HARDENED FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR

• US 20140314379A1
• Filed: 07/03/2014
• Published: 10/23/2014
• 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: LU, Yu, REAGAN, Randy
• Granted Patent: US 9,664,862 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 6/3893 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. A fiber optic connector for use with a fiber optic adapter, the fiber optic connector comprising:

a ferrule assembly adapted to mount at least one optical fiber;

a plug portion at a distal end of a connector housing, the plug portion included on a unitary piece of the connector housing, the plug portion including;

an exterior of the unitary piece, the exterior shaped to fit within a port of the fiber optic adapter, the exterior including a circumferential groove adapted to mount a sealing member; and

an interior of the unitary piece, the interior defining a distal portion of a central passage, the ferrule assembly positioned at least partially within the distal portion of the central passage; and

a rotatable coupler adapted to retain the fiber optic connector within the fiber optic adapter.

2. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the unitary piece extends between a proximal end of the connector housing and the distal end of the connector housing.

3. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the unitary piece includes a circumferential shoulder and wherein the rotatable coupler abuts the circumferential shoulder and thereby is adapted to retain the fiber optic connector within the fiber optic adapter.

4. The fiber optic connector of claim 3, wherein an end surface of the rotatable coupler abuts the circumferential shoulder and thereby is adapted to retain the fiber optic connector within the fiber optic adapter.

5. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the rotatable coupler abuts the circumferential shoulder and thereby is adapted to retain the fiber optic connector within the fiber optic adapter.

6. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein turning of the rotatable coupler enables a connection means of the rotatable coupler to engage or disengage with the fiber optic adapter.

7. The fiber optic connector of claim 6, wherein the connection means of the rotatable coupler includes threads.

8. The fiber optic connector of claim 7, wherein the threads are exterior screw threads.

9. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the rotatable coupler provides a second connection mechanism to retain the fiber optic connector within the fiber optic adapter and wherein a latch provides a first connection mechanism to retain the fiber optic connector within the fiber optic adapter.

10. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the interior of the unitary piece defines a shoulder facing in a proximal direction, the ferrule assembly abutting the shoulder, and wherein the ferrule assembly is positioned adjacent the interior of the unitary piece.

11. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the unitary piece is uninterrupted between the exterior and the interior.

12. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the unitary piece is molded from plastic material.

13. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, further comprising a cover, wherein a proximal portion of the central passage is defined in part by the unitary piece and in part by the cover, and wherein the distal portion of the central passage is defined entirely by the unitary piece and extends through the plug portion.

14. The fiber optic connector of claim 13, further comprising a crimp band that assists in retaining the cover on the unitary piece and also assists in securing strength members of a cable in place between the cover and the unitary piece, the cable including the at least one optical fiber.

15. The fiber optic connector of claim 10, further comprising a cover and a spring holder, wherein a proximal portion of the central passage is defined in part by the unitary piece and in part by the cover, wherein the distal portion of the central passage is defined entirely by the unitary piece and extends through the plug portion, and wherein the ferrule assembly includes a spring captured by the spring holder.

16. 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 cover that attaches to the proximal end of the one-piece plug main body, wherein a strength member of a fiber optic cable can be secured between the cover and the proximal end of the one-piece plug main body;

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 and a spring holder, the spring 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; and

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

wherein the ferrule assembly can be loaded into the central longitudinal passage through a proximal end of the central longitudinal passage and the spring holder is positioned within the central longitudinal passage and thereby captures the spring.

17. The fiber optic connector of claim 16, wherein the interior boundary of the plug main body defines a shoulder facing in a proximal direction, the ferrule assembly abutting the shoulder, and wherein the ferrule member is positioned adjacent the interior boundary of the plug main body.

18. The fiber optic connector of claim 16, wherein the plug main body is molded from plastic material.

19. The fiber optic connector of claim 18, wherein the plug main body has a thickness that extends from the interior boundary to the exterior boundary, at least a portion of the plastic material being uninterrupted as the plastic material extends outwardly through the thickness from the interior boundary to the exterior boundary of the plug main body.

20. The fiber optic connector of claim 16, wherein the ferrule assembly abuts a shoulder defined by the interior boundary to stop movement of the ferrule assembly in the distal direction.

21. The fiber optic connector of claim 16, wherein the ferrule member is positioned adjacent the interior boundary of the plug main body.

22. The fiber optic connector of claim 16, wherein the spring holder is positioned between the cover and the proximal end of the one-piece plug main body.

23. A fiber optic connector comprising:

a 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, and the interior boundary of the plug main body defining a shoulder;

a cover that attaches to the proximal end of the one-piece plug main body, wherein a strength member of a fiber optic cable can be secured between the cover and the proximal end of the one-piece plug main body;

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, and the ferrule assembly adjacent the shoulder of the interior boundary of the plug main body;

an external sealing member mounted within the groove;

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

a metal sleeve positioned over at least a portion of the cover and the proximal end of the one-piece plug main body, the metal sleeve having a proximal portion that extends proximally outwardly with respect to a proximal end of the external fastener.

24. The fiber optic connector of claim 23, wherein the ferrule assembly further includes a spring holder that captures the spring when the ferrule assembly is loaded into the central longitudinal passage.

25. The fiber optic connector of claim 24, wherein the spring holder is positioned between the cover and the proximal end of the one-piece plug main body.