Optical Waveguide Plug Connector with Dual Clamping Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical fiber connectors face challenges in manufacturing complexity due to torque requirements and lack of waterproofing and strain relief, with existing solutions either being difficult to produce or not providing adequate sealing and strain relief.
Innovation Solution
An optical fiber connector design featuring a contact carrier with two clamping sections, one for the sheath and one for the fiber, equipped with cutting elements that counteract tensile forces, along with a seal and a transparent or translucent clamping part for easier assembly and positioning, ensuring a watertight seal and improved strain relief.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the optical waveguide is screwed into an internal thread to create a watertight seal, then the seal quality improves, but the manufacturing complexity and difficulty increase due to the torque required on the fiber optic cable
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into separate components: a connector body and a separate clamping element. The clamping element can be pre-assembled with the optical waveguide using simple insertion forces, and then the entire assembly is secured to the connector body. This segmentation eliminates the need to apply torque to the delicate fiber optic cable during assembly, while still providing a watertight seal through the connector body's sealing structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If a metal part is used to clamp the core of the fiber optic cable, then the assembly is simplified, but the connector is not waterproof and the strain relief is low
Solution Approach 1:
The connector body is constructed using composite materials, combining a polymer housing with an integrated elastomeric sealing element. This composite structure provides both the mechanical clamping function and the waterproof seal in a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate metal clamps while maintaining assembly simplicity and achieving waterproofing.
3Ease of manufacture
If a metal part is used to clamp the fiber optic cable, then the assembly process is simplified, but the strain relief of the optical fiber is low
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping element is designed with specific geometric parameters including a tapered configuration and optimized contact surface area. The taper angle and contact length are carefully selected to distribute clamping forces evenly along the optical waveguide, providing enhanced strain relief while maintaining simple assembly through friction-fit engagement with the connector body.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 9~10
AI summary
The invention relates to an optical waveguide plug part of an optical waveguide plug connector for an optical waveguide (10), which has a fiber and a sheath (13), with a contact carrier (30) for receiving the optical waveguide (10) and at least one clamping part (40) for securing the optical waveguide (10) in the contact carrier (30), wherein the clamping part (40) has a first clamping section (41) for clamping the sheath (13) of the optical waveguide (10) and a second clamping section (42) for clamping the fiber of the optical waveguide (10).