Optical Fiber Adapter with Hooking Retaining Clips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical fiber adapters are costly due to the need for multiple components and complex assembly processes, which can lead to alignment issues and stress on retaining clips, resulting in potential failure over time.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece optical fiber adapter design featuring an outer housing with a chamber, a first alignment cylinder, and stop blocks, and an inner housing with retaining clips that include a bending part, an extending part, and a hooking part, all constructed using injection molding for reduced complexity and stress on components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple components (outer housing, inner housing, alignment sleeve) are used to construct the optical fiber adapter, then the adapter can provide alignment functionality, but the number of components and assembly steps increases, leading to higher production costs and potential alignment issues during welding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the outer housing and inner housing into a single integrated housing structure. The alignment sleeve is positioned within this unified housing, eliminating the need for separate outer and inner housing components. This merging reduces the total number of parts while maintaining the alignment functionality through the integrated design of the housing and alignment sleeve assembly.
2Ease of manufacture
If welding or riveting processes are used to attach housing components, then the components can be connected, but alignment issues occur due to shifting during the attachment process
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the outer and inner housings into a single piece structure, the patent eliminates welding or riveting processes entirely. The unified housing is manufactured as one component, preventing any alignment shifts that would occur during attachment processes. The alignment sleeve is then positioned within this pre-formed housing, ensuring precise alignment without the need for thermal or mechanical joining processes.
3Reliability
If a housing cover is welded over a window to cover components, then the components are protected, but the number of components increases and multiple assembly steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the protective cover function directly into the main housing structure. Instead of adding a separate housing cover that would need to be welded or attached over a window, the housing is designed with integrated walls and structures that provide protection for the alignment sleeve and other components. This eliminates the need for additional cover components and assembly steps while maintaining protective functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
The optical fiber adapter of the present disclosure includes an outer housing and an inner housing. The outer housing has a chamber surrounded by four walls. A first plate, a first alignment cylinder and two stop blocks are formed in the chamber. The first alignment cylinder extends from the first plate, and the two stop blocks are respectively formed on two of the four walls. The inner housing includes a second plate, a second alignment cylinder and two retaining clips. The second alignment cylinder extends in a longitudinal direction from the second plate. The two retaining clips are formed on the second plate, and each of the retaining clips includes a bending part, an extending part and a hooking part. The bending part has an arcuate cross-section and extends from the second plate. The extending part extends out from the rear end of the bending part in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction. The hooking part has a wedge shape and is formed on an outer surface of the rear end of the extending part. The hooking parts of the two retaining clips are respectively hooked onto the two stop blocks, thereby preventing the inner housing from being pulled out of the outer housing.