A joint protection sleeve for optical fiber fusion splicing

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of joint protective sleeve for optical fiber fusion, it is related to optical fiber fusion protective sleeve technical field, including two symmetrical protection shell of setting, its both ends outer wall surface is all set with external thread, and symmetrical sleeve is installed in the outer wall of protection layer corresponding optical fiber fusion joint's peripheral wall;Two storage grooves are respectively around set in the outer wall of two protection shell, the side wall of the storage groove is set with window guide hole, another opposite side wall is set with window positioning hole, the window guide hole and window positioning hole coaxial correspondence;The utility model is fixed with double sealing structure by protection shell accurate splicing, thread locking cover, realize that fusion joint can be detachably connected, it is convenient for later maintenance, while giving consideration to protection and airtight protection, block impurity invasion, solved the existing joint protective sleeve after irreversible damage, when replacing new protective sleeve, it needs to be cut, fusion joint is extremely easy to damage, the problem of higher technical requirements to operator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of fiber optic fusion splice protection sleeves, specifically a connector protection sleeve for fiber optic fusion splicing. Background Technology

[0002] Fiber optic fusion splicing is a core technology that uses a fusion splicer to connect optical fibers or pigtails. It requires the preparation of qualified fiber end faces, the quality of which directly affects the splicing effect. This technology uses a manual / electric cleaver for end face processing. During operation, the coating layer must be removed by following the "flat, stable, and fast" fiber stripping method, and the bare fiber must be cleaned with alcohol. For example, the utility model patent with announcement number CN205210338U discloses a heat-shrinkable sleeve for optical fiber splicing, characterized by: including a heat-fusion inner tube and a heat-shrinkable outer tube that wraps around the heat-fusion inner tube, with a reinforcing core provided between the heat-fusion inner tube and the heat-shrinkable outer tube, and heat-fusion adhesive rings at both ends of the heat-shrinkable outer tube; the optical fiber splicing heat-shrinkable sleeve provided has a simple structure, can be well wrapped, prevents the internal optical fiber from being bent and damaged by force, and has good protective performance. However, when this type of protective cover is irreversibly damaged, it needs to be cut to replace it with a new one, which can easily damage the welded joint. This requires a high level of technical skill from the operator, and the condition of the joint cannot be observed during use. Repairs require the use of other tools, which is quite troublesome. Utility Model Content

[0003] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this utility model provides a protective sleeve for fiber optic fusion splicing connectors. This solves the problem that existing protective sleeves require cutting when replacing them after irreversible damage, which easily damages the fusion splice connectors. Furthermore, it requires highly skilled operators, and the condition of the connectors cannot be observed during use, necessitating the use of other tools for maintenance, which is quite troublesome.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: A protective sleeve for fiber optic fusion splicing includes a fiber core, a cladding, and a protective layer coaxially wrapped around the periphery of the fiber core and cladding, and further includes: Two symmetrically arranged protective shells have external threads on their outer walls at both ends and are symmetrically fitted onto the outer peripheral walls of the corresponding fiber optic fusion splice connectors. Two storage slots are respectively formed around the outer wall of the two protective shells. A window guide hole is formed on one side wall of the storage slot, and a window positioning hole is formed on the other opposite side wall. The window guide hole and the window positioning hole are coaxially corresponding. Two observation windows are sealed and fixedly installed on the outer wall of the opening of the two storage slots; Two protective covers for the viewing windows are respectively installed in the storage slots and are adapted to slide towards the viewing window positioning holes through the viewing window guide holes; Two threaded locking sleeves are respectively threadedly connected to the external threads at both ends of the two protective shells.

[0005] Preferably, each of the two threaded locking sleeves has two symmetrically distributed limiting holes on its end wall. On the side of the two receiving slots near the splicing surface of the protective shell, a positioning seat is fixedly installed at the center of the protective shell along the axial direction. A guide rod extending to both sides along the axial direction of the protective shell is fixedly installed at the center of the positioning seat.

[0006] Preferably, both ends of the guide rod are fixedly installed with limit rings, and the outer wall surface of the guide rod is slidably connected with two limit pins along the axial direction. The two limit pins are respectively matched with the limit holes of the two threaded locking sleeves and their sliding stroke is limited by the limit rings at both ends. A return spring is provided between the limit rings and the limit pins. An auxiliary block is fixedly installed on the outer wall surface of the limit pins and the auxiliary block extends to the outside of the storage groove.

[0007] Preferably, a connecting limiting plate is fixedly installed at one end of the splicing surface of each protective shell, and a plug-in groove adapted to the connecting limiting plate is opened at the other end. When the two protective shells are connected, the connecting limiting plate of one protective shell and the plug-in groove of the other protective shell slide in a one-to-one correspondence to achieve splicing and enclosure of the two protective shells.

[0008] Preferably, the two protective shells have an inclination angle at the opening of the window guide hole facing the direction of the window positioning hole, and the two threaded locking sleeves have a limiting chamfer on the inner wall of one end facing the protective shell, which is adapted to the inclination angle of the window guide hole.

[0009] Preferably, a sealing gasket is fixedly installed on one end face of the two threaded locking sleeves facing the protective shell, and the sealing gasket is in close contact with the end face of the protective shell; a sealing ring is fixedly installed on the inner wall surface of the threaded locking sleeve, and the sealing ring is in close sliding fit with the outer peripheral wall of the protective layer.

[0010] Preferably, the outer wall surfaces of the two threaded locking sleeves are evenly provided with a plurality of axially extending anti-slip grooves along the circumferential direction.

[0011] Beneficial effects This utility model provides a protective sleeve for fiber optic fusion splicing connectors, which has the following advantages: By precisely splicing the protective shell, fixing it with a threaded locking sleeve, and using a double sealing structure, the fusion joint can be detached, which facilitates later inspection and maintenance. At the same time, it takes into account both protection and airtight protection, preventing impurities from entering. This solves the problem that when the existing joint protective sleeve is irreversibly damaged, it is necessary to cut it when replacing the new protective sleeve, which can easily damage the fusion joint and requires high technical skills from the operators. By using a limit pin to mechanically prevent loosening, the problem of loose threads is solved. At the same time, the condition of the joint can be checked without disassembling the two protective shells. This solves the problem that existing joint protective sleeves cannot be used to observe the condition of the joint, and require other tools for maintenance, which is quite troublesome. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model; Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the structure of this utility model; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the threaded locking sleeve structure of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the protective shell structure of this utility model; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the limiting pin structure of this utility model.

[0013] In the diagram: 1. Fiber core; 2. Cladding; 3. Protective layer; 4. Protective shell; 5. Storage slot; 6. Viewing window guide hole; 7. Viewing window positioning hole; 8. Observation window; 9. Viewing window protective cover; 10. Threaded locking sleeve; 11. Limiting hole; 12. Positioning seat; 13. Guide rod; 14. Limiting ring; 15. Limiting pin; 16. Return spring; 17. Auxiliary block; 18. Connecting limiting plate; 19. Insertion slot; 20. Sealing gasket; 21. Sealing ring; 22. Anti-slip groove. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0015] Please see Figures 1-5 A protective sleeve for fiber optic splicing includes a fiber core 1, a cladding 2, and a protective layer 3 coaxially wrapped around the outer periphery of the fiber core 1 and the cladding 2, and further includes: Two symmetrically arranged protective shells 4 have external threads on their outer walls at both ends and are symmetrically fitted onto the outer peripheral walls of the protective layer 3 corresponding to the fiber optic fusion splice joints. Two storage slots 5 are respectively encircled on the outer wall of the two protective shells 4. A viewing window guide hole 6 is provided on one side wall of the storage slot 5, and a viewing window positioning hole 7 is provided on the other opposite side wall. The viewing window guide hole 6 and the viewing window positioning hole 7 are coaxially corresponding. Two observation windows 8 are respectively sealed and fixedly installed on the outer wall of the opening of the two storage slots 5; two window protective covers 9 are respectively set in the storage slots 5 and are slidably adapted to the window positioning hole 7 through the window guide hole 6. Two threaded locking sleeves 10 are respectively threadedly connected to the external threads at both ends of the two protective shells 4.

[0016] When in use, the sealed space formed by the two protective shells 4 can isolate the external environment from the corrosion of the fusion splice; the observation window 8 supports visual inspection of the fusion splice, and the status of the splice can be grasped without removing the protective shell; the window protective cover 9 is made of transparent material, which can protect the observation window 8 and prevent it from being worn or contaminated, taking into account both protective performance and inspection convenience, and adapting to the needs of long-term use and regular inspection of fiber optic connectors.

[0017] Please see Figure 2 Two threaded locking sleeves 10 have two symmetrically distributed limiting holes 11 on their end walls. Two receiving slots 5 are located on the side of the splicing surface of the protective shell 4. Positioning seats 12 are fixedly installed at the center of the protective shell 4 along the axial direction of the protective shell 4. Guide rods 13 extending to both sides along the axial direction of the protective shell 4 are fixedly installed at the center of the positioning seats 12.

[0018] In use, the positioning seat 12 provides a stable installation support for the guide rod 13, while the guide rod 13 provides a precise sliding track for the subsequent anti-loosening limiting components, ensuring the stability of the limiting structure's operation; at the same time, the limiting hole 11 and the limiting components on the guide rod 13 cooperate to provide a structural basis for the anti-loosening locking of the threaded locking sleeve 10, ensuring the reliable realization of the subsequent anti-loosening function.

[0019] Please see Figure 5 Both ends of the guide rod 13 are fixedly installed with limit rings 14. The outer wall surface of the guide rod 13 is slidably connected with two limit pins 15 along the axial direction. The two limit pins 15 are respectively matched with the limit holes 11 of the two threaded locking sleeves 10, and their sliding stroke is limited by the limit rings 14 at both ends. A return spring 16 is provided between the limit rings 14 and the limit pins 15. An auxiliary block 17 is fixedly installed on the outer wall surface of the limit pins 15. The auxiliary block 17 extends to the outside of the storage groove 5.

[0020] In use, the continuous elastic force of the return spring 16 pushes the limit pin 15 into the corresponding limit hole 11, preventing the threaded locking sleeve 10 from loosening accidentally through mechanical limiting, which is suitable for the vibration environment during the use of fiber optic connectors; when disassembly or adjustment is required, the auxiliary lever 17 can be moved to drive the limit pin 15 to compress the return spring 16 and disengage from the limit hole 11, realizing flexible control of "automatic locking + manual unlocking", which is suitable for use scenarios where connectors are frequently inspected.

[0021] Please see Figure 4 Each protective shell 4 has a connecting limiting plate 18 fixedly installed at one end of its splicing surface, and a plug-in groove 19 adapted to the connecting limiting plate 18 is opened at the other end. When two protective shells 4 are connected, the connecting limiting plate 18 of one protective shell 4 and the plug-in groove 19 of the other protective shell 4 slide in a one-to-one correspondence to achieve splicing and enclosure of the two protective shells 4.

[0022] When in use, this structure ensures that the two protective shells 4 are precisely aligned and spliced, avoiding gaps in the protective space due to misalignment and ensuring a tight seal. At the same time, it enhances the stability of the overall structure after splicing, improves the protective shell 4's ability to resist external pressure and impact, and better protects the internal welded joints from external damage.

[0023] Please see Figure 2 The two protective shells 4 have a tilt angle at the opening of the window guide hole 6 facing the window positioning hole 7, and the two threaded locking sleeves 10 have a limiting chamfer on the inner wall of one end facing the protective shell 4 that matches the tilt angle of the window guide hole 6.

[0024] When in use, when the threaded locking sleeve 10 is tightened, the limiting chamfer pushes the window protective cover 9 towards the window positioning hole 7 along the tilt angle of the window guide hole 6 until it covers the inside of the observation window 8, forming physical protection for the observation window 8; when the threaded locking sleeve 10 is loosened, the window protective cover 9 can slide in the opposite direction to expose the observation window 8.

[0025] Please see Figures 2-3 Two threaded locking sleeves 10 are fixedly installed with sealing gaskets 20 on one end face facing the protective shell 4, and the sealing gaskets 20 are tightly fitted with the end face of the protective shell 4; a sealing ring 21 is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the threaded locking sleeve 10, and the sealing ring 21 is tightly slidingly fitted with the outer peripheral wall of the protective layer 3.

[0026] During use, the sealing gasket 20 blocks the gap between the protective shell 4 and the threaded locking sleeve 10, and the sealing ring 21 fills the gap between the threaded locking sleeve 10 and the optical fiber protective layer 3. The double sealing structure effectively blocks dust, sand and other impurities from entering the protective space, avoids the performance degradation of the fusion splice due to environmental erosion, extends the service life of the optical fiber, and is suitable for complex outdoor or industrial use environments.

[0027] Please see Figures 2-3 The outer wall surfaces of the two threaded locking sleeves 10 are evenly provided with several axially extending anti-slip grooves 22 along the circumference. When in use, the anti-slip grooves 22 can significantly increase the frictional resistance between the hand and the threaded locking sleeves 10, making it easier for workers to apply force when tightening or loosening the parts, and reducing the difficulty of operating the fiber optic connector protection.

[0028] Example 1: In this example, the fusion joint is detachable by precisely splicing the protective shell 4, fixing it with the threaded locking sleeve 10, and using a double sealing structure. This facilitates later inspection and maintenance, while also providing protection and airtight protection to prevent impurities from entering.

[0029] Specifically, first, the threaded locking sleeve 10 is put into the protective layer 3 on the two fiber cores 1 to be fused, and then the fusion of the fiber cores 1 is carried out. After fusion, the two protective shells 4 are symmetrically put into the protective layer 3 on the outer periphery of the fiber optic fusion splice. The connecting limiting plate 18 of one protective shell 4 slides and connects with the insertion slot 19 on the other side to quickly form a complete protective space.

[0030] Next, insert the two window protective covers 9 into the window positioning holes 7 along the window guide holes 6, hold the anti-slip groove 22 on the outer wall of the threaded locking sleeve 10, and screw it into the external threads at both ends of the protective shell 4. During the tightening process, the limiting chamfer on the inner wall of the threaded locking sleeve 10 fits along the window guide holes 6, restricting the position of the two window protective covers 9, so that the two window protective covers 9 cover the inner side of the observation window 8 to form protection; at the same time, the sealing gasket 20 on the end face of the threaded locking sleeve 10 fits tightly against the end face of the protective shell 4, and the sealing ring 21 on the inner wall fits tightly against the protective layer 3, with double sealing to block gaps, prevent dust and impurities from entering, and ensure that the welded joint is not corroded by the environment.

[0031] Example 2: In this example, the problem of loose threads is solved by mechanically preventing loosening through the limiting pin 15, and at the same time, the joint status can be checked without disassembling the two protective shells 4.

[0032] Specifically, when tightening the threaded locking sleeve 10, the operator presses down on the auxiliary lever 17 to drive the limit pin 15 to slide along the guide rod 13, the return spring 16 retracts, and after the threaded locking sleeve 10 is tightened to the position, the limit hole 11 is aligned with the limit pin 15. At this time, the operator releases the auxiliary lever 17, the return spring 16 releases its elastic force, and pushes the limit pin 15 into the limit hole 11 of the threaded locking sleeve 10, forming a mechanical anti-loosening mechanism to prevent vibration from causing the threads to loosen.

[0033] The transparent viewing window 9, together with the observation window 8, allows for inspection of the welded joint. When the viewing window 9 is damaged, the auxiliary lever 17 is moved to compress the limit pin 15 and the return spring 16, disengaging it from the limit hole 11. The threaded locking sleeve 10 is then loosened in the opposite direction, and the viewing window 9 slides in the opposite direction as the limit chamfer loosens, allowing for replacement with a new viewing window 9. After replacement, the threaded locking sleeve 10 is tightened again, and the limit pin 15 automatically inserts into the limit hole 11 under the action of the return spring 16, restoring the anti-loosening state.

[0034] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A protective sleeve for fiber optic splicing, comprising a fiber core (1), a cladding (2), and a protective layer (3) coaxially wrapped around the outer periphery of the fiber core (1) and the cladding (2), characterized in that, Also includes: Two symmetrically arranged protective shells (4) have external threads on their outer walls at both ends and are symmetrically fitted onto the outer peripheral wall of the protective layer (3) corresponding to the fiber optic fusion splice joint. Two storage slots (5) are respectively encircled on the outer wall of two protective shells (4). A window guide hole (6) is provided on one side wall of the storage slot (5), and a window positioning hole (7) is provided on the other opposite side wall. The window guide hole (6) and the window positioning hole (7) are coaxially corresponding. Two observation windows (8) are respectively sealed and fixedly installed on the outer wall of the slot opening of the two storage slots (5); Two protective covers (9) are respectively set in the storage slot (5) and are adapted to slide towards the window positioning hole (7) through the window guide hole (6); Two threaded locking sleeves (10) are respectively threadedly connected to the external threads at both ends of the two protective shells (4).

2. The fiber optic fusion splice connector protective sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that, Two symmetrically distributed limiting holes (11) are provided on the end walls of the two threaded locking sleeves (10). On the side of the two storage grooves (5) close to the splicing surface of the protective shell (4), positioning seats (12) are fixedly installed at the center of the protective shell (4) respectively. A guide rod (13) extending to both sides along the axial direction of the protective shell (4) is fixedly installed at the center of the positioning seat (12).

3. The fiber optic fusion splice connector protective sleeve according to claim 2, characterized in that, Both ends of the guide rod (13) are fixedly installed with limit rings (14). The outer wall of the guide rod (13) is slidably connected with two limit pins (15) along the axial direction. The two limit pins (15) are respectively matched with the limit holes (11) of the two threaded locking sleeves (10) and the sliding stroke is limited by the limit rings (14) at both ends. A return spring (16) is provided between the limit rings (14) and the limit pins (15). An auxiliary block (17) is fixedly installed on the outer wall of the limit pin (15). The auxiliary block (17) extends to the outside of the storage groove (5).

4. The fiber optic fusion splice connector protective sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the protective shells (4) has a connecting limiting plate (18) fixedly installed at one end of the splicing surface, and a plug-in groove (19) adapted to the connecting limiting plate (18) is opened at the other end. When the two protective shells (4) are connected, the connecting limiting plate (18) of one protective shell (4) and the plug-in groove (19) of the other protective shell (4) slide in a one-to-one correspondence, so as to realize the splicing and enclosure of the two protective shells (4).

5. A protective sleeve for fiber optic fusion splicing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two protective shells (4) have a tilt angle at the opening of the window guide hole (6) facing the window positioning hole (7), and the two threaded locking sleeves (10) have a limiting chamfer on the inner wall of one end facing the protective shell (4) that matches the tilt angle of the window guide hole (6).

6. A protective sleeve for fiber optic fusion splicing according to claim 5, characterized in that, Two threaded locking sleeves (10) are fixedly installed with sealing gaskets (20) on one end face facing the protective shell (4), and the sealing gaskets (20) are tightly fitted with the end face of the protective shell (4); a sealing ring (21) is fixedly installed on the inner wall surface of the threaded locking sleeve (10), and the sealing ring (21) is tightly slidingly fitted with the outer peripheral wall of the protective layer (3).

7. A protective sleeve for fiber optic fusion splicing according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outer wall surfaces of the two threaded locking sleeves (10) are evenly provided with a number of axially extending anti-slip grooves (22) along the circumferential direction.

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