JPS5836883B2 - optical coupling device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical coupling device for transmitting and receiving optical signals between a large number of fixed terminal devices and a mobile device that moves relative to them.

For example, if we consider the case where signals are transmitted between submarine probes and measuring instruments and controllers on a ship using multi-core optical cables, it is necessary to change the length of the optical cables fed out from the ship depending on the water depth, which makes handling easier and requires less space. Optical cables on ships are wrapped in drums to reduce volume.

In this case, since the optical cable is wound around a drum (rotating body) that rotates from its feeding/feeding C, it can be directly connected to the submarine probe, which is a mobile device, but it can also be connected directly to the submarine probe, which is a mobile device, Special optical coupling equipment is required for connection to fixed terminal equipment.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a conventional optical coupling device of this type between a mobile device and a fixed terminal device via a rotating body.

In Figure 1C, 1 is a rotating body such as a cable drum, 2
1 is a multi-core (3 cores in the figure) optical cable wrapped around a rotary body 1, 3 is a moving device such as an undersea probe to which the starting end of the optical cable 2 is connected, 5 and 5a are drum rotation shafts, 12 and 1
2a is a bearing fixed on a ship, etc.; 35 is a drum rotating shaft 5;
A is a driven pulley fixed to a, 36 is a drive belt, 37 is a drive pulley IJ fixed to the output shaft of the motor 380, 16,
16a and 16b are three dummy bobbins arranged and fixed on the drum rotating shaft 5, 17.17a and 17b are three fixed terminal devices for single cores, such as onboard measuring instruments and controllers, 18.18a and 18b is three connecting bobbins, 19
．． 19a and 19b are the bobbin shafts of each coupling bobbin, 20,
20a and 20b are bobbin bearings for each bobbin shaft, 21.2
1a and 2lb are rotating joints, 22, 22a and 22b are sliding joints, 23. 23a and 23b are driven pulleys 24, 24a and 24b for driving each slip joint.
is the drum rotating shaft 5 {the fixed drive pulley, 25,2
6 and 27 are drive belts, 28. 29 and 30 are single-core external fibers connected at one end to fixed terminal devices 17.17a and 17b, respectively; This is a single-core dummy fiber wound between a pair of dummy bobbins and a coupling bobbin.

This device will be further explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 shows an optical coupling structure for one of the three optical cables 2. As shown in FIG.

The optical cable 2 whose starting end is connected to the mobile device 3 is connected to the rotating body 1
The end of the core passes through the drum shaft 5, and one of the cores passes through the through hole 32 of the tummy bobbin 16 and is guided to the surface C of the winding drum of the dummy bobbin 16.

One end of a dummy fiber 31, the other end of which is wound around the coupling bobbin 18, is wound around the dummy bobbin 16, and one fiber at the end of the optical cable 2 is coupled to one end of the dummy fiber 31.

The length of this dummy fiber 31 may be at least the value of L given by the following equation.

In addition, the dummy bobbin 16 & the dummy fiber 31 to be wound
The winding direction may be in the opposite direction to the winding direction of the optical cable 2 wound around the rotating body 1, as shown by a solid line, or in the opposite direction, as shown by a dashed line.

In the case of the same direction, when the optical cable 2 is paid out from the rotating body 1, the dummy fiber 31 is paid out from the dummy bobbin 16 and wound around the coupling bobbin 186.

In the case of the opposite direction, the dummy fiber 31 is attached to the coupling bobbin 1
8 to the dummy bobbin 16.

The other end of the dummy fiber 31 having a length L is guided from the winding drum surface of the coupling bobbin 18 through the through hole 33 into the bobbin, passes through the inside of the bobbin shaft 19, and is guided through the rotary joint 21. Coupled to external fiber 28.

The structure of this rotary joint 21 is as shown in FIG.

That is, six dummy fibers 31 are arranged on the axis of the hohin shaft 19, the external fiber 28 is arranged on the axis of the stationary cylinder 42, and the bobbin shaft 19 and the stationary cylinder 42 are aligned with their respective central axes (opposite concentric They are slidably fitted on the cylindrical surface 40.

At the time of operation, the dummy fiber 31 and the external fiber 28 face each other at their end faces 41 with a small distance therebetween or in contact with each other.

As a result, optical signals can be coupled between the stationary external fiber 28 and the rotating dummy fiber 31.

In addition, in FIG. 3, 43 is a fixed frame.

In addition, the instruction numbers in Figures 1 to 3 are 4, 6 to 11, and 13 to 1.
5 and 34-39 are missing numbers.

As mentioned above, the conventional optical coupling device has a multi-core optical fiber 2.
is separated into dummy bobbins 16.15a, 16b each having one core, and finally rotary joints 21, 213, 2l for each core.
b combines the optical signals.

Therefore, with such conventional technology, it is impossible to avoid sliding of the rotating parts like the rotary joint 21 explained in FIG. It is difficult to avoid increasing losses.

In addition, if the number of fibers in the optical cable 2 is large, in principle it is sufficient to increase the number of dummy bobbins, coupling bobbins, and rotary joints by the number of fibers, but in reality, tens to hundreds of sets of these are required. However, it is impossible to prepare the same, and the equipment is limited to optical cables with about a dozen fibers.

The present invention provides an optical coupling device that solves the above-mentioned problems, and its characteristic configuration is that the starting end is connected to a rotating body around which a multi-core optical cable to be coupled to a mobile device is wound or attached. a dummy bobbin attached to the shaft of the dummy bobbin; a single-core or multi-core dummy fiber that is wound around the dummy bobbin and whose terminal end is coupled to the core wire at the end of the optical cable and whose starting end is directly connected to the fixed terminal equipment; and the dummy bobbin. a lint remover disposed corresponding to the dummy fiber to house the starting end of the dummy fiber; and a lint interposed between the dummy fiber and the dummy bobbin to apply tension to the dummy fiber in the direction of pulling it out from the dummy bobbin. It is equipped with rollers.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4 will be described in detail below.

In FIG. 4, the same designation numbers as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 are given to the bolt parts to avoid redundant explanation.

Also, among the instruction numbers in Figure 4, 44 to 49 and 55 to 59
is a missing number.

In Fig. 4, the mechanism from the rotating body 1 such as a cable drum to the three dummy bobbins 16, 16a, 16b is the same as in Fig. 1, but each dummy bobbin 16, 16a, 16b
The wound dummy fibers 60, 60a, and 60b are single-core optical fibers or optical fiber units in which several fibers are twisted together.

That is, each of the dummy bobbins 16.16a and 16b fixed to the drum rotating shaft 5 of the rotary body 1 has a core wire at the end of the optical cable 2 connected to the fixed terminal equipment 61.61a. 61bO) The state is divided into one-core or multiple-core states depending on the number of cores.

Similarly, dummy fibers 60, 60a, each having a number of fibers corresponding to this number of fibers, respectively. 60b is each dummy bobbin 16.16a
, 16b and these dummy fibers 60, 6
The terminal ends of the optical cables 02 and 60b are directly coupled to the terminal ends of the optical cable 2.

54, 54a and 54b are dummy bobbins 16, 16a,
The dummy fiber 60 in the dummy bobbin 16.16a, 16b
．． The starting ends of 60a and 60b are pinch rollers 51 and 5
1a. 5lb and 52.52a, 52b to the degreaser 54.54a, 54b. 54a. 54b and is directly coupled to fixed terminal equipment 61, 612.6lb.

This fixed terminal equipment 61. 61a. The 6lb is not limited to one for a single-core optical fiber, but may be one for connecting to a multi-core optical fiber.

The lint removal devices 54, 54a, 54b are used to collect the dummy fibers 6 drawn out from the dummy bobbins 16, 16a, 16b.
It accepts and stores 0, 60a, 60b,
It may be a simple storage device such as a stationary cylinder, and this storage device may be equipped with a winding guide (not shown) such as a rotating arm so that six dummy fibers 60, 60a, 60b can be easily stored. It may be something that has been done.

Among the pinch rollers, 52, 52a and 52b are biased by springs 53, 53a and 53b to press the dummy fibers 60, 60a and 60b, and one of the pinch rollers 51, 51a and 5lb is composed of a motor equipped with a slip clutch. tension device 50. 50a,s
It is connected to and driven by the vinci roller 52.
．． Dummy fiber 60.60 facing 52a and 52b
Sandwich a and 60b.

This Vinci roller 51.51a. 5lb and 52.52
a. 52bt, thus the dummy fiber 60. 60a
．． A constant tension is always applied to 60b in the direction in which it is pulled out from the dummy bobbins 16.16a, 16b.

By the way, tension device 50.50a. As the 50b, various tension devices such as a slip clutch, a motor, and a structure in which power is obtained from the rotating body 1 using a belt, gears, etc. and a slip clutch interposed in the middle may be used. can.

The operation of the embodiment apparatus having the above structure is as follows.

That is, the rotating body 1 rotates in response to the movement of the mobile device 3, and the dummy bobbins 16, 16a, . When the dummy fibers 60, 60a, 60b are fed out from 16b, the Vinci roller s
i, 518.5 lb and 52, 52a, 52b}, the tension 6 applied by the dummy fiber 60
．． 60a. 60b, cigarette removal device 54, 54a,
54b and is stored.

On the other hand, when the rotating body 1 rotates in the opposite direction, the pinch roller 51
, 51a, 5lb and 52, 52a, 52b, the dummy fiber 60.60a is
．． 60. b is wound onto dummy bobbins 16, 16a, and 16b.

By the way, dummy bobbin 16.16a. 16b to the delinting device 54.54a, 54b to the dummy fiber 60.
60a. When 60b is re-wound, the dummy fibers 60, 60a. 60b will be twisted,
Dummy bobbin 16, 16a. 16b diameter and flange removal device 54. 54a. By appropriately selecting the relationship with the diameter of 54b, the twisting can be applied to
This can be suppressed to less than the fracture screw stress of 0b.

In addition, pinch rollers 51, 51a, 5lb and 52, 5
2a, 52b connect dummy fibers 60, 60a, 6
Since tension is always applied to 0b, kinking is difficult to occur and the winding C on the dummy bobbins 16, 16a, 16b is
There will be no slack.

The optical coupling device of the present invention has the following advantages.

That is, since the starting ends of the dummy fibers 60, 60a, 60b pulled out from the degreasing devices 54, 54a, 54b do not rotate as in the conventional case, measurements can be made simply by using known connectors, etc., without requiring a rotating joint. Fixed terminal devices 61, 61a, 6lbG such as devices and controllers can be directly coupled.

This simplifies the structure and significantly improves the reliability of the optical coupling section.

In addition, since a rotating joint is not required, the dummy fiber 60
．． 60a, 60b themselves are conventional dummy fibers 31.
31a. It is not limited to a single fiber such as 3lb, and a multi-core optical fiber unit can be used.Furthermore, the fixed terminal equipment 61, 61a, 51b can be replaced with the conventional fixed terminal equipment 1.
Not only those for single cores such as 7, 17a, and 17b, but also those for multiple cores that send and receive optical signals to and from the outside through multiple circuits may be used.

As a result, even if the number of fibers in the optical cable 2 is large, the number of dummy bobbins can be reduced compared to the number of fibers in the optical cable 2 by making the dummy fibers 60, 60a and 60b into an optical fiber unit consisting of multi-core optical fibers. and decrease significantly.

That is, even if the optical cable 2 has a huge number of fibers, it can be accommodated in a compact space by requiring only a very small number of dummy bobbins as an optical coupling device.

As described above, the optical coupling device of the present invention has high optical coupling reliability, and has a simple and compact structure.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional optical coupling device, Figure 2 is a detailed explanatory diagram showing a part of Figure 1 from an angle, and Figure 3 is a detailed explanatory diagram showing a part of Figure 1 from an angle.
This figure is a sectional view showing a part of FIG. 2 in detail, and FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, 1 is a rotating body, 2 is a multi-core optical cable, 3 is a moving device, 5.5a is a drum rotating shaft, 12, 123 is its bearing, 16.16a. 16b is a dummy bobbin, 51. 5
1a, 5lb, 52.52a, 52b are Vinci rollers,
54. 54a, 54b are cigarette removal devices, 60. 6
0a, 60b are dummy fibers, 61. 61a, 6
lb is a fixed terminal device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A dummy bobbin whose starting end is attached to a shaft in a circle with a rotating body around which a multi-core optical cable whose starting end is wound or attached is wound or attached, and a dummy bobbin whose starting end is wound around the dummy bobbin and whose terminal end is a core wire at the end of the optical cable. a single-core or multi-core dummy fiber that is coupled to the dummy fibers and whose starting end is directly connected to a fixed terminal device; a defibrillator that is disposed corresponding to the dummy bobbin and stores the starting end of the dummy fiber; An optical coupling device comprising a lint remover and a pinch roller interposed between the dummy bobbin and applying tension to the dummy fiber in a direction to pull it out from the dummy bobbin.