JPH0449087B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a connection sleeve structure for an optical connector provided at the end of an optical fiber.

Conventional connection sleeve structures for optical fiber connectors include a cylindrical sleeve 1 having a through hole 2 with a precise inner diameter as shown in FIG. 1, or a slit 11 provided in the cylindrical sleeve as shown in FIG. A split sleeve 10 is used.

In the cylindrical sleeve shown in FIG. 1 having a through hole 2 with a precise inner diameter, the inner diameter of the through hole 2 is made larger than the outer diameter of the ferrule in order to insert the plug ferrule. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, gaps 8 and 9 are created between the plug ferrules 4 and 5 and the through holes, and when the two plug ferrules 4 and 5 are inserted, gaps 8 and 9 are created between the two plug ferrules. The center axis of the fiber is shifted, causing variations in fiber connection loss. In the figure, reference numerals 6 and 7 are optical fibers.

Further, since cylindrical sleeves are often made of metal, if an attempt is made to reduce the gap between the outer diameter of the plug ferrule and the inner diameter of the through hole, it becomes difficult to insert the plug ferrule, which may cause damage to the plug ferrule.

Furthermore, in the split sleeve 10 shown in FIG. 2, when the slit 11 is provided, the uniformity of the shape of the through hole 12 is likely to be lost, and as shown in FIG. 4, it is difficult to hold the plug ferrule 13 uniformly. It becomes difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a connecting sleeve structure for an optical connector that eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks.

The connection sleeve structure of the present invention includes a cylindrical elastic sleeve having a through hole with an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the plug ferrule of the optical connector, and a cylindrical elastic sleeve having a through hole with an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the plug ferrule of the optical connector, and a cylindrical elastic sleeve with holes arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole at equal intervals parallel to the central axis of the through hole. The cylindrical sleeve has a plurality of first grooves provided thereon, and a plurality of second grooves provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical sleeve at equal intervals in parallel with the central axis of the sleeve.

Figures 5a and 5b are a radial sectional view and a side view, respectively, showing one embodiment of the present invention;
The figure shows the plug ferrule 2 of the optical connector in this example.
FIG. 3 is an axial cross-sectional view showing a state in which parts 3 and 25 are inserted.

This embodiment includes a cylindrical sleeve 14 having a through hole 15 with an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the plug ferrule of an optical connector, and a through hole 15 on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 15.
A plurality of first grooves 16 provided parallel to the central axis of
18, and a plurality of second grooves 19 to 21 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical sleeve 14 in parallel to the central axis of the cylindrical sleeve 4.

Because of this structure, the first grooves 16 to 1
8 and the second grooves 19-21 allow the cylindrical sleeve 14 to spread uniformly in the radial direction.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, when the plug ferrules 23 and 25 having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the through hole 15 are inserted into the cylindrical sleeve 14, they can be aligned in the radial direction without any gaps.

As described above, the present invention has the effect that since the plug ferrules of an optical connector can be uniformly aligned without gaps, optical fibers can be connected with less loss and less variation.

In addition, since it has elasticity, it will not be damaged when inserting the plug ferrule.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional connection sleeve, Fig. 2 is an axial cross-sectional view showing the plug ferrule of an optical connector inserted into the conventional sleeve, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a conventional connection sleeve.
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing another conventional connection sleeve.
The figure is a radial cross-sectional view showing the plug ferrule of an optical connector inserted into another conventional sleeve.
FIGS. 5a and 5b are a radial cross-sectional view and a side view showing an embodiment of the present invention, respectively, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is an axial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the plug ferrule of the optical connector is inserted into the present embodiment. In the figure, 1... precision sleeve, 2, 12,
15...Through hole, 4,5...Plug ferrule,
6, 7... Optical fiber, 8, 9... Gap, 10...
...Split sleeve, 11...Slit, 13...Plug ferrule, 14...Cylindrical sleeve, 1
6, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21...groove, 2
3, 25...Plug ferrule, 24, 26...
optical fiber.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical elastic sleeve having a through hole with an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the plug ferrule of the optical connector;
a plurality of first grooves provided on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical sleeve at equal intervals parallel to the central axis of the through hole; and a plurality of first grooves provided on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical sleeve parallel to the central axis of the cylindrical sleeve A connection sleeve structure for an optical connector, characterized in that it is comprised of the first groove and a plurality of second grooves alternately provided at equal intervals.