Tool for cleaning an optical surface

• US 4,733,428 A
• Filed: 11/05/1986
• Issued: 03/29/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Corporation
• Original Assignee: Amphenol Corporation
• Inventors: Dousset, Rene, Malinge, Jean L., Collignon, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US06/927,026
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 15/302, 15/304, 15/322, 15/345
• US Class Current: 15/302
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2240/02 Optical fibers or optical fiber connectors
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/02 Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3807 Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3866 Devices, tools or methods for cleaning connectors cleaning in general B08B

Abstract

A cleaning tool for an optical surface, particularly well adapted to the cleaning of optical surfaces which access is difficult.

The cleaning tool includes an injector (8) which can send a cleaning liquid, and then a drying gas, under pressure onto the optical surface (2), and a jacket (9) for the evacuation of the cleaning and drying fluids. The tool has a neck (13) to fit onto an optical tip associated with an optical fiber.

Claims

1. A cleaning tool for an optical surface comprising an injection duct for a cleaning fluid sent under pressure in the direction of said optical surface and an evacuation duct for said fluid, and means for positioning said tool relative to said optical surface wherein said injection duct is formed in an injector and said evacuation duct is formed in a jacket, wherein said injector and jacket are generally cylindrical in form and pierced from end to end with an axial bore and the injector is lodged in the bore of said jacket such that there is a space between the front end of the injector and the jacket, wherein said evacuation duct is formed, at least in part, by the space between the front end of the injector and said jacket and wherein said evacuation duct of said jacket comprises a longitudinal groove formed on the periphery of said jacket and a hole pierced in said jacket and connecting said groove with said space.

2. A cleaning tool for an optical surface comprising an injection duct for a cleaning fluid sent under pressure in the direction of said optical surface and an evacuation duct for said fluid and means for positioning said tool relative to said optical surface wherein said injection duct is formed in an injector and said evacuation duct is formed in a jacket, wherein the means for positioning comprises a neck situated at the front part of said jacket, with the front end of said injector being recessed relative to said front end of said neck and wherein in the case of cleaning a female tip having said optical surface, the length of said neck corresponds to the depth of the bore of said female tip, said neck surrounding said optical surface when said tool is in operating position and in the case of cleaning a male tip having said optical surface, said neck of said jacket has an inner diameter adjusted to the diameter of said male tip in order to cover said male tip.

3. A cleaning tool according to claim 2, characterized in that said neck comprises a swivel adjusted to the diameter of the bore in said female tip.

4. A cleaning tool according to claim 2, characterized in that said axial bore of said jacket has a reduced diameter in the area of said neck, that said injector has a reduced diameter at its front end and that said axial bore of said injector has a reduced diameter adjacent the front end of said injector.

5. A cleaning tool according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises means of retention of said male tip in order to maintain a predetermined distance between said optical surface and the front end of said injector.

6. A cleaning tool according to claim 5, characterized in that said means of retention comprises a shoulder in the axial bore of said jacket.

7. A cleaning tool according to claim 2, characterized in that a shoulder is provided at the rear of said injector against which the rear of said jacket abuts, whereby said front end of said injector is maintained in its recessed position relative to said jacket.