Swivelling optical connector for joining optical fiber to components and sensor including such connector

An optical sensor comprising walls defining a passageway for the passage of light, said sensor having a light input opening and a light output opening, and connectors, one for each opening, at each opening and secured to said walls, each said connector comprising:

• a movable element having an external surface at least part of which is defined by a sphere, said element having an opening with an axis co-incident with the center of said sphere;
• a tubular element having a bore for receiving an optical fiber, said tubular element being connected to said movable element for movement with said movable element and with the axis of said bore passing through said center of said sphere;
• a tubular housing receiving said movable element and adapted to be secured to the body of the optical component, said housing having an interior surface which engages said external surface of said movable element at least along a line peripherally of said axis of said opening in said movable element;
• releasable tightening means acting between said tubular housing and said movable element for pressing said external surface of said movable element against said interior surface of said housing and thereby frictionally preventing relative movement between said external surface and said interior surface;
• and
• a lens mounted on said tubular element in alignment with said bore of said tubular element for receiving light from an optical fiber within said bore whereby said lens moves with said tubular element and movement of said movable element.

A swivel connector for joining an optical fiber to an optical component having a body and for permitting orientation of the axis of the optical fiber, said connector comprising:

• a movable element having an external surface at least part of which is defined by a sphere, said element having an opening with an axis co-incident with the center of said sphere;
• a tubular element having a bore for receiving an optical fiber, said tubular element being connected to said movable element for movement with said movable element and with the axis of said bore passing through said center of said sphere, an end portion of said tubular element nearer said center of said sphere being spaced from said center of said sphere;
• a tubular housing receiving said movable element and adapted to be secured to the body of the optical component, said housing having an interior surface which engages said external surface of said movable element at least along a line peripherally of said axis of said opening in said movable element;
• releasable tightening means acting between said tubular housing and said movable element for pressing said external surface of said movable element against said interior surface of said housing and thereby frictionally preventing relative movement between said external surface and said interior surface;
• and
• a lens disposed in said opening of said movable element at said center of said sphere and at said end portion of said tubular element with its focus axis co-incident with said axis of said bore.

A swivel connector for joining an optical fiber to an optical component having a body and for permitting orientation of the axis of the optical fiber, said connector comprising:

• a movable element having an external surface at least part of which is defined by a sphere, said element having an opening with an axis co-incident with the center of said sphere;
• a tubular element having a bore for receiving an optical fiber, said tubular element being connected to said movable element for movement with said movement element and with the axis of said bore passing through said center of said sphere, an end portion of said tubular element nearer said center of said sphere being spaced from said center of said sphere;
• a tubular housing receiving said movable element and adapted to be secured to the body of the optical component, said housing having an interior surface which engages said external surface of said movable element at least along a line peripherally of said axis of said opening in said movable element;
• releasable tightening means acting between said tubular housing and said movable element for pressing said external surface of said movable element against said interior surface of said housing and thereby frictionally preventing relative movement between said external surface of said interior surface;
• a lens disposed in said opening between said movable element and said center of said sphere and said end portion of said tubular element with its focus axis co-incident with said axis of said bore;
• and
• said tubular element being slidably connected to said movable element for slidable movement in the direction axially of said bore for permitting adjustment of the position of the end of a fiber in said bore with respect to said lens and further comprising locking means for locking said tubular element in a desired axial position.

A swivel connector for joining an optical fiber to an optical component having a body and for permitting orientation of the axis of the optical fiber, said connector comprising:

• a movable element having an external surface at least part of which is defined by a sphere, said element having an opening with an axis co-incident with the center of said sphere;
• a tubular element having a bore for receiving an optical fiber, said tubular element being connected to said movable element for movement with said movable element and with the axis of said bore passing through said center of said sphere;
• a tubular housing receiving said movable element and adapted to be secured to the body of the optical component, said housing having an interior surface which engages said external surface of said movable element at least along a line peripherally of said axis of said opening in said movable element;
• releasable tightening means acting between said tubular housing and said movable element for pressing said external surface of said movable element against said interior surface of said housing and thereby frictionally preventing relative movement between said external surface and said interior surface;
• and
• an anisotropic element in said opening in said movable member.

A swivel connector for joining an optical fiber to an optical component having a body and for permitting orientation of the axis of the optical fiber, said connector comprising:

• a movable element having an external surface at least part of which is defined by a sphere, said element having an opening with an axis co-incident with the center of said sphere;
• a tubular element having a bore for receiving an optical fiber, said tubular element being connected to said movable element for movement with said movable element and with the axis of said bore passing through said center of said sphere;
• a tubular housing receiving said movable element and adapted to be secured to the body of the optical component, said housing having an interior surface which engages said external surface of said movable element at least along a line peripherally of said axis of said opening in said movable element;
• releasable tightening means acting between said tubular housing and said movable element for pressing said external surface of said movable element against said interior surface of said housing and thereby frictionally preventing relative movement between said external surface and said interior surface;
• and
• said interior surface being between said external surface and said releasable tightening means, said tubular housing having an exterior surface at least part of which is defined by a further sphere having a diameter greater than the diameter of the first-mentioned said sphere, said further sphere being concentric with the first-mentioned said sphere, said tubular element has screw threads thereon and said releasable tightening means comprises a locking nut with screw threads engaging said screw threads on said tubular element and having a locking surface engageable with said exterior surface of said tubular housing.

An optical sensor comprising walls defining a passageway for the passage of light, said sensor having a light input opening and a light output opening, and connectors, one for each opening, at each opening and secured to said walls, each said connector comprising:

• a movement element having an external surface at least part of which is defined by a sphere, said element having an opening with an axis co-incident with the center of said sphere;
• a tubular element having a bore for receiving an optical fiber, said tubular element being connected to said movable element for movement with said movable element and with the axis of said bore passing through said center of said sphere, an end portion of said tubular element nearer said center of said sphere being spaced from said center of said sphere;
• a tubular housing receiving said movable element and adapted to be secured to the body of the optical component, said housing having an interior surface which engages said external surface of said movable element at least along a line peripherally of said axis of said opening in said movable element;
• releasable tightening means acting between said tubular housing and said movable element for pressing said external surface of said movable element against said interior surface of said housing and thereby frictionally preventing relative movement between said external surface and said interior surface;
• and
• a lens disposed in said opening of said movable element at said center of said sphere and at said end portion of said tubular element with its focus axis co-incident with said axis of said bore.

An optical sensor comprising walls defining a passageway for the passage of light, said sensor having a light input opening and a light output opening, and connectors, one for each opening, at each opening and secured to said walls, each said connector comprising:

• a movable element having an external surface at least part of which is defined by a sphere, said element having an opening with an axis co-incident with the center of said sphere;
• a tubular element having a bore for receiving an optical fiber, said tubular element being connected to said movable element for movement with said movable element and with the axis of said bore passing through said center of said sphere, an end portion of said tubular element nearer said center of said sphere being spaced from said center of said sphere;
• a tubular housing receiving said movable element and adapted to be secured to the body of the optical component, said housing having an interior surface which engages said external surface of said movable element at least along a line peripherally of said axis of said opening in said movable element;
• releasable tightening means acting between said tubular housing and said movable element for pressing said external surface of said movable element against said interior surface of said housing and thereby frictionally preventing relative movement between said external surface and said interior surface;
• a lens disposed in said opening between said movable element and said center of said sphere and said end portion of said tubular element with its focus axis co-incident with said axis of said bore;
• and
• said tubular element being slidably connected to said movable element for slidable movement in the direction axially of said bore for permitting adjustment of the position of the end of a fiber in said bore with respect to said lens and further comprising locking means for locking said tubular element in a desired axial position.

An optical sensor comprising walls defining a passageway for the passage of light, said sensor having a light input opening and a light output opening, and connectors, one for each opening, at each opening and secured to said walls, each said connector comprising:

• a movable element having an external surface at least part of which is defined by a sphere, said element having an opening with an axis co-incident with the center of said sphere;
• a tubular element having a bore for receiving an optical fiber, said tubular element being connected to said movable element for movement with said movable element and with the axis of said bore passing through said center of said sphere;
• a tubular housing receiving said movable element and adapted to be secured to the body of the optical component, said housing having an interior surface which engages said external surface of said movable element at least along a line peripherally of said axis of said opening in said movable element;
• releasable tightening mean acting between said tubular housing and said movable element for pressing said external surface of said movable element against said interior surface of said housing and thereby frictionally preventing relative movement between said external surface and said interior surface;
• and
• an anisotropic element in said opening in said movable member.

An optical sensor comprising walls defining a passageway for the passage of light, said sensor having a light input opening and a light output opening, and connectors, one for each opening, at each opening and secured to said walls, each said connector comprising:

• a movable element having an external surface at least part of which is defined by a sphere, said element having an opening with an axis co-incident with the center of said sphere;
• a tubular element having a bore for receiving an optical fiber, said tubular element being connected to said movable element for movement with said movable element and with the axis of said bore passing through said center of said sphere;
• a tubular housing receiving said movable element and adapted to be secured to the body of the optical component, said housing having an interior surface which engages said external surface of said movable element at least along a line peripherally of said axis of said opening in said movable element;
• releasable tightening means acting between said tubular housing and said movable element for pressing said external surface of said movable element against said interior surface of said housing and thereby frictionally preventing relative movement between said external surface and said interior surface;
• and
• said interior surface being between said external surface and said releasable tightening means, said tubular housing having an exterior surface at least part of which is defined by a further sphere having a diameter greater than the diameter of the first-mentioned said sphere, said further sphere being concentric with the first-mentioned said sphere, said tubular element has screw threads thereon and said releasable tightening means comprises a locking nut with screw threads engaging said screw threads on said tubular element and having a locking surface engageable with said exterior surface of said tubular housing.