Multichannel fiber optics connector

• US 4,432,603 A
• Filed: 08/26/1981
• Issued: 02/21/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Morency, Roger L., Olin, Lester D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Application Number:
  US06/296,285
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.20, 350/96.21, 350/96.22
• US Class Current: 385/59
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3816 for use under water, high pressure connectors provisionally see G02B6/4428
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/383 Hermaphroditic connectors, i.e. two identical plugs mating with one another, each plug having both male and female diametrically opposed engaging parts; electric hermaphroditic coupling H01R24/84, H01R13/28
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3831 comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3843 with auxiliary facilities for movably aligning or adjusting the fibre within its ferrule, e.g. measuring position or eccentricity testing the alignment of axes, including eccentricity, G01B11/27
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3851 Ferrules having keying or coding means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• 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 6/3894 Screw-lock type

Abstract

A multichannel fiber optics connector comprises two virtually identical hes, each of which is made up of an insert alignment bushing, a shell and a clamping nut. The bushing has anchor and keying pins attached. The connector is waterproof and pressure tolerant for underwater use.

Claims

1. A fiber optic connector comprising:

a housing shell having an axially aligned aperture running from the aft end to the forward end of said shell, such aft end adapted to receive fiber optic leads, said shell having fill and exit apertures for potting;

a clamping nut forming a collar around the forward end of said shell, said clamping nut adapted to be affixed to a mating connector;

an insert alignment bushing being inserted in the forward end of said shell, said bushing comprising a solid slug of material having keying pin apertures, anchor pin apertures and fiber optic lead apertures, respective members of said keying pin apertures and said anchor pin apertures having the same axis;

anchor pins inserted in said anchor pin apertures; and

keying pins inserted in said keying pin apertures.

2. A fiber optic connector according to claim 1 further comprising a set screw affixing said clamping nut to said forward end of said shell.

3. A fiber optic connector according to claim 2 wherein said insert alignment bushing further comprises a strength member aperture.

4. A fiber optic connector according to claim 3 wherein said respective members of said keying pin apertures and said respective members of said anchor pin apertures are extensions of each other.

5. A fiber optic connector assembly comprising:

a first and second connector with each of said first and second connectors having a housing shell, a clamping nut, an insert alignment bushing and anchor pins;

each housing shell having an axially aligned aperture running from the aft end to the forward end of said shell, said shell having fill and exit apertures for potting;

each clamping nut forming a collar around the forward end of its associated shell, each nut having aligned apertures for connecting purposes, the apertures of one nut are clearance apertures and of the other nut are threaded apertures;

each insert alignment bushing being inserted in the forward end of its associated shell, each bushing comprising a solid slug of material having keying pin apertures, anchor pin apertures and fiber optic lead apertures, respective members of said keying pin apertures and said anchor pin apertures having the same axis;

anchor pins inserted in said anchor pin apertures of each insert alignment bushing;

fiber optic leads inserted in each housing shell at the aft end of said axially aligned aperture and connected within said respective fiber optic lead apertures of its associated insert alignment bushing;

potting material surrounding said fiber optic leads within each of said housing shells;

keying pins inserted in respective aligned keying pin apertures; and

cap screws connecting each clamping nut to each other.

6. A fiber optic connector assembly according to claim 5 further comprising two set screws, one for affixing each said clamping nut to a respective forward end of said shell.

7. A fiber optic connector assembly according to claim 6 wherein each insert alignment bushing also comprises a strength member aperture.

8. A fiber optic connector assembly according to claim 7 wherein said respective members of said keying pin apertures and said respective members of said anchor pin apertures are extensions of each other.