Fiber Optic Adapter Shutter Retention Cap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber optic adapters with shutters are prone to dust ingress, have complex assembly issues, and are costly due to numerous parts, making them inefficient for dust protection and eye safety.
Innovation Solution
A fiber optic adapter assembly with pivot arms, latch arms, and movable shutters, a spring clip, and a retention cap that seals gaps to prevent dust entry, allowing for easy assembly and improved dust protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional adapters with shutters are used, then eye safety and dust reduction are provided, but dust can still enter from the sides and the structure is complex with many parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the shutter assembly: the shutter itself, the pivot arms for rotation, the latch arms for positioning, and the retention cap for sealing all integrate into a unified structure. This merging reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining eye safety and dust protection functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention cap acts as a flexible sealing element that encloses the shutter assembly and seals gaps between components. This thin film-like structure provides dust-proof sealing without adding significant complexity, addressing the gap leakage issue in traditional adapters.
2Ease of operation
If traditional adapters with shutters are used, then shutters can be opened automatically or manually, but assembly is difficult due to size and relative placement of parts
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter assembly is segmented into modular components: the retention cap, pivot arms, latch arms, and shutter elements can be assembled separately and then integrated. This segmentation makes manufacturing and assembly easier by allowing each component to be prepared independently before final assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention cap serves as an intermediary component that facilitates assembly by providing a housing structure into which other components (shutter, pivot arms, latch arms) can be integrated. This mediator element simplifies the relative placement and positioning of parts during assembly.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional adapters with shutters are used, then dust protection is provided, but gaps between parts allow dust to enter
Solution Approach 1:
The retention cap provides a flexible sealing shell that encloses the shutter assembly and seals gaps between moving parts. This sealing structure ensures dust-proof performance while allowing the shutter to move, resolving the contradiction between dust protection and mechanical movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention cap is designed to preemptively seal potential gap areas where dust could enter, addressing dust ingress prevention before it becomes a problem. The sealing structure is built into the design to prevent dust entry through gaps between the shutter and adapter body.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional adapters with shutters are used, then shutters are provided for eye safety, but the adapter has too many parts increasing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the shutter mechanism with the retention cap and pivot arm assembly into an integrated unit. This consolidation maintains the eye safety function while reducing the number of separate parts, thereby lowering manufacturing costs and simplifying the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: eye safety by blocking light, dust protection by sealing gaps, and structural support through the pivot and latch mechanisms. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, decreasing parts quantity while maintaining safety.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively seals gaps to prevent dust and debris from entering, simplifies assembly, and reduces costs by minimizing parts, enhancing both dust protection and eye safety.
Implementation Method 1
a spring clip positioned around a portion of the adapter body, the spring clip including a plurality of fingers moveably contacting each of the first shutter and the second shutter
Implementation Method 2
a first pair of pivot arms adjacent the first side surface and extending longitudinally away from the main opening, a second pair of pivot arms adjacent the second side surface and extending longitudinally away from the main opening
Data Source
AI summary
A fiber optic adapter assembly includes an adapter body, a spring clip and a retention cap attached to the adapter body enclosing each of the spring clip and two shutters. The adapter body has a main opening and a plurality of pivot arms extending away from the main opening and two latch arms, each of the latch arms disposed between a pair of the pivot arms causing gaps between the latch arms and the pivot arms, which are sealed by the retention cap. The spring clip has a plurality of fingers moveably contacting each of shutters, which pivot between a first and second position.