Ferrule Housing Coding Region for Tolerance Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ferrule designs for optical waveguide connectors face challenges in achieving sufficient spring travel without canting, compromising housing stability and tolerance compensation, especially in SC housings, which are prone to mechanical overstressing and require complex assembly procedures.
Innovation Solution
A ferrule with a circumferential, planar collar and a ferrule housing featuring a coding region with a non-circular cross-section, allowing for extensive spring travel without rotation, secured by a helical spring and latching sleeve, enabling secure screwing and tolerance compensation within predetermined dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the guide surfaces are extended to provide sufficient spring travel, then the ferrule can achieve adequate tolerance compensation, but the housing stability is reduced and the ferrule housing walls become thinner
Solution Approach 1:
The invention relocates the guide surfaces from the plug-in side to the cable connection side of the ferrule housing. This dimensional relocation allows the guide surfaces to extend along the cable connection side without compromising the plug-in side housing thickness, thereby maintaining housing stability while providing sufficient guide surface length for tolerance compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of extending guide surfaces on the plug-in side as in conventional designs, the invention inverts the approach by positioning the guide surfaces on the cable connection side. This inversion resolves the conflict between guide surface length requirements and housing stability requirements.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the guide surfaces are lengthened to prevent ferrule tilting, then the ferrule remains stable in the sprung-back state, but the housing material in the tapered region is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surfaces are repositioned from the plug-in side to the cable connection side, allowing them to extend in a different spatial dimension. This enables sufficient guide surface length for preventing ferrule tilting without reducing material in the tapered plug-in side region.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different structural characteristics to different regions: the plug-in side maintains thick housing walls for stability and latching, while the cable connection side provides extended guide surfaces for ferrule orientation control, optimizing each region for its specific function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the spring travel is extended to increase tolerance range, then the ferrule can compensate for larger dimensional variations, but the housing stability and shear force absorption are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surfaces are relocated to the cable connection side, enabling extended spring travel and tolerance compensation without compromising the structural integrity and shear force absorption capacity of the plug-in side housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The ferrule housing is functionally segmented into two regions: the plug-in side optimized for stability and shear force absorption with adequate material thickness, and the cable connection side optimized for guide surfaces and spring travel, allowing both requirements to be satisfied simultaneously.
4Strength
If the guide surfaces are shortened to maintain housing stability, then the housing can absorb screwing forces better, but the ferrule tilts in the sprung-back state
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surfaces are positioned on the cable connection side rather than the plug-in side, allowing them to provide sufficient length for preventing ferrule tilting without interfering with the housing's ability to absorb screwing forces at the plug-in side.
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
This design allows for large tolerance compensation without canting, facilitating convenient in-field assembly and stable screwing of optical waveguides with high screwing forces, maintaining housing stability and preventing mechanical overstressing.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element is provided for positioning the conductor relative to the main body and is clamped between the conductor holder and the anti-kink element
Data Source
AI summary
A ferrule can be assembled in the field. A ferrule collar has a non-circular, in particular polygonal outer contour. A corresponding coding region of a ferrule housing is arranged in a portion of a contact chamber on a cable-connection side and has a non-circular, in particular polygonal cross section, in which the ferrule collar is held with a form fit over the entire spring displacement path. The ferrule spring acts on the ferrule collar over the entire displacement path. As a result, the ferrule is secured against rotation about its axis by a high holding force, which makes it easier for a fibre-optic cable to be screwed on. The structural form is particularly well-suited for use in a plug-in connector module.