Optical probe connection structure, optical probe assembly and spectroscopic analysis device

Abstract

To provide an optical probe connecting structure with which it is possible to adjust the rotation angle of first and second connecting parts directly in a connected state, and to facilitate attaching and removing the first and second connecting parts.SOLUTION: Provided is an optical probe connecting structure comprising first and second connecting parts. The first connecting part includes a connecting part body, a lock member, and at least one hook member, and the outer circumferential surface of the second connecting part has a circumferential groove over the entire circumference. The second connecting part is placed into a connected state of being mechanically and optically connected to the first connecting part by being moved from a state where the lock member is at a second position and the outer circumferential surface of the second connecting part is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the connecting part body of the first connecting part to a first position so that the hook member is held in a state of being caught in the circumferential groove. The second connecting part is capable of rotating with respect to the connecting part body of the first connecting part in the connected state, and the second connecting part can be released from the connected state by the lock member moving to a second position while in the connected state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an optical probe connection structure, an optical probe assembly, and a spectroscopic analysis device. [Background technology]

[0002] An optical probe connection structure is known that has a first connection part provided at one end of the optical fiber cable and the optical probe, and a second connection part provided at the other end of the optical fiber cable and the optical probe and detachable from the first connection part (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 10,634,616 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When the optical probe connection structure described above is used in an optical probe assembly for Raman spectroscopy, the rotation angle between the first and second connection parts significantly affects the optical throughput, so it is preferable that the rotation angle between the first and second connection parts can be adjusted while the first and second connection parts are connected.It is also preferable that the first and second connection parts can be easily attached and detached.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an optical probe connection structure, an optical probe assembly, and a spectroscopic analysis device in which the rotation angle between the first connection part and the second connection part can be adjusted while they are connected, and in which the first connection part and the second connection part can be easily attached and detached. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is as follows.

[0007] [1] a first connection portion provided at one end of one of the optical fiber cable and the optical probe; a second connection portion provided at the other end of the optical fiber cable and the optical probe; the first connection portion has a connection portion body, a locking member movable between a first position and a second position relative to the connection portion body, and at least one hooking member; the hooking member is held in a first state in which it protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the connection portion main body by the locking member in the first position, and is allowed to be in a second state in which it retracts radially outward from the first state by the locking member in the second position, The outer peripheral surface of the second connection portion has a circumferential groove extending along the entire periphery, the second connection portion is brought into a connected state in which it is mechanically and optically connected to the first connection portion by the locking member moving from a state in which the locking member is at the second position and the outer peripheral surface of the second connection portion is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the connection portion body of the first connection portion to the first position so that the hooking member is held in a state in which it is hooked on the circumferential groove, the second connection portion is rotatable relative to the connection portion body of the first connection portion in the connected state; The second connection portion is capable of releasing the connected state by moving the locking member to the second position in the connected state.

[0008] [2] The optical probe connection structure according to [1], wherein the hooking member is ball-shaped.

[0009] [3] The optical probe connection structure according to [1] or [2], wherein at least one of the inner circumferential surface of the connection portion body of the first connection portion and the outer circumferential surface of the second connection portion is conical.

[0010] [4] The optical probe connection structure according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the locking member is movable in an axial direction along the central axis of the inner circumferential surface of the connection portion body of the first connection portion between the first position and the second position.

[0011] [5] The optical probe connection structure according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the plurality of hooking members are arranged so as to be rotationally symmetrical about the central axis of the inner circumferential surface of the connection portion main body of the first connection portion.

[0012] [6] The optical probe connection structure according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the second connection portion can rotate over the entire circumference relative to the connection portion main body of the first connection portion in the connected state.

[0013] [7] The optical probe connection structure according to any one of [1] to [6], further comprising a rotation restricting portion that can restrict rotation of the second connection portion relative to the connection portion main body of the first connection portion in the connected state.

[0014] [8] The optical probe connection structure described in [7], wherein the rotation regulating portion has a threaded hole opening on the inner circumferential surface of the connection portion main body of the first connection portion, and a setscrew that can contact the outer circumferential surface of the second connection portion when rotated while threadedly joined to the threaded hole in the connected state.

[0015] [9] the first connection portion is provided on the optical fiber cable, The optical probe connection structure according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein the second connection section is provided on the optical probe.

[0016]

[10] a first connection portion provided at one end of one of the optical fiber cable and the optical probe; a second connection portion provided at the other end of the optical fiber cable and the optical probe; The first connection portion has a first connection portion body, a first screw joint portion, and a first contact portion, The second connection portion has a second connection portion body, a second screw joint portion, and a second contact portion, At least one of an inner peripheral surface of the first connection portion body and an outer peripheral surface of the second connection portion body has a conical surface shape, the second connection portion is mechanically and optically connected to the first connection portion by threading the second screw joint portion to the first screw joint portion over a predetermined length in an axial direction along the central axis of the inner circumferential surface of the first connection portion body, the second contact portion applies a contact pressure in the axial direction to the first contact portion in the connected state, the outer circumferential surface of the second connection portion body contacts the inner circumferential surface of the first connection portion body in the connected state, the second connection body is rotatable relative to the first connection body in the connected state; An optical probe connection structure, wherein the second connection portion can release the connected state by the second screw joint portion being separated from the first screw joint portion.

[0017]

[11] having at least one resilient contact member; The optical probe connection structure described in

[10] , wherein the elastic contact member has a compression spring that is expandable and contractible in the axial direction, and a contact member that forms one of the first contact portion and the second contact portion and is elastically supported by the compression spring.

[0018]

[12] The contact member has a convex curved surface, The optical probe connection structure according to

[11] , wherein the vertex of the convex curved surface forms one of the first contact portion and the second contact portion.

[0019]

[13] The optical probe connection structure according to

[11] or

[12] , wherein the contact member is ball-shaped.

[0020]

[14] The elastic contact member has a fixing portion, The elastic contact member has a housing that holds the compression spring and the contact member therein so that they can move in the axial direction, The optical probe connection structure according to any one of

[11] to

[13] , wherein an outer peripheral surface of the housing can be screw-joined to an inner peripheral surface of a recess provided in the elastic contact member fixing portion.

[0021]

[15] The optical probe connection structure according to any one of

[11] to

[14] , wherein the plurality of elastic contact members are arranged so as to be rotationally symmetrical about the central axis of the inner circumferential surface of the first connection portion body.

[0022]

[16] the first connection portion is provided on the optical fiber cable, The optical probe connection structure according to any one of

[11] to

[15] , wherein the second connection section is provided on the optical probe.

[0023]

[17] the first connection portion is provided on the optical fiber cable, the second connection portion is provided on the optical probe, The optical probe connection structure according to any one of

[11] to

[16] , wherein the contact member forms the first contact portion.

[0024]

[18] the second connection portion has a rotating member that is rotatable in a circumferential direction relative to the second connection portion main body, The optical probe connection structure according to any one of

[10] to

[17] , wherein the rotating member has the second screw joint portion and the second contact portion.

[0025]

[19] The optical probe connection structure according to any one of

[10] to

[18] , wherein the second connection body can rotate over the entire circumference relative to the first connection body in the connected state.

[0026]

[20] The optical probe connection structure according to any one of

[10] to

[19] , further comprising a rotation restricting part that can restrict rotation of the second connection body relative to the first connection body in the connected state.

[0027] [twenty one] The optical probe connection structure described in

[20] , wherein the rotation regulating portion has a threaded hole opening on the inner circumferential surface of the first connection portion body, and a setscrew that can contact the outer circumferential surface of the second connection portion body in the connected state by being rotated while being screwed into the threaded hole.

[0028] [twenty two] the optical fiber cable; the optical probe, An optical probe assembly, in which the optical fiber cable and the optical probe are connected by the optical probe connection structure according to any one of [1] to

[21] .

[0029] [twenty three]

[22] The optical probe assembly according to

[22] , wherein the optical probe is configured as an immersion probe.

[0030] [twenty four] A spectroscopic analyzer comprising the optical probe assembly according to

[22] or

[23] and a spectroscopic analyzer main body mechanically and optically connected to the other end of the optical fiber cable.

[0031] [twenty five] The spectroscopic analysis device according to

[24] , which is capable of Raman spectroscopic analysis. [Effects of the Invention]

[0032] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an optical probe connection structure, an optical probe assembly, and a spectroscopic analysis device in which the rotation angle between the first connection part and the second connection part can be adjusted while they are connected, and in which the first connection part and the second connection part can be easily attached and detached. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a spectroscopic analysis device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the optical probe connection structure according to the first embodiment in a connected state. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the optical probe connection structure shown in FIG. 2 in a state where connection is in progress. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the optical probe connection structure according to the second embodiment in a connected state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0035] First, an optical probe connecting structure 1 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the optical probe connection structure 1 according to the first embodiment has a first connection part 4 provided at one end of the optical fiber cable 2 and the optical probe 3, and a second connection part 5 provided at the other end of the optical fiber cable 2 and the optical probe 3. The first connection part 4 has a connection part main body 4a, a locking member 4b movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the connection part main body 4a, and at least one hooking member 4c. The hooking member 4c is held in a first state (the state shown in FIG. 2) in which it protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the connection part main body 4a by the locking member 4b at the first position (the position shown in FIG. 2), and is held in a second state (the state shown in FIG. 3) in which it protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the connection part main body 4a by the locking member 4b at the second position (the position shown in FIG. 3). The second connecting portion 5 is allowed to be in a second state (the state shown in Figure 3) in which it is recessed radially outward from the first state, and the outer peripheral surface of the second connecting portion 5 has a circumferential groove 5a around the entire circumference. The second connecting portion 5 is in a connected state in which it is mechanically and optically connected to the first connecting portion 4 by moving the locking member 4b from a state in which the locking member 4b is in the second position and the outer peripheral surface of the second connecting portion 5 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion main body 4a of the first connecting portion 4 to the first position so that the hooking member 4c is kept hooked on the circumferential groove 5a. The second connecting portion 5 can rotate relative to the connecting portion main body 4a of the first connecting portion 4 in the connected state, and the second connecting portion 5 can release the connected state by moving the locking member 4b to the second position in the connected state.

[0037] According to the above configuration, since the second connection portion 5 can rotate relative to the connection portion main body 4a of the first connection portion 4 in the connected state, the rotation angle between the first connection portion 4 (connection portion main body 4a) and the second connection portion 5 can be adjusted while the connection is in progress. Furthermore, by moving the locking member 4b between the first position and the second position, the first connection portion 4 and the second connection portion 5 can be easily attached and detached. Therefore, according to the above configuration, it is possible to realize an optical probe connection structure 1 in which the rotation angle between the first connection portion 4 (connection portion main body 4a) and the second connection portion 5 can be adjusted while the connection is in progress, and in which the first connection portion 4 and the second connection portion 5 can be easily attached and detached.

[0038] The hook member 4c is ball-shaped. According to the above configuration, it is possible to easily adjust the rotation angle between the first connecting part 4 and the second connecting part 5 in the connected state.

[0039] At least one of the inner circumferential surface of the connection portion main body 4a of the first connection portion 4 and the outer circumferential surface of the second connection portion 5 is conical. According to the above configuration, the stability of the connection between the first connection portion 4 and the second connection portion 5 can be improved.

[0040] The locking member 4b is movable between the first position and the second position in the axial direction along the central axis O of the inner circumferential surface of the connection portion main body 4a of the first connection portion 4. According to the above configuration, the structure of the locking member 4b can be simplified.

[0041] The plurality of hook members 4c are arranged rotationally symmetrically about the central axis O of the inner circumferential surface of the connection portion main body 4a of the first connection portion 4. According to the above configuration, the stability of the connection between the first connection portion 4 and the second connection portion 5 can be improved.

[0042] In the connected state, the second connection part 5 can rotate over the entire circumference relative to the connection part body 4a of the first connection part 4. According to the above configuration, the degree of freedom in adjusting the rotation angle between the first connection part 4 and the second connection part 5 can be increased.

[0043] The optical probe connection structure 1 has a rotation restricting part that can restrict rotation of the second connection part 5 relative to the connection part main body 4a of the first connection part 4 in the connected state. According to the above configuration, the rotation restricting part can satisfactorily maintain the state in which the rotation angle between the first connection part 4 and the second connection part 5 is appropriately adjusted.

[0044] The rotation restricting part has a threaded hole that opens into the inner peripheral surface of the connection part body 4a of the first connection part 4, and a setscrew 4g that can come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the second connection part 5 when rotated while threadedly joined to the threaded hole in the connected state. With the above configuration, the structure of the rotation restricting part can be simplified.

[0045] The first connection part 4 is provided on the optical fiber cable 2, and the second connection part 5 is provided on the optical probe 3. According to the above configuration, the structure of the optical probe 3 can be simplified, and the optical probe 3 can be made easier to clean.

[0046] Next, an optical probe connecting structure 1 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the optical probe connection structure 1 according to the second embodiment has a first connection part 4 provided at one end of the optical fiber cable 2 and the optical probe 3, and a second connection part 5 provided at the other end of the optical fiber cable 2 and the optical probe 3. The first connection part 4 has a first connection part body 4d, a first screw joint part 4e and a first contact part 4f. The second connection part 5 has a second connection part body 5b, a second screw joint part 5c and a second contact part 5d. At least one of the inner peripheral surface of the first connection part body 4d and the outer peripheral surface of the second connection part body 5b has a conical surface. The second connection part 5 has a second screw joint part 4e and a first contact part 4f. When the joint portion 5c is screw-connected to the first screw joint portion 4e over a predetermined length in the axial direction along the central axis O of the inner surface of the first connection portion main body 4d, it is mechanically and optically connected to the first connection portion 4, and the second contact portion 5d applies axial contact pressure to the first contact portion 4f in the connected state, the outer surface of the second connection portion main body 5b contacts the inner surface of the first connection portion main body 4d in the connected state, the second connection portion main body 5b can rotate relative to the first connection portion main body 4d in the connected state, and the second connection portion 5 can release the connected state when the second screw joint portion 5c is detached from the first screw joint portion 4e.

[0048] According to the above configuration, the second connection portion body 5b can rotate relative to the first connection portion body 4d in the connected state, so the rotation angle between the first connection portion 4 (first connection portion body 4d) and the second connection portion 5 (second connection portion body 5b) can be adjusted while the connection is in progress. Furthermore, because the second contact portion 5d applies axial contact pressure to the first contact portion 4f in the connected state, when connecting the second connection portion 5 to the first connection portion 4, the second screw joint 5c is screwed to the first screw joint 4e over an excessive axial length, which prevents the outer peripheral surface of the second connection portion body 5b from biting into the inner peripheral surface of the first connection portion body 4d. Therefore, according to the above configuration, the rotation angle between the first connection portion 4 (first connection portion body 4d) and the second connection portion 5 (second connection portion body 5b) can be adjusted while the connection is in progress, and an optical probe connection structure 1 can be realized in which the first connection portion 4 and the second connection portion 5 can be easily attached and detached.

[0049] The optical probe connecting structure 1 has at least one elastic contact member 6, and the elastic contact member 6 has a compression spring 6a that is expandable and contractible in the axial direction, and a contact member 6b that forms one of the first contact portion 4f and the second contact portion 5d and is elastically supported by the compression spring 6a. This configuration can improve the ease of attachment and detachment of the first connecting portion 4 and the second connecting portion 5.

[0050] The contact member 6b has a convex curved surface, and the apex of the convex curved surface forms one of the first contact portion 4f and the second contact portion 5d. According to the above configuration, it is possible to improve the ease of attachment and detachment of the first connecting portion 4 and the second connecting portion 5.

[0051] The contact member 6b is ball-shaped. According to the above configuration, the first connecting portion 4 and the second connecting portion 5 can be attached and detached more easily.

[0052] The optical probe connection structure 1 has an elastic contact member fixing portion 7, and the elastic contact member 6 has a housing 6c that holds the compression spring 6a and the contact member 6b inside so that they can move in the axial direction, and the outer peripheral surface of the housing 6c can be screwed to the inner peripheral surface of a recess provided in the elastic contact member fixing portion 7. With the above configuration, the elastic contact member 6 can be easily installed.

[0053] The multiple elastic contact members 6 are arranged rotationally symmetrically about the central axis O of the inner circumferential surface of the first connection portion body 4d. According to the above configuration, the operational stability of attaching and detaching the first connection portion 4 and the second connection portion 5 can be improved.

[0054] The first connection portion 4 is provided on the optical fiber cable 2, and the second connection portion 5 is provided on the optical probe 3. According to the above configuration, the structure of the optical probe 3 can be simplified.

[0055] The first connection portion 4 is provided on the optical fiber cable 2, the second connection portion 5 is provided on the optical probe 3, and the contact member 6b forms the first contact portion 4f. According to the above configuration, the structure of the optical probe 3 can be simplified, and the optical probe 3 can be made easier to clean.

[0056] The second connection part 5 has a rotating member 5e that is rotatable in the circumferential direction relative to the second connection part body 5b, and the rotating member 5e has a second screw joint part 5c and a second contact part 5d. According to the above configuration, the optical probe connection structure 1 can be simplified.

[0057] The second connection portion body 5b can rotate all around relative to the first connection portion body 4d in the connected state. According to the above configuration, the degree of freedom in adjusting the rotation angle of the first connection portion 4 and the second connection portion 5 can be increased.

[0058] The optical probe connection structure 1 has a rotation restricting part that can restrict rotation of the second connection part body 5b relative to the first connection part body 4d in the connected state. According to the above configuration, the rotation restricting part can satisfactorily maintain the state in which the rotation angle between the first connection part 4 and the second connection part 5 is appropriately adjusted.

[0059] The rotation restricting portion has a threaded hole that opens to the inner peripheral surface of the first connection portion body 4d, and a setscrew 4g that can come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the second connection portion body 5b when rotated while threadedly engaged with the threaded hole in the connected state. With the above configuration, the structure of the rotation restricting portion can be simplified.

[0060] Referring now to FIG. 1, an optical probe assembly according to one embodiment will be described.

[0061] 1, an optical probe assembly 8 according to this embodiment has an optical fiber cable 2 and an optical probe 3, and the optical fiber cable 2 and the optical probe 3 are connected by an optical probe connection structure 1. According to the above configuration, it is possible to realize an optical probe assembly 8 in which the rotation angle of the first connection part 4 and the second connection part 5 can be adjusted while they are connected, and in which the first connection part 4 and the second connection part 5 can be easily attached and detached.

[0062] The optical probe 3 is configured as an immersion probe. With the above configuration, the optical throughput (light collection utilization efficiency of excitation outgoing light / scattered incident light) of the excitation laser light irradiated onto the measurement sample and the light scattered from the measurement sample can be particularly improved.

[0063] Next, a spectroscopic analyzer 9 according to one embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0064] 1, the spectroscopic analyzer 9 according to this embodiment includes an optical probe assembly 8 and a spectroscopic analyzer main body 10 that is mechanically and optically connected to the other end of the optical fiber cable 2. According to the above configuration, it is possible to realize a spectroscopic analyzer 9 in which the rotation angle of the first connector 4 and the second connector 5 can be adjusted while they are connected, and in which the first connector 4 and the second connector 5 can be easily attached and detached.

[0065] The spectroscopic analyzer 9 is capable of Raman spectroscopic analysis. According to the above configuration, the rotation angles of the first connector 4 and the second connector 5 can be adjusted while they are connected, thereby easily improving the optical throughput.

[0066] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1 Optical probe connection structure 2. Fiber optic cable 3 Optical Probe 4 First connection part 4a Connection body 4b Locking member 4c Hooking member 4d First connection part body 4e First screw joint 4f 1st contact part 4g set screw 5 Second connection part 5a Circumferential groove 5b Second connection part body 5c Second screw joint 5d 2nd contact part 5e Rotating parts 6 Elastic contact member 6a compression spring 6b Contact member 6c Housing 7 Elastic contact member fixing part 8 Optical Probe Assembly 9 Spectroscopic analyzer 10 Spectrometer body O center axis

Claims

1. a first connection portion provided at one end of one of the optical fiber cable and the optical probe; a second connection portion provided at the other end of the optical fiber cable and the optical probe; The first connection portion has a connection portion body, a locking member movable between a first position and a second position relative to the connection portion body, and at least one hooking member, the hooking member is held in a first state in which it protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the connection portion main body by the locking member in the first position, and is allowed to be in a second state in which it retracts radially outward from the first state by the locking member in the second position, The outer peripheral surface of the second connection portion has a circumferential groove extending along the entire periphery, the second connection portion is brought into a connected state in which it is mechanically and optically connected to the first connection portion by the locking member moving from a state in which the locking member is at the second position and the outer peripheral surface of the second connection portion is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the connection portion body of the first connection portion to the first position so that the hooking member is held in a state in which it is hooked on the circumferential groove, the second connection portion is rotatable relative to the connection portion body of the first connection portion in the connected state; the second connection portion is capable of releasing the connected state by the locking member moving to the second position in the connected state, An optical probe connection structure having a rotation restricting portion that can restrict rotation of the second connection portion relative to the connection portion main body of the first connection portion in the connected state.

2. The optical probe connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein the hooking member is ball-shaped.

3. The optical probe connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner circumferential surface of the connection portion body of the first connection portion and the outer circumferential surface of the second connection portion is conical.

4. 2. The optical probe connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is movable in an axial direction along a central axis of the inner circumferential surface of the connection portion body of the first connection portion between the first position and the second position.

5. The optical probe connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hook members are arranged rotationally symmetrically about a central axis of the inner circumferential surface of the connection portion body of the first connection portion.

6. the first connection portion is provided on the optical fiber cable, The optical probe connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein the second connection portion is provided on the optical probe.

7. An optical probe connection structure as described in claim 1, wherein the rotation regulating portion has a threaded hole opening into the inner surface of the connection portion body of the first connection portion, and a locking screw that can come into contact with the outer surface of the second connection portion when, in the connected state, it is subjected to a rotational operation while screwed into the threaded hole.

8. the optical fiber cable; the optical probe, An optical probe assembly, wherein the optical fiber cable and the optical probe are connected by the optical probe connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The optical probe assembly of claim 8 , wherein the optical probe is configured as an immersion probe.

10. 9. A spectroscopic analyzer comprising the optical probe assembly according to claim 8 and a spectroscopic analyzer main body mechanically and optically connected to the other end of the optical fiber cable.

11. The spectroscopic analysis device according to claim 10, capable of Raman spectroscopic analysis.

Images