US 6,305,849 B1 · Multi-channel fiber optic connector

Abstract

A multi-channel fiber optic cable connector is provided for connecting the terminal ends of fiber optic cables utilizing continuous ceramic sleeves to align the adjacent termini of optical fibers included within respective ones of the cables. The continuous ceramic sleeves have internal bores which are slightly larger than the outside diameter of the periphery of the termini, providing a clearance fit between the continuous ceramic sleeves and respective ones of the termini. The termini are independently gimbaled, with gimbal points being disposed distally from respective mating planes between opposing terminal ends of the termini. Floating seal assemblies extend around respective ones of the termini between the mating planes and the gimbal points, and seal between the respective ones of the termini and a connector housing. The floating seal assemblies each include an annular-shaped, floating collar having an aperture through which a respective one of the termini extends. The floating collar is free to move parallel to a longitudinal axis of the respective termini, and also transverse thereto. A first seal element seals between the aperture of the floating collar and the respective termini. The floating collar includes a face which extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the respective termini. A second seal element extends around the longitudinal axis of the respective termini and is sealingly engaged between the face of the floating collar and a seal surface of a bore in the connector housing.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A multi-channel fiber optic cable connector for connecting the terminal ends of two multi-channel fiber optic cables having termini of respective ones of multiple optical fibers included within said cables, the connector comprising:

a first housing having a first connector face, a first insert cap tower with and two first tangs which extend forward of said first connector face, wherein said two first tangs and said first insert cap tower are spaced apart to extend forward of said first connector face in a keyed arrangement for reciprocally engaging a second housing having a second insert cap tower with two second tangs, said two first tangs fitting adjacent to the second insert cap tower, said first insert cap tower fitting adjacent to the second insert cap tower and the second tangs, and said first connector face fitting against a second forward surface of the second insert cap tower;
said first insert cap tower having two interior passages which define first insert cap tower cavities within which are disposed respective ones of a first pair of said termini;
and
said first connector face having a pair of interior passages which define two first connector face cavities which are disposed between said first insert cap tower and said two first tangs, from which respective ones of a second pair of said termini extend.

1 more element

a housing having an insert body with a plurality of interior passages disposed therein for receiving respective ones of the termini of the optical fibers of one of said cables;
at least one mating plane for aligning with a second at least one mating plane of a second housing for transmitting light signals therebetween;
a plurality of shoulders disposed to extend substantially transverse to the longitudinal axes of said passages for retaining said termini within said passages;
a plurality of inwardly extending protuberances which extend inwardly within respective ones of said interior passages, each of said interior passages having one of said shoulders and one of said protuberances, and wherein said shoulders are spaced apart from respective ones of said protuberances and said mating plane, and said protuberances are distally disposed from said mating plane;
said protuberances fitting around respective ones of said termini, to gimbal said termini within respective ones of said interior passages, wherein said terminal ends of said termini may angularly move transverse to respective ones of said longitudinal axes thereof, pivoting about said protuberances;
a plurality of floating collars, each of which extends around a respective one of said termini with a clearance fit between said respective ones of said floating collars and said termini such that said floating collars are free to move parallel to longitudinal axes of said respective termini;
first seal elements disposed within respective ones of first seal glands, and sealingly engaging between said respective termini and said floating collars;
said floating collars having seal faces which extend parallel to said longitudinal axes of said respective termini, spaced apart from respective ones of said interior passages of said housing to define second seal glands therebetween;
second seal elements disposed in said second seal glands, extending around respective ones of said longitudinal axes of said respective termini, and sealingly engaging between respective ones of said seal faces and said interior passages when said termini are angularly displaced about said protuberances;
biasing means to energize said second seal elements;
continuous ceramic sleeves having interior bores which are of a slightly wider cross-section than said termini, providing clearance fits between said continuous ceramic sleeves and said termini over lengths which extend parallel to respective ones of said longitudinal axes of said termini;
and
wherein mating ones of said termini fit within opposite ends of respective ones of said continuous ceramic sleeves to align said terminal ends of said mating ones of said termini for transmitting light signals therebetween.

10 more elements

a housing having an insert body with a plurality of interior passages disposed therein for receiving respective ones of the termini of optical fibers of one of said cables, at least one mating plane for aligning with a second and at least one mating plane of a second housing for transmitting light signals therebetween, and a plurality of shoulders disposed to extend substantially transverse to the longitudinal axes of said passages, and a plurality of inwardly extending protuberances which extend inwardly within respective ones of said interior passages, each of said interior passages having one of said shoulders and one of said passages, and wherein said shoulders are spaced apart from respective ones of said protuberances and said mating plane, and said protuberances are distally disposed from said mating plane;
said protuberances fitting around respective ones of said termini, to gimbal said termini within respective ones of said interior passages, wherein said terminal ends of said termini may angularly misalign to respective ones of said longitudinal axes thereof, pivoting about said protuberances;
a plurality of floating collars, each of which extends around a respective one of said termini with a clearance fit between said respective ones of said floating collars and said termini such that said floating collars are free to move parallel to longitudinal axes of said respective termini;
first seal elements disposed within respective ones of first seal glands, and sealingly engaging between said respective termini and said floating collars;
said floating collars having seal faces which extend parallel to said longitudinal axes of said respective termini, spaced apart from respective ones of said interior passages of said housing to define second seal glands therebetween;
second seal elements disposed in said second seal glands, extending around respective ones of said longitudinal axes of said respective termini, and sealingly engaging between respective ones of said seal faces and said interior passages when said termini are angularly displaced about said protuberances;
biasing means to engergize the second seal elements;
continuous ceramic sleeves having interior bores which are of a slightly wider cross-section than said termini, providing clearance fits between said continuous ceramic sleeves and said termini over lengths which extend parallel to respective ones of said longitudinal axes of said termini;
wherein mating ones of said termini fit within opposite ends of respective ones of said continuous ceramic sleeves to align said terminal ends of said mating ones of said termini for transmitting light signals therebetween;
said housing having a forwardly extending insert cap, a connector face and two forwardly extending tangs, said insert cap extending forward of said connector face, and wherein said two tangs and said insert cap are spaced apart in a keyed arrangement for receiving a second main body having a second insert cap and two second tangs, said tangs fitting adjacent to the second insert cap, said insert cap fitting adjacent to the second insert cap and the second tangs and said connector face fitting against a forward face of the second insert cap;
said insert cap having two of said interior passages of said housing which define insert cap cavities within which are disposed respective ones of said termini;
and
said connector face having a second two of said interior passages of said housing which define two connector face cavities which are disposed between said insert cap and said tangs, from which respective ones of said termini extend.

10 more elements

A method for joining two multi-channel fiber optic cables for transmitting light signals therebetween, comprising the steps of:

providing first and second connector housings, each having a plurality of interior passages for receiving respective ones of termini of the optical fiber of the fiber optic cables, with the interior passages of respective ones of the first and second connector housings aligned for registering with respective ones of the interior passages of the other of the first and second connector housings;
mounting a plurality of floating collars around the termini, each of the floating collars mounted to a respective one of the termini, slidable in a longitudinal direction relative to the respective termini;
disposing first seal elements between the floating collars and the respective ones of the termini, sealingly engaging therebetween;
disposing second seal elements between the floating collars and the interior passage of respective ones of the first and second connector housings;
biasing the floating collars into forward positions, wherein the forward ends of the floating collars are pressed against the first seal elements to energize the first seal elements to sealingly engage between the floating collars and the interior surfaces of respective ones of the first and second connector housings;
mounting the termini within respective ones of the interior passages of the first and second connector housings, with the termini angularly moveable with respect to a gimbal point which is distally disposed from terminal ends of the respective ones of the termini, and the second seal element sealingly engaging between the floating collars and the interior passages of the housing as the termini are angularly moved within the respective ones of the interior passages;
slidably disposing respective ones of continuous rigid sleeves within respective ones of the interior passages of the first and second connector housings, with respective ones of the termini disposed in each of the continuous rigid sleeves with a slidably engaging clearing therebetween;
and
mating the first connector housing with the second connector housing to slidably engage the termini of respective ones of the first and second connector housings within corresponding ones of the continuous sleeves to align the termini of the first and second connectors for transmitting light therebetween.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-channel fiber optic connector

Life of this patent

Multi-channel fiber optic connector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22