US 4,787,701 A · Optical fiber contact assembly

Abstract

An assembly for interconnecting a plurality of first contacts disposed in a ribbon array with a plurality of second contacts, also disposed in a ribbon array, includes a plurality of cylindrical radial springs which are split longitudinally along an axial direction of the contacts, each radial spring providing three common lines of contact with the mating first and second contacts so as to precisely align front ends of mating the first and second contacts. The assembly further includes dynamic seals on opposite ends of an alignment insert which contains the cylindrical, radial springs, the dynamic seals preventing foreign matter from entering an interface between front ends of the mating first and second contacts, and also functioning to dampen shock- and vibration-induced displacements of the mating first and second contacts.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An assembly for optically aligning a first optical fiber contact with a second optical fiber contact, comprising:

first and second interconnected shells, said first shell retaining said first contact so as to be matable with said second contact retained by said second shell;
means for axially biasing said first contact towards said second contact;
means for aligning ends of said first and second contacts to be optically aligned;
first and second dynamic seals for sealing opposite ends of said alignment means where said first and second contacts enter said alignment means, each of said dynamic seals being secured to said opposite ends of said alignment means, said first and second dynamic seals having holes therein having inside diameters smaller than an outside diameter of said first and second contacts, respectively, spaces being provided on opposite axial ends of each of said dynamic seals in a vicinity of said holes to allow movement of said dynamic seals in an axial direction during shock and vibration loads.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optical fiber contact assembly

Life of this patent

Optical fiber contact assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16