CA2190405C - Fibre optic cable connector - Google Patents
Fibre optic cable connector Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2190405C CA2190405C CA002190405A CA2190405A CA2190405C CA 2190405 C CA2190405 C CA 2190405C CA 002190405 A CA002190405 A CA 002190405A CA 2190405 A CA2190405 A CA 2190405A CA 2190405 C CA2190405 C CA 2190405C
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- optic cable
- fibre
- fibre optic
- connector
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3873—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
- G02B6/3874—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3873—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
- G02B6/3874—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
- G02B6/3878—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3897—Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/381—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
- G02B6/3825—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
Abstract
A connector for fibre optic cable includes a housing having a plurality of female connectors therein. A multi-fibre optic cable has an end extending into the housing. Each of the fibres of the multi-fibre optic cable terminate at a respective one of the female connectors. Adhesive encases the fibres of the multi-fibre optic cable within the housing to inhibit movement thereof. A method of forming a multi-connection connector for a multi-fibre optic cable and an adapter for optically coupling a pair of optic fibres are also disclosed.
Description
21 ~Ot~~
FIBRE OPTIC CABLE CONNECTOR
This invention relates in general to fibre optic cable connectors and patch panels and more particularly to a prefabricated device for connecting fibre optic patch cables to a mufti-fibre optic cable.
Fibre optic cable is used to communicate digital and analogue information by the transmission of pulses of light. By necessity, the fibre optic cable must have joints or connections with other fibre optic cable. Signal strength can be weakened by losses at joints or connections due to reflection or absorption of light at the joint between the fibre optic cables. It is desirable to minimize these losses either by minimizing the number of joints in the fibre optic transmission line or by ensuring that any joints or connections are of the highest optical quality.
Normally, two pieces of equipment are interconnected by connecting one end of a short section of fibre optic cable (called a patch cord) to the jack provided on the external surface of the first piece of equipment, and by connecting the other end of the patch cord to a patch panel. The patch panel has a housing upon which are secured a plurality of jacks, each of which is optically connected to one end of an individual fibre optic cable which forms part of a mufti-fibre optic cable.
The mufti-fibre optic cable exits from the patch panel and runs to the other piece of equipment or to another patch panel which in turn is connected to the other piece of equipment.
Traditionally, one fibre optic cable is connected to the other fibre optic cable either by physical contact (butt joining) or by melting them together (fusion).
Butt joints are made by grinding the end surfaces of the two fibre optic cables to a smooth, convex radius and securing the mating cables so that their respective end surfaces are provided with secure physical contact. Failure to do this may result in the optical connection between the fibre optic cables being broken.
Butt joining is used to attach patch cords to patch panels.
Two fibre optic cables cari also be joined by heating their end portions to a plastic or melted state, holding them together in alignment and permitting the fibres to solidify together. This process is usually referred to as fusion or as fusing the fibre optic cables together.
The traditional method for connecting a mufti-fibre optic cable to a 21 g~~~5 patch panel is to insert the end of the mufti-fibre optic cable into the housing of the patch panel and divide the mufti-fibre optic cable into its individual fibres.
The fibres are wrapped around a spool within the patch panel housing to allow for additional fibre for making connections in case the end of the fibre is damaged in an initial attempt and to prevent bending of the cable to the extent that the optical fibre breaks.
Spools of such type are illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 4,976,510 issued December 11, 1990 and U.S. Patent No. 5,231,687 issued July 27, 1993.
Each individual fibre is then optically connected to an external connector attached to the housing of the patch panel either by:
(a) fusing the end of the individual fibre optic cable to a pigtail which in turn is butt joined to the external connector; or (b) grinding the end of the individual fibre, attaching a field connector to the fibre and attaching the field connector to a coupler attached to the housing of the patch panel.
As will be appreciated, each process (the butt joining and the fusion process) requires specific equipment to be used to machine the ends of the fibre optic cable or to soften or melt the ends of the fibre-optic cable while at the same time establishing the proper relative alignment of the fibre optic cables. The equipment is relatively easy to use in a factory environment where energy is plentiful and environmental conditions are easily controlled. In a field environment however, the grinding, heating and aligning steps are more difficult to do well and consume time and energy in the installation process.
Thus there is a need for a patch panel device which is easily used in the field to provide a reliable connection between a patch cord extending from one piece of equipment and a fibre optic cable extending to another piece of equipment or to another patch panel. There is also a need for a connector which will securely retain a fibre optic cable so as to prevent movement of it within a housing to inhibit damage to the fibre optic cable.
FIBRE OPTIC CABLE CONNECTOR
This invention relates in general to fibre optic cable connectors and patch panels and more particularly to a prefabricated device for connecting fibre optic patch cables to a mufti-fibre optic cable.
Fibre optic cable is used to communicate digital and analogue information by the transmission of pulses of light. By necessity, the fibre optic cable must have joints or connections with other fibre optic cable. Signal strength can be weakened by losses at joints or connections due to reflection or absorption of light at the joint between the fibre optic cables. It is desirable to minimize these losses either by minimizing the number of joints in the fibre optic transmission line or by ensuring that any joints or connections are of the highest optical quality.
Normally, two pieces of equipment are interconnected by connecting one end of a short section of fibre optic cable (called a patch cord) to the jack provided on the external surface of the first piece of equipment, and by connecting the other end of the patch cord to a patch panel. The patch panel has a housing upon which are secured a plurality of jacks, each of which is optically connected to one end of an individual fibre optic cable which forms part of a mufti-fibre optic cable.
The mufti-fibre optic cable exits from the patch panel and runs to the other piece of equipment or to another patch panel which in turn is connected to the other piece of equipment.
Traditionally, one fibre optic cable is connected to the other fibre optic cable either by physical contact (butt joining) or by melting them together (fusion).
Butt joints are made by grinding the end surfaces of the two fibre optic cables to a smooth, convex radius and securing the mating cables so that their respective end surfaces are provided with secure physical contact. Failure to do this may result in the optical connection between the fibre optic cables being broken.
Butt joining is used to attach patch cords to patch panels.
Two fibre optic cables cari also be joined by heating their end portions to a plastic or melted state, holding them together in alignment and permitting the fibres to solidify together. This process is usually referred to as fusion or as fusing the fibre optic cables together.
The traditional method for connecting a mufti-fibre optic cable to a 21 g~~~5 patch panel is to insert the end of the mufti-fibre optic cable into the housing of the patch panel and divide the mufti-fibre optic cable into its individual fibres.
The fibres are wrapped around a spool within the patch panel housing to allow for additional fibre for making connections in case the end of the fibre is damaged in an initial attempt and to prevent bending of the cable to the extent that the optical fibre breaks.
Spools of such type are illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 4,976,510 issued December 11, 1990 and U.S. Patent No. 5,231,687 issued July 27, 1993.
Each individual fibre is then optically connected to an external connector attached to the housing of the patch panel either by:
(a) fusing the end of the individual fibre optic cable to a pigtail which in turn is butt joined to the external connector; or (b) grinding the end of the individual fibre, attaching a field connector to the fibre and attaching the field connector to a coupler attached to the housing of the patch panel.
As will be appreciated, each process (the butt joining and the fusion process) requires specific equipment to be used to machine the ends of the fibre optic cable or to soften or melt the ends of the fibre-optic cable while at the same time establishing the proper relative alignment of the fibre optic cables. The equipment is relatively easy to use in a factory environment where energy is plentiful and environmental conditions are easily controlled. In a field environment however, the grinding, heating and aligning steps are more difficult to do well and consume time and energy in the installation process.
Thus there is a need for a patch panel device which is easily used in the field to provide a reliable connection between a patch cord extending from one piece of equipment and a fibre optic cable extending to another piece of equipment or to another patch panel. There is also a need for a connector which will securely retain a fibre optic cable so as to prevent movement of it within a housing to inhibit damage to the fibre optic cable.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel connector for fibre optic cable, a novel method of forming the same and a novel adapter for optically coupling a pair of optic fibres.
Accordingly in one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector for a mufti-fibre optic cable comprising:
a housing;
a plurality of female connectors accommodated by said housing, each of said female connectors having a first end extending into said housing to receive an optic fibre and a second end exterior of said housing to receive a patch cable;
a mufti-fibre optic cable having an end extending into said housing, each of the optic fibres of the mufti-fibre optic cable terminating at said first end of a respective one of said female connectors; and an adhesive within said housing and encasing said optic fibres of said mufti-fibre optic cable to inhibit movement of said optic fibres within said housing.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of forming a mufti-connection connector for a mufti-fibre optic cable, said connector having a housing carrying a plurality of female connectors, said method comprising the steps of:
extending a mufti-fibre optic cable into said housing and terminating each of the optic fibres of said mufti-fibre optic cable at a respective one of said female connectors; and filling said housing with a bonding agent to inhibit movement of said optic fibres within said housing.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector for a mufti-fibre optic cable comprising:
a housing having a base, generally upright sides about the periphery of said base and an upper surface bridging said sides above said base, said upper surface being generally saw-toothed in configuration and presenting a plurality of inclined, longitudinally spaced faces;
a plurality of connectors accommodated by openings in the inclined faces of said upper surface, each of said connectors having a first end extending into said housing to receive an optic fibre and a second end exterior of said housing to receive a patch cable;
i -3a-a multi-fibre optic cable extending into said housing, each of the optical fibres of said multi-fibre optic cable terminating at said first end of a respective one of said connectors; and a bonding agent within said housing to secure permanently said multi-fibre optic cable and said optical fibres within said housing thereby to inhibit movement thereof.
According to still yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of forming a multi-connection connector for a fibre optic cable comprising the steps of adhering ferrules to the optic fibres of a multi-fibre optic cable;
securing each of the ferrules to one end of a respective female connector;
enclosing the optic fibres and the one ends of the female connectors in a housing constituted by separable parts, the other end of said female connectors extending exterior of said housing; and permanently securing the optic fibres within said housing to inhibit movement thereof.
A detailed description of the prior art and the preferred embodiment is provided herein below with reference to the following drawings, in which like numbers refer to like elements and in which:
z~ 90~~5 Figure 1 is a schematic view of a prior art patch panel illustrating the use of pigtails within the patch panel fused to the individual fibres of the multi-fibre optic cable;
Figure 2 is a schematic view of a prior art patch panel illustrating the use of a field installed connector;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a connector for fibre optic cable in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the embodiment of the invention;
Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector viewed along lines 5-5' of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional detailed view of the adapter;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of Figure 6 viewed along lines 7-7' of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of Figure 6 connected to a standard patch cable.
Turning firstly to Figures 1 and 2, a pair of prior art patch panels are illustrated. In the prior art patch panel 100 shown schematically in Figure 1, a multi-fibre optic cable 102 consisting of twelve individual fibre optic cables 104 extends from a piece of equipment such as a server 105 and enters a patch panel housing 106.
The fibres of the fibre optic cable 104 are separated and are spliced by, for example, fusion, to a "pigtail" 108 which in turn is connected to a female-female coupler 110 passing through a face 112 of the patch panel housing 106. The outside female end of coupler 110 may be attached to a male connector 114 on a patch cord 116 which extends to another piece of equipment.
The disadvantage of the prior art patch panel of Figure 1 is that a splice 118 has to be made in the field using special equipment. If the fibres are not fused properly, signal degradation can occur.
A second prior art patch panel 100' is illustrated in Figure 2. Similar to the above described patch panel 100, a multi-fibre optic cable 102' extends from a server 105' and enters a patch panel housing 106' . The multi-fibre optic cable 102' is then separated in the patch panel housing 106' into individual fibre optic cables 104. In this patch panel, male connectors 122' are attached to the individual fibre 21 ~~~~5 optic cables 104 at the installation location. Hence, the end of the individual fibre optic cables 104' must be ground to the required convex surface in the field, which is sometimes difficult to achieve with the same precision as can be obtained in the factory. The male connectors 122' are then attached to respective female-female couplers 110' affixed to the housing 106' . This field connection is labour and equipment intensive, and vulnerable to poor installation conditions.
Figures 3 to 8 illustrate an embodiment of a fibre optic cable connector 200 for fibre optic cable in accordance with the present invention. It should be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 to 8 is preferably assembled entirely at a factory, in controlled environmental conditions and then transported to the field for connection to a server and by patch cords, to other devices. In this way, the connector 200 replaces the traditional patch panel and eliminates the need for making connections in the field, other than by way of patch cords.
As shown in Figures 3 to 8, fibre optic cable connector 200 is provided with a housing 220 which can be separated into a pair of halves to expose the interior of the housing. The housing has a base 240, upstanding sides 250 and an upper surface 260. As shown more particularly in Figure 4, upper surface 260 of the housing 220 is provided with sloped surfaces 280. Each sloped surface 280 defines a coupler opening 320.
The housing 220 is also provided with a cable opening 300 formed in one of the sides 250. Mufti-fibre optic cable 360 has an end 380 extending into housing 220 by way of opening 300. Within the housing, each individual fibre optic cable 400 of the mufti-fibre optic cable 360 terminates at an adapter 340 secured within a coupler opening 320. Although only two coupler openings 320 are shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 to 7, it should be appreciated that as many coupler openings as are needed to accommodate the number of individual fibre optic cables 400 within the mufti-fibre optic cable 360 can be provided in the sloped surfaces 280.
With reference to Figures 6 and 7, one of the adapters 340 is better illustrated. As can be seen, adapter 340 includes an adapter body 500 having a pair of ends 502 and 504 respectively. End 502 is provided with a traditional female patch cable receiving coupler 506. The other end 504 is provided with an assembly 507 far receiving and securing an individual optic fibre of one of the fibre optic cables 400.
The assembly 507 includes a ferrule 510 positioned within the adapter body 500 and having a centrally located, longitudinal bore 508 formed therein.
The ferrule 510 is held in place within a bore 501 formed in adapter body 500 by a sleeve 512 and an adapter bushing 514. The sleeve is preferably made of a zirconium alloy.
The adapter bushing 514 and the ferrule 510 are restricted from longitudinal motion by a stem 516 and a cap nut 518. Cap nut 518 is secured to the adapter body 500 by threaded engagement.
The adapter body 500 may be provided with a longitudinal channel 520 adapted to receive a lug 522 on the stem 516. The location of lug 522 in channel 520 prevents ferrule 510 from rotating within adapter body 500 after the cap nut S 18 is threadably secured to the adapter body 500.
To assemble the adapter 340 with the fibre optic cable 400, the cap nut 518 and stem S 16 are slid onto a length of fibre optic cable 400. The insulating layer 602 (commonly referred to as buffer) of the fibre optic cable 400 is removed from approximately one (1) centimetre of the end of the fibre optic cable to expose the optic fibre 600. Using a hypodermic syringe, a bonding agent in the form of a curable adhesive such as epoxy is introduced into the bore 528 of the ferrule S 10.
The end of the exposed optic fibre 600 is passed into the bore 508, so as to protrude from the opposite end of the ferrule 510. The end of the optic fibre is ground to the desired convex shape. The fibre optic cable is then checked for optical continuity and acceptable quality. If the quality is acceptable, the adhesive is allowed to cure. If the quality is not acceptable, the fibre optic cable 400 is removed and the fibre optic cable 400 is replaced or re-stripped and the installation process is repeated.
Adapter bushing S 14 and sleeve 512 are inserted into the bore SO1 of adapter body 500. Once the adhesive has cured, the ferrule 510 and the stem 516 are inserted into sleeve S 12.
Cap nut 518 is threaded onto the adapter body 500 to hold the ferrule 510 in place.
As one of skill in the art will appreciate, the above steps are performed for each adapted 340 on the connector 200. Once the fibre optic cable 360 and the individual fibres 380 are encased in housing 220 by an adhesive 420 such as epoxy. Movement of the fibre optic cable 380 and 400 is inhibited, thus making the connector 200 mechanically rugged.
As mentioned previously, the connector 200 is preferably assembled at a factory. The connector 200 can then be transported to the installation location where the mufti-fibre optic cable 360 can be connected to a piece of equipment such as a server. Other pieces of equipment can then be optically coupled to the multi-fibre optic cable 360 through the connector 200 by way of patch cords extending between the other pieces of equipment and the adapters 340.
With reference to Figure 8, a standard patch cable 440 extending from a piece of equipment is shown connected to the female coupler 506 of an adapter 340 to convey a signal from the connector 200 to another device. The patch cable is provided with ferrule 442 which is received in sleeve 512 of the adapter.
Locking nut 444 engages the female coupler 506 so as to bias the optic fibre 446 within ferrule 442 into optical continuity with the optic fibre 600 terminating in ferrule 510 of the adapter.
With reference to Figure 5, when the base 240 of the housing rests on the ground, sloped surfaces 280 permit the patch cables 440, shown in phantom lines, to be attached to the connector 200 so that the cables may rest in a generally horizontal position so as to reduce stress on patch cables 440 and to permit many cables to be attached to the connector and lie generally on top of one another in a horizontal arrangement.
Other variations and modifications of the invention are possible. For example, although the embodiment of the invention described shows only two adapters, the device could be made with as many adapters as needed or desired with the adapters arranged in a line as shown in the preferred embodiment or in an array, consisting of parallel rows of couplers. All such modifications or variations are believed to be within the sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
Accordingly in one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector for a mufti-fibre optic cable comprising:
a housing;
a plurality of female connectors accommodated by said housing, each of said female connectors having a first end extending into said housing to receive an optic fibre and a second end exterior of said housing to receive a patch cable;
a mufti-fibre optic cable having an end extending into said housing, each of the optic fibres of the mufti-fibre optic cable terminating at said first end of a respective one of said female connectors; and an adhesive within said housing and encasing said optic fibres of said mufti-fibre optic cable to inhibit movement of said optic fibres within said housing.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of forming a mufti-connection connector for a mufti-fibre optic cable, said connector having a housing carrying a plurality of female connectors, said method comprising the steps of:
extending a mufti-fibre optic cable into said housing and terminating each of the optic fibres of said mufti-fibre optic cable at a respective one of said female connectors; and filling said housing with a bonding agent to inhibit movement of said optic fibres within said housing.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector for a mufti-fibre optic cable comprising:
a housing having a base, generally upright sides about the periphery of said base and an upper surface bridging said sides above said base, said upper surface being generally saw-toothed in configuration and presenting a plurality of inclined, longitudinally spaced faces;
a plurality of connectors accommodated by openings in the inclined faces of said upper surface, each of said connectors having a first end extending into said housing to receive an optic fibre and a second end exterior of said housing to receive a patch cable;
i -3a-a multi-fibre optic cable extending into said housing, each of the optical fibres of said multi-fibre optic cable terminating at said first end of a respective one of said connectors; and a bonding agent within said housing to secure permanently said multi-fibre optic cable and said optical fibres within said housing thereby to inhibit movement thereof.
According to still yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of forming a multi-connection connector for a fibre optic cable comprising the steps of adhering ferrules to the optic fibres of a multi-fibre optic cable;
securing each of the ferrules to one end of a respective female connector;
enclosing the optic fibres and the one ends of the female connectors in a housing constituted by separable parts, the other end of said female connectors extending exterior of said housing; and permanently securing the optic fibres within said housing to inhibit movement thereof.
A detailed description of the prior art and the preferred embodiment is provided herein below with reference to the following drawings, in which like numbers refer to like elements and in which:
z~ 90~~5 Figure 1 is a schematic view of a prior art patch panel illustrating the use of pigtails within the patch panel fused to the individual fibres of the multi-fibre optic cable;
Figure 2 is a schematic view of a prior art patch panel illustrating the use of a field installed connector;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a connector for fibre optic cable in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the embodiment of the invention;
Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector viewed along lines 5-5' of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional detailed view of the adapter;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of Figure 6 viewed along lines 7-7' of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of Figure 6 connected to a standard patch cable.
Turning firstly to Figures 1 and 2, a pair of prior art patch panels are illustrated. In the prior art patch panel 100 shown schematically in Figure 1, a multi-fibre optic cable 102 consisting of twelve individual fibre optic cables 104 extends from a piece of equipment such as a server 105 and enters a patch panel housing 106.
The fibres of the fibre optic cable 104 are separated and are spliced by, for example, fusion, to a "pigtail" 108 which in turn is connected to a female-female coupler 110 passing through a face 112 of the patch panel housing 106. The outside female end of coupler 110 may be attached to a male connector 114 on a patch cord 116 which extends to another piece of equipment.
The disadvantage of the prior art patch panel of Figure 1 is that a splice 118 has to be made in the field using special equipment. If the fibres are not fused properly, signal degradation can occur.
A second prior art patch panel 100' is illustrated in Figure 2. Similar to the above described patch panel 100, a multi-fibre optic cable 102' extends from a server 105' and enters a patch panel housing 106' . The multi-fibre optic cable 102' is then separated in the patch panel housing 106' into individual fibre optic cables 104. In this patch panel, male connectors 122' are attached to the individual fibre 21 ~~~~5 optic cables 104 at the installation location. Hence, the end of the individual fibre optic cables 104' must be ground to the required convex surface in the field, which is sometimes difficult to achieve with the same precision as can be obtained in the factory. The male connectors 122' are then attached to respective female-female couplers 110' affixed to the housing 106' . This field connection is labour and equipment intensive, and vulnerable to poor installation conditions.
Figures 3 to 8 illustrate an embodiment of a fibre optic cable connector 200 for fibre optic cable in accordance with the present invention. It should be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 to 8 is preferably assembled entirely at a factory, in controlled environmental conditions and then transported to the field for connection to a server and by patch cords, to other devices. In this way, the connector 200 replaces the traditional patch panel and eliminates the need for making connections in the field, other than by way of patch cords.
As shown in Figures 3 to 8, fibre optic cable connector 200 is provided with a housing 220 which can be separated into a pair of halves to expose the interior of the housing. The housing has a base 240, upstanding sides 250 and an upper surface 260. As shown more particularly in Figure 4, upper surface 260 of the housing 220 is provided with sloped surfaces 280. Each sloped surface 280 defines a coupler opening 320.
The housing 220 is also provided with a cable opening 300 formed in one of the sides 250. Mufti-fibre optic cable 360 has an end 380 extending into housing 220 by way of opening 300. Within the housing, each individual fibre optic cable 400 of the mufti-fibre optic cable 360 terminates at an adapter 340 secured within a coupler opening 320. Although only two coupler openings 320 are shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 to 7, it should be appreciated that as many coupler openings as are needed to accommodate the number of individual fibre optic cables 400 within the mufti-fibre optic cable 360 can be provided in the sloped surfaces 280.
With reference to Figures 6 and 7, one of the adapters 340 is better illustrated. As can be seen, adapter 340 includes an adapter body 500 having a pair of ends 502 and 504 respectively. End 502 is provided with a traditional female patch cable receiving coupler 506. The other end 504 is provided with an assembly 507 far receiving and securing an individual optic fibre of one of the fibre optic cables 400.
The assembly 507 includes a ferrule 510 positioned within the adapter body 500 and having a centrally located, longitudinal bore 508 formed therein.
The ferrule 510 is held in place within a bore 501 formed in adapter body 500 by a sleeve 512 and an adapter bushing 514. The sleeve is preferably made of a zirconium alloy.
The adapter bushing 514 and the ferrule 510 are restricted from longitudinal motion by a stem 516 and a cap nut 518. Cap nut 518 is secured to the adapter body 500 by threaded engagement.
The adapter body 500 may be provided with a longitudinal channel 520 adapted to receive a lug 522 on the stem 516. The location of lug 522 in channel 520 prevents ferrule 510 from rotating within adapter body 500 after the cap nut S 18 is threadably secured to the adapter body 500.
To assemble the adapter 340 with the fibre optic cable 400, the cap nut 518 and stem S 16 are slid onto a length of fibre optic cable 400. The insulating layer 602 (commonly referred to as buffer) of the fibre optic cable 400 is removed from approximately one (1) centimetre of the end of the fibre optic cable to expose the optic fibre 600. Using a hypodermic syringe, a bonding agent in the form of a curable adhesive such as epoxy is introduced into the bore 528 of the ferrule S 10.
The end of the exposed optic fibre 600 is passed into the bore 508, so as to protrude from the opposite end of the ferrule 510. The end of the optic fibre is ground to the desired convex shape. The fibre optic cable is then checked for optical continuity and acceptable quality. If the quality is acceptable, the adhesive is allowed to cure. If the quality is not acceptable, the fibre optic cable 400 is removed and the fibre optic cable 400 is replaced or re-stripped and the installation process is repeated.
Adapter bushing S 14 and sleeve 512 are inserted into the bore SO1 of adapter body 500. Once the adhesive has cured, the ferrule 510 and the stem 516 are inserted into sleeve S 12.
Cap nut 518 is threaded onto the adapter body 500 to hold the ferrule 510 in place.
As one of skill in the art will appreciate, the above steps are performed for each adapted 340 on the connector 200. Once the fibre optic cable 360 and the individual fibres 380 are encased in housing 220 by an adhesive 420 such as epoxy. Movement of the fibre optic cable 380 and 400 is inhibited, thus making the connector 200 mechanically rugged.
As mentioned previously, the connector 200 is preferably assembled at a factory. The connector 200 can then be transported to the installation location where the mufti-fibre optic cable 360 can be connected to a piece of equipment such as a server. Other pieces of equipment can then be optically coupled to the multi-fibre optic cable 360 through the connector 200 by way of patch cords extending between the other pieces of equipment and the adapters 340.
With reference to Figure 8, a standard patch cable 440 extending from a piece of equipment is shown connected to the female coupler 506 of an adapter 340 to convey a signal from the connector 200 to another device. The patch cable is provided with ferrule 442 which is received in sleeve 512 of the adapter.
Locking nut 444 engages the female coupler 506 so as to bias the optic fibre 446 within ferrule 442 into optical continuity with the optic fibre 600 terminating in ferrule 510 of the adapter.
With reference to Figure 5, when the base 240 of the housing rests on the ground, sloped surfaces 280 permit the patch cables 440, shown in phantom lines, to be attached to the connector 200 so that the cables may rest in a generally horizontal position so as to reduce stress on patch cables 440 and to permit many cables to be attached to the connector and lie generally on top of one another in a horizontal arrangement.
Other variations and modifications of the invention are possible. For example, although the embodiment of the invention described shows only two adapters, the device could be made with as many adapters as needed or desired with the adapters arranged in a line as shown in the preferred embodiment or in an array, consisting of parallel rows of couplers. All such modifications or variations are believed to be within the sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
Claims (16)
1. A connector for a multi-fibre optic cable comprising:
a housing;
a plurality of female connectors accommodated by said housing, each of said female connectors having a first end extending into said housing to receive an optic fibre and a second end exterior of said housing to receive a patch cable;
a multi-fibre optic cable having an end extending into said housing, each of the optic fibres of the multi-fibre optic cable terminating at said first end of a respective one of said female connectors; and an adhesive within said housing and encasing said optic fibres of said multi-fibre optic cable to inhibit movement of said optic fibres within said housing.
a housing;
a plurality of female connectors accommodated by said housing, each of said female connectors having a first end extending into said housing to receive an optic fibre and a second end exterior of said housing to receive a patch cable;
a multi-fibre optic cable having an end extending into said housing, each of the optic fibres of the multi-fibre optic cable terminating at said first end of a respective one of said female connectors; and an adhesive within said housing and encasing said optic fibres of said multi-fibre optic cable to inhibit movement of said optic fibres within said housing.
2. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said housing has an upper surface, said female connectors being accommodated by openings in said upper surface.
3. A connector according to claim 2 wherein said upper surface includes at least one sloped portion, said openings being provided in said at least one sloped portion.
4. A connector according to claim 3 wherein said upper surface includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced, parallel sloped portions, each of said sloped portions having at least one opening therein to receive a female connector.
5. A connector according to claim 1 wherein each of said female connectors is in the form of an adapter for optically coupling an optic fibre of said multi-fibre optic cable with an optic fibre in said patch cable, said patch cable having a male coupler at one end thereof which accommodates a first ferrule surrounding the optic fibre therein, said adapter including: a body having a female coupler thereon adapted to mate with said male coupler and accommodate said male coupler, said body having a passage formed therein to receive an optic fibre of said multi-fibre optic cable; a second ferrule within said body at which the optic fibre of said multi-fibre optic cable terminates, said second ferrule being positioned within said body so that said first and second ferrules optically couple said optic fibres when the male and female couplers are in mating engagement; and means to secure the second ferrule within said body.
6. A method of forming a multi-connection connector for a multi-fibre optic cable, said connector having a housing carrying a plurality of female connectors, said method comprising the steps of:
extending a multi-fibre optic cable into said housing and terminating each of the optic fibres of said multi-fibre optic cable at a respective one of said female connectors; and filling said housing with a bonding agent to inhibit movement of said optic fibres within said housing.
extending a multi-fibre optic cable into said housing and terminating each of the optic fibres of said multi-fibre optic cable at a respective one of said female connectors; and filling said housing with a bonding agent to inhibit movement of said optic fibres within said housing.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein said bonding agent is in the form of an adhesive.
8. A connector for a multi-fibre optic cable comprising:
a housing having a base, generally upright sides about the periphery of said base and an upper surface bridging said sides above said base, said upper surface being generally saw-toothed in configuration and presenting a plurality of inclined, longitudinally spaced faces;
a plurality of connectors accommodated by openings in the inclined faces of said upper surface, each of said connectors having a first end extending into said housing to receive an optic fibre and a second end exterior of said housing to receive a patch cable;
a multi-fibre optic cable extending into said housing, each of the optical fibres of said multi-fibre optic cable terminating at said first end of a respective one of said connectors; and a bonding agent within said housing to secure permanently said multi-fibre optic cable and said optical fibres within said housing thereby to inhibit movement thereof.
a housing having a base, generally upright sides about the periphery of said base and an upper surface bridging said sides above said base, said upper surface being generally saw-toothed in configuration and presenting a plurality of inclined, longitudinally spaced faces;
a plurality of connectors accommodated by openings in the inclined faces of said upper surface, each of said connectors having a first end extending into said housing to receive an optic fibre and a second end exterior of said housing to receive a patch cable;
a multi-fibre optic cable extending into said housing, each of the optical fibres of said multi-fibre optic cable terminating at said first end of a respective one of said connectors; and a bonding agent within said housing to secure permanently said multi-fibre optic cable and said optical fibres within said housing thereby to inhibit movement thereof.
9. A connector according to claim 8 wherein said housing is constituted by a pair of separable parts.
10. A connector according to claim 8 wherein said multi-fibre optic cable extends into said housing through a side thereof.
11. A connector according to claim 10 wherein each inclined face has one opening therein accommodating a connector.
12. A connector according to claim 11 wherein said boding agent is in the form of an adhesive.
13. A connector according to claim 12 wherein said housing is substantially completely filled with said adhesive.
14. A method of forming a multi-connection connector for a fibre optic cable comprising the steps of:
adhering ferrules to the optic fibres of a multi-fibre optic cable;
securing each of the ferrules to one end of a respective female connector;
enclosing the optic fibres and the one ends of the female connectors in a housing constituted by separable parts, the other end of said female connectors extending exterior of said housing; and permanently securing the optic fibres within said housing to inhibit movement thereof.
adhering ferrules to the optic fibres of a multi-fibre optic cable;
securing each of the ferrules to one end of a respective female connector;
enclosing the optic fibres and the one ends of the female connectors in a housing constituted by separable parts, the other end of said female connectors extending exterior of said housing; and permanently securing the optic fibres within said housing to inhibit movement thereof.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein said optic fibres are permanently secured within said housing by a bonding agent injected into said housing.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said bonding agent is in the form of a curable adhesive substantially completely filling said housing.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/558,652 US5892870A (en) | 1995-11-16 | 1995-11-16 | Fibre optic cable connector |
| US08/558,652 | 1995-11-16 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2190405A1 CA2190405A1 (en) | 1997-05-17 |
| CA2190405C true CA2190405C (en) | 2003-10-28 |
Family
ID=24230400
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002190405A Expired - Lifetime CA2190405C (en) | 1995-11-16 | 1996-11-15 | Fibre optic cable connector |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5892870A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2190405C (en) |
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| US8444326B2 (en) | 2008-05-30 | 2013-05-21 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Flexible optical coupling |
| CN103217747A (en) * | 2013-03-04 | 2013-07-24 | 中航光电科技股份有限公司 | Optical fiber connector branching device |
| CN103217747B (en) * | 2013-03-04 | 2015-04-29 | 中航光电科技股份有限公司 | Optical fiber connector branching device |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2190405A1 (en) | 1997-05-17 |
| US5892870A (en) | 1999-04-06 |
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