Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
Patent
1995-06-29
1997-10-28
Bovernick, Rodney B.
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
385 55, 385 62, 385 63, 385 70, 385 99, G02B 638
Patent
active
056824505
ABSTRACT:
A device for interconnecting the bare ends of two or more optical fibers uses a common receptacle having a fiber clamping element therein and camming surfaces for actuating the element, and at least one plug having a camming finger for engaging one of the camming surfaces. The camming surfaces are located such that, when only one of the camming surfaces is actuated, the clamping element rocks to a side of the pocket opposite the one camming surface and remains in the open state, but when both of the camming surfaces are actuated, the clamping element is forced to the closed state. The plug includes a fiber protector free to slide within the plug housing, substantially enclosing the bare end of the fiber when the plug housing is removed from the receptacle, but retracting when the plug housing is inserted into the receptacle to direct the bare end of the fiber toward said guide tube. A fiber collet biases the terminal end of the fiber toward the forward end of the plug place a preload condition on the bare end of the fiber. The connector is particularly suited for cleave-and-bevel installations. The receptacle preferably uses a novel clamping element having two plate members with fiber-contacting surfaces, at least one of said fiber-contacting surfaces having a fiber-receiving groove. Edges of the plates are aligned and held together with a split tube spring. At least one of the plate members is provided with a wire-receiving groove and a wire therein which acts as a fulcrum to allow the plates to pivot along an axis defined by the wire. The split tube spring provides a precisely controlled load along the edges of the plates, allowing the opposite ends to be clamped together (within the guide tube) by a force sufficient to overcome the controlled load of the split tube spring.
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Mathews Alexander R.
Patterson Richard A.
Bovernick Rodney B.
Chernivec Gerald F.
Griswold Gary L.
Kirn Walter N.
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
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