Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
Patent
1991-06-24
1993-02-09
Lee, John D.
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
385 81, G02B 636
Patent
active
051858380
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to connector pins for optical waveguide connectors, which connector pins accommodate one end of an optical waveguide. More particularly, the present invention relates to such a connector pin which comprises at least one ceramic pin with a central bore accommodating the optical waveguide, a bushing with a flange pressed onto the ceramic pin, a compression spring supported on the flange at one end and having a thrust washer at the other end, and an abutment forced into the bushing and likewise provided with a central bore accommodating a cylindrical optical waveguide with the coating surrounding it and the jacket enveloping the optical waveguide and the coating.
Optical waveguide connectors are available on the market having pins that can move relative to the shell of the connector. This movement capability is necessary during insertion and withdrawal to limit the stresses to which the pins are subjected. This movement capability of the connector pins automatically results in movement of the optical waveguides, for which minimal permissible bending radiuses are specified. It is imperative that sharp bends in the optical waveguides be prevented when they are inserted in connector pins. The known connector pins come with only two bore diameters, the smaller-diameter bore in the ceramic pin itself accommodating the bare optical waveguide, and the larger-diameter bore in the abutment being adapted to the diameter of the jacket of the optical waveguide. Over a portion of the length of optical waveguides there is always a section where only the coating but not the entire jacket is present, and over that section the optical waveguide is apt to be bent sharply as it is threaded into the connector pin.
The present invention is directed to the problem of eliminating this risk of sharp bends in optical waveguides.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves this problem by providing that the bore in the abutment comprise two sections with different diameters--the diameter of the first bore section, which terminates on the ceramic pin, corresponding to the diameter of the optical waveguide provided with a coating, and the second bore section having a diameter corresponding to the jacket of the optical waveguide.
Due to the two bore sections with different diameters, the optical waveguides are far less likely to be bent sharply during threading, which threading can therefore be performed without difficulty. Moreover, as a result of this provision the jacket becomes seated at the end of the larger-diameter bore section, and a seating of the coating in the other bore section is thus prevented. This is important as otherwise the optical waveguide might be subjected to shearing stresses resulting in a break.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The single drawing shows a longitudinal section through a connector pin.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The connector pin 10 consists of a ceramic pin 11 with a central bore 12 of a diameter corresponding to that of a bare optical waveguide 7, i.e. an optical waveguide without coating and jacket. On its top surface, directed toward the interior of the connector pin, the ceramic pin is provided with a threading funnel 13. A metallic bushing 20 provided with a flange 21 is pressed onto the ceramic pin. The bushing 20 serves as a guide and the flange 21 of the bushing as a seat for a compression spring 25. A metallic abutment 14 forced onto the bushing forms an abutment for the compression spring 25, with a shoulder 15 . Disposed between the shoulder 15 and the compression spring 25 is a thrust washer 26 that is firmly anchored in the connector shell 30.
Two bore sections 16 and 17 are formed in the abutment 14. The first bore section 16, which terminates on the ceramic pin 11, has a diameter corresponding to that of an optical waveguide with a coating 8 while the second bore section 17 is of a diameter matching that of an optical waveguide with a jacket 9. A lower threading funnel 18 is provided at the transition
REFERENCES:
patent: 4634214 (1987-01-01), Cannon, Jr.
patent: 4687288 (1987-08-01), Margolin et al.
patent: 4842363 (1989-06-01), Margolin et al.
patent: 5073042 (1991-12-01), Mulholland et al.
Luottgert Karl-Ernst
Schulz Klaus
Heartney Phan Thi
Lee John D.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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