Optical Connector Sealing Ring Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plug parts with multiple light guides face complexity in sealing and protection, as they require separate closure flaps for each receiving channel, leading to incomplete housing coverage and potential dirt and moisture penetration.
Innovation Solution
A plug part design featuring a sealing ring that moves within a longitudinal guide space to reduce friction and wear, ensuring a durable seal, and a closure flap that covers both individual light guide channels and the passage opening, providing a dust-tight and moisture-tight seal by attaching to the displacement part and housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate closure flaps are provided for each receiving channel, then each channel can be individually closed, but the device complexity increases significantly for connectors with multiple light guides
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate closure flaps for individual receiving channels are merged into a single common closure flap that covers all passage openings simultaneously. This unified flap structure eliminates the complexity of managing multiple separate flaps while maintaining comprehensive sealing protection for all light guide channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The common closure flap serves multiple functions: it closes all passage openings for multiple light guides, protects the entire interior housing space, and can be actuated by a single displacement part. This multi-functional design replaces what would otherwise require multiple specialized components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If only receiving channels are covered by closure flaps, then individual channel protection is achieved, but the entire interior housing space remains exposed to dirt and moisture
Solution Approach 1:
The protection scope is expanded from the one-dimensional receiving channels to the three-dimensional entire interior housing space. The common closure flap extends its coverage to include all passage openings and the full internal volume, creating comprehensive environmental protection against dirt and moisture infiltration.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a seal is provided between moving parts of the plug part, then dust-tight and moisture-tight sealing is achieved, but frictional forces and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The sealing ring can move within the guide space of the displacement part, allowing it to adapt to relative movements between components while maintaining the seal. This dynamic capability reduces friction and wear compared to rigid fixed seals.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealing ring serves as an intermediary element between the displacement part and the common closure flap. This intermediate sealing component absorbs the wear and friction from relative movements, protecting the main structural parts while maintaining the dust-tight and moisture-tight seal throughout the connector's operational life.
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
The design achieves a secure and durable seal, protecting the entire interior space of the housing while allowing for easy connection of multiple light guides with a single plugging process, minimizing wear and maintaining a tight seal with reduced frictional forces.
Implementation Method 1
Sealing ring is moved, for example by rolling in the guide space, in the respective displacement direction in which the displacement part is currently being displaced. This reduces the frictional forces occurring on the sealing ring. In addition, wear and tear is minimized
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~6
Figure 7~10
AI summary
The part (1) has optical fibers (3) arranged within a housing (5), and a sliding part (6) linearly slidable relative to the housing and supported at or within the housing. An actuating element (8) pivots a closure flap (4) during sliding of the sliding part. A through-opening (7) in the sliding part is completely closed by the flap in a closed position of the flap. The sliding part has a front surface (9) arranged an outer side of the sliding part in the closed position of the flap. The optical fibers are held individually or together in an optical fiber carrier.