Flexible clamping device for optical fiber

Abstract

The invention discloses a flexible clamping device for an optical fiber. The flexible clamping device comprises a base; the fixed block is arranged on the base; the moving block is arranged on the base through a guide mechanism, a control piece is connected to the moving block, and a mounting hole is further formed in the moving block; the clamping block is located between the fixed block and the movable block and connected with the movable block through an elastic piece arranged corresponding to the mounting hole, so that when the control piece controls the movable block to move by a certain distance in the direction close to the fixed block, the elastic piece is in a compressed state, and a clamping area is formed between the clamping block and the fixed block; and one end of the guide rod is fixed on the clamping block, and the other end of the guide rod penetrates through the elastic piece and extends into the mounting hole. According to the invention, optical fibers with different diameters can be adaptively clamped, and the situation that the clamping force is too loose or too tight to affect the detection effect or damage the surface of the optical fiber is avoided, so that the accuracy of the detection result is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of tensile testing technology, and in particular to a flexible optical fiber clamping device. Background Technology

[0002] In the optical fiber manufacturing process, the tensile strength of the bare fiber is considered a crucial parameter for evaluating fiber performance. In medical device applications, optical fibers come in various diameters and are typically 2-4 meters long, with significant rigidity and bending radii, and often include connectors at one end. During manufacturing and device testing, it is essential to verify that the tensile strength of the connection between the fiber and the connector meets standard values ​​to prevent accidental breakage during surgical procedures. In medical fiber testing, when testing the tensile strength of shorter fibers with connectors, stable clamping of the fiber is crucial to avoid damage to its surface. However, traditional fiber testing fixtures are often designed with a fixed clamping force, making it impossible to adjust the clamping force according to actual needs. This presents inconvenience for testing. For example, when the fiber thickness varies, the fixed clamping force may be too tight or too loose, causing fiber deformation or slippage. Furthermore, excessive clamping force can damage the outer coating of the fiber, affecting the accuracy of the test results.

[0003] In view of this, it is necessary to design a flexible optical fiber clamping device to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a flexible optical fiber clamping device that can adaptively clamp optical fibers of different diameters, avoiding situations where the clamping force is too loose or too tight, which could affect the detection effect or cause damage to the surface of the optical fiber, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the detection results.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides a flexible optical fiber clamping device, comprising: Base; A fixing block is provided on the base; A movable block is mounted on the base via a guide mechanism. The movable block is connected to a control component that controls the movable block to move toward the fixed block. The movable block is also provided with mounting holes. A clamping block, located between a fixed block and a movable block, is connected to the movable block via an elastic element corresponding to a mounting hole. When the control element moves the movable block a certain distance closer to the fixed block, the elastic element is compressed, forming a clamping area between the clamping block and the fixed block. The guide rod has one end fixed to the clamping block and the other end passing through the elastic element and extending into the mounting hole. This allows the guide rod to act as a guide for the deformation of the elastic element, while also forming a linear movement mechanism with the mounting hole to guide the movement path of the clamping block.

[0006] As a further improvement of the present invention, the control output end, the moving block, the clamping block and the fixing block are arranged in the same center.

[0007] As a further improvement of the present invention, at least two mounting holes are horizontally symmetrically distributed along the center of the moving block.

[0008] As a further improvement of the present invention, both the clamping block and the fixing block are composite material structures. The composite material structure includes a flexible component made of silicone material that contacts the optical fiber and a rigid component made of metal material disposed on the side of the flexible component away from the clamping area.

[0009] As a further improvement of the present invention, the guide rod is connected to the mounting hole by a linear bearing.

[0010] As a further improvement of the present invention, the control element is a linear elbow clamp.

[0011] As a further improvement of the present invention, the guiding mechanism includes a slide rail and a slider disposed on the slide rail and connected to the moving block.

[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, the elastic element and the moving block, as well as the elastic element and the clamping block, are all detachably connected.

[0013] As a further improvement of the present invention, a support seat is provided at both ports through which the optical fiber passes in the clamping area to position the optical fiber in the vertical center of the clamping area.

[0014] As a further improvement of the present invention, the support base is a roller support.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are: 1. This invention, by setting a clamping block between the fixed block and the moving block and connecting the moving block to the moving block via an elastic element, can utilize the elastic element to convert the instantaneous rigid clamping force generated by the controlled movement of the moving block a certain distance into a flexible force, which is gradually applied to the optical fiber through the clamping block. This automatically compensates for minute tolerances in the fiber diameter and minor unevenness of the clamping surface, avoiding stress concentration during clamping and preventing localized damage to the optical fiber. Furthermore, this clamping method can adaptively adjust the elastic element when the optical fiber begins to bear tension and undergoes slight slippage or stretching, without affecting the fiber clamping effect. This avoids a sharp increase in stress at the clamping point, preventing premature fiber breakage due to stress concentration during clamping. It ensures that during tensile strength testing, fiber breakage occurs within the gauge length, reflecting the true tensile strength of the fiber and guaranteeing the accuracy of the test results.

[0016] 2. By selecting an elastic element with appropriate stiffness and preload, this invention can precisely set a constant and suitable clamping force range, preventing slippage while avoiding damage to the optical fiber due to excessive clamping force. Furthermore, for tests conducted in the same batch, the elastic element clamping method provides highly consistent initial clamping conditions, ensuring testing accuracy.

[0017] 3. The guide rod of this invention can control the deformation state of the elastic element, ensuring that the fiber optic flexible clamping device provides uniform clamping force throughout the clamping process. This avoids significant lateral bending or displacement of the elastic element due to instability caused by compression, preventing the generation of lateral force components. It ensures that the force applied to the clamping plate when the elastic element deforms is a constant axial deformation force, guaranteeing the uniformity and effectiveness of the clamping force. Furthermore, it can control the movement state of the clamping block without increasing the device size to provide additional space for a linear reciprocating movement mechanism to control the movement path of the clamping block, thus reducing the complexity of the structure.

[0018] 4. The flexible optical fiber clamping device of the present invention can adaptively clamp optical fibers of different diameters, avoiding situations where the clamping force is too loose or too tight, which may affect the detection effect or cause damage to the surface of the optical fiber, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the detection results. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Fig. 1 This is a schematic diagram of the flexible optical fiber clamping device.

[0020] Fig. 2 This is a partial internal schematic diagram of the fiber optic flexible clamping device.

[0021] Figure Labels 10. Base; 20. Fixed block; 30. Moving block; 31. Mounting hole; 40. Guide mechanism; 41. Slide rail; 42. Slider; 50. Control component; 60. Clamping block; 61. Flexible component; 62. Rigid component; 63. Clamping area; 64. Elastic component; 65. Guide rod; 70. Support base; 71. U-shaped base; 72. Roller. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0023] It should also be noted that, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention with unnecessary details, only the structures and / or processing steps closely related to the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, while other details that are not closely related to the present invention are omitted.

[0024] Additionally, it should be noted that the terms “comprising,” “including,” or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0025] like Figs. 1-2 As shown, the present invention provides a flexible optical fiber clamping device, comprising: Base 10; The fixing block 20 is disposed on the base 10; The movable block 30 is mounted on the base 10 via the guide mechanism 40. The movable block 30 is connected to a control component 50 that controls the movable block 30 to move toward the fixed block 20. The movable block 30 is also provided with mounting holes 31. A clamping block 60 is located between the fixed block 20 and the movable block 30 and is connected to the movable block 30 via an elastic member 64 corresponding to the mounting hole 31. When the control member 50 controls the movable block 30 to move a certain distance closer to the fixed block 20, the elastic member 64 is compressed, forming a clamping area 63 between the clamping block 60 and the fixed block 20. The guide rod 65 has one end fixed to the clamping block 60 and the other end passing through the elastic member 64 and extending into the mounting hole 31. This allows the guide rod 65 to act as a guide for the deformation of the elastic member 64, and also allows the guide rod 65 and the mounting hole 31 to together form a linear movement mechanism that guides the movement path of the clamping block 60.

[0026] For example, the output end of the control component 50, the moving block 30, the clamping block 60, and the fixing block 20 are arranged in the same center, and at least two mounting holes 31 are horizontally symmetrically distributed along the center of the moving block 30. In this example, there are two mounting holes 31. Both the clamping block 60 and the fixing block 20 are composite material structures. The composite material structure includes a flexible component 61 made of silicone material that contacts the optical fiber and a rigid component 62 made of metal material that is disposed on the side of the flexible component 61 away from the clamping area 63. The flexible component 61 can increase the friction during the clamping process to improve the tensile strength, while also protecting the surface of the optical fiber during the clamping process to avoid clamping damage.

[0027] The concentric arrangement of the output end of the control component 50, the moving block 30, the clamping block 60, and the fixed block 20 enables the force output from the output end of the control component 50 to be fully applied to the optical fiber through the transmission of the moving block 30 and the clamping block 60, thereby improving the utilization rate of the force output from the output end of the control component 50. Furthermore, the horizontally symmetrical distribution of mounting holes 31 along the center of the moving block 30, along with the concentric arrangement of the output end of the control component 50, the moving block 30, the clamping block 60, and the fixing block 20, and the flexible setting of the clamping surface of the clamping block 60, allows the connection range between adjacent connecting components to gradually increase from the control component 50 to the fiber direction when the optical fiber is located in the clamping area 63. That is, the control component 50 and the moving block 30 are connected at a single central point, the moving block 30 and the clamping block 60 are connected at two points symmetrically along the center, and the clamping block 60 and the optical fiber are in flexible surface contact. This connection method allows the single-point concentrated driving force output from the output end of the control component 50 to be transmitted to the optical fiber, expanding from a single point to two equivalent points, and achieving a uniform stress distribution on the surface through the flexible component 61. This ensures that the optical fiber bears a uniform clamping force, avoids local stress concentration during the optical fiber clamping process, effectively protects the relatively fragile optical fiber, prevents damage to the optical fiber, ensures the clamping effect, and improves the accuracy of the detection results.

[0028] Furthermore, the connection between the clamping block 60 and the moving block 30 via the elastic element 64 allows the elastic element 64 to convert the instantaneous rigid clamping force generated by the moving block 30 being moved a certain distance by the controlled element 50 into a flexible force that is gradually applied to the optical fiber through the clamping block 60. This automatically compensates for minor tolerances in the optical fiber diameter and minor unevenness in the clamping surface of the clamping area 63, thus preventing stress concentration during clamping and avoiding localized damage to the optical fiber.

[0029] The clamping block 60 and the moving block 30 are connected by an elastic element 64. Combined with the specific connection method of the output end of the control element 50, the moving block 30, the clamping block 60 and the fixed block 20, the driving force can reach the surface of the optical fiber in a relatively uniform manner, thus meeting the requirements of the optical fiber for clamping uniformity.

[0030] For example, the control element 50 is a linear elbow clamp. The linear elbow clamp can be an elbow clamp that can output linear driving force at the output end and enter a self-locking state after moving a certain distance, and its specific structure will not be described here.

[0031] For example, the mounting hole 31 is a transverse through hole, and the guide rod 65 is connected to the mounting hole 31 through a linear bearing, so that when the control member 50 pushes the moving block 30 to move, when the elastic member 64 deforms, the guide rod 65 can move axially along the mounting hole 31 to guide the movement path of the clamping block 60, and at the same time guide the deformation path of the elastic member 64 to avoid instability during the deformation of the elastic member 64.

[0032] For example, the guide mechanism 40 includes a slide rail 41 and a slider 42 disposed on the slide rail 41 and connected to the moving block 30. In this example, two guide mechanisms 40 are provided, and the two guide mechanisms 40 are symmetrically distributed around the center of the moving block 30.

[0033] For example, the elastic element 64 and the moving block 30, as well as the elastic element 64 and the clamping block 60, are detachably connected so that during use, the elastic element 64 with appropriate stiffness and preload can be replaced according to the clamping force control needs, so as to accurately set a constant and appropriate clamping force range, prevent clamping slippage, and at the same time avoid damaging the optical fiber due to excessive clamping force.

[0034] For example, each of the two ports through which the optical fiber passes in the clamping area 63 is provided with a support 70 for positioning the optical fiber in the vertical center of the clamping area 63. In this example, the support 70 is a roller 72 support, which includes a U-shaped base 71 and rollers 72 rotatably connected to the U-shaped base 71 at both ends. The top surface of the rollers 72 is located in the vertical center of the clamping area 63. After the optical fiber is clamped, in order to facilitate subsequent tensile strength testing, it is necessary for both ends of the clamped portion of the optical fiber to be on the same horizontal plane, that is, the clamped portion of the optical fiber is straight and has a consistent height. The support 70 ensures that the clamped portion of the optical fiber is horizontal during the clamping process and is located in the vertical center of the clamping area 63, thus guaranteeing the clamping effect.

[0035] For example, the elastic element 64 is a spring.

[0036] In use, one side of the optical fiber is placed against the fixed block 20 and the optical fiber is placed on the roller 72, so that the entire optical fiber is located in the vertical center of the fixed block 20; the linear elbow clamp is operated to push the moving block 30 to move closer to the fixed block 20. Simultaneously, the clamping block 60 moves closer to the fixed block 20 as the moving block 30 moves. At this time, the elastic element 64 is in a basically uncompressed state. Under the push of the linear elbow clamp, the clamping block 60 abuts against the side of the optical fiber away from the fixed block 20. As the control component 50 continues to push, the moving block 30 moves to the compression elastic component 64. When the operating end of the linear elbow clamp rotates to the self-locking state, the clamping of the optical fiber is completed. During this clamping process, the elastic component 64 is gradually compressed by the moving block 30, and the gradually increasing restoring force is transmitted to the clamping block 60, so that the clamping force on the optical fiber gradually increases. In turn, the instantaneous rigid clamping force generated by the moving block 30 moving a certain distance under the action of the linear elbow clamp is converted into a flexible force and gradually applied to the optical fiber through the clamping block 60.

[0037] Because the elastic element 64 has the ability to deform, in addition to converting the instantaneous rigid clamping force into a flexible force and gradually applying it to the optical fiber, the elastic element 64 can also fully meet the clamping requirements of optical fibers within a certain diameter range while ensuring the clamping effect.

[0038] The fiber optic flexible clamping device of the present invention can adaptively clamp fibers of different diameters, avoiding situations where the clamping force is too loose or too tight, which could affect the detection effect or cause damage to the fiber surface, thus ensuring the accuracy of the detection results.

[0039] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible optical fiber clamping device, characterized in that, include: Base; A fixing block is provided on the base; A movable block is mounted on the base via a guide mechanism. The movable block is connected to a control component that controls the movable block to move toward the fixed block. The movable block is also provided with mounting holes. A clamping block, located between a fixed block and a movable block, is connected to the movable block via an elastic element corresponding to a mounting hole. When the control element moves the movable block a certain distance closer to the fixed block, the elastic element is compressed, forming a clamping area between the clamping block and the fixed block. The guide rod has one end fixed to the clamping block and the other end passing through the elastic element and extending into the mounting hole. This allows the guide rod to act as a guide for the deformation of the elastic element, while also forming a linear movement mechanism with the mounting hole to guide the movement path of the clamping block.

2. The fiber optic flexible clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control unit output end, moving block, clamping block, and fixing block are arranged in the same center.

3. The optical fiber flexible clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting holes are symmetrically distributed horizontally along the center of the moving block, with at least two holes.

4. The optical fiber flexible clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the clamping block and the fixing block are composite material structures. The composite material structure includes a flexible component made of silicone material that is in contact with the optical fiber, and a rigid component made of metal material that is disposed on the side of the flexible component away from the clamping area.

5. The optical fiber flexible clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide rod is connected to the mounting hole via a linear bearing.

6. The optical fiber flexible clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control component is a linear elbow clamp.

7. The optical fiber flexible clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guiding mechanism includes a slide rail and a slider disposed on the slide rail and connected to the moving block.

8. The optical fiber flexible clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic element and the moving block, as well as the elastic element and the clamping block, are all detachably connected.

9. The optical fiber flexible clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping area has support seats at both ports through which the optical fiber passes, for positioning the optical fiber in the vertical center of the clamping area.

10. The optical fiber flexible clamping device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The support is a roller support.

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