Fiber Optic Ferrule Guide Pin Clamp with Field-Changeable Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fiber optic connectors with guide pins are difficult to convert between male and female configurations in the field due to the guide pin clamp's design, which prevents easy removal or insertion of guide pins without disassembling other components and maintaining alignment with the ferrule.
Innovation Solution
A pin clamp with a forward clamp portion, a rearward clamp portion, and a guide pin retaining plate that allows for the field-changeable guide pins, enabling the guide pin openings and retaining plate to align for easy insertion or removal, and the clamp portions are movable to accommodate different configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If guide pins are attached to the guide pin clamp and extend through the fiber optic ferrule, then the connector structure is stable and guide pins are held in place, but the guide pins cannot be easily removed or changed in the field
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pin clamp is divided into a forward clamp portion and a rearward clamp portion that can move relative to each other. The guide pin retaining plate is separated from the clamp body, allowing it to be independently actuated. This segmentation enables the guide pins to be released without removing the entire clamp assembly from the ferrule.
Solution Approach 2:
The rearward clamp portion is made movable relative to the forward clamp portion through a cam mechanism. When the cam is actuated, it forces the rearward clamp portion to move, which in turn moves the guide pin retaining plate to release the guide pins. This dynamic mechanism allows field-changeable guide pins while maintaining stable retention during normal operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If the guide pin clamp has short extensions inserted into the guide pin holes in the fiber optic ferrule, then the pin clamp aligns with the fiber optic ferrule, but the connector cannot be converted between male and female configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism enables the guide pin retaining plate to be dynamically positioned. In the first position, the retaining plate engages the guide pins for precise alignment. In the second position, the retaining plate disengages, allowing guide pins to be inserted or removed. This dynamic positioning provides both alignment precision and configuration adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam acts as an intermediary mechanism between the operator and the guide pin retaining plate. By actuating the cam, the operator indirectly controls the position of the retaining plate, enabling smooth transitions between aligned and disaligned states without forcing removal of the clamp assembly.
3Reliability
If guide pins are connected to the guide pin clamp, then the guide pins are held securely, but the guide pins are not easily removed once the fiber optic connector is completed
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pin holding system is segmented into the clamp body and the movable retaining plate. The retaining plate can be independently actuated by the cam mechanism to release guide pins, while the clamp body remains attached to the ferrule. This segmentation enables easy guide pin replacement for repair or reconfiguration without complete disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism serves as an intermediary that provides controlled access to the guide pin retention system. Actuating the cam forces the retaining plate to move, creating a temporary release state that allows guide pin removal or insertion. This intermediary mechanism makes repair and reconfiguration straightforward while maintaining secure holding during normal use.
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
Enables the conversion of fiber optic connectors between male and female configurations without disassembling other components, allowing for flexible alignment and easy insertion or removal of guide pins, thereby addressing the challenge of field-changeable guide pins.
Implementation Method 1
a spring, and a spring push, the pin clamp that includes a forward clamp portion to engage the rear face of the fiber optic ferrule... a rearward clamp portion configured to engage the spring for biasing the fiber optic ferrule in the fiber optic connector
Data Source
AI summary
A fiber optic ferrule and a guide pin clamp allows for changing guide pins in the field. The guide pin clamp has a forward clamp portion, a rearward clamp portion configured to engage the biasing spring and a guide pin retaining plate. The forward clamp portion and the rearward clamp portion move relative to one another to also move guide pin retaining plate from a first position to a second position to allow for the removal or insertion of guide pins.