Optical fiber connector and connector assembly with tool-free removal of contact parts

Abstract

The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector for tool-free removal of contacts, comprising a housing and a contact piece assembled in a contact piece hole in the housing, wherein a tail handle of the contact piece realizes circumferential rotation prevention by cooperation of a large convex key on its outer circumferential surface and a large key groove in the contact piece hole; a spring at one end is movably sleeved on the tail portion of the tail handle and stopped on a flange of the tail handle, and the other end is fixedly connected to the front end of a support piece, and the tail handle and the support sleeve are spaced apart by the elastic force thereof; at least two pins are evenly distributed on the outer circumferential surface of the support piece and are rotationally locked with a fixing part in the contact piece hole; the fixing part comprises a slot with an opening for the pin to enter at the upper part of one side that cooperates with the pin limit, and a front end limiting part that axially stops and limits the support piece to prevent it from continuing to move forward and detaching from the fixing part, so that when the pin is stopped by the front end limiting part, the rotating support piece allows the pin to enter the return slot from the opening and fall into the groove bottom at the front end of the fixing part under the action of the spring to achieve locking.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of optical fiber connectors, and in particular relates to an optical fiber connector and a connector assembly whose contact pieces can be removed without tools. Background Art

[0002] The existing optical fiber connectors mostly have end-face contact type contacts. This type of product has two characteristics: first, the end face of the contact at one end of the jack is mostly embedded in the connector, requiring special tools to clean during use; second, this type of contact requires special tools to remove and install. The above two characteristics make the contacts of the existing optical fiber connectors inconvenient to install and maintain on site. Summary of the invention

[0003] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides an optical fiber connector and connector assembly with a new structure of contacts that can be removed without tools. The contacts can be removed and replaced directly by hand, and a ceramic sleeve is provided at the docking position to achieve stable transmission of optical signals.

[0004] The purpose of the present invention and the solution to the technical problem are achieved by adopting the following technical solutions. According to the present invention, a fiber optic connector for removing and removing a contact without tools comprises a connector housing and a contact assembled in a contact hole in the housing, the contact comprising a ceramic pin and a tail handle, the tail handle realizing circumferential rotation prevention by the cooperation of a large convex key on its outer circumferential surface and a large key groove in the contact hole; a spring having one end movably sleeved on the tail of the tail handle and stopped on the flange of the tail handle and fixedly connected to the front end of the support member at the other end, and the tail handle and the support sleeve are arranged at a distance by its elastic force; at least two pins are evenly distributed on the outer circumferential surface of the support member for rotational locking with a fixing part in the contact hole; the fixing part comprises a slot having a U-shaped locking groove bottom, an opening for the pin to enter is opened on the upper part of one side for limiting the pin, and a limiting part for axially stopping and limiting the support member to prevent it from continuing to move forward and causing the pin to separate from the fixing part, so that when the support member is stopped by the limiting part, the support member is rotated so that the pin enters the slot from the opening and falls into the groove bottom under the action of the spring to achieve locking.

[0005] The purpose of the present invention and the solution to its technical problems can be further achieved by adopting the following technical measures.

[0006] The aforementioned optical fiber connector with tool-free contact removal, wherein the fixing part is a positioning spring, and the return-shaped slot on the positioning spring is connected with a clearance slot with an open rear end and a closed front end through an opening on one side thereof, so that the staple enters the positioning spring from the rear end of the clearance slot and rotates into the return-shaped slot from the opening of the return-shaped slot to achieve limiting. The wall of the positioning spring is also provided with a through slot for the large convex key on the tail handle to pass through.

[0007] In the aforementioned optical fiber connector with tool-free removal of contacts, the front end of the positioning spring is provided with a convex key which cooperates with a small keyway in the contact hole to achieve circumferential rotation prevention.

[0008] In the aforementioned optical fiber connector with tool-free contact removal, the contact opening is provided with a step surface for preventing the positioning spring from falling out of the connector.

[0009] The aforementioned optical fiber connector with tool-free contact removal, wherein the front end of the support member is provided with a sheath that is circumferentially fixed with it, and the part of the sheath that extends out of the connector housing is also provided with an identification key that is on the same axial direction as one of the pins and is used to determine the position of the pin.

[0010] In the aforementioned optical fiber connector with tool-free contact removal, the support member achieves sealing inside the connector housing by cooperating with the tail of the contact member hole through the sealing ring assembled in the sealing ring groove.

[0011] The optical fiber connector with tool-free contact removal, wherein the front end of the connector housing is provided with an alignment slope for alignment during insertion.

[0012] The purpose of the present invention and the solution to its technical problems can also be achieved by adopting the following technical solutions. According to the present invention, a fiber optic connector assembly with tool-free contact removal includes the above connector and its adapter connector, wherein the front end of the connector housing is also provided with a cavity for installing a sleeve packaging housing for packaging a ceramic sleeve, and the contacts of the adapter connector and the assembly method of the contacts are the same as those of the connector.

[0013] The purpose of the present invention and the solution to its technical problems can be further achieved by adopting the following technical measures.

[0014] The aforementioned optical fiber connector assembly with tool-free removal of contacts, wherein the connector and the adapter connector are rectangular connectors, when the two are plugged together, are guided for plugging together by at least two guide pin assemblies and guide hole assemblies on the square disk panel outside the shell, and are locked by at least two locking pin assemblies and jack locking assemblies.

[0015] In the aforementioned optical fiber connector assembly with tool-free removal of contacts, the ceramic sleeve is limited by the inner convex edge at the front end of the ceramic sleeve installation hole, and the sleeve packaging shell is fixedly connected to the connector shell by countersunk screws.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has obvious advantages and beneficial effects. By means of the above technical solution, the present invention can achieve considerable technical progress and practicality, and has wide industrial utilization value, and has at least the following advantages: the contact can be removed without tools; the contact positioning structure is simple, and it is aligned through the ceramic sleeve, and the optical signal transmission stability is good; the positioning spring of the bayonet structure is designed to reduce the processing difficulty and improve the parts processing efficiency; the end face of the contact is exposed, which is convenient for end face cleaning. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the plug end structure of an optical fiber connector assembly with tool-free removal of contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a plug housing of an optical fiber connector assembly with tool-free removal of contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of partial cutaway;

[0020] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a ceramic sleeve packaging housing at the plug end of an optical fiber connector assembly for tool-free removal of contacts of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the ceramic tube installation hole;

[0022] Figure 6 for Figure 4 Cross-sectional view at the screw hole;

[0023] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the contact structure of the optical fiber connector assembly of the present invention with tool-free removal of the contact;

[0024] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a positioning spring structure of an optical fiber connector assembly for tool-free removal of contacts of the present invention;

[0025] Fig. 9 A schematic diagram of the installation state of the plug-end contact of the optical fiber connector assembly with tool-free removal of the contact according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Fig.10 A second schematic diagram of the installation state of the plug-end contact of the optical fiber connector assembly with tool-free contact removal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Fig.11 A schematic diagram of the installation of the plug-end contact of the optical fiber connector assembly with tool-free contact removal according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Fig.12A schematic diagram of the structure of the socket end of the optical fiber connector assembly with tool-free removal of the contact piece according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Fig.13 A schematic diagram of a socket housing of an optical fiber connector assembly with tool-free removal of contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Fig.14 This is a diagram of the plugged-in state of the optical fiber connector assembly with tool-free removal of contacts according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031]

Main component symbol description

[0032] 1: Casing package shell

[0033] 1.1: Ceramic sleeve installation hole

[0034] 1.2: Screw holes

[0035] 1.3: Convex edge

[0036] 2: Ceramic sleeve

[0037] 3: Guide hole assembly

[0038] 4: Locking pin assembly

[0039] 5: Plug housing

[0040] 5.1: Locking pin assembly hole

[0041] 5.2: Guide pin hole

[0042] 5.3: Threaded hole

[0043] 5.4: Align the plug with the bevel

[0044] 5.5: Step surface

[0045] 5.6: Large keyway

[0046] 5.7: Small keyway

[0047] 6: Contact

[0048] 6.1: Ceramic pins

[0049] 6.2: Tail peduncle

[0050] 6.2.1: Big Keys

[0051] 6.3: Spring

[0052] 6.4: Support

[0053] 6.4.1: Stapling

[0054] 6.4.2: Sealing ring groove

[0055] 6.4.3: Grooves

[0056] 6.5: Sealing ring

[0057] 6.6: Sheath

[0058] 6.6.1: Convex part

[0059] 6.6.2: Identification Keys

[0060] 7: Positioning spring

[0061] 7.1: Reciprocating groove

[0062] 7.2: Key

[0063] 7.3: Through slot

[0064] 8: Plug housing

[0065] 8.1: Guide pin hole

[0066] 8.2: Locking jack assembly hole

[0067] 8.3: Align the socket with the bevel

[0068] 9: Guide needle assembly

[0069] 10: Locking jack assembly DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0070] In order to further explain the technical means and effects adopted by the present invention to achieve the predetermined purpose of the invention, the specific implementation method, structure, characteristics and effects of the optical fiber connector assembly with tool-free removal of contacts proposed in accordance with the present invention are described in detail below in combination with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments.

[0071] See also Figure 1-14, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of each part of the optical fiber connector assembly of the present invention with tool-free contact removal, the connector assembly includes a plug and a socket, wherein the plug includes a plug housing 5, the front end of the plug housing 5 is provided with a cavity for installing a sleeve encapsulation housing 1, and the bottom of the cavity is provided with a threaded hole 5.3 for fixing the sleeve encapsulation housing 1 on the plug housing 5. The function of the sleeve encapsulation housing 1 is to encapsulate the ceramic sleeve 2. When the plug and the socket are plugged in, the contacts at both ends are aligned through the ceramic sleeve 2 encapsulated in the sleeve encapsulation housing 1 to achieve stable transmission of optical signals. The front end face of the sleeve encapsulation housing 1 is basically flush with the front end face of the plug housing 5 or there is a slight gap, so that the front end face of the contact is basically flush with the front end face of the plug housing 5 when the plug is in a free state, and the contact end face can be cleaned without using a special cleaning tool. The plug housing 5 is also provided with a plurality of contact holes for assembling contacts 6, which are respectively connected to the ceramic sleeve mounting holes 1.1 in the sleeve packaging housing 1, so that the ceramic pin 6.1 at the front end of the contact 6 can be inserted into the ceramic sleeve 2 in the ceramic sleeve mounting hole 1.1.

[0072] In the embodiment of the present invention, the ceramic bushing 2 is limited by the inner convex edge 1.3 at the front end of the ceramic bushing mounting hole 1.1, but it is not limited thereto. The bushing package housing 1 is also provided with a screw hole 1.2 for mounting a screw, and the bushing package housing and the plug housing are fixed by the screw inserted in the screw hole and the threaded hole 5.3 on the plug housing. Preferably, the screw hole is stepped, so that the screw head can be sunk into the bushing package housing to prevent the screw head from interfering with the end face of the connector.

[0073] The contact 6 comprises a ceramic pin 6.1, a tail handle 6.2, a spring 6.3, a support 6.4, a sealing ring 6.5 and a sheath 6.6. The ceramic pin 6.1 and the tail handle 6.2 are fixed together by crimping. A large convex key 6.2.1 is provided on the outer circumference of the tail handle 6.2 to cooperate with the large key groove 5.6 in the contact hole to achieve circumferential rotation prevention. The arrangement of the large convex key and the key groove can prevent the contact from rotating during operation, which affects the product performance.

[0074] One end of the spring 6.3 is movably mounted on the tail handle 6.2 and stops on the rear end surface of the flange on the tail handle 6.2, and the other end is fixedly connected to the front end of the support member 6.4. The tail handle 6.2 and the support member 6.4 are spaced apart by the elastic force provided by the spring 6.3 to keep the two away from each other.

[0075] At least two pins 6.4.1 are evenly distributed on the outer circumference of the support member 6.4, and a fixing part that is rotationally locked or unlocked with the pins 6.4.1 on the support member 6.4 is provided in the contact member installation hole in the plug housing. The fixing part includes a slot with a U-shaped bottom for locking the pins, an opening for the pins to enter, and a limiting part of the support member to axially stop and limit the pins to prevent them from moving forward and causing the pins to break away from the fixing part. When the contact member is assembled, it is pushed in from the rear end of the contact member installation opening, and when the support member and the limiting part of the fixing part are stopped and limited, the contact member is axially installed in place, and then the contact member rear end support member is rotated so that the pins enter the slot from the opening on one side and enter the bottom of the slot under the action of the spring to achieve radial limit.

[0076] In the embodiment of the present invention, the fixing part is a positioning spring 7, and the return-shaped card slot 7.1 of the positioning spring 7 is connected to the clearance groove with an open rear end and a closed front end through an opening on one side thereof, so that the staple enters the positioning spring from the rear end of the clearance groove and rotates from the opening of the return-shaped card slot 7.1 into the return-shaped card slot to achieve limiting. In the embodiment of the present invention, a through groove 7.3 is opened on one side wall of the positioning spring 7 for the large convex key 6.2.1 on the tail handle 6.2 to pass through. Preferably, the large convex key and one of the staples are on the same plane, that is, the through groove 7.3 also has the function of allowing the staple on the same plane as the large convex key to enter the positioning spring, and enter the return-shaped card slot from the opening on one side of the return-shaped card slot 7.1 after rotation.

[0077] In an embodiment of the present invention, the front end of the positioning spring 7 is provided with a convex key 7.2 which cooperates with the small key groove 5.7 in the contact piece hole. The positioning spring 7 realizes circumferential rotation prevention through the cooperation of the convex key 7.2 and the small key groove in the contact piece hole, thereby preventing the positioning spring 7 from rotating when the connector is working, resulting in the contact piece 6 being unable to be removed normally.

[0078] In the embodiment of the present invention, the contact member opening is provided with a step surface 5.5 for preventing the positioning spring from escaping from the connector.

[0079] The front end of the support member 6.4 is covered with a sheath 6.6, and the sheath 6.6 and the support member 6.4 are circumferentially anti-rotated. In the embodiment of the present invention, the sheath 6.6 is anti-rotated circumferentially by the cooperation of the groove 6.4.3 on the outer peripheral surface of the rear end of the sheath 6.6 and the convex part of the front end of the sheath 6.6.

[0080] The portion of the sleeve 6.6 extending out of the plug housing is also provided with an identification key 6.6.2 for determining the position of the staple in the same axial direction as one of the staples. When the contact is assembled, the staple can be rotated by rotating the sleeve 6.6, and the position of the identification key 6.6.2 can be observed to determine whether the staple is rotated in place. In the embodiment of the present invention, the sleeve 6.6 is a rubber piece, which is squeezed onto the support member 6.4, and the front end convex portion 6.6.1 cooperates with the groove 6.4.3 at the rear of the support member 6.4 to ensure that the direction of the large key 6.6.2 is consistent with that of the staple 6.4.1 at any time after the connection.

[0081] In the embodiment of the present invention, a sealing ring groove 6.4.2 is formed on the support member 6.4, and the sealing ring 6.5 is assembled in the sealing ring groove and cooperates with the tail of the contact hole of the plug housing 5 to achieve sealing inside the housing.

[0082] In the embodiment of the present invention, there are two staples. When the contact is installed, the spring 6.3 is compressed by pushing the sleeve 6.6, and the contact moves as a whole into the contact hole. When it is pushed to the limit position, the staple 6.4.1 is just located at the opening of the circular groove 7.1. The contact 6 is rotated 90° counterclockwise and then released. The staple 6.4.1 falls into the circular groove 7.1 to achieve the positioning of the contact. The direction of the large key 6.6.2 and the position of the sealing ring can be observed to confirm whether it is inserted and rotated into place.

[0083] The front end of the plug housing of the present invention is provided with a plug alignment inclined surface 5.4, which is used for alignment when the connectors are plugged in, so as to prevent the occurrence of misalignment.

[0084] The socket includes a socket housing 8 and a contact 6 assembled in the socket housing 8, and the structure of the contact 6 is consistent with that of the plug end contact. The contact 6 is limited and unlocked by the rotational cooperation between the clamping nails on the outer periphery of the support and the fixing member having a circular groove with one side open in the contact hole in the socket housing. In the embodiment of the present invention, the fixing member is a positioning spring 7, but it is not limited thereto.

[0085] In an embodiment of the present invention, the connector assembly is a rectangular optical fiber connector assembly, and the plug and the socket are locked by the locking assembly on the square panel after being plugged in, and the square panel is also provided with a guide structure. Specifically, at least two locking pin assembly holes 5.1 and at least two guide pin holes 5.2 are provided on the outer square panel of the plug housing 5, which are used to install the locking pin assembly 4 and the guide hole assembly 3 respectively. The guide hole assembly 3 and the locking pin assembly 4 are fixed to the plug housing 5 by fastening with nuts. There are two guide pin holes 8.1 and locking socket assembly holes 8.2 on the socket housing 8, which are used to install the guide pin assembly 9 and the locking socket assembly 10. When the plug and the socket are plugged in, the guide pin assembly 9 cooperates with the guide hole assembly 3 to achieve the guidance of the connector plug and the socket when they are plugged in; the locking socket assembly 10 cooperates with the locking pin assembly 4 to lock the connector plug and the socket after they are plugged in.

[0086] The front end of the socket housing is also provided with a socket alignment bevel 8.3 corresponding to the plug alignment bevel 5.4, which is used for end face identification when the plug and socket are plugged together to prevent wrong insertion.

[0087] The plug and socket of the connector assembly of the embodiment of the present invention are inserted into each other through the steps of shell identification, guide pin guidance, insertion into place, and screw locking. During the insertion process, the contacts 6 located at the plug and socket respectively squeeze the springs 6.3 on the contacts at both ends to retract under the action of the insertion force, and align in the ceramic sleeve 2 located in the plug end to achieve stable transmission of optical signals.

[0088] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the present invention in any form. Although the present invention has been disclosed as a preferred embodiment as above, it is not used to limit the present invention. Any technician familiar with the profession can make some changes or modify the technical contents disclosed above into equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the present invention. However, any simple modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the content of the technical solution of the present invention still fall within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. An optical fiber connector with tool-free contact removal, comprising a connector housing and a contact assembled in a contact hole in the housing, characterized in that: The contact piece includes a ceramic pin and a tail handle, and the tail handle is prevented from rotating in the circumferential direction by the cooperation between the large convex key on the outer peripheral surface of the tail handle and the large key groove in the contact piece hole; One end of the spring is movably sleeved on the tail of the tail handle and stopped on the tail handle flange, and the other end is fixedly connected to the front end of the support member, so that the tail handle and the support sleeve are spaced apart by the elastic force of the spring; At least two pins are evenly distributed on the outer circumference of the support member and are rotatably locked with the fixing portion in the contact member hole; The fixing part includes a slot with a U-shaped bottom for locking the staple and an opening for the staple to enter, and a limiting part for axially stopping and limiting the support member to prevent it from continuing to move forward and causing the staple to separate from the fixing part. When the support member is stopped by the limiting part, the support member is rotated to allow the staple to enter the slot from the opening and fall into the bottom of the slot under the action of the spring to achieve locking; The fixing part is a positioning spring, which has a plurality of return-shaped slots connected to a rear open and front closed paving groove through a front opening on one side. When the staple enters the positioning spring from the rear end of the paving groove and at least one staple is stopped at the front end surface of the paving groove, the support is rotated to rotate the staple from the front end opening of the return-shaped slot into the return-shaped slot to achieve locking. The wall of the positioning spring is also provided with a through slot for the large convex key on the tail handle to pass through.

2. The optical fiber connector with tool-free contact removal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front end of the positioning spring is provided with a convex key which cooperates with a small keyway in the contact piece hole to realize circumferential rotation prevention.

3. The optical fiber connector with tool-free contact removal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The contact opening is provided with a step surface for preventing the positioning spring from escaping from the connector.

4. The optical fiber connector with tool-free contact removal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front end of the support member is sleeved with a sheath which is circumferentially anti-rotatable therewith, and the part of the sheath extending out of the connector housing is also provided with an identification key which is on the same plane as one of the pins and is used to judge the position of the pin.

5. The optical fiber connector with tool-free contact removal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The support member achieves sealing inside the connector housing by cooperating with the tail of the contact member hole through the sealing ring assembled in the sealing ring groove of the support member.

6. The optical fiber connector with tool-free contact removal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front end of the connector housing is provided with an alignment slope for insertion and alignment.

7. An optical fiber connector assembly with tool-free removal of contacts, characterized in that: The invention comprises a connector and an adapter connector thereof as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the front end of the connector shell is also provided with a cavity of a sleeve packaging shell for installing a packaging ceramic sleeve and the front end face of the sleeve packaging shell is substantially flush with the front end face of the connector shell, and the contacts of the adapter connector and the assembly method of the contacts are the same as those of the connector.

8. The optical fiber connector assembly with tool-free contact removal according to claim 7, characterized in that: The connector and the adapter connector are rectangular connectors. When the two are plugged together, they are guided by at least two guide pin assemblies and guide hole assemblies on the square disk panel outside the shell, and locked by at least two locking pin assemblies and jack locking assemblies.

9. The optical fiber connector assembly with tool-free contact removal according to claim 8, characterized in that: The ceramic sleeve is limited by the inner convex edge at the front end of the ceramic sleeve installation hole, and the sleeve packaging shell is fixedly connected to the connector shell by countersunk screws.

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