JPH0349403B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention is a pressure-resistant type device suitable for transmitting and receiving optical signals in places where there is a large pressure difference between the inside and outside of a wall, such as in a deep-sea submersible. This relates to an optical cable partition wall penetration part.

(Prior art) Conventionally, this type of pressure-resistant optical cable bulkhead penetration section was
A through hole is provided in the partition wall, a connector housing with a flange is fitted into the through hole with the flange touching the outer surface of the partition wall, and a nut is screwed into the connector housing that penetrates the partition wall and protrudes to the inner surface of the partition wall. By tightening them together, the O-ring on the joint surface was compressed to obtain pressure-resistant watertightness (US Pat. No. 3,825,320).

However, in such a structure, in order to carry out the assembly work, workers must be placed inside and outside the bulkhead and communicate with each other, which has the disadvantage that the workability of the assembly is very poor.

(Object of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure-resistant optical cable partition wall penetrating portion that allows assembly work to be performed on one side of the partition wall.

(Structure of the Invention) The pressure-resistant optical cable bulkhead penetration part according to the present invention includes:
A stepped wall in which a wall through hole is provided in the partition wall, a large diameter hole opens on the high pressure side, a small diameter hole opens on the low pressure side, and a step exists at the boundary between the two holes. It is formed as a through hole, and a partition block is housed in the large diameter hole portion of the stepped wall through hole with one end surface locked to the step portion, and a photoconductor is hermetically arranged in the center of the partition block. A receptacle is attached to the end face of the partition block, which is sealed and supported through the partition block and faces the low pressure side, with its optical axis aligned with the photoconductor, and a connector housing with a flange is installed in the large diameter hole. The flange is fitted with the flange in contact with the high-pressure side wall surface of the partition wall, the flange is fixed to the partition wall with bolts, and the space between the flange and the partition wall and between the partition wall and the outer periphery of the partition block is fitted. an O-ring is interposed in each, a stepped ferrule insertion hole is provided in the center of the connector housing, and a cylindrical protrusion is provided on the high-pressure side end surface of the connector housing to match the ferrule insertion hole. The ferrule insertion hole has a large diameter hole opened on the high pressure side end surface of the cylindrical protrusion in the connector housing, a small diameter hole opened on the low pressure side end surface of the connector housing, and a boundary between these holes. and a connector ferrule with a step provided in the ferrule insertion hole, the step is located in the large diameter hole of the ferrule insertion hole, and the step and the stepped portion of the ferrule insertion hole limit movement of the connector ferrule to the low pressure side and accommodate the connector ferrule, and a spring receiving ring is provided in the large diameter hole portion of the ferrule insertion hole within the cylindrical protrusion. A spring that biases the connector ferrule toward the partition block is interposed between the spring receiving ring and the stepped portion of the connector ferrule that are screwed together, and the ferrule insertion hole in the cylindrical protrusion An end of an optical cable is inserted into the large-diameter hole, and a cored optical fiber led out from the end of the optical cable is supported through the connector ferrule, and extends over the cylindrical protrusion and the optical cable. The connector ferrule is provided with a molded portion, and the tip of the connector ferrule and the embedded end surface of the photoconductor of the partition block are joined by a concave and convex alignment joint.

According to the pressure-resistant optical cable bulkhead penetrating portion having such a structure, assembly work can be performed on one side of the bulkhead, and work efficiency can be greatly improved compared to conventional ones of this type. In addition, this optical cable bulkhead penetration part is equipped with a partition block, and an O-ring is interposed between the outer periphery of the partition block and the partition wall, so even if a failure occurs on the connector housing side and the connector housing needs to be replaced, this partition block will provide an airtight seal.・It is possible to maintain liquid tightness, and replacement work can be performed without any problems. In addition, in addition to the seal between the connector housing and the bulkhead, there is also a seal between the partition block and the bulkhead, which provides a fail-safe structure for airtightness and liquidtightness under normal usage conditions, increasing safety. I can do it. Further, since the tip of the connector ferrule and the photoconductor-embedded surface of the partition block are aligned at the uneven alignment joint, alignment between the two can be easily achieved. Furthermore, the connector housing has a cylindrical protrusion corresponding to the ferrule insertion hole, and the optical cable inserted into the cylindrical protrusion is molded across both, so the cylindrical protrusion allows the optical cable to be molded. The joint surface can be made long, making the optical cable insertion part airtight.
Liquid tightness can also be sufficiently improved. Also,
The connector ferrule in the ferrule insertion hole in the connector housing is urged in the direction of protruding toward the partition block by a spring in a large diameter hole that opens at the high-pressure side end face of the cylindrical protrusion in the connector housing. A spring receiving ring is screwed onto the inner surface of the large diameter hole on the entrance side to receive the end of the spring, and a spring receiving ring is screwed onto the inner surface of the large diameter hole on the entrance side to receive the end of the spring. Since the stepped portion of the ferrule insertion hole exists to restrict movement of the stepped portion of the connector ferrule, the spring and the connector ferrule do not escape from the connector housing during assembly, and assembly can be performed efficiently.

(Example) Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. As shown in the figure, the pressure-resistant optical cable bulkhead penetrating portion of this embodiment has a stepped wall through-hole 2 formed in a bulkhead 1 made of a shell of a submersible or the like. This stepped wall through hole 2 has a large diameter hole 2A that opens on the high pressure side (left side in the drawing), a small diameter hole 2B that opens on the low pressure side (right side in the drawing), and a step that exists at the boundary between the two. It consists of 2C. The large diameter hole 2A is longer than the small diameter hole 2B. A partition block 3 is housed in the large diameter hole 2A using the stepped portion 2C as a stopper. A spring 4 is interposed between the step portion 2C and the partition block 3 to bias the partition block 3 toward the high pressure side. Partition block 3
A through hole 5 is formed in the center of the through hole 5, into which a photoconductor 6 such as an optical fiber rod is inserted and sealed airtightly and liquid-tightly with a hermetic seal member 7 such as glass or solder. There is. A receptacle 8 is fixed to the end face of the partition block 3 facing the low pressure side with a screw 9, with the optical axis aligned with the photoconductor 6.

A connector housing 11 having a flange 10 is fitted into the large diameter hole 2A, and the flange 10
is brought into contact with the high-pressure side wall surface of the partition wall 1 and fixed by tightening bolts 12. O-rings 13, 14, and 15 are interposed between the flange 10 and the partition wall 1, between the connector housing 11 and the partition wall 1, and between the partition block 3 and the partition wall 1, respectively, to ensure airtightness.
Liquid-tightly sealed.

At the center of the connector housing 11 is a stepped portion 16A.
A ferrule insertion hole 16 is formed. The stepped portion 16A is provided at the middle portion of the ferrule insertion hole 16 in the longitudinal direction. Ferrule insertion hole 16
A cylindrical protrusion 17 is provided on the high-pressure side end surface of the connector housing 11 in accordance with the above. The ferrule insertion hole 16 includes a large diameter hole 16B opened at the high pressure side end surface of the cylindrical protrusion 19 in the connector housing 11, a small diameter hole 16C opened at the low pressure side end surface of the connector housing 11, and both of these holes 16B. , 16C. Ferrule insertion hole 16
Inside is a connector ferrule 18 with a stepped portion 18A.
The step 18A is located within the large diameter hole 16B of the ferrule insertion hole 16, and the step 18A and the step 16A of the ferrule insertion hole 16 restrict the movement of the connector ferrule 18 to the low pressure side. It is stored. Ferrule insertion hole 16 in cylindrical protrusion 17
A spring receiving ring 19 is screwed into a threaded portion 17A provided on the inner surface of the large diameter hole 16B. A spring 20 is interposed between the spring receiving ring 19 and the stepped portion 18A of the connector ferrule 18, and the connector ferrule 18 is urged toward the low pressure side.

Ferrule insertion hole 1 in cylindrical protrusion 17
The end of the optical cable 21 is inserted into the large diameter hole 16B of 6, passing through the spring receiving ring 19. The optical fiber core wire 22 led out from the end of the optical cable 21 is inserted through the center hole of the connector ferrule 18 and fixed with an adhesive or the like. The tip of the connector ferrule 18 and the embedded end surface of the photoconductor 6 of the partition block 3 are butt-jointed at an alignment joint 23 having spherical, conical, or cylindrical irregularities.

A molded portion 24 is formed of urethane resin or the like, spanning the cylindrical protrusion 17 and the optical cable 21.

Such a pressure-resistant optical cable bulkhead penetration part is constructed by fitting the partition block 3 and the connector housing 11 into the stepped wall penetration hole 2 from the high voltage side, and then tightening the bolts 12.
By fixing the flange 10 to the partition wall 1,
This can be done by only working on one side of the partition wall 1. At this time, the connector housing 11 includes the connector ferrule 18, the optical cable 21, and the mold part 2.
Install step 4. Since the partition block 3 is biased toward the connector housing 11 by the spring 4, good adhesion of the alignment joint portion 23 can be achieved.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the pressure-resistant optical cable bulkhead penetrating portion according to the present invention, assembly work can be performed on one side of the bulkhead, and work efficiency is significantly improved compared to conventional devices of this type. It can be improved. In addition, this optical cable bulkhead penetration part is equipped with a partition block, and an O-ring is interposed between the outer periphery of the partition block and the partition wall, so even if a failure occurs on the connector housing side and the connector housing needs to be replaced, this partition block will provide an airtight seal.・It is possible to maintain liquid tightness, and replacement work can be performed without any problems. In addition, in addition to the seal between the connector housing and the bulkhead, there is also a seal between the partition block and the bulkhead, which provides a fail-safe structure for airtightness and liquidtightness under normal usage conditions, increasing safety. I can do it. Further, since the tip of the connector ferrule and the photoconductor-embedded surface of the partition block are aligned at the uneven alignment joint, alignment between the two can be easily achieved. Furthermore, the connector housing has a cylindrical protrusion corresponding to the ferrule insertion hole, and the optical cable inserted into the cylindrical protrusion is molded across both, so the cylindrical protrusion allows the optical cable to be molded. The joint surface can be made longer, and the airtightness and liquidtightness of the optical cable insertion part can be sufficiently improved. In addition, the connector ferrule in the ferrule insertion hole in the connector housing is
The connector housing is biased in the direction of protruding toward the partition block by a spring in the large diameter hole that opens on the high-pressure side end surface of the cylindrical protrusion, but there is no pressure on the inner surface of the large diameter hole on the inlet side. A spring receiving ring is screwed into this to receive the end of the spring, and a stepped portion of the ferrule insertion hole is present at the end of the large diameter hole on the small diameter hole side to accommodate the connector ferrule. Since the movement of the stepped portion is restricted, the spring and connector ferrule do not escape from the connector housing during assembly, allowing efficient assembly.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawing is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a pressure-resistant optical cable bulkhead penetration part according to the present invention. 1... Partition wall, 2... Stepped wall through hole, 2A... Large diameter hole, 2B... Small diameter hole, 2C... Step, 3...
...Partition block, 4...Spring, 5...Through hole, 6
...Photoconductor, 7...Hermetic seal member,
8... Receptacle, 9... Screw, 10... Flange, 11... Connector housing, 12... Bolt, 13, 14, 15... O-ring, 16...
Ferrule insertion hole, 16A... step part, 16B...
Large diameter hole, 16C...Small diameter hole, 17...Cylindrical protrusion, 17A...Threaded part, 18...Connector ferrule, 18A...Step, 19...Spring receiving ring, 20...Spring , 21...optical cable,
22... optical fiber core wire, 23... centering joint part, 24... mold part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A wall through hole 2 is provided in the partition wall 1, and the wall through hole 2 has a large diameter hole 2A opening on the high pressure side, a small diameter hole 2B opening on the low pressure side, and a boundary between the two holes 2A and 2B. The large diameter hole 2 of the stepped wall through hole 2 is formed as a stepped wall through hole 2 in which a stepped wall 2C exists.
A partition block 3 is housed in A with one end locked to the stepped portion 2C, and a photoconductor 6 is hermetically sealed and supported through the center of the partition block 3, facing the low pressure side. A receptacle 8 is attached to the end face of the partition block 3 with its optical axis aligned with the photoconductor 6, and a connector housing 11 with a flange 10 is installed in the large diameter hole 2A so that the flange 10 is connected to the partition wall. The flange 10 is fixed to the partition wall 1 by tightening bolts 12, and the flange 10 is fitted in contact with the high-pressure side wall surface of the partition wall 1.
0 and the partition wall 1 and between the partition wall 1 and the outer periphery of the partition block 3, an O-ring 1 is provided, respectively.
3, 14, and 15 are interposed therebetween, and a ferrule insertion hole 16 with a stepped portion 16A is provided at the center of the connector housing 11.
A cylindrical protrusion 17 is provided on the high-pressure side end surface of the connector housing 11 to match the ferrule insertion hole 16.
A large-diameter hole 16B opened at the high-pressure side end surface of the cylindrical protrusion 17, a small-diameter hole 16C opened at the low-pressure side end surface of the connector housing 11, and a boundary between the two holes 16B and 16C. The connector ferrule 18 has a step portion 18A inside the ferrule insertion hole 16, and the step portion 18A is positioned within the large diameter hole portion 16B of the ferrule insertion hole 16. The connector ferrule 18 is housed with the stepped portion 18A and the stepped portion 16A of the ferrule insertion hole 16 restricting movement toward the low pressure side, and the ferrule insertion hole 16 in the cylindrical protrusion 17 is accommodated. A spring receiving ring 19 is screwed into the large diameter hole 16B of the connector ferrule 18, and between the spring receiving ring 19 and the stepped portion 18A of the connector ferrule 18, the connector ferrule 18 is connected to the partition block 3 side. An end of the optical cable 21 is inserted into the large diameter hole 16B of the ferrule insertion hole 16 in the cylindrical protrusion 17, and is led out from the end of the optical cable 21. The optical fiber core wire 22 is passed through and supported within the connector ferrule 18, and a molded portion 24 is provided spanning the cylindrical protrusion 17 and the optical cable 21, and a molded portion 24 is provided between the tip of the connector ferrule 18 and the partition block 3. A pressure-resistant optical cable partition wall penetrating portion, characterized in that it is joined to the buried end surface of the photoconductor 6 by an uneven centering joint portion 23.