Optical Connector Coupling with Axial Snap Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical connector couplings require lateral accessibility for assembly, which is not always feasible, and the production of longitudinal stops as undercuts increases tooling effort, leading to potential misalignment and accidental disengagement of guide sleeves during optical plug connection.
Innovation Solution
A coupling design featuring two or more sleeve receiving cage parts with protruding lugs and corresponding nose receptacles allows for a snap connection in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, eliminating the need for lateral accessibility and ensuring secure engagement of the guide sleeve within the sleeve receiving cage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If longitudinal stops are designed as undercuts in the sleeve receiving cage, then the guide sleeve can be held back in the interior of the sleeve receiving cage, but the production tooling effort increases and the stops must be designed relatively flat for mold removal
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve receiving cage is divided into two separate parts: a base part and a cover part. The longitudinal stops are formed as protrusions on the base part, which can be easily manufactured without complex undercut tooling. The cover part snaps onto the base part to enclose the guide sleeve, achieving reliable retention while simplifying manufacturing of individual components.
2Reliability
If the sleeve receiving cage is designed as a single piece with undercut longitudinal stops, then the guide sleeve can be retained, but lateral accessibility is required for assembly which is not always feasible
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve receiving cage is segmented into a base part and a cover part that can be assembled separately. The base part can be installed in the coupling first, followed by snapping the cover part onto it. This two-part design eliminates the need for lateral accessibility during assembly, as components can be installed from the end of the coupling where optical connectors are inserted.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover part is designed with snap-fit connections that allow for easy assembly and disassembly. The elastic deformation of the cover part during snapping provides a simple, tool-free assembly process that can be performed from the end of the coupling, improving operational ease without compromising retention reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Coupling (1) for forming an optical connector (2) between two optical connectors (3, 4), wherein the coupling (1) has a guide sleeve (5) and a sleeve receiving cage (6) with an interior (7) for receiving the guide sleeve (5), wherein the sleeve receiving cage (6) has insertion openings (9, 10) arranged opposite each other on a longitudinal axis (8) of the sleeve receiving cage (6) for inserting a ferrule (11, 12) of the respective optical connector (3, 4) into the guide sleeve (5) in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (8), wherein the insertion openings (9, 10) are each at least partially surrounded by longitudinal stops (13) of the sleeve receiving cage (6) to prevent the guide sleeve (5) from being pulled out of the interior (7) of the sleeve receiving cage (6), and the sleeve receiving cage (6) has two sleeve receiving cage parts (14, 15) has and locking connection parts (16, 17) of the sleeve receiving cage parts (14,15) are designed to lock into one another by sliding the sleeve receiving cage parts (14, 15) together in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (8).