JP2008286848A - Optical plug connector with shutter - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an optical plug connector with a shutter, and provides a shutter structure that can be used without changing the outer diameter shape on the plug side compared to the existing state and also on the adapter side.
A shutter that shuts off laser light in a disconnected state is provided at the tip end side position of the ferrule, the shutter is supported by a cylindrical first shutter housing, and the first shutter housing is a cylindrical second shutter housing. The second shutter housing is urged forward by the elastic means, the shutter is locked inside the rear cylinder of the first shutter housing, and the first shutter housing is against the second shutter housing. When the shutter moves backward, the shutter is drawn back between the first shutter housing and the second shutter housing while being expanded by the cylindrical body of the second shutter housing.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a plug connector for optical communication in which, for example, a shutter that prevents laser light from leaking and prevents laser light from entering the eyes is provided on the tip side of a ferrule of an optical plug connector. .

As an optical plug connector with a shutter, Conventional Example 1: A shutter housing is provided outside the optical plug connector, and the shutter housing moves when it comes into contact with the front face of the adapter opening to be mated, and the optical plug connector with the shutter is opened. (See Patent Document 1).
Conventional Example 2: There is known a structure in which a shutter is provided inside an optical plug connector, and a part of the shutter is opened so as to open outside the adapter opening (see Patent Document 2).
JP 2005-92082 A JP 2005-308803 A

  However, for example, in the case of the optical plug connector with a shutter according to Conventional Example 1, when the shutter housing is on the outside, the plug opening is completely covered, and the outer shape becomes large. In addition, there is a problem that the operability is poor because there is no guideability when the adapter is inserted. Furthermore, in the conventional example 2, when applied to a connector conforming to a conventional standard, it is necessary to hit the outside of the opening, which is one restriction in use. The standard mainly defines the inside of the opening, and even if it conforms to the standard, the external shape may be different. Even when the shutter is on the inside, the same applies if a part of the shutter or another member needs to hit the adapter opening to open the shutter. The optical plug connector with shutter according to the present invention has been proposed to solve such problems.

  The gist for solving the above-mentioned problems of the optical plug connector with shutter according to the present invention is to connect the laser light on the optical axis in a non-connected state at the tip side position of the ferrule provided at one end of the optical fiber cable. In the optical plug connector provided with a shutter that shuts off at the same time, the shutter is supported by a cylindrical first shutter housing provided in a space between the ferrule and a plug frame that surrounds the ferrule. The one shutter housing is slidably fitted to the outside of the cylindrical second shutter housing, and is always urged forward by the first elastic means having the reaction force at the end of the second shutter housing. And the second shutter housing is slidably fitted to the ferrule to surround the optical plug connector. The second elastic means having a reaction force at a part of the rear end is always urged forward, and the shutter is locked inside the rear cylinder of the first shutter housing. Shuts off the laser beam on the optical axis, and when the first shutter housing moves backward with respect to the second shutter housing, the shutter is expanded by the cylindrical body of the second shutter housing. And retracted between the second shutter housing and the second shutter housing.

A first shutter housing and a second shutter housing are provided in a space between the ferrule and a plug frame surrounding the ferrule, and the first shutter housing and the second shutter housing serve as a connector sleeve on the connection partner side. Disposed so as to abut;
The urging force of the first elastic means is weaker than the urging force of the second elastic means, and even if the first shutter housing moves backward against the urging force of the first elastic means, (2) the second shutter housing is retracted together with the first shutter housing because the sleeve end surface on the connection counterpart side directly contacts the second shutter housing without being retracted by the urging force of the elastic means;
The first shutter housing has a tip projecting further forward from the end face of the connection side opening of the knob housing, which is a cylindrical body outside the optical plug connector, and a ferrule is attached to the connector sleeve on the connection counterpart side. The tip portion abuts before the end;
The shutter is a thin plate that can be bent, or a combination of a flat plate and a torsion spring that constantly biases the plate in a closing direction;
Is included.

According to the optical plug connector with a shutter of the present invention, since the shutter means for shielding the laser light is all provided in the space between the ferrule and the plug frame, the outer shape of the entire optical plug connector is different from the conventional one. The operability remains the same.
Since the urging force of the first elastic means for the first shutter housing is weaker than the urging force of the second elastic means for the second shutter housing, it first comes into contact with the sleeve of the connector such as the mating adapter. The first shutter housing can be retracted independently. Thereby, it is possible to change from the closed state to the open state while retracting the shutter.

Further, since the second shutter housing is provided, the front portion of the shutter can be prevented from directly touching the tip of the ferrule, and the ferrule is protected.
Further, a first shutter housing and a second shutter housing are provided in a space portion between the ferrule and the plug frame surrounding the ferrule, and the first shutter housing and the second shutter housing are connected to an adapter or the like on the connection partner side. Since the connector is disposed so as to contact the sleeve of the connector, the existing receptacle connector can be used as it is. Therefore, there is nothing particularly added or deleted structurally on the adapter side or the receptacle connector side for connection with the optical plug connector with a shutter of the present invention, and the cost does not increase.
The shutter can be simply configured by being a thin plate that can be bent, or a combination of a flat plate and a torsion spring that constantly biases the plate in the closing direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 2, the optical plug connector 1 with a shutter according to the present invention is roughly configured by a knob 2 which is an outer rectangular cylindrical housing, and on the front side inside the knob 2. There is a plug frame 3 that is slidably supported and a cylindrical stop ring 4 that is fitted behind the plug frame 3.

  The stop ring 4 is fitted with a stopper having a C-shaped cross-section having a cylindrical shape and slits along the longitudinal direction thereof. The optical fiber cable 6 is inserted from the slit of the stopper 5. Further, a heat shrinkable tube 7 is coated on the outside of the cylindrical portion at the rear of the stop ring 4. A ferrule 8a and a flange 8b assembled integrally with the ferrule 8a are fixed to the distal end side of the optical fiber cable 6.

  A coil spring 9 is provided between the rear end surface of the ferrule 8 a and the front end surface of the stopper 5. By this coil spring 9, a reaction force is applied to the front end surface of the stopper 5, and the ferrule 8a is always urged forward.

  In the knob 2, reference numeral 2 a indicates an operation portion, and reference numeral 2 b indicates an up / down reverse protrusion when the adapter 20 (see FIG. 7) is fitted. Further, the tapered portions 2c and 2d provided on the distal end side of the knob 2 abut on the guide projection 21b of the locking claw 21 of the connection partner adapter 20 and lift it in a direction of expanding at the time of insertion and removal. It works. Thus, the knob 2 can be retracted from the initial position by the amount necessary for releasing the locking action of the locking claw 21 with respect to the plug frame 3.

  The recess 3 a in the plug frame 3 is for locking the locking claw 21 of the adapter 20. Such an optical plug connector 1 is provided with a shutter 10 for blocking laser light on the optical axis in a disconnected state at a position on the distal end side of the ferrule 8a provided at one end of the optical fiber cable 6.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the shutter 10 is obtained by processing a thin plate made of metal (for example, stainless steel). A locking portion 10b is formed by cutting and raising a part of the base portion 10a, and a door portion 10c is formed by being bent from the middle in the longitudinal direction of the plate, and the distal end portion 10d is further bent into a curved surface. The shutter 10 is bent at an obtuse angle at the bent portion 10e, but is easily returned to a linear shape by an external force.

  Further, the front end portion 10d is closed with the front end portion 10d of the other shutter 10 in a closed state, and does not come into contact with the end face, but is overlapped in order to reliably shield light, so that the length of one door portion 10c is long. Have been long. The pair of shutters 10 forming the door may be the same, and the front end portions 10d may overlap each other by slightly moving the mounting position in the front-rear direction. Further, in this embodiment, the pair of shutters 10 and 10 are arranged so as to face each other, but a single shutter 10 can also be implemented.

  Next, a configuration that supports the shutter 10 will be described. The shutter 10 is supported by a cylindrical first shutter housing 11 provided in a space between the ferrule 8a and the plug frame 3 surrounding the ferrule 8a.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first shutter housing 11 is a cylindrical cylindrical body made of synthetic resin, and the base 10a of the shutter 10 is inserted into the inner wall of the cylindrical body from one opening, A mounting groove 11a to be fixed is provided, and a locking hole 11b with which the locking portion 10b is engaged is provided in an opposing arrangement. The thickness (for example, 0.03 mm) of the shutter 10 is accommodated by the depth of the mounting groove 11a. And it is accommodated without trouble between the outer peripheral surface of the second shutter housing 12 inserted inside the first shutter housing 11.

  In addition, the inner diameter of the opening 11c at the rear of the first shutter housing 11 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tip of the second shutter housing 12, and can be fitted. In order to prevent the fitting from coming off, a retaining projection 11d arranged oppositely is provided on the inner peripheral wall surface of the rear opening 11c. Accordingly, the second shutter housing 12 is slidably fitted to the outside. As shown in FIG. 1C, the end portion of the first elastic means 13 comes into contact with the end surface 11e of the rear opening portion 11c to urge the first shutter housing 11 forward.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the second shutter housing 12 is a long and narrow cylindrical body and is sized to cover the entire ferrule 8a. Further, the first shutter housing 11 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface thereof and is slidably fitted along the optical axis direction. Furthermore, a triangular locking projection 12a is provided on the outer end of the second shutter housing 12 so as to face the outside, and engages with the projection 11d of the first shutter housing 11 so that the first shutter housing 11 is engaged. The stopper 11 acts to prevent the 11 from being pulled out forward.

  Further, the rear portion of the second shutter housing 12 is provided with two flanges 12b facing each other so as to protrude from the outer peripheral wall surface. As shown in FIG. 3, the front end surface of the flange 12 b becomes a spring seat surface for reaction force of the first elastic means (coil spring) 13 that always biases the first shutter housing 11 forward.

  Further, the rear end surface of the flange 12b becomes a spring seat surface of the second elastic means (coil spring) 14 that always urges the second shutter housing 12 forward. As shown in FIGS. 1C and 3, the flange 12 b comes into contact with the rear end surface 3 b at the substantially central portion of the plug frame 3 so that the second shutter housing 12 is in contact with the plug frame 3. It is a stopper that prevents it from slipping forward.

  The second shutter housing 12 is slidably fitted to the outside of the ferrule 8a so as to surround it, and a part of the rear end portion of the optical plug connector 1, for example, the bottom surface of the concave surface of the stop ring 4 It is always urged forward by the second elastic means 14 taking the reaction force.

  By the first shutter housing 11 and the second shutter housing 12 as described above, the shutter 10 is engaged with the rear cylinder inside the first shutter housing 11 as a pair and locked. The front end portions 10d of the bent front door portion 10c intersect each other to block the laser light on the optical axis.

  When the first shutter housing 11 is moved backward with respect to the second shutter housing 12, the shutter 10 is expanded substantially linearly by the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the second shutter housing 12, while the first shutter housing 11 is moved backward. It retracts by being pulled between the shutter housing 11 and the second shutter housing 12.

  The first elastic means 13 has an urging force weaker than the urging force of the second elastic means 14, and even if the first shutter housing 11 moves backward against the urging force of the first elastic means 13, the second shutter The housing 12 is not retracted by the urging force of the second elastic means 14. Then, the end face of the sleeve 22 (see FIG. 7) in the adapter 20 or the receptacle connector that is the connection partner directly contacts the second shutter housing 12, so that the second shutter housing 12 is previously The first shutter housing 11 that is in contact with the end face of the sleeve 22 moves backward.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7 to FIG. 9, a state in which the optical plug connector with shutter 1 according to the present invention is connected to the adapter (or receptacle connector) 20 will be described. FIG. 7 shows a state where the optical plug connector with shutter 1 is inserted from the opening 20 a of the adapter 20 toward the sleeve 22. Since the distal end portion of the first shutter housing 11 of the optical plug connector with shutter 1 protrudes forward from the ferrule 8a, it comes into contact with the end surface of the sleeve 22 first and resists the biasing force of the first elastic means 13. Then, the first shutter housing 11 moves backward.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8, when the shutter-equipped optical plug connector 1 is further inserted, as a result of the first shutter housing 11 retracting, the tip of the second shutter housing 12 also contacts the end surface of the sleeve 22. Touch. A first shutter housing 11 and a second shutter housing 12 are provided in a space between the ferrule 8a and the plug frame 3 surrounding the ferrule 8a, and the first shutter housing 11 and the second shutter housing 12 are connected to each other. It is because it arrange | positioned so that it may contact | abut to the sleeve 22 of the adapter 20 of the side.

  The tapered portion 2 c at the tip of the knob 2 comes into sliding contact with the guide protrusion 21 b of the locking claw 21. Further, the reverse insertion preventing protrusion 2b of the knob 2 faces the slit 23 on the adapter 20 side.

  Thereafter, when the optical plug connector with shutter 1 is further pushed in the direction of the arrow, the ferrule 8a is inserted into the split sleeve 24 on the adapter 20 side, and at the same time, the tapered portion 2c is provided on the side portion of the inclined portion 21a. Then, it is guided to the opening side that hits the guiding projection 21b, and the inclined portion 21a is expanded outside, and the reverse insertion preventing projection 2b is fitted into the slit 23.

  Further, the first shutter housing 11 and the second shutter housing 12 are simultaneously retracted backward while contracting them against the urging forces of the first elastic means 13 and the second elastic means 14.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the fitting is completed, the ferrule 8 a is fitted to the split sleeve 24, and the inclined portion 21 a of the locking claw 21 falls into the concave portion 3 a of the plug frame 3 in the front-rear direction. It is locked so as not to move, and the entire reverse insertion preventing projection 2 b is fitted into the slit 23.

  Next, how the optical plug connector with shutter 1 is detached from the adapter 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 10, the knob 2 is moved backward relative to the plug frame 3 as indicated by an arrow. Thereby, the taper part 2d of the knob 2 contacts the guide projection 21b of the locking claw 21 and pushes it outward. The inclined portion 21a expands outward, and the locked state with the recess 3a of the plug frame 3 is released.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the knob 2 and the plug frame 3 are moved backward together. Thus, the knob 2 and the plug frame 3 are detached from the opening 20a. The first shutter housing 11 and the second shutter housing 12 are urged forward with the first elastic means 13 and the second elastic means 14, respectively. Therefore, these elastic means are in contact with the end face of the sleeve 22 until they extend to the initial position. When the second elastic means 14 is extended first and the second shutter housing 12 is separated from the end of the sleeve 22, the first elastic means 13 starts to extend.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 12, the first and second elastic means 13 and 14 are returned to the initial positions, and the first shutter housing 11 is moved forward relative to the second shutter housing 12. The pair of shutters 10 protruding and retracted in the meantime return to their original positions. Thereafter, when the optical plug connector with shutter 1 is further moved rearward, the first shutter housing 11 is completely removed from the opening 20a of the adapter 20 and detached.

  Thus, the optical plug connector with shutter 1 according to the present invention can be applied to the existing adapter 20 without any trouble. In addition, as another embodiment, the shutter 10 is formed of a thin plate that can be bent. However, the shutter 10 may be formed of a combination of a flat plate and a torsion spring that always urges the shutter 10 in the closing direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view (A), a front view (B), and a cross-sectional view (C) taken along line XX of an optical plug connector 1 with a shutter according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing (A) and the top view (B) along the YY line of the optical plug connector 1 with a shutter of the same invention. It is sectional drawing to which a part of FIG.1 (C) of the optical plug connector 1 with a shutter was expanded. FIG. 2 is a side view (A) and a plan view (B) of the shutter 10. FIG. 4 is a plan view (A), a longitudinal sectional view (B), a front view (C), and a rear view (D) of the first shutter housing 11 in the optical plug connector 1 with the shutter shown in a half section. The top view (A) of the 2nd shutter housing 12 in the optical plug connector 1 with the shutter is a side view (B) shown in a half section, and a front view (C). They are sectional drawing (A) in the planar view explaining the use condition of the optical plug connector 1 with a shutter which concerns on this invention, and sectional drawing (B) seen from the side. They are sectional drawing (A) in the planar view explaining the use condition of the optical plug connector 1 with a shutter which concerns on the same invention, and sectional drawing (B) seen from the side. They are sectional drawing (A) in the planar view explaining the use condition of the optical plug connector 1 with a shutter which concerns on the same invention, and sectional drawing (B) seen from the side. They are sectional drawing (A) in the planar view explaining the use condition of the optical plug connector 1 with a shutter which concerns on the same invention, and sectional drawing (B) seen from the side. They are sectional drawing (A) in the planar view explaining the use condition of the optical plug connector 1 with a shutter which concerns on the same invention, and sectional drawing (B) seen from the side. They are sectional drawing (A) in the planar view explaining the use condition of the optical plug connector 1 with a shutter which concerns on the same invention, and sectional drawing (B) seen from the side.

Explanation of symbols

1 Optical plug connector with shutter,
2 Knob 2a Operation part,
2b Reverse insertion prevention protrusion,
2c, 2d taper part,
3 plug frame, 3a recess,
3b rear end face,
4 Stop ring,
5 Stopper,
6 Optical fiber cable,
7 heat shrinkable tube,
8a ferrule, 8b flange,
9 Coil spring,
10 Shutter,
10a base, 10b locking part,
10c door, 10d tip,
10e bent part,
11 First shutter housing, 11a Mounting groove,
11b locking hole, 11c opening,
11d protrusion, 11e end face,
12 second shutter housing, 12a locking projection,
12b flange,
13 first elastic means,
14 Second elastic means,
20 adapter, 20a opening,
21 locking claw, 21a inclined part,
21b guide protrusion,
22 sleeve,
23 slit,
24% sleeve.

Claims (5)

In an optical plug connector comprising a shutter that shuts off laser light on the optical axis in a non-connected state at the tip end side position of a ferrule provided at one end of an optical fiber cable,
The shutter is supported by a cylindrical first shutter housing provided in a space between the ferrule and a plug frame surrounding the ferrule.
The first shutter housing is slidably fitted on the outer side of the cylindrical second shutter housing, and is always forwardly moved by the first elastic means having a reaction force at the end of the second shutter housing. Energized,
The second shutter housing is slidably fitted to and surrounded by the ferrule, and is always urged forward by second elastic means having a part of the rear end of the optical plug connector as a reaction force.
The shutter is locked inside the rear cylinder of the first shutter housing, and the bent front portion of the shutter blocks the laser beam on the optical axis,
When the first shutter housing moves backward with respect to the second shutter housing, the shutter is drawn between the first shutter housing and the second shutter housing while being expanded by the cylindrical body of the second shutter housing. Going backwards,
An optical plug connector with a shutter. A first shutter housing and a second shutter housing are provided in a gap between the ferrule and a plug frame surrounding the ferrule, and the first shutter housing and the second shutter housing come into contact with the sleeve of the connector on the connection partner side. Arranged so that,
The optical plug connector with a shutter according to claim 1. The biasing force of the first elastic means is weaker than the biasing force of the second elastic means, and even if the first shutter housing moves backward against the biasing force of the first elastic means, the second shutter housing does not The second shutter housing moves backward together with the first shutter housing because the sleeve end face on the connection partner side directly contacts the second shutter housing without moving backward due to the urging force of the elastic means;
The optical plug connector with a shutter according to claim 1 or 2. The first shutter housing has a tip projecting further forward from the end surface of the connection side opening of the knob, which is the outer cylindrical body of the optical plug connector, and the connector sleeve on the connection partner side is more than the ferrule. The tip part abuts first,
The optical plug connector with a shutter according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The shutter is a thin plate that can be bent, or a combination of a flat plate and a torsion spring that always urges it in the closing direction,
An optical plug connector with a shutter according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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