Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-30
2001-03-06
Font, Frank G. (Department: 2877)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
C385S077000, C385S078000, C385S060000, C385S081000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196731
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a connector for an optical fiber cable, and, more particularly, to an optical connector that can be readily installed in the field without the need for epoxy or anaerobic adhesives.
Optical fiber connectors and splices are an essential part of optical fiber communications systems. Connectors may be used to join lengths of optical fiber into longer lengths, or to connect optical fiber to active devices such as radiation sources, detectors, repeaters, or to passive devices such as switches or attenuators.
Many prior art connectors use adhesives or epoxies in securing connector components. For example, a typical connector includes a ferrule piece rigidly attached to a connector body. Adhesive is injected into a longitudinal bore of the ferrule. A cable is received into the connector body with the enclosed fiber projecting along the longitudinal bore of the ferrule. The adhesive wicks and adheres to the fiber, the ferrule, the connector body, and other connector parts to permanently secure the connector components to one another.
There is a growing demand, however, for a fiber optic connector that is simple to install or assemble in a field setting. In particular, there is a growing resistance to the use of epoxies that require special heat-curing ovens to facilitate solidification, and, in general, to the use of chemicals such as anaerobic adhesives.
Accordingly, what is sought, and what is not believed to be provided by the prior art, is a fiber optic connector that can be easily installed or assembled without the use of epoxies or adhesives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Certain advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned with the practice of the invention.
To achieve the advantages and novel features, the present invention is generally directed to a fiber optic connector that can be installed in the field without the use of any adhesive or epoxy. The connector includes a housing that contains a barrel member. The barrel member has a ferrule disposed at one end, which terminates the optical fiber, and a barrel extension at the other end for receiving a buffered fiber. A slug made from a malleable material is confined within the barrel member. Both the barrel and the housing include an aperture, which are in substantial alignment with one another. A pin is disposed in the housing aperture that has a length such that when the pin is pressed to be substantially flush with the housing, the pin engages the slug contained within the barrel member.
The invention can also be viewed as providing a method for installing a fiber optic connector without using adhesives. In this regard, the method can be broadly summarized by the following steps: A slug of malleable material is inserted into a barrel member having an aperture formed therein. A pin is inserted into the aperture formed in the barrel member. The barrel member is surrounded with a housing that has an aperture formed therein that allows the pin to extend threrethrough. Finally, the pin is compressed until the pin engages the slug held within the barrel member, thereby causing the slug to grip the optical fiber running through the barrel member.
Advantageously, a technician can secure an optical fiber to the slug, the slug to the barrel, and the barrel to the connector housing by using a simple tool designed to compress the pin until it is substantially flush with the housing. Thus, the connector can be installed or assembled without the use of any adhesive or epoxy, which is particularly useful in a field setting.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4634214 (1987-01-01), Cannon, Jr. et al.
patent: 5481634 (1996-01-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5647043 (1997-07-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5923805 (1999-07-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 6017153 (2000-01-01), Carlisle et al.
patent: 6019520 (2000-02-01), Lin et al.
patent: 6019521 (2000-02-01), Manning et al.
patent: 6024498 (2000-02-01), Carlisle et al.
Carlisle Arthur W.
Hicks Jeffrey H.
Lampert Norman R.
Font Frank G.
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Punnoose Roy M.
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