of the inclined surface protrusions 31 to stop the spring limit seat 3 through the inclined surfaces of the flared sections 13. When the spring limit seat 3 is assembled in place, the tail end face 300 of the spring limit seat is flush with the tail end face 100 of the inner housing. In other embodiments, the tail end face 300 of the spring limit seat and the tail end face 100 of the inner housing may not be completely flush. The protruding or recessed distance relative to the tail end face 100 of the inner housing is preferably ≤5 mm, and the purpose of the flush tail end face can also be achieved.

[0029] On the upper and lower side surfaces of the base part of the spring limit seat 3, there are step protrusions 35. Correspondingly, on the upper and lower side walls at the rear end of the inner housing 1, there are inner housing notches 10 that cooperate with the step protrusions 35, and on the upper and lower side walls at the rear end of the outer housing 2, there are outer housing chutes 20 that cooperate with the step protrusions 35. The front end of the outer housing chute 20 has a front wall stop that stops and cooperates with the step protrusion 35. The step protrusion 35 is flush with the outer housing flange 21 provided at the tail end part of the outer housing 2 and the upper and lower side walls of the outer housing 2. The rear end face of the outer housing flange 21 forms the tail end face 200 of the outer housing, so that a regular and flush outer shape is formed at the outer housing chute 20 of the outer housing 2. Through the accommodation and cooperation of the outer housing chute 20 with the step protrusion 35, it is ensured that the outer housing 2 moves back and forth in the axial direction relative to the overall assembly composed of the inner housing 1 and the spring limit seat 3, and the tail end face 200 of the outer housing, the tail end face 100 of the inner housing, and the tail end face 300 of the spring limit seat are flush with each other. Compared with the existing fiber optic connectors, the axial dimension is shortened, the structural compactness is higher, and it is more suitable for the situation where the assembly space is limited.

[0030] In the specific embodiment 2 of the MPO fiber optic connector of the present invention, the difference from the specific embodiment 1 is that on the upper and lower side surfaces of the inner housing, there are stop protrusions. The stop protrusions are equivalent to the step protrusions on the spring limit seat. At the position corresponding to the stop protrusions at the rear end of the outer housing, there are chutes. The chutes and the stop protrusions are accommodated and cooperate with each other, and the front groove wall of the chute is stopped and cooperated with by the stop protrusions. In other embodiments, the stop protrusions may be provided only on the upper side surface or the lower side surface of the inner housing.

[0031] In the specific embodiment 3 of the MPO fiber optic connector of the present invention, the difference from the specific embodiment 1 is that the rear end of the inner housing has a flat outer shape. On the upper and lower side surfaces of the spring limit seat, there are stop protrusions. After the spring limit seat is assembled in place on the inner housing, the stop protrusions are located at the rear side of the rear end of the inner housing and protrude backward relative to the tail end face of the inner housing. Compared with the tail end face flush structure of the specific embodiment 1, the axial dimension is increased.

[0032] Specific embodiment 4 of the MPO fiber optic connector of the present invention is different from specific embodiment 1 in that, as Figure 6 shown, the elastic cantilever of the spring limit seat 3b is replaced with pin slots 30b opened on the left and right sides of the base portion. The pin slots 30b form a limit seat pin channel. Corresponding positions on the upper and lower side walls of the inner housing 1b are provided with coaxially arranged upper and lower pin holes 10b, and groove portions corresponding to the pin holes 10b are opened on the upper and lower inner side walls of the inner housing 1b. The pin holes 10b and the groove portions form a housing pin channel. Other structures are the same as those in the specific embodiment. By inserting the spring limit seat 3b at the rear end of the inner housing 1b and compressing and pushing the spring, until the pin slot 30b of the spring limit seat 3b is in complete alignment with the pin hole 10b on the inner housing 1b, the pin 9b is inserted into the inner housing and the spring limit seat. The inner housing and the spring limit seat can be axially fixed together through the pin. Compared with the clamping fit between the elastic cantilever and the inner housing, the operation accuracy requirement is high and the assembly efficiency is low.

[0033] In the above-mentioned embodiment 4, the pin channels are opened on the upper and lower two side surfaces of the inner housing, and the limit seat pin channel penetrates the base portion of the spring limit seat from top to bottom; in other embodiments, the housing pin channel can also be opened on the left and right two side surfaces of the inner housing, and the corresponding limit seat pin channel penetrates the base portion of the spring limit seat from left to right.

Claims

1. A shortened MPO fiber optic connector, comprising an outer housing and a connector body. The outer housing is sleeved on the connector body movably in the front and rear directions. A stop boss for restricting the backward movement of the outer housing is provided on the connector body. It is characterized in that: The connector body includes an inner housing. A spring limit seat is provided at the rear end of the inner housing. The spring limit seat includes a tail sleeve joint part at the rear end and a base part adjacent to the tail sleeve joint part. The outer housing is sleeved on the inner housing. A chute is provided on the side wall of the outer housing at the rear end of the outer housing. A notch for avoiding the stop boss is provided on the side wall at the rear end of the inner housing. The stop boss is arranged at a position on the side of the base part corresponding to the chute and the notch.

2. The shortened MPO fiber optic connector according to claim 1, It is characterized in that: At least one side edge of the rear opening of the inner housing is provided with a flared structure formed by a chamfer. An expanded mouth adaptation section is provided at the rear end of the base part. The expanded mouth adaptation section has an inclined side surface adapted to the flared structure. The rear end surface of the expanded mouth adaptation section is near the rear end surface of the inner housing.

3. The shortened MPO fiber optic connector according to claim 2, It is characterized in that: The rear end surface of the expanded mouth adaptation section is flush with the rear end surface of the inner housing, or the rear end surface of the expanded mouth adaptation section is recessed or protruded from the rear end surface of the inner housing by no more than 5 mm.

4. The shortened MPO fiber optic connector according to claim 1, It is characterized in that: The connector body includes an inner housing. A housing pin channel is provided on the inner housing. A corresponding limit seat pin channel is provided on the spring limit seat. The spring limit seat is axially positioned in the inner housing along the inner housing by a positioning pin passing through the housing pin channel and the limit seat pin channel at the same time.

5. The shortened MPO fiber optic connector according to claim 4, It is characterized in that: The limit seat pin channel is a groove provided on the side of the spring limit seat. The housing pin channel includes an opening part and a groove part. The groove on the side of the spring limit seat and the groove part of the housing pin channel are aligned with each other when the spring limit seat is positioned in the inner housing.

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