Fiber Optic Adapter Assemblies with Nested Housings for Dense-Pack Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber optic connector assemblies face challenges in efficiently connecting and disconnecting from closure assemblies, particularly in densely packed configurations where space is limited, making it difficult for users to manipulate the connectors.
Innovation Solution
The proposed fiber optic connector assembly includes a connector housing with a rotationally-discrete locking portion, an adapter assembly with a conversion housing and a release housing. The conversion housing features a conversion retention member that can be moved between engaged and disengaged positions, allowing for secure locking and easy release of the connector housing from the adapter assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If fiber optic connectors are densely packed in closure assemblies, then space utilization is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in manipulating connectors
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter assembly includes a conversion housing that receives the connector housing, and a release housing that receives the conversion housing. This nested structure allows multiple housing levels to be compactly arranged within the closure assembly, improving space utilization while maintaining operational access through the hierarchical release mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The release housing acts as an intermediary component between the user and the connector housing. By providing a release mechanism on the outermost housing level, users can easily manipulate and disconnect connectors without directly accessing the densely packed connector housings inside the closure assembly.
2Ease of operation
If conversion housing and release housing are added to the adapter assembly, then ease of operation is improved through easy release mechanism, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the connector housing, the conversion housing, and the release housing. Each housing performs a specific function and can be independently manufactured and assembled, which manages complexity through functional decomposition while enabling easy release operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The release mechanism incorporates movable components including the conversion retention member that can transition between engaged and disengaged positions. This dynamic element allows the assembly to switch between locked and released states, providing ease of operation while the movable parts are designed to minimize overall structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A fiber optic connector assembly includes a connector housing defining locking portion defined, an adapter assembly selectively coupled to the connector housing, the adapter assembly including a conversion housing extending around the connector housing and defining a conversion retention member that is positionable between an engaged position, in which the conversion retention member restricts movement of the connector housing with respect to the adapter assembly in an axial direction, and a disengaged position, in which the connector housing is movable with respect to the adapter assembly in the axial direction, and a release housing positioned between the conversion housing and the connector housing, the release housing defining a release front end positionable at least partially within the conversion housing, and a release face selectively engageable with the conversion retention member and configured to move the conversion retention member from the engaged position to the disengaged position.