Tilting Optical Connector Cleaning Head for Uniform Ferrule Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical connector cleaning tools face challenges in maintaining uniform pressing force and effective cleaning performance, especially when dealing with diagonally polished joining end surfaces and irregular insertion orientations, leading to uneven contamination removal and potential displacement of optical connectors during cleaning.
Innovation Solution
The optical connector cleaning tool features a head component with a cleaning medium pressing surface that tilts gradually due to an elastic deformation of a circular arc-shaped or waveform tilt spring, ensuring consistent contact with the optical connector's surface, regardless of its orientation, and is designed to prevent displacement during the cleaning process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the head component is made rigid to maintain stable pressing force, then the pressing force stability is improved, but the adaptability to different insertion orientations and tilted surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The head component is designed to be tiltable relative to the insertion portion, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation to match the cleaning surface. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the cleaning tool to adapt to different insertion orientations and tilted ferrule surfaces while maintaining effective cleaning contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The tilt angle of the head component is designed to be equal to or greater than the tilt angle of the diagonally polished joining end surface. By changing the orientation parameter of the head component to match or exceed the surface tilt angle, the cleaning medium can maintain uniform pressing force across the entire cleaning surface regardless of insertion orientation.
2Reliability
If the cleaning medium is pressed uniformly across the surface, then the cleaning performance is improved, but the risk of displacing the optical connector deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing force is concentrated on the distal end surface of the head component that is in contact with the ferrule, rather than being distributed along the entire insertion portion. This localized pressing approach ensures effective cleaning at the cleaning surface while minimizing displacement forces on the optical connector body.
Solution Approach 2:
The head component can tilt to match the ferrule surface orientation, allowing the cleaning medium to press uniformly across the tilted cleaning surface. This dynamic orientation adjustment ensures that the pressing force is optimally distributed across the cleaning area, improving cleaning performance while the localized nature of the pressing minimizes connector displacement.
3Area of stationary object
If the head component extends to the spring apex portion side to increase contact area, then the cleaning coverage is improved, but the uniformity of pressing force deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tilt spring has a circular arc shape that provides elastic support to the head component. The curved geometry of the spring allows it to deform elastically and maintain uniform pressing force distribution across the head component's distal end surface, even as the head tilts to match the ferrule surface angle.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning medium pressing surface is designed to tilt gradually from the spring apex portion side toward the spring rear side, with the tilt angle matching or exceeding the ferrule surface tilt angle. This controlled parameter change in surface orientation, combined with the elastic support from the circular arc spring, ensures both adequate contact area and uniform pressing force distribution.
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
This design ensures a uniform pressing force and excellent cleaning performance across various orientations, effectively preventing contamination and maintaining the integrity of the optical connector's surface, even when the tool is tilted or subjected to external forces like vibration.
Implementation Method 1
a circular arc-shaped or waveform tilt spring that protrudes from a front end in the direction of the pressing against the optical connector of the supporting portion main body, and the head component is supported at a protruding distal end that protrudes from the supporting portion main body of the tilt spring such that it can be tilted by an elastic deformation of the tilt spring
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning tool is provided wherein a head unit (4) that is equipped with a supporting portion main body (44), a circular arc-shaped tilt spring (41) that protrudes from this supporting portion main body (44), and a head component (23) that is supported on a protruding distal end (411) of the tilt spring (41) is incorporated into a distal end portion of a protruding portion that protrudes from a tool main body, and wherein the head component (23) is tilted such that the side thereof that protrudes from the protruding distal end (411) of the tilt spring (41) towards the curve apex portion (412) of the tilt spring (41) protrudes towards the rear side, and the head component (23) protrudes towards the front side as it moves towards the opposite side from the protruding distal end (411).