Pivotally Hinged Optical Fiber Adapter Protection Cap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical fiber connectors are vulnerable to environmental hazards like dust and debris, and exposed laser beams pose a risk to operators, necessitating effective protection when not in use.
Innovation Solution
A protection cap for optical fiber adapters featuring a casing with supporting lugs and a pivotally connected lid, secured by shafts and a coil spring, which can be easily opened and closed to allow connector insertion and prevent dust ingress, with a protrusion mechanism to maintain the lid in an open position until manually closed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the protection cap is designed to be securely closed to prevent dust and dirt ingress, then the sealing performance is improved, but the ease of opening and closing the cap deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protection cap employs a dynamic hinge connection between the covering lid and the body, allowing the lid to pivot between open and closed positions. This dynamic mechanism enables easy operation while maintaining reliable sealing when closed, resolving the contradiction between secure closure and ease of opening/closing.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection cap uses a spring-loaded mechanism that automatically returns the covering lid to the closed position after opening. This self-service feature reduces the effort required for operation while ensuring consistent sealing performance, addressing both the reliability and ease of operation requirements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the protection cap completely encloses the adapter to block laser beams, then the safety performance is improved, but the accessibility for connector insertion and removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protection cap is segmented into a body and a removable covering lid connected by a hinge. This segmentation allows the lid to be opened for connector access while maintaining complete enclosure and laser beam obstruction when closed, resolving the contradiction between safety and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge connection creates a dynamic opening in the enclosure that can be easily accessed for connector insertion and removal. When closed, the lid provides complete enclosure for laser beam obstruction. This dynamic feature resolves the contradiction between safety performance and connector accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A protect cap for an optical fiber adapter according to the present disclosure is provided. The protect cap includes a casing defining a passage for receiving the optical fiber adapter, a pair of supporting lugs formed on the casing, a covering lid, and a pair of supporting arms extending from the covering lid. Each of the supporting lugs defines a shaft hole. Each of the supporting arms is provided with a shaft, wherein the shafts are positioned in the shaft holes, respectively such that the covering lid is pivotally connected to the casing. A first protrusion is formed on one of the shafts and a second protrusion is formed on an inner surface of one of the shaft holes. When the shafts are rotated to bring the first protrusion into contact with the second protrusion, the covering lid is kept in an open position with respect to the casing.