Tube Coupling Collet Lock for Visible Impact-Resistant Connectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fibre optic cable connectors face challenges in achieving a balance between visibility of the fibre bundle and impact resistance, as opaque materials used for impact resistance are brittle and opaque, while non-opaque materials are more brittle and lack transparency, and existing locking mechanisms are prone to failure and dirt ingress.
Innovation Solution
A tube coupling design that locks the collet solely through interaction between the body and collet, eliminating external locking clips and rings, and uses an inner sleeve spaced from an outer sleeve to provide impact protection, with a continuous cylindrical outer surface and undercut annular flange to reduce snagging hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If opaque plastic material is used for the connector body, then impact resistance is improved, but visibility of the fibre bundle deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector body is divided into two distinct material zones: an opaque impact-resistant portion and a transparent window portion. This segmentation allows each zone to fulfill its specific function - the opaque portion provides mechanical strength and impact resistance, while the transparent portion enables visual inspection of the fibre bundle without requiring the entire connector to be transparent.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector body exhibits non-uniform optical properties - most of the body is made opaque for impact resistance, but a specific local region (the window portion) is made transparent to allow fibre visibility. This local quality change enables the connector to simultaneously achieve both impact resistance and visibility requirements in different spatial locations.
2Illumination intensity
If non-opaque plastic material is used for the connector body, then visibility of the fibre bundle is improved, but impact resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector body is divided into two distinct material zones: an opaque impact-resistant portion and a transparent window portion. This segmentation allows each zone to fulfill its specific function - the opaque portion provides mechanical strength and impact resistance, while the transparent portion enables visual inspection of the fibre bundle without requiring the entire connector to be transparent.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector body exhibits non-uniform optical properties - most of the body is made opaque for impact resistance, but a specific local region (the window portion) is made transparent to allow fibre visibility. This local quality change enables the connector to simultaneously achieve both impact resistance and visibility requirements in different spatial locations.
3Reliability
If external locking clips or rings are used to secure the collet, then locking reliability is improved, but device complexity and susceptibility to dirt ingress increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is merged with the connector body structure itself. The body includes an inclined locking surface that directly engages with a cam surface on the collet, eliminating the need for separate locking clips or rings. This integration reduces the number of components, simplifies the structure, and prevents dirt ingress that would occur with external locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The external locking clips and rings are extracted from the system entirely. The locking function is achieved through the intrinsic interaction between the body's inclined surface and the collet's cam surface, removing the problematic external locking components that caused complexity and dirt ingress issues.
4Strength
If circumferential ribs are added to reinforce the connector, then impact resistance is improved, but dirt trapping and visual inspection difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The circumferential ribs are extracted from the connector design. Instead of adding reinforcing ribs that create dirt traps, the patent achieves impact resistance through the opaque/transparent material segmentation and the integrated locking mechanism, eliminating the need for ribs and their associated dirt trapping problems.
Data Source
AI summary
A tube coupling comprising having a coupling body with an opened ended throughway to receive a tube. A collet is located in the open end of the through way having a ring and flexible arms extending generally axially of the ring into the throughway. The throughway has a tapered surface convergent towards the open end and the collet arms have heads at their distal ends for engaging the tapered surface and a tube extending through the collet into the throughway to be compressed against the tube by the tapered surface with outward movement of the collet with respect of the throughway to secure the tube in the throughway. A collet lock is formed on the collet, and the collet has a locked rotary position Either the body or the collet has a cam surface and the other has a cam follower.