WO2015101673A1

WO2015101673A1 - Plug connector for optical waveguides

Info

Publication number: WO2015101673A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/050097
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ulf LEUCHNER; Philipp JÜRGENSMEIER; Christian Helmig; Claus Wissig
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2014-01-06
Filing date: 2015-01-06
Publication date: 2015-07-09
Also published as: DE102014100063A1; DE102014100063B4

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connector for optical waveguides, comprising a plurality of plug elements (10), each of which has an axially extended ferrule (101) for receiving a light-guiding fiber (103) and which can be connected to plug elements (20) of a mating plug (2, 2') so as to guide light. The multiple plug elements (10) are surrounded by a collar (11) of the plug connector (1), said collar having an annular free end (110) which protrudes past the free ends (102) of the ferrules (101) in the axial direction. Each individual ferrule (101) is surrounded by a guide surface (120, 120') which is designed and provided for guiding the plug elements (20) of the mating plug (2).

Description

The invention relates to a connector for optical fibers according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such a connector comprises a plurality of connector elements, each having an axially extending ferrule for receiving a photoconductive fiber and which can be brought into photoconductive connection with the plug elements of a mating connector. This is a conventional structure of a connector for optical fibers as it is known for example from IEC 61754-20.

The invention is based on the problem to provide a connector of the type mentioned, in which the connector elements, e.g. even with blind mating with a mating connector, reliable against damage, for example, as a result of an inclination of the connector during mating, are protected. This problem is solved by the invention by providing a connector with the features of claim 1.

Thereafter, in a generic connector, the plurality of connector elements surrounded by a (annular circumferential) collar of the connector, the free end protrudes in the axial direction over the free ends of the ferrules; and the individual ferrules are also each surrounded by a guide surface, which are designed and provided for guiding connector elements of the mating connector.

The (annular) circumferential collar of the connector must not necessarily be performed closed; one or more interruptions are permissible. It is important that the collar of the connector is designed and the free ends of the ferrules surmounted such that the mating of the connector with a mating connector latter through the collar (axially) out can be before the ferrules of the connector elements with the male elements of the mating connector, for example in the form of sockets, engage.

Furthermore, the axially projecting collar of the connector can serve as protection against contact for the plug elements and in particular their ferrules. In a preferred embodiment, the collar is designed for this purpose as a (fully closed) in cross-section completely encircling ring.

An additional protection of the connector elements and in particular the ferrules from damage is also achieved in that the ferrules are each surrounded by a guide surface, which is designed and provided for the defined guidance of the plug-side connector elements and their ferrules to be engaged plug elements of the mating connector. For this purpose, a respective guide surface annularly surround the associated ferrule (wherein it is radially spaced therefrom).

Concretely, a respective ferrule and the associated guide surface can be arranged such that, when the connector is properly connected to a mating connector, the plug elements of the latter in each case engage between one of the ferrules and the associated guide surface.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the collar surrounding the plug elements as well as the guide surfaces surrounding the individual ferrules and the ferrules themselves each define guide regions which are designed and provided for the intended connection of the plug connector to a mating plug for guiding the mating plug or a part thereof to serve.

As a result, a multi-level defined leadership of the connector and an associated mating connector is achieved when mating.

In a multilevel guide, in particular, the collar can serve as a first guide on which a mating connector when properly connected to the

Connector is feasible before a guide on other guide areas, for example on the ferrules and / or on the ferrules surrounding guide surfaces takes place. Furthermore, the collar can define by its configuration, the polarization of the connector.

Within the region of the connector enclosed by the collar, the latter can have a coding structure which requires the mating with a correspondingly coded mating connector. In a dual function, the coding structure can also serve to guide the mating connector in its intended connection with the connector. According to one embodiment of the invention, a sealing element is assigned to a respective ferrule (and surrounding the same), which is set up to engage with a mating connector on a plug-in element of the mating connector when the connector is properly connected. For this purpose, the sealing element on the corresponding guide surface (annular) rotate, with a radial distance to the associated ferrule.

Next locking means may be provided on the connector, via which it can be latched with a mating connector to secure the connection. The locking means are advantageously provided in pairs on opposite and opposite surfaces of the connector.

Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. Show it:

Figure 1A is a perspective view of a connector with

Viewing direction obliquely on the plug elements; Figure 1 B is a longitudinal section through the connector of Figure 1A in

Area of the plug elements;

Figure 2 shows a plug element of the connector of Figures 1A and

1 B; a perspective view of an inner part of the connector of Figures 1A and 1 B with a view obliquely on the plug elements thereof; a longitudinal section through the inner part of Figure 3A; a perspective view of a first modification of the connector of Figures 1A and 1B; a mating connector connectable to the connector of Figure 4;

Figure 6A shows a connection of the connector of Figure 4 with the

Mating connector of Figure 5;

FIG. 6B shows a plug connection of two plug connectors according to FIG. 4 with a plug connector according to FIG. 5; Figure 7A is a partially cutaway perspective view of a

Modification of the connector elements for a connector;

Figure 7B is a longitudinal section through the arrangement of Figure 7A; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modification of the inner part of Figures 3A and 3B.

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, a connector 1 is shown which comprises an inner part 15, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and an outer sleeve 14 (as housing) surrounding the inner part.

The connector has on its front side 1 1 a plurality of connector elements 10, each by an axially extending ferrule 101 with an axial free end 102, see Figure 2, as well as by a respective ferrule 101 surrounding Guide surface 120 are formed. The respective guide surface 120 encloses the associated ferrule 101 in cross-section annular. In the exemplary embodiment, it forms in each case the inner surface of a material region 12 surrounding the corresponding ferrule 101, here in the form of a dome. The ferrules 101 protrude with their respective (free) front axial end 102 beyond the respectively assigned (formed by the inside of a material region 12) guide surface 120 in the axial direction.

Specifically, the connector shown in Figures 1A and 1B is a connector for optical fibers, the ferrules 101, which are shown in greater detail in Figure 2, allow the connection of the respective connector element 10 to a photoconductive fiber, which via the Connector 1 is to be brought into a light-conducting connection with a mating connector. According to FIG. 2, a respective ferrule 101 can be embodied as a pin insert which can be latched in the plug connector 1, more precisely in its inner part 15.

The axial extension direction a of the ferrules corresponds at the same time to that direction (connection direction) along which the connector 1 is to be connected to an associated mating connector, as will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 5, 6A and 6B.

In the present case, the front side of the connector 1, which can be seen in detail in FIGS. 1A and 1B, is configured in such a way that damage to the connector elements 10, in particular the ferrules 101, is avoided when a connection is made to a mating connector in the axial direction a, in particular also during a blind assembly and thus possibly associated oblique merging of connectors and mating connector (that is inclined to the axial direction a). To describe the measures which a defined leadership of the connector

1 and the associated mating connector to ensure mating, in particular to avoid damage to the connector elements 10 is here additional reference to Figures 3A and 3B, which show the connector of Figures 1 A and 1 B without the outer sleeve 14. In FIGS. 3A and 3B is in only one of the connector elements 10, the associated ferrule 101 shown. This is to be understood as a representative of those ferrules which are to be provided on the further plug elements. It is clear from a comparison of FIGS. 1A and 1B with FIGS. 3A and 3B that the plug elements 10 provided on the front side of the plug connector 1, each comprising a ferrule 101 and a guide surface 120 surrounding the respective ferrule 101, are located concretely on the front side of the connector Inner part 15 are formed. This in turn is arranged in an outer sleeve 14 acting as a plug housing and can be positively connected to it by way of example (releasably, by a latching connection).

The inner part 15 is in the present case designed as a monoblock; Alternatively, however, the inner part may also consist of a plurality of separate components to be joined together.

To protect the plug elements 10, in particular the ferrules 101, from damage, e.g. as protection against contact and for protection during mating of the connector 1 with a mating connector, the connector elements 10 are surrounded at the front of the connector 1 by a circular cross-sectionally circumferential collar 1 1. This one is executed here as an unbroken ring. Alternatively, the collar 1 1, however, also consist of a plurality of ring sections, with a break between each adjacent ring sections. The collar 1 1 protrudes with its front axial (free) end 1 10 in the axial direction a beyond the front free ends 102 of the ferrules 101 addition. He is present in one piece on

Inner part 15 (monoblock) of the connector 1 is formed.

The collar 1 1 can serve as a guide area, which ensures an axial movement of the two connector components 1, 2 to each other during mating of the connector 1 with a mating connector 2, as shown in Figures 5, 6A and 6B.

Since the collar 1 1 protrudes in the axial direction over the ferrules 101, this can be a defined axial guidance of the relative movement of connector 1 and mating connector 2 reach before the connector elements 10, in particular the ferrules 101 of the connector 1, with the associated connector elements of the mating connector in Contact us. This avoids that the ferrules 101, in particular in the region of their front, free axial ends 102 may be damaged by an oblique meeting of the mutual connector components (the connector 1 on the one hand and the corresponding mating connector 2 on the other hand).

At the collar 1 1, in the embodiment more precisely at the free end 1 10, polarizing structures 1 1 1 are also formed, which reflect the polarization of the connector 1, so that it is connectable only with an oppositely polarized mating connector. In the present case, the connector 1 is a male connector component.

Furthermore, in the space surrounded by the collar 1 1 (between the local connector elements 10), a coding element 13 is arranged, which defines a specific coding of the plug.

The embodiment of the connector 1 shown in Figures 1A and 1B and 3A and 3B on its front side (on which the connector elements 10 are provided, via which the connector 1 is to be connected with the associated connector elements of a mating connector) allows a multi-level guidance during connection of the connector 1 with a mating connector. First, the guide on the axially furthest projecting collar 1 1 is effective. Subsequently, a guide can be made via the ferrules 101 and / or the ferrules annularly surrounding (radially spaced therefrom) guide surfaces 120. In addition, the coding element 13 can contribute to the axial guidance during mating of the connector 1 with a mating connector.

In this case, it is first avoided by the first guide on the collar 1 1 that an oblique attachment of the connector-side connector elements 10 to the associated connector elements of a mating connector (inclined to the axial direction a, along which the connector is intended to be made) takes place.

The further guide on the ferrules 101, the guide surfaces 120 and / or the coding element 13 then provides further security against deviations perpendicular to the axial direction a, when the connector 1 is connected to a mating connector. It is also clear from FIGS. 3A and 3B that locking elements 16 are provided on the plug connector 1, in the exemplary embodiment more precisely on its inner part 15, via which the inner part 15 of the plug connector 1 can be latched to its sleeve 14. The locking elements 16 are in the present case designed as locking tongues or levers, which are arranged with one end on the connector 1 and whose other end region is available for latching engagement with a sleeve-side locking element and for this purpose has a detent opening 160, for example.

The latching elements 16 are in this case advantageously arranged opposite each other on mutually remote sides of the connector 1, more precisely of the inner part 15, as can be seen in particular with reference to FIG 8. You are in the embodiment within the enclosed by the connector housing in the form of the sleeve 14 space. By opposing arrangement of locking elements is a possible tilting of the inner part 15 of the connector 1 with respect to the sleeve 14 counteracted.

On the cable outlet side, the connector 1 (rear) may be associated with a cable manager, e.g. for receiving at least one cable guide element of a connected fiber optic cable and optionally the fiber / vein presentation is used. Furthermore, the cable manager can complete the space provided for receiving the ferrules back.

Figure 4 shows a modification of the connector of Figures 1 A and 1 B, which differs from the latter in the formation of the Kodierelementes (coding structure 13 ').

FIG. 5 shows a mating connector 2 which can be connected to a plug connector 1 of the type shown in FIG. 4 and has a corresponding coding element 21 for this purpose. The mating connector 2 is designed as a female connector with connector elements 20 in the form of sockets, in which the ferrules 101 of

Connector-side connector elements 10 for producing a light-conducting connection can be inserted. For this purpose, the plug elements 20 of the mating connector 2 each define a corresponding engagement portion 201 which has a respective one Ferrule 101 can record. In the jacks provided centering sleeves can serve to guide the connector-side connector elements 10.

The mating connector 2 also has a male member 20 surrounding, axially projecting collar 23. Furthermore, a flange 22 is provided, via which the mating connector 2 when connecting to the connector 1 (in the axial direction a) with the plug housing (ie, the outer sleeve 14) comes into abutment. The corresponding connector of connector 1 and mating connector 2 is shown in Figure 6A.

In Figure 5 are further on the mating connector 2, in the embodiment specifically on the collar 23, provided locking elements 24 can be seen. By way of this, the mating connector 2 can be latched with connector-side latching elements 18, which will be explained in greater detail below with reference to FIG.

In a modification or development of the mating connector 2 may be designed so that it has at both axial ends, so not only on its front side, as in the case of Figure 5, each connector elements 20, the preparation of a photoconductive connection with a connector. 1 allow the type shown in Figure 4. A resulting connector of two (male) connectors 1 and an intermediate (female) mating connector 2 is shown in Figure 6B.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a modification of the plug elements of FIGS. 1A and 1B as well as of FIGS. 3A and 3B with regard to the configuration of the guide surfaces 120 'which surround the ferrules 101. These are in turn designed as annular circumferential inner surfaces of a respective ferrule 101 surrounding material region 12 (similar to the domes of Figures 1A and 1B), wherein the material region 12 is formed here by a tube. In the present case, a groove is formed in a respective guide surface 120 ', in which a seal 121 runs, which annularly surrounds the associated ferrule (as well as the corresponding guide surface 120') with a radial spacing. As is clear from FIG. 7B, the respective sealing element 121 can engage radially (from the outside) against the plug element 20 (in the form of a socket) of an associated mating connector, if the latter receives the ferrule 101 surrounding the seal 21 in the form of a sealing ring. Figure 8 shows a modification of the connector of Figures 1 A and 1 B, namely a modification of the associated inner part 15, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B.

With reference to FIG 8 it is clear that the connector 1, in the embodiment more precisely on the inner part 15, locking elements 18 are provided, via which the connector 1 can be latched to an associated mating connector when these two connector components have been put together. The latching elements 18 are presently designed as latching tongues or levers, which are arranged with one end on the connector 1 and whose other end region is available for latching engagement with a mating latching element available and this has a latching hook 180. The latching hooks 180 of the latching elements 18 can in particular each engage behind one of the latching elements 24 of the mating plug 2 shown in FIG. 5 for latching.

The locking elements 18 are arranged opposite each other on mutually remote sides of the connector 1, more precisely, of the inner part 15. You are doing in the embodiment within the enclosed by the connector housing in the form of a sleeve 14 space. D. h., For locking the connector 1 with a mating connector, the latter engages with associated locking elements in the area between the inner part 15 and the outer sleeve 14 of the connector 1 to cooperate there with the locking elements 18 of the connector 1. By the opposing arrangement of locking elements 18 is a tilting of the connector 1 counteracted with respect to the mating connector, which could occur, for example, the lateral train to an outgoing from the connector 1 cable.

According to FIG. 8, in each case two latching elements 18 are arranged side by side (parallel to one another) in pairs on each of two opposite and opposite sides of the plug element 1, more precisely of the inner part 15. These have their free ends in each case in the direction of the front of the connector 1 and inner part 15th On the inner part 15 shown in Figure 8 also further locking elements 19 can be seen, which are also arranged opposite each other on opposite sides of the inner part 15 (and in each case in pairs next to each other). These can - depending on requirements in the individual case - be designed for locking a housing part of the connector or for locking another mating connector. The locking elements 19 are provided for this purpose with snap hook 190.

Claims

Connector for optical fibers having a plurality of connector elements (10), each having an axially extending ferrule (101) for receiving a photoconductive fiber (103) and which can be brought into optical connection with plug elements (20) of a mating connector (2, 2 ') characterized in that the plurality of plug elements (10) by a collar (1 1) of the connector (1) are surrounded, which has an annular circumferential free end (1 10) which the free ends (102) of the ferrules (101) in Projected beyond the axial direction, and that the individual ferrules (101) in each case by a radially spaced guide surface (120, 120 ') are surrounded, which is designed and provided for guiding connector elements (20) of the mating connector (2).

Plug connector according to Claim 1, characterized in that the collar (11) surrounding the plug elements (10) and the guide surfaces (120, 120 ') surrounding the individual ferrules (101) and the ferrules (101) themselves each define guide regions which are provided for this purpose are designed and intended to serve the intended purpose connecting the connector (1) with a mating connector (2) for guiding the mating connector (2) or a part thereof.

Connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the respective guide surface (120, 120 ') surrounds a ferrule (101) in an annular manner and in this case is radially spaced therefrom.

Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a respective ferrule (101) and the associated guide surface (120, 120 ') are arranged such that when proper connection of the connector (1) with a mating connector (2), the plug elements (20 ) of the latter in each case between one of the ferrules (101) and the associated guide surface (120, 120 ') can engage.

5. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ferrules (101) project beyond the respective associated guide surface (120, 120 ') in the axial direction.

6. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collar (1 1) of the connector (1) when properly connecting the connector (1) with a mating connector (2) for axial guidance of the mating connector (2).

7. Connector according to claim 6, characterized in that the collar (1 1) serves as a first guide, on which a mating connector (2) when properly connected to the connector (1) can be guided before a guide on other guide areas (101, 120, 120 ') of the connector (1).

8. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collar (1 1) defines a polarization of the connector (1).

9. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector (1) within the area of the collar (1 1) enclosed a coding structure (13, 13 ').

10. Connector according to claim 9, characterized in that the coding structure (13, 13 ') for guiding a mating connector (2) by interaction with the coding structure (21) when properly connecting the connector (1) formed with that mating connector (2) and is provided.

1 1. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on a respective ferrule (101) associated guide surface (120, 120 '), a sealing element (121) is arranged, which is designed and provided, when the proper connection of the connector (1 ) with a mating connector (2) to a connector element (20) of the mating connector (2) to create.

12. Connector according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the sealing element (121) on the guide surface (120, 120 ') rotates annularly and surrounds the associated ferrule (101) with a radial distance.

13. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the connector (1) locking elements (18) for latching with a mating connector (2, 2 ') are provided.

14. Connector according to claim 13, characterized in that at least two locking elements (18) on opposite and thereby opposite surfaces of the connector (1) are provided.

15. Connector according to claim 14, characterized in that on each of the two mutually remote surfaces of the connector (1) as a latching means (18) each at least two latching elements are arranged adjacent.

16. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug connector (1) has an inner part (15) on which the plug elements (10) are provided and which is surrounded by a housing (14). 17. Connector according to claim 16, characterized in that on the

Connector (1) locking elements (16) are provided for latching with the housing (14).

18. Connector according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the inner part (15) is designed in one piece as a monoblock.

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