Quick connect fiber optic connector having a deformable barrel

• US 6,234,685 B1
• Filed: 05/13/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fitel USA Corporation (Furukawa Electric Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Siereveld, John L., Vicory, William A., White, Williard C. III, Carlisle, Arthur Wallace, Hicks, Jeffrey H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm E.
• Application Number:
  US09/311,483
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 385/80-90, 385/147
• US Class Current: 385/83
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3801 Permanent connections, i.e. wherein fibres are kept aligned by mechanical means splices by bonding G02B6/255; fusion splices G02B6/2551
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3838 using grooves for light guides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3846 with fibre stubs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3857 Crimping, i.e. involving plastic deformation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3887 Anchoring optical cables to connector housings, e.g. strain relief features

Abstract

The present invention provides a fiber optic connector and a method for installing a fiber optic connector including a barrel assembly disposed within a housing. The barrel assembly includes a barrel being formed of deformable material and having a barrel body and a barrel extension extending from an end of the barrel body. An opposing end of the barrel body supports a ferrule having a pre-polished fiber stub disposed therein. An insert is disposed within the barrel, the insert being deformable and is arranged and configured to receive at least one fiber. An extender cap engages a portion of the housing fixing the barrel assembly within the housing. The housing includes at least one aperture disposed in a side portion for accessing the barrel assembly.

In one aspect of the invention a method for installing a fiber optic connector is provided including the steps of, first, forming a barrel assembly. The barrel assembly is then placed in the housing and an extender cap disposed on a protruding portion of the barrel to fix the barrel assembly in the housing. Finally, a fiber is inserted into the barrel until the fiber contacts the fiber stub and the fiber is crimped into the insert.

Claims

1. A fiber optic connector, comprising:

a housing having at least one aperture formed therein;

a barrel assembly being disposed in said housing, said barrel assembly having a deformable portion and having a fiber stub disposed therein; and

an extender member, wherein said extender member is adapted to engage a portion of said housing to fix said barrel assembly within said housing;

said barrel assembly being arranged and configured to receive a fiber therein such that the fiber contacts said fiber stub within said deformable portion of said barrel assembly to crimp the fiber and the fiber stub in abutting position within the barrel assembly.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein said barrel assembly further comprises:

a barrel having a barrel body and a barrel extension extending from said barrel body and being axially aligned thereto;

an insert being disposed in said barrel body, said insert being deformable and arranged and configured to receive at least one fiber optic; and

a ferrule supporting said fiber stub, said ferrule being disposed on an end of said barrel body opposing said barrel extension and positioned such that said fiber stub extends into said insert.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein said barrel extension includes a threaded interior portion.

4. The connector of claim 2, further comprising:

an barrel orientation flat disposed on said barrel body; and

an orientation portion disposed in said housing configured to engage said barrel orientation flat for orienting said barrel within said housing.

5. The connector of claim 2, further comprising;

a ferrule orientation hex disposed on said ferrule; and

a housing orientation hex disposed within said housing, said housing orientation hex being arranged and configured to engage said ferrule orientation hex.

6. The connector of claim 2, wherein said insert further comprises:

a support portion; and

a compliant portion, said compliant portion being separate and distinct from said support portion.

7. The connector of claim 2, wherein said insert further comprises:

an entry cone disposed in the interior of at least one end of said insert for guiding a fiber into said insert.

8. The connector of claim 6, wherein said support portion of said insert comprises a rigid material having a groove disposed longitudinally therein, wherein said groove is arranged and configured for supporting said fiber stub and for receiving a fiber optic and aligning the fiber optic with said fiber stub.

9. The connector of claim 6, wherein said compliant portion of said insert comprises a deformable material, said compliant portion having at least one flange and a contact rail for contacting an optic fiber supported by said support portion, said compliant portion being arranged and configured in said barrel such that said contact rail is aligned with a groove of said support portion, and said flange providing clearance between said groove and said contact rail.

10. The connector of claim 6, wherein said compliant portion and said support portion of said insert each include an angled access portion being adjacent each other in said insert, wherein said angled access portion of said compliant portion is less angled than said angled access portion of said support portion.

11. A method for assembling a fiber optic connector, comprising the steps of:

forming a barrel assembly having an insert and a fiber stub disposed therein;

placing said barrel assembly in a housing having at least one aperture formed therein providing access to said barrel assembly;

disposing an extender cap on a protruding portion of said barrel assembly to fix said barrel assembly in said housing;

inserting a fiber into said insert until said fiber contacts said fiber stub;

contacting said barrel through said aperture in said housing; and

deforming said barrel and said insert therein to fix said fiber and said fiber stub in said connector.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of forming a barrel assembly further comprises the steps of:

providing a barrel having a barrel body of a first diameter and a barrel extension of a second diameter being less than said first diameter, said barrel extension extending from one end of said barrel body and being axially aligned thereto;

disposing said insert in said barrel body;

placing said fiber stub in a ferrule; and

disposing said ferrule on an end of said barrel body opposing said barrel extension such that said fiber stub extends into said insert.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

providing index matching gel in said insert where said fiber contacts said fiber stub.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said crimping includes the steps of:

contacting the barrel through said aperture disposed in said housing; and

applying pressure on said barrel such that a portion of said barrel deforms and said insert deforms to fix said fiber and said fiber stub in said insert.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said insert includes a support portion having a groove disposed longitudinally therein and a compliant portion and further comprising the steps of:

supporting said support portion; and

applying pressure to a portion of said barrel such that said portion of said barrel and said compliant portion deform.

16. The method of claim 11, firther comprising the step of:

contacting a portion of said barrel extending from said housing such that said second portion of said barrel crimps said fiber.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said contacting said barrel through said aperture in said housing and contacting a portion of said barrel extending beyond said housing are performed simultaneously.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

aligning said fiber stub and a fiber optic in said groove of said support portion.

19. A method for assembling a fiber optic connector, comprising the steps of:

forming a barrel assembly having an insert and a fiber stub disposed therein;

placing said barrel assembly in a housing having at least one aperture formed therein providing access to said barrel assembly; and

disposing an extender cap on a protruding portion of said barrel assembly to fix said barrel assembly in said housing.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of forming a barrel assembly further comprises the steps of:

providing a barrel having a barrel body of a first diameter and a barrel extension of a second diameter being less than said first diameter, said barrel extension extending from one end of said barrel body and being axially aligned thereto;

disposing said insert in said barrel body;

placing said fiber stub in a ferrule; and

disposing said ferrule on an end of said barrel body opposing said barrel extension such that said fiber stub extends into said insert.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of:

providing index matching gel in said insert where a fiber can contact said fiber stub.