Optical connector and method for assembling optical connector

Abstract

An optical connector (1) comprises an optical fiber (F), a ferrule (10), a housing (20) that holds the ferrule (10), a coupling (30) surrounding the housing (20), and a biasing member (50) that biases the coupling (30) in the direction of a connecting end face (11) of the ferrule (10), wherein when the coupling (30) is not mounted, the biasing member (50) is rotatable about an axis (O) extending in a direction different from the longitudinal direction of the fiber holes (12) when the coupling (10) is unmounted.

Description

Optical connector and method for assembling the same

[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-106473, filed on June 28, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an optical connector including a ferrule, a housing, a coupling, and the like. The coupling is biased forward (toward the connecting end face of the ferrule) by a biasing member. A coil spring is typically used as the biasing member. The coupling has the function of maintaining the optical connector connected to the adapter. When disconnecting the optical connector from the adapter, the coupling is pulled backward (toward the opposite side from the connecting end face). This allows the adapter and the optical connector to be disengaged.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-13309

[0004] In conventional optical connectors, a coil spring that biases the coupling is disposed between the housing and the coupling. However, before the optical connector is connected to the adapter, the coupling may be detached to reduce the bulk of the optical connector. In conventional optical connectors, when the coupling is detached, the biasing member easily falls off the housing. As a result, assembling the optical connector is difficult.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector that allows easy assembly and a method for assembling an optical connector.

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the optical connector of aspect 1 of the present invention comprises an optical fiber, a ferrule having a fiber hole through which the optical fiber is inserted and a connection end face into which the fiber hole opens, a housing that holds the ferrule, a coupling that surrounds the housing, and a biasing member that biases the coupling toward the connection end face, and when the coupling is not attached, the biasing member is rotatable around an axis that extends in a direction different from the longitudinal direction of the fiber hole.

[0007] A second aspect of the present invention is the optical connector according to the first aspect, wherein the biasing member may be a leaf spring.

[0008] Aspect 3 of the present invention is an optical connector according to aspect 1 or 2, wherein the housing has a recess in which the urging member can be stored, and a support portion that rotatably supports the urging member is disposed inside the recess.

[0009] Aspect 4 of the present invention is an optical connector according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the biasing member may have a base end supported by the support portion, an abutment portion that contacts the housing, and a biasing portion located between the base end and the abutment portion and that contacts the coupling.

[0010] Aspect 5 of the present invention is an optical connector according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein the recess has a rear storage portion located rearward of the support portion, and the length of the rear storage portion in the longitudinal direction may be greater than the length from the base end to the abutment portion.

[0011] Aspect 6 of the present invention is a method for assembling an optical connector according to any one of aspects 1 to 5, in which the optical connector without the coupling attached is removed from inside the towing end, the biasing member is rotated around the axis, and the housing is inserted inside the coupling.

[0012] According to the above aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide an optical connector that can be easily assembled and a method for assembling an optical connector.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an optical connector according to the present embodiment. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a connector before a coupling is attached. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a biasing member is rotated in the connector of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view following Fig. 4, showing a state in which a coupling is attached to the connector. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the biasing member of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a view showing a state in which a plurality of connectors are housed inside the pulling end. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an optical connector according to a modified example.

[0014] An optical connector and an assembly method for the optical connector according to this embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the optical connector 1 includes a plurality of optical fibers F, a ferrule 10, a housing 20, and a coupling 30. The optical connector 1 shown in Figure 1 and other figures is male and includes two positioning pins 40. However, the optical connector 1 may also be female. In other words, the optical connector 1 does not necessarily need to include the positioning pins 40. The number of optical fibers F can be changed, and may be one.

[0015] The ferrule 10 has a connection end face 11, a plurality of fiber holes 12, and two positioning holes 13. The number of fiber holes 12 can be changed and may be one. Optical fibers F are inserted through the fiber holes 12. However, optical fibers F may not be inserted through some of the fiber holes 12. In other words, the number of optical fibers F may be less than the number of fiber holes 12. The fiber holes 12 and the positioning holes 13 open at the connection end face 11. The end faces of the optical fibers F are exposed at the connection end face 11.

[0016] (Direction Definition) The direction in which the fiber holes 12 extend is referred to as the longitudinal direction Z. In the longitudinal direction Z, the side of the connection end face 11 (+Z side) is referred to as the front or tip side. The opposite side (-Z side) is referred to as the rear or base side. The direction in which the two positioning holes 13 are aligned is referred to as the parallel direction X. The multiple fiber holes 12 are aligned in the parallel direction X. The direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction Z and the parallel direction X is referred to as the perpendicular direction Y.

[0017] 2, the optical connector 1 has two biasing members 50, a spring push 60, a ferrule spring 70, and a pin clamp 80. The biasing members 50 bias the coupling 30 forward. The ferrule spring 70 biases the ferrule 10 forward. The ferrule spring 70 is a coil spring. A plurality of optical fibers F are inserted inside the ferrule spring 70.

[0018] The pin clamp 80 is disposed behind the ferrule 10. The pin clamp 80 holds the positioning pin 40. The pin clamp 80 also functions to transmit the biasing force of the ferrule spring 70 to the ferrule 10. The ferrule spring 70 is compressed between the pin clamp 80 and the spring push 60. This generates an elastic force (biasing force) of the ferrule spring 70.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the housing 20 includes a front member 20a and a rear member 20b. The rear member 20b may function as a so-called boot. The boot is a part provided at the rear end of the optical connector 1 to relieve bending stress occurring in the optical fiber. The boot is preferably made of a soft material such as rubber. The front member 20a and the rear member 20b may be made of different materials. However, the housing 20 may also be composed of a single member.

[0020] The housing 20 accommodates the ferrule 10, spring push 60, ferrule spring 70, pin clamp 80, etc. The spring push 60 has a spring seat 61 and two locking portions 62. The spring seat 61 contacts the rear end of the ferrule spring 70. The two locking portions 62 extend forward from the spring seat 61. The two locking portions 62 are respectively locked into two locking holes 23 of the housing 20.

[0021] The two biasing members 50 are disposed at both ends of the housing 20 in the parallel direction X. In other words, the two biasing members 50 sandwich the housing 20 between them in the parallel direction X. The biasing members 50 in this embodiment are leaf springs. Each biasing member 50 has a base end 51, a contact portion 52, and a biasing portion 53. The biasing member 50 is bent at the biasing portion 53. In other words, the line connecting the base end 51 and the biasing portion 53 is not parallel to the line connecting the contact portion 52 and the biasing portion 53. The angle formed by these two lines is an obtuse angle.

[0022] One biasing member 50 is supported by two support portions 63 (see FIG. 1) of the spring push 60 and one rotation shaft 64 (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 2, when viewed from the orthogonal direction Y, the base end portion 51 is C-shaped, and the rotation shaft 64 is inserted inside. The rotation shaft 64 extends in the orthogonal direction Y. Both ends of the rotation shaft 64 in the orthogonal direction Y are supported by the two support portions 63. With this configuration, the biasing member 50 can rotate around an axis O (see FIG. 1) extending in the orthogonal direction Y. The rotation shaft 64 may be integral with the support portions 63. Alternatively, the rotation shaft 64 may be separate from the support portions 63.

[0023] Hereinafter, the state in which the urging portion 53 is located forward of the base end portion 51 as shown in Figure 2 etc. will be referred to as the "assembled state." The state in which the urging portion 53 is located rearward of the base end portion 51 as shown in Figure 3 etc. will be referred to as the "pre-assembled state."

[0024] In this embodiment, two support portions 63 and one rotation shaft 64 are used to rotatably support one biasing member 50. That is, the optical connector 1 has a total of four support portions 63 and two rotation shafts 64. However, the specific structure can be changed as long as it can rotatably support the biasing member 50.

[0025] The housing 20 has two recesses 20c capable of storing two biasing members 50. The recesses 20c are formed across the front member 20a and the rear member 20b. Each of the two recesses 20c has a front storage section 21 formed in the front member 20a and a rear storage section 22 formed in the rear member 20b. The support section 63 is disposed inside the recess 20c. The front storage section 21 is located forward of the support section 63, and the rear storage section 22 is located rearward of the support section 63. In the parallel direction X, the rear storage section 22 is deeper than the front storage section 21. The depth of the rear storage section 22 is preferably set so that the entire biasing member 50 can be stored therein. However, when the biasing member 50 is stored in the rear storage section 22, a portion of the biasing member 50 may protrude from the rear storage section 22.

[0026] 3 to 5 show how the optical connector 1 is assembled. FIG. 3 shows the state before the coupling 30 is attached to the housing 20. In this state (pre-assembly state), the biasing members 50 are stored in the rear storage sections 22. When assembling the optical connector 1, as shown in FIG. 4, the two biasing members 50 are each rotated forward (toward the +Z side). As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the two biasing members 50 are each stored in the front storage sections 21. In this state (assembled state), the coupling 30 is moved rearward (toward the -Z side) relative to the housing 20, as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 5. This results in the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, completing the assembly of the optical connector 1.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 3, the housing 20 is formed with one inclined surface 24, two front restriction surfaces 25, and two rear restriction surfaces 26. The front restriction surface 25 and the rear restriction surface 26 face each other in the longitudinal direction Z. As shown in Fig. 5, the coupling 30 is formed with two restriction portions 32. When the coupling 30 is moved as indicated by arrow A in Fig. 5, each restriction portion 32 moves while contacting the inclined surface 24 (see Fig. 3).

[0028] When the restricting portion 32 moves rearward over the front restricting surface 25, the restricting portion 32 is sandwiched between the front restricting surface 25 and the rear restricting surface 26. The coupling 30 is movable rearward relative to the housing 20 until the restricting portion 32 abuts against the rear restricting surface 26. The coupling 30 is also movable forward relative to the housing 20 until the restricting portion 32 abuts against the front restricting surface 25. In this way, the restricting portion 32, the front restricting surface 25, and the rear restricting surface 26 define the movable range of the coupling 30 relative to the housing 20.

[0029] 2 and 6, when the biasing member 50 is stored in the front storage portion 21, the abutment portion 52 contacts the inner surface of the front storage portion 21. The two-dot chain line in Fig. 6 shows the shape of the biasing member 50 before the coupling 30 is attached to the housing 20. In other words, the two-dot chain line shows the shape of the biasing member 50 before it is elastically deformed. Before the coupling 30 is attached, the biasing portion 53 of the biasing member 50 protrudes outward in the parallel direction X from the recess 20c (front storage portion 21).

[0030] As shown in FIG. 6 , an abutment surface 31 that comes into contact with the urging portion 53 is formed on the inner wall of the coupling 30. The abutment surface 31 is inclined inward in the parallel direction X as it extends forward (toward the +Z side). When the coupling 30 is attached to the housing 20, the abutment surface 31 presses the urging portion 53 inward in the parallel direction X. As a result, the urging member 50 is elastically deformed. Because the abutment surface 31 is inclined, part of the elastic force of the urging member 50 acts as a component force that urges the coupling 30 forward (toward the +Z side). In this way, the urging member 50 urges the coupling 30 forward.

[0031] Next, a description will be given of the operation of the optical connector 1 configured as above. In the following description, the optical connector 1 in a state in which the coupling 30 is not attached to the housing 20 will be referred to as a "connector 1a."

[0032] As shown in FIG. 7 , the connectors 1a may be temporarily housed inside the pulling end 100. The pulling end 100 is used when laying the optical cable C in a building or the like. In particular, the pulling end 100 is preferably used when laying the optical cable C in a narrow space such as a microduct. The optical cable C has multiple connectors 1a. The pulling end 100 is temporarily attached to the tip of the optical cable C. The pulling end 100 has a tubular body 101, a head 102, and a pulling eye 103. The multiple connectors 1a are housed inside the tubular body 101. The head 102 is attached to the tip of the tubular body 101. The pulling eye 103 is fixed to the head 102.

[0033] When laying the optical cable C, the work is performed, for example, in the following procedure. First, an optical cable C with a pulling end 100 attached (a cable with a pulling end) is prepared. In the state of the cable with a pulling end, the coupling 30 is not attached to the housing 20. In the state of the cable with a pulling end, the biasing member 50 is stored in the rear storage section 22. Next, the pulling eye 103 is pulled, and the optical cable C is inserted into a microduct or the like.

[0034] Next, the optical cable C is removed from the pulling end 100 to expose the connector 1a. Next, the biasing member 50 is rotated forward about the axis O and stored in the front storage section 21 (see FIG. 4). Next, the coupling 30 is attached to the housing 20 (see FIG. 5). This completes the assembly of the optical connector 1.

[0035] In order to improve the efficiency of the work of constructing an optical line, it is preferable to accommodate a larger number of connectors 1a inside the pulling end 100. In this embodiment, the connectors 1a are accommodated inside the pulling end 100 in a state in which the couplings 30 are not attached. When viewed from the longitudinal direction Z, the projected area of ​​the connectors 1a is smaller than the projected area of ​​the optical connector 1. This is because the couplings 30 are not attached in the state of the connectors 1a. In other words, without the couplings 30, a larger number of connectors 1a can be accommodated inside the pulling end 100.

[0036] Here, the biasing member 50 of this embodiment is rotatable about an axis O extending in a direction different from the longitudinal direction Z. This configuration allows the biasing member 50 to transition from a pre-assembly state ( FIG. 3 ) to an assembly state ( FIG. 2 , etc.). In the assembly state, the biasing member 50 protrudes from the recess 20c. In the pre-assembly state, the biasing member 50 protrudes less than in the assembly state. In this embodiment, in the pre-assembly state, the biasing member 50 is entirely stored in the recess 20c.

[0037] In this way, by storing multiple connectors 1a in a pre-assembled state inside the pulling end 100, the projected area of ​​the connectors 1a as viewed from the longitudinal direction Z can be made smaller. Then, by rotating the biasing member 50 about the axis O, the pre-assembled state can be easily transitioned to the assembled state. Because the biasing member 50 is supported by the support portion 63, the biasing member 50 is unlikely to fall off the housing 20 even when the coupling 30 is not present. As described above, the optical connector 1 can be easily assembled.

[0038] As described above, the optical connector 1 of this embodiment includes an optical fiber F, a ferrule 10 having a fiber hole 12 through which the optical fiber F is inserted and a connection end face 11 where the fiber hole 12 opens, a housing 20 that holds the ferrule 10, a coupling 30 that surrounds the housing 20, and a biasing member 50 that is disposed between the housing 20 and the coupling 30 and biases the coupling 30 forward. When the coupling 30 is not attached to the housing 20, the biasing member 50 is rotatable about an axis O that extends in a direction different from the longitudinal direction Z of the fiber hole 12 (for example, the perpendicular direction Y).

[0039] According to the optical connector 1 having this configuration, the position of the biasing member 50 can be easily changed from the pre-assembly state to the assembly state. Therefore, the posture of the biasing member 50 can be easily changed from the pre-assembly state with a small projected area to the assembly state in which the biasing member 50 can bias the coupling 30. This increases the number of connectors 1a that can be accommodated in the pulling end 100 and makes it easier to assemble the optical connector 1.

[0040] Furthermore, the biasing member 50 may be a leaf spring, in which case the projected area of ​​the connector 1 a can be made smaller, which means that more connectors 1 a can be accommodated in the pulling end 100.

[0041] Furthermore, a support portion 63 that rotatably supports the biasing member 50 may be disposed inside the recess 20c. In this case, the projected area of ​​the connector 1a can be made smaller than when the support portion 63 is disposed outside the recess 20c.

[0042] Moreover, the urging member 50 may have a base end 51 supported by the support portion 63, a contact portion 52 that contacts the housing 20, and a urging portion 53 that is located between the base end 51 and the contact portion 52 and contacts the coupling 30. With this configuration, the urging member 50 can be used to urge the coupling 30 forward (toward the connection end face 11).

[0043] Furthermore, the recess 20c may have a rear storage portion 22 located rearward of the support portion 63. The length L1 of the rear storage portion 22 in the longitudinal direction Z may be greater than the length L2 from the base end portion 51 to the abutment portion 52. With this configuration, the biasing member 50 can be stored in the rear storage portion 22 before the coupling 30 is attached. Therefore, the projected area of ​​the connector 1a in the unassembled state can be further reduced.

[0044] In addition, in the method of assembling the optical connector 1 of this embodiment, the connector 1a without the coupling 30 attached is removed from inside the pulling end 100, the biasing member 50 is rotated about the axis O, and the housing 20 is inserted into the inside of the coupling 30. According to this assembly method, a larger number of connectors 1a can be accommodated inside the pulling end 100. Therefore, the efficiency of laying the optical cable C using the pulling end 100 is improved.

[0045] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0046] For example, in the above embodiment, the urging member 50 and the recess 20c are disposed at both ends of the optical connector 1 in the parallel direction X. However, as shown in Fig. 8, the urging member 50 and the recess 20c may be disposed at both ends of the optical connector 1 in the perpendicular direction Y. Furthermore, the axis O that is the rotation center of the urging member 50 may extend in the parallel direction X. In this case, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0047] Furthermore, the axis O may extend in a direction different from the longitudinal direction Z. The direction in which the axis O extends does not have to coincide with the orthogonal direction Y or the parallel direction X. Furthermore, the support portion 63 that rotatably supports the biasing member 50 may be provided on the housing 20 instead of the spring push 60.

[0048] Furthermore, the recess 20c in the above embodiment has the front storage portion 21 and the rear storage portion 22. However, a structure in which the recess 20c does not have either the front storage portion 21 or the rear storage portion 22 can also be employed. For example, even if the front storage portion 21 is not provided, it is possible to bias the coupling 30 forward by the biasing member 50. Furthermore, even if the rear storage portion 22 is not provided, the effect of "being able to accommodate more connectors 1a in the towing end 100" can be obtained as long as the projected area of ​​the connector 1a in the unassembled state is smaller than the projected area of ​​the connector 1a in the assembled state.

[0049] Furthermore, the biasing member 50 does not have to be a leaf spring. If the biasing member 50 is rotatable about the axis O and can be easily transitioned from the pre-assembly state to the assembly state, the effect of improving the ease of assembly can be obtained.

[0050] In addition, it is possible to replace the components in the above-described embodiments with well-known components as appropriate, and the above-described embodiments and variations may be combined as appropriate, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0051] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 optical connector 10 ferrule 11 connection end face 12 fiber hole 20 housing 20c recess 22 rear storage section 30 coupling 50 biasing member 50 biasing member 51 base end 52 abutment section 53 biasing section 63 support section 100 pulling end F optical fiber O axis Z longitudinal direction

Claims

1. An optical fiber; a ferrule having a fiber hole through which the optical fiber is inserted and a connection end face through which the fiber hole opens; a housing for holding the ferrule; a coupling surrounding the housing; a biasing member that biases the coupling toward the connecting end surface, The optical connector, wherein the biasing member is rotatable about an axis extending in a direction different from the longitudinal direction of the fiber hole when the coupling is not attached.

2. 2. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a leaf spring.

3. the housing has a recess capable of accommodating the biasing member; 2. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein a support portion for rotatably supporting the biasing member is disposed inside the recess.

4. 2. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member has a base end supported by the support portion, an abutment portion that contacts the housing, and a biasing portion located between the base end and the abutment portion and that contacts the coupling.

5. the recess has a rear storage portion located rearward of the support portion, The optical connector according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the rear storage portion is greater than the length from the base end portion to the abutting portion in the longitudinal direction.

6. 6. A method for assembling an optical connector according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: removing the optical connector without the coupling attached from inside the pulling end; Rotating the biasing member about the axis; A method for assembling an optical connector, comprising inserting the housing into the inside of the coupling.