HARDENED OPTICAL POWER CONNECTION SYSTEM

• US 20170176690A1
• Filed: 02/09/2015
• Published: 06/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Commscope Emea Limited (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.), CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: HUEGERICH, Thomas P., BRETZ, Dwight A., FLAIG, Robert Charles, GURRERI, Michael Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 9,927,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4431 with provision in the protective covering, e.g. weak line, for gaining access to one or more fibres, e.g. for branching or tapping break-out terminations G02B6/4471
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4479 Manufacturing methods of optical cables

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a hardened power and optical connection system for use with hybrid cables. The hardened power and optical connection system includes electrical pin and socket contacts for providing power connections, and ferrules for providing optical connections. The hardened power and optical connection system has an integrated fiber alignment provided through a mating relationship between a plug and a socket.

Claims

1. A hybrid fiber optic connection system comprising:

a plug including a plug housing defining first sleeves that project forwardly from a main body of the plug housing, the plug also including at least one second sleeve that projects forwardly from the main of the plug housing, the first and second sleeves being parallel, the plug further including pin electrical contacts positioned within the first sleeves and a ferrule positioned within the second sleeve; and

a socket that mates with the plug, the socket including a socket housing defining first receptacles that receive the first sleeves of the plug when the socket and the plug are mated together and at least one second receptacle for receiving the second sleeve when the plug and the socket are mated together, the socket including electrical socket electrical contacts mounted within the first receptacles and a ferrule mounted within the second receptacle, wherein the pin electrical contacts are received within the socket electrical contacts when the plug and the socket are mated together and optical fibers supported by the ferrules of the plug and the socket are optically coupled when the plug and the socket are mated together.

2. The hybrid fiber optic connection system of claim 1, wherein the ferrules are multi-fiber ferrules.

3. The hybrid fiber optic connection system of claim 1, wherein the socket housing and the plug housing have a dielectric construction.

4. The hybrid fiber optic connection system of claim 1, wherein the ferrules are single fiber ferrules.

5. The hybrid fiber optic connection system of claim 4, wherein the plug includes two of the second sleeves, wherein single fiber ferrules are mounted with each of the second sleeves, wherein the socket includes two of the second receptacles for receiving the second sleeves, and wherein single fiber ferrules are mounted within each of the second receptacles.

6. The hybrid fiber optic connection system of claim 5, wherein the ferrules are part of fiber termination modules including insert bodies inserted within openings defined by the socket housing and the plug housing, wherein the fiber termination modules including springs captured within the insert bodies and hubs captured within the insert bodies, wherein base ends of the ferrules are supported by the hubs, wherein the springs bias the hubs toward ends of the insert bodies, and wherein the ferrule project outwardly from the ends of the insert bodies.

7. The hybrid fiber optic connection system of claim 1, further comprising sealing housings that mount over the plug and the socket.

8. The hybrid fiber optic connection system of claim 7, wherein the sealing housings attach to a fixture by a threaded or bayonet-style connection, and wherein the housing covering the plug is mounted on an opposite side of the fixture from the housing covering the socket, and wherein fixture includes a through-opening for receiving the plug and the socket.

9. The hybrid fiber optic connection system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plug and the socket is coupled to a hybrid cable having an elongated transverse cross-sectional profile, wherein the transverse cross-sectional profile of the hybrid cable includes a major axis and a minor axis, wherein two electrical conductors are position on the major axis on opposite sides of the minor axis, and wherein optical fibers are positioned within a passage through a central region of the hybrid cable.

10. A fiber termination module comprising:

an insert body adapter for insertion within an opening of a connector body;

a spring captured within the insert body;

a hub captured within the insert body; and

a ferrule having a base end supported by the hub, wherein the spring biases the hub toward an end of the insert body, and wherein the ferrule project outwardly from the end of the insert body.

11. The fiber termination module of claim 10, wherein tine insert body is mounted an opening of a connector body.

12. The fiber termination module of claim 10, wherein the insert body is cylindrical.

13. A method for assembling a connector having a fiber termination module, the fiber termination module having an insert body carrying a spring biased ferrule, the method comprising:

pre-assembling the fiber termination module; and

inserting the pre-assembled fiber termination module in a connector body.