A high precision fiber optic receptacle assembly

Abstract

The utility model discloses a high accuracy optical fiber socket subassembly relates to communication field, and it is including: optical fiber, base, plug core, inner sleeve, outer sleeve, the outer cover with the coaxial setting of inner sleeve, and at least one welding point is arranged in the connecting place of outer sleeve and base, to through laser welding outer cover with inner sleeve assembly fixed. The utility model discloses the outer sleeve and base are designed as the sliding sleeve joint, and the traditional interference riveting is changed to the fixing through laser welding point after adjusting the concentricity, utilizes the high concentricity clamp in the assembly process of inner sleeve and outer sleeve and locks the coaxiality of both voluntarily, in the cooperation laser welding no mechanical stress characteristics, realizes the concentricity stable control of inner sleeve inner diameter phi d and outer sleeve inner diameter phi D in the high standard of 0.02mm, makes the product yield from the traditional craft about 65% greatly promotes to 97% or above, greatly reduces the scrap cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of communications, and in particular to a high-precision fiber optic socket assembly. Background Technology

[0002] As a key component for achieving precise fiber optic connection in fiber optic communication systems, the performance of fiber optic receptacle assemblies directly affects the transmission quality and connection reliability of optical signals. In fields such as data centers, 5G communications, and high-speed optical modules, extremely high requirements are placed on the insertion loss, return loss, and long-term connection stability of fiber optic receptacle assemblies. In particular, the concentricity accuracy between the ferrule and the sleeve has become a core indicator for ensuring low-loss optical path connections.

[0003] Currently, common fiber optic socket assemblies on the market typically employ a multi-layer metal and ceramic interference fit riveting assembly process. Specifically, this generally includes the following steps: first, the ferrule and base are fixed together by interference fit pressing and riveting; second, the inner sleeve and ferrule are assembled again by interference fit; finally, the outer sleeve and base are fixed by a second riveting. While this process was widely used for a period, it has the following problems in practical application: 1. Metal parts need to meet the interference fit dimensions of both inner and outer diameters, which places extremely stringent requirements on machining accuracy, resulting in high raw material and processing costs; 2. During the secondary interference fit assembly process, the accumulated fitting stress can easily cause micro-deformation of the parts, making it difficult to control the concentricity of key parts such as the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve. At present, this process can only achieve a concentricity of ≤0.05mm, which is difficult to meet the stringent requirement of ≤0.02mm in high-precision application scenarios, and the product yield is generally low. 3. The related metal parts are made of the same material and have an interference fit. Under long-term temperature changes, mechanical vibration and other operating environments, there is a risk that the clamping force will decrease due to metal fatigue, which may lead to the loosening of the components and affect the long-term stability of the connection. 4. Existing processes require multiple precision pressing and fitting operations, and special pressing and fitting tooling is required for products of different sizes. The tooling costs are high and the changeover is cumbersome. At the same time, the clamping, alignment, and riveting processes are time-consuming, which reduces production efficiency.

[0004] Therefore, how to provide a fiber optic socket assembly structure and processing method that can ensure high concentricity and connection reliability while reducing processing difficulty and improving production efficiency has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in this field. Utility Model Content

[0005] In order to overcome the above-mentioned defects of the prior art, the present invention provides a high-precision fiber optic socket assembly and its processing technology to solve the problems existing in the background art.

[0006] This utility model provides the following technical solution: a high-precision fiber optic socket assembly and its processing technology, comprising: fiber optic cable, base, ferrule, inner sleeve, and outer sleeve; The base and the ferrule are coaxially assembled and riveted and pressed together for fixation, wherein one end of the optical fiber passes through the inlet of the base and is inserted into the ferrule for fixation. The inner sleeve is slidably fitted onto the outer side of the insert, and the end face of the inner sleeve abuts against the inner end face of the base. The outer sleeve is slidably fitted onto the outer side of the base, and the side end face of the outer sleeve abuts against the outer end face of the base; The outer sleeve and the inner sleeve are coaxially arranged, and at least one welding point is provided at the connection between the outer sleeve and the base to assemble and fix the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve by laser welding.

[0007] Preferably, the number of welding points is three. One welding point is located at the connection gap between the outer tube and the base and is laser spot welded. The other two welding points are both set on the outer tube and are penetration welded. The three welding points are arranged linearly along the axial direction of the outer tube.

[0008] Preferably, three welding points are grouped together, and multiple groups of welding points are set up, with the multiple groups of welding points arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the outer sleeve.

[0009] Preferably, the base has a stepped structure with two steps, wherein the first step is used to abut against the end of the outer tube, and the second step is used to abut against the positioning groove opened in the inner wall of the outer tube.

[0010] Preferably, the ferrule has a channel for assembling optical fibers at its center, and one end of the ferrule also has a tapered flare structure to facilitate the insertion of optical fibers.

[0011] Preferably, the other end face of the insert is chamfered to facilitate the insertion of the inner sleeve.

[0012] Preferably, both the insert and the inner sleeve are made of ceramic material.

[0013] Preferably, both the base and the outer sleeve are made of metal.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: 1. This utility model designs the outer sleeve and base as a sliding fit, and then fixes them by laser welding after adjusting the concentricity. Compared with the traditional interference fit, this assembly method reduces the requirements for machining precision, thereby reducing the cost of metal raw materials and finishing. It also effectively avoids the secondary interference fit step, thus effectively avoiding the expansion and deformation of parts caused by accumulated fitting stress, laying a structural foundation for obtaining extremely high concentricity. At the same time, in the sliding fit state, the high concentricity fixture can be used to actively adjust and lock the coaxiality of the inner sleeve and outer sleeve during the assembly process. With the characteristic of laser welding without mechanical stress, the concentricity of the inner diameter φd of the inner sleeve and the inner diameter φD of the outer sleeve can be stably controlled at a high standard of ≤0.02mm. This significantly increases the product yield from about 65% in the traditional process to more than 97%, greatly reducing scrap costs.

[0015] 2. This utility model utilizes laser welding technology, which is equivalent to traditional interference fit riveting, to permanently fix the outer sleeve to the base. This effectively avoids the risk of decreased interference fit force and loosening between metal parts due to long-term fatigue, vibration, or temperature cycling. Furthermore, this laser welding solution is applicable to products of different sizes and specifications, eliminating the need to design and manufacture complex interference fit tooling for each size. This significantly reduces the types, costs, and warehouse management complexity of tooling fixtures. At the same time, the process is simplified to simple sliding fit positioning followed by welding, reducing the process operation time for a single product from approximately 35 seconds to approximately 16 seconds, thereby improving production efficiency. 3. This utility model uses a stepped base that engages with the positioning groove on the inner wall of the outer sleeve to ensure axial limiting and radial pre-positioning during assembly, improving assembly consistency and accuracy, and facilitating subsequent concentricity fine-tuning. Simultaneously, a tapered flare structure with chamfering at the ferrule end facilitates fiber insertion, reduces operational difficulty, and minimizes potential damage to the fiber end face. The chamfer at the other end guides the inner sleeve into place smoothly, reducing assembly resistance and the risk of jamming, further ensuring assembly accuracy and efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the high-precision fiber optic socket assembly of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the high-precision fiber optic socket assembly of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the high-precision fiber optic socket assembly of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the concentricity of the inner sleeve and outer sleeve of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5This is a process flow diagram of a high-precision fiber optic socket assembly according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the high concentricity fixture structure of the present invention.

[0022] The attached diagram is labeled as follows: 1. Optical fiber; 2. Base; 21. First step; 22. Second step; 3. Filament; 31. Channel; 32. Tapered flare structure; 4. Inner sleeve; 5. Outer sleeve; 51. Positioning groove; 6. Welding point. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that the advantages and features of the present invention can be more easily understood by those skilled in the art, thereby providing a clearer and more definite definition of the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] This utility model provides a high-precision fiber optic socket assembly, such as Figure 1-4 As shown, it includes: optical fiber 1, base 2, ferrule 3, inner sleeve 4, and outer sleeve 5.

[0025] The base 2 and the ferrule 3 are coaxially assembled and fixed with an interference fit by riveting and pressing, forming a stable sub-assembly. One end of the optical fiber 1 enters from the tail inlet of the base 2 and is finally inserted into and fixed in the central channel 31 inside the ferrule 3.

[0026] The inner sleeve 4 is slidably fitted onto the outer cylindrical surface of the insert 3. During assembly, the inner sleeve 4 slides into the insert 3 axially until its end face is in close contact with the inner end face of the base 2 facing the insert 3. This contact provides precise axial positioning for the inner sleeve 4.

[0027] The outer sleeve 5 is slidably fitted onto the outer cylindrical surface of the base 2. During assembly, the outer sleeve 5 slides into the base 2 axially. The base 2 is designed with a stepped structure, having a first step 21 and a second step 22. The end of the outer sleeve 5 abuts against the first step 21, achieving initial axial positioning; simultaneously, the annular positioning groove 51 on the inner wall of the outer sleeve 5 engages with the second step 22 on the base 2, providing radial pre-positioning and ensuring initial alignment between the two.

[0028] To ensure a strict coaxial relationship between the inner sleeve 4 and the outer sleeve 5, a high-concentricity fixture is used for precision adjustment. This fixture includes a high-precision ceramic insert and a machined metal part (such as a precision V-block or sleeve, e.g.) Figure 6As shown, the two components have extremely high coaxiality. To achieve this and avoid deformation caused by traditional interference fit, laser welding is used for final fixation. Specifically, at least one welding point 6 is provided in the axial overlap area of ​​the outer sleeve 5 and the base 2, and the two are fused and fixed by laser welding, thereby indirectly locking the secondary assembly of the inner sleeve 4 and the insert 3 inside the outer sleeve 5.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, there are three welding points 6, forming a basic fixing unit. One welding point 6 is located at the connection gap between the end face of the outer sleeve 5 and the side wall of the first step 21 of the base 2, and is laser spot welded to achieve sealing and initial connection. The other two welding points 6 are located on the wall of the outer sleeve 5, and are laser penetration welded. After the laser beam penetrates the wall thickness of the outer sleeve 5, it fuses with the outer wall material of the base 2 to form a stronger anchoring point. These three welding points 6 are arranged linearly along the axial direction of the outer sleeve 5. To further enhance the connection reliability and torsional strength, the above three welding points can be grouped together, and multiple groups of welding points 6 can be arranged equidistantly along the axial direction of the outer sleeve 5.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the welding point 6 is circular. The welding point 6 located at the connection gap between the end face of the outer sleeve 5 and the side wall of the first step 21 of the base 2 accounts for 50% on both the outer sleeve 5 and the base 2, meaning the welding point on the outer sleeve 5 and the base 2 is semi-circular. This ensures that heat and molten metal are symmetrically distributed between the two parts, facilitating a more uniform and symmetrical release and distribution of welding thermal stress on the base 2 and the outer sleeve 5. This reduces local deformation or eccentricity caused by welding, thus better maintaining the ultra-precise coaxiality between the inner sleeve 4 and the outer sleeve 5, which was previously adjusted using a high-concentricity fixture. Simultaneously, it provides a clear and intuitive visual standard for process control and quality inspection. By observing the weld point morphology using a microscope or optical inspection equipment, operators or automated systems can quickly determine whether the laser focus is precisely aligned with the joint and whether the laser energy parameters are qualified. This facilitates stable process control and efficient quality monitoring.

[0031] The ferrule 3 and inner sleeve 4 are preferably made of ceramic material, due to their extremely high hardness, wear resistance, and thermal stability, which can ensure the long-term accuracy of the fiber optic channel. The base 2 and outer sleeve 5 are preferably made of metal material, which combines good mechanical strength and weldability.

[0032] The outer tube 5 can be made of stainless steel.

[0033] To facilitate assembly, the central channel 31 of the ferrule 3 has a tapered flared structure 32 at the end near the fiber insertion. This structure guides the fiber 1 to be easily and accurately aligned and inserted into the channel, reducing the risk of damage. To accommodate one end of the inner sleeve 4, the other end face of the ferrule 3 is chamfered to form a guiding surface, facilitating the smooth insertion of the inner sleeve 4 and avoiding bumps during assembly.

[0034] A processing technology for manufacturing the aforementioned high-precision fiber optic socket assembly, such as... Figure 5 As shown, it includes the following steps: S1: Rivet assembly base 2 and insert 3, align base 2 and insert 3, apply pressure through precision riveting equipment to make them interference fit and press them together to fix them; S2: Inject an appropriate amount of adhesive into the channel 31 of the ferrule 3 using a dispensing device. Then, insert one end of the optical fiber 1 from the side of the base 2, guide it through the tapered flare structure 32, and insert it into the channel 31 until it reaches the predetermined position. Then, heat or use ultraviolet light to cure the adhesive, so that the optical fiber 1 is firmly fixed in the ferrule 3. S3: Slide the inner sleeve 4 along the outer wall of the insert 3 until its end face abuts against the inner end face of the base 2. S4: Slide the outer sleeve 5 into the base 2, so that its end abuts against the first step 21, and the positioning groove 51 engages with the second step 22. Then, use a high-concentricity fixture for precision adjustment. This fixture includes a high-precision ceramic insert and a machined metal part (such as a precision V-block or sleeve, etc.). Figure 6 As shown), both have extremely high coaxiality. During operation, the ceramic insert is inserted into the opening at the end of the outer sleeve 5 furthest from the optical fiber, ensuring its precise outer cylindrical surface mates with the inner hole of the inner sleeve 4; simultaneously, a metal workpiece is placed over the outer wall of the outer sleeve 5 to straighten and position it. Through the synergistic effect of this fixture, the inner sleeve 4 and the outer sleeve 5 are forcibly aligned and locked into a perfect coaxial state. S5: Laser Welding Fixing. While maintaining the clamping condition, a laser welding machine is used to weld the outer sleeve 5 and the base 2. First, laser spot welding is performed on the weld points located at the joint between the two to achieve initial fixing. Then, laser penetration welding is performed on the weld points on the wall of the outer sleeve 5 to form a strong connection. After welding is completed, the high concentricity clamp is removed.

[0035] Working principle of this utility model: Through step-by-step assembly and active alignment processes, the fiber optic docking mechanism achieves extremely high coaxiality and long-term reliability. The base 2 and ferrule 3 are secured by interference fit riveting to ensure basic strength; the inner sleeve 4, acting as a precision guide, slides with the ferrule 3 to avoid interference deformation; the outer sleeve 5, serving as external support and connecting housing, slides with the base 2 and features a stepped positioning structure, reducing processing difficulty. Finally, a high-concentricity fixture is used to actively calibrate the coaxiality of the inner and outer sleeves under stress-free conditions, and this ideal state is immediately "frozen" by laser welding. Laser welding produces a high-strength metallurgical bond with a small heat-affected zone, without introducing assembly stress, thus permanently maintaining high precision after alignment (e.g., φD and φd concentricity ≤ 0.02mm). During assembly operation, the inserted docking plug fiber, guided by the precision of the inner sleeve 4, achieves ultra-low-loss end-to-end docking with the fiber 1 fixed in the ferrule 3. The entire connection structure is robust, with excellent and long-term stable signal transmission performance.

[0036] Several points should be noted: First, in the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified and limited, the terms "installation", "connection" and "linkage" should be interpreted broadly, and can be mechanical or electrical connection, or internal connection between two components, or direct connection. "Up", "down", "left", "right", etc. are only used to indicate relative positional relationship. When the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may change.

[0037] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model. The protection scope of the present utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. Any equivalent modifications or changes made by those skilled in the art based on the content disclosed in the present utility model should be included in the protection scope recorded in the claims.

Claims

1. A high-precision fiber optic socket assembly, characterized in that, include: Fiber optic cable (1), base (2), ferrule (3), inner sleeve (4), outer sleeve (5); The base (2) is coaxially assembled with the ferrule (3) and riveted and pressed together for fixation. One end of the optical fiber (1) passes through the entrance of the base (2) and is inserted into the ferrule (3) for fixation. The inner sleeve (4) is slidably sleeved on the outer side of the insert (3), and the end face of the inner sleeve (4) abuts against the inner end face of the base (2); The outer sleeve (5) is slidably sleeved on the outer side of the base (2), and the side end face of the outer sleeve (5) abuts against the outer end face of the base (2); The outer sleeve and the inner sleeve (4) are coaxially arranged, and at least one welding point (6) is provided at the connection between the outer sleeve (5) and the base (2) so as to assemble and fix the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve (4) by laser welding.

2. The high-precision fiber optic socket assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of welding points (6) is three. One welding point (6) is located at the connection gap between the outer tube (5) and the base (2) and is laser spot welded. The other two welding points (6) are both set on the outer tube (5) and are penetrated welded. The three welding points (6) are arranged linearly along the axial direction of the outer tube (5).

3. A high-precision fiber optic socket assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: Three welding points (6) are grouped together, and multiple groups of welding points (6) are set up. The multiple groups of welding points (6) are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the outer sleeve (5).

4. A high-precision fiber optic socket assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base (2) has a stepped structure and has two steps. The first step (21) is used to abut against the end of the outer tube (5), and the second step (22) is used to abut against the positioning groove (51) opened on the inner wall of the outer tube (5).

5. A high-precision fiber optic socket assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ferrule (3) has a channel (31) for assembling the optical fiber (1) at its center, and a tapered flared structure (32) is provided at the middle of one end of the ferrule (3) to facilitate the insertion of the optical fiber (1).

6. A high-precision fiber optic socket assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that: The other end face of the insert (3) is chamfered to facilitate the insertion of the inner sleeve (4).

7. A high-precision fiber optic socket assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the insert (3) and the inner sleeve (4) are made of ceramic material.

8. A high-precision fiber optic socket assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the base (2) and the outer tube (5) are made of metal.

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