LC-Type Two-Core Shutter Adapter Snap-Fit Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LC-type two-core shutter adapters face issues with directional restrictions during assembly, potential contact between the sleeve holder and shutter plate, compromised sealability, and reduced guiding and retaining strength, leading to light leakage and dust contamination.
Innovation Solution
The adapter employs a slide-lock type structure with an upper lid housing, a sleeve holder with split sleeves, and a lower lid housing, featuring locking projections and concave portions, an inclined sleeve holder surface, and a leaf spring to prevent contact and enhance sealability and guiding performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If ultrasonic welding is used to assemble the adapter, then assembly strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity and equipment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter housing is divided into upper and lower separate parts that can be assembled through snap-fitting mechanisms rather than requiring ultrasonic welding. The shutter plate is also segmented with notches that allow it to be divided into functional zones for different operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the ultrasonic welding mechanical system with a simpler snap-fit mechanical assembly system. The locking projections and locked hole portions provide mechanical interlocking without requiring thermal or vibrational energy input from welding equipment.
2Reliability
If the shutter plate is positioned to avoid contact with the latch piece, then shutter operation reliability is improved, but the adapter length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the spatial conflict by changing the dimensional arrangement of components. The latch piece is repositioned relative to the shutter plate along different spatial dimensions, allowing the shutter to operate reliably without requiring increased adapter length. The locking mechanism operates in a different dimensional plane than the shutter movement.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the bottom plate is attached to the downward opened adapter housing, then structural completeness is improved, but assembly precision and alignment difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter housing is pre-formed with integrated bottom plate attachment features during the molding process. The locking projections and engagement surfaces are built into the housing structure before final assembly, eliminating the need for precise post-assembly operations to attach the bottom plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom plate attachment function is merged with the adapter housing structure itself. The housing is designed as a single integrated component that includes built-in attachment features, combining multiple functions into one element and simplifying the overall assembly process.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2F
Figure 3A~3F
AI summary
Restriction in an adapter direction is not necessarily set by employing a slide-lock type structure, corner portions of a sleeve holder do not possibly come into contact when a shutter plate is opened, a guiding performance is improved and an LC-type optical connector plug can be housed compactly. An adapter includes an upper lid housing (1) which is provided in right and left wall surfaces with locking projections (4) and provided in an upper wall surface with an arm (6), a shutter plate (3) which is arranged in an opening side of the upper lid housing (1) in a rising direction, a sleeve holder (20) which is constructed by a first cylinder (21) and a second cylinder (23) holding a split sleeve (25) therebetween, a lower lid housing (30) which is provided in right and left wall surfaces (34, 34) with locked hole portions (36A) for fitting the locking projections (4) and provided in an upper wall surface with a locking concave portion (35) locking the arm (6), and a through hole (13) for inserting a fitting projection (31) provided in a protruding manner in a leading end of a bottom plate (32) of the lower lid housing (30) into a lower end of the upper lid housing (1).