HARDENED FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR

• US 20090162016A1
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Reagan, Randy, Lu, Yu
• Granted Patent: US 8,770,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/72
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3816 for use under water, high pressure connectors provisionally see G02B6/4428
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3877 Split sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3887 Anchoring optical cables to connector housings, e.g. strain relief features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3889 using encapsulation for protection, e.g. adhesive, molding or casting resin
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3894 Screw-lock type

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic connector for use with a fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic connector includes a connector housing having an end defining a plug portion. A ferrule assembly is mounted at least partially within the connector housing. The ferrule assembly includes a ferrule located at the plug portion of the connector housing. A sealing member is mounted about an exterior of the connector housing for providing a seal between the connector housing and the adapter. The fiber optic connector further includes first and second separate retaining mechanism for retaining the fiber optic connector within the fiber optic adapter.

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A one-piece connector housing main body for a fiber optic connector terminating a fiber optic cable, the one-piece connector housing main body comprising:

a distal end completely defining a plug portion sized and shaped to fit within a port of a fiber optic adapter;

a proximal end including connection means to hold the fiber optic cable;

a central passage defined from the proximal end to the distal end, the central passage including a distal portion defined through the plug portion and a proximal portion providing lateral access to the central passage;

an internal shoulder within the distal portion of the central passage configured to abut against a ferrule assembly of the fiber optic connector;

a spring holder retainer adjacent the central passage for holding a spring holder of the ferrule assembly;

an exterior circumferential groove around a cylindrical portion of the plug portion for mounting a sealing member of the fiber optic connector; and

an external shoulder between the exterior circumferential groove and the proximal end configured to abut a coupling nut of the fiber optic connector, the external shoulder facing toward the proximal end;

wherein the ferrule assembly of the fiber optic connector can be loaded into the one-piece connector housing main body by inserting a ferrule of the ferrule assembly through a proximal end of the distal portion of the central passage until a barrel of the ferrule assembly abuts against the internal shoulder, inserting a spring of the ferrule assembly into the distal portion behind the ferrule, and loading the spring holder of the ferrule assembly into the spring holder retainer such that the spring is captured within the distal portion of the central passage between the barrel and the spring holder.

24. The one-piece connector housing main body of claim 23, further comprising at least one strength member receiver adapted to receive at least one strength member of the fiber optic cable, wherein the at least one strength member receiver provides at least part of the connection means to hold the fiber optic cable.

25. The one-piece connector housing main body of claim 23, further comprising retaining teeth, wherein the retaining teeth provide at least part of the connection means to hold the fiber optic cable.

26. The one-piece connector housing main body of claim 24, wherein the spring holder retainer is positioned between the cylindrical portion of the plug portion and the at least one strength member receiver.

27. The one-piece connector housing main body of claim 23, wherein the exterior circumferential grove is configured for mounting the sealing member with an outer diameter of less than or equal to 10 mm.

28. The one-piece connector housing main body of claim 23, further comprising alignment openings to insure that a cover of the fiber optic connector properly aligns with the one-piece connector housing main body when mounted thereto.

29. A fiber optic connector comprising:

a plug body defining a central longitudinal axis that extends from a proximal end to a distal end of the plug body, the plug body including one or more exterior surfaces defining an exterior boundary of the plug body that extends around the central longitudinal axis, the plug body also including one or more interior surfaces defining an interior boundary of the plug body that extends around the central longitudinal axis, the interior boundary defining a central longitudinal passage that extends through the plug body along the central longitudinal axis, the plug body being molded from plastic material having a wall thickness that extends from the interior boundary to the exterior boundary, the plastic material being uninterrupted as the plastic material extends across the wall thickness from the interior boundary to the exterior boundary, the exterior boundary of the plug body defining a groove that extends around the central longitudinal axis;

a ferrule assembly including a ferrule member positioned at least partially within the central longitudinal passage, the ferrule member being aligned along the central longitudinal axis, the ferrule assembly also including a spring that biases the ferrule member in a distal direction;

an external sealing member mounted within the groove, the external sealing member including at least a portion that extends radially outwardly beyond the exterior boundary of the plug body, the external sealing member defining a maximum outer cross-dimension less than or equal to 15 millimeters; and

an external fastener for securing the plug body within a fiber optic adapter.

30. The fiber optic connector of claim 29, wherein the external sealing member comprises an o-ring and the maximum outer cross-dimension comprises an outer diameter of the o-ring.

31. The fiber optic connector of claim 29, wherein the maximum outer cross-dimension is less than or equal to 12.5 millimeters.

32. The fiber optic connector of claim 29, wherein the maximum outer cross-dimension is less than or equal to 10 millimeters.

33. The fiber optic connector of claim 32, wherein the external fastener comprises a threaded fastener that is rotatably movable relative to the plug body about the central longitudinal axis.

34. The fiber optic connector of claim 29, wherein the ferrule member projects distally beyond the distal end of the plug body and forms a distal-most end of the fiber optic connector.

35. The fiber optic connector of claim 29, wherein the external sealing member is located at an axial location on the plug body that is co-extensive with at least a portion of an axial length of the plug body at which the spring is located.

36. A fiber optic connector comprising:

a molded, one-piece plug main body defining a central longitudinal axis that extends from a proximal end to a distal end of the plug main body, the plug main body including one or more exterior surfaces defining an exterior boundary of the plug main body that extends around the central longitudinal axis, the plug main body also including one or more interior surfaces defining an interior boundary of the plug main body that extends around the central longitudinal axis, the interior boundary defining a central longitudinal passage that extends through the plug main body along the central longitudinal axis, the exterior boundary of the plug main body defining a groove that extends around the central longitudinal axis;

a ferrule assembly including a ferrule member positioned at least partially within the central longitudinal passage, the ferrule member being aligned along the central longitudinal axis, the ferrule assembly also including a spring that biases the ferrule member in a distal direction;

an external sealing member mounted within the groove, the external sealing member including at least a portion that extends radially outwardly beyond the exterior boundary of the plug main body, the external sealing member defining a maximum outer cross-dimension less than or equal to 15 millimeters; and

an external fastener for securing the plug main body within a fiber optic adapter.

37. The fiber optic connector of claim 36, wherein the external sealing member comprises an o-ring and the maximum outer cross-dimension comprises an outer diameter of the o-ring.

38. The fiber optic connector of claim 36, wherein the maximum outer cross-dimension is less than or equal to 12.5 millimeters.

39. The fiber optic connector of claim 36, wherein the maximum outer cross-dimension is less than or equal to 10 millimeters.

40. The fiber optic connector of claim 36, wherein the external fastener comprises a threaded fastener that is rotatably movable relative to the plug main body about the central longitudinal axis.

41. The fiber optic connector of claim 36, wherein the ferrule member projects distally beyond the distal end of the plug main body and forms a distal-most end of the fiber optic connector.

42. The fiber optic connector of claim 36, wherein the external sealing member is located at an axial location on the plug main body that is co-extensive with at least a portion of an axial length of the plug main body at which the spring is located.