JPH0795127B2 - Light transmission hose - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solution type optical transmission hose in which a core material is liquid, and more specifically, liquid leakage of the liquid core material is surely prevented, and therefore optical transmission is achieved. The present invention relates to an optical transmission hose whose function is not impaired for a long period of time.

2. Description of the Related Art An optical transmission hose is usually a fibrous optical transmission medium composed of a clad material and a core material having different refractive indexes, and a clad material based on the difference in the refractive index. Optical transmission is performed by utilizing total internal reflection at the interface with the core material.In recent years, optical communication, optical sensors, image guides, decorative displays and automobiles, home appliances, optical devices, medical devices, outdoor signboards, It is widely used in various industrial fields as various lighting means for oil plants and the like, and is used for various purposes.

As such an optical transmission hose, an all-solid type optical transmission hose in which both the clad material such as quartz fiber, optical glass fiber, and plastic fiber and the core material are solid materials is put into practical use and is well known. In addition to carbon dioxide gas laser, helium neon laser, semiconductor laser, etc., it is necessary to combine clad and core materials with different refractive indices depending on the type and properties of the transmitted light. Alternatively, an optical transmission hose using a liquid core material is also being studied. Among them, the optical transmission hose using a gaseous core material usually gives a temperature gradient to the gaseous core material enclosed inside the clad material to form a concentration difference, and the refractive index difference corresponding to this concentration difference is generated. Further, the optical transmission hose using the liquid core material utilizes the difference in refractive index between the tubular clad material and the liquid clad material filled inside the tubular clad material.

Here, the optical transmission hose using the liquid core material will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of essential parts showing a conventional example of the optical transmission hose 1 using a liquid core material. Here, reference numeral 2 in the drawing denotes a clad material, and a liquid core material 3 having a higher refractive index than the clad material 2 is filled inside the clad material, and the openings at both ends of the clad material 2 are respectively formed by window materials 4. It is blocked. The window member 4 not only seals the core member 3, but also performs optical functions such as guiding incident light and appropriately emitting light.

The optical transmission hose using the conventional liquid core material described above,
Both ends of the clad material are subjected to mechanical sealing such as heat shrinkage treatment, hose band fastening, winding with wire strands, tightening through sleeves, O-rings, packing, etc. In order to prevent leakage, the joining of the clad material 2 and the window material 4 is maintained in an extremely tight state. However, in the mechanical sealing method described above, a temperature environment exceeding 50 ° C. over time Below clad material 2
The liquid core material 3 gradually leaks from the gap formed on the joint surface between the window material 4 and the window material 4, and the liquid core material 3 flows out. A filling portion, that is, a gas space such as a bubble or a gas reservoir is generated, and the light transmission function required for the light transmission hose is significantly impaired.

Therefore, the solution type optical transmission hose is excellent as a means for inexpensively transmitting a large amount of light because of its simple structure, but as described above, the leakage of the liquid core material and the accompanying bubbles and gasses. There is a problem that a gas space such as a pool is generated, and therefore, there is a demand for solving this point.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in an optical transmission hose using a liquid core material, liquid leakage of the liquid core material is reliably prevented, resulting in the generation of gas spaces such as bubbles and gas pools. It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution type optical transmission hose in which the problem is solved and therefore the optical transmission function is not impaired for a long period of time.

Means for Solving the Problems The solution type optical transmission hose of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, is filled with a liquid core material having a refractive index higher than that of the clad material inside a cylindrical clad material, In a solution type optical transmission hose in which both end openings of the material are closed and a window material is arranged, a sealing body having a cylindrical main body formed of a light-transmitting thermoplastic resin or elastomer and having a closed front end surface. The main body of the sealing film is inserted into the openings of both ends of the clad material from the tip side thereof, and the outer peripheral surface of the main body is airtightly adhered or heat-sealed to the inner peripheral surface of the clad material to open both ends of the clad material. The window member is fitted and inserted into the cylindrical main body of these sealing films while closing the portions.

Action The solution type optical transmission hose according to the present invention is such that the main body of the sealing film made of a thermoplastic resin or an elastomer having a cylindrical main body whose front end surface is closed is fitted into the clad material from the front end side, and The outer peripheral surface of the main body is airtightly bonded or heat-sealed to the inner peripheral surface of the clad material, and the window material is dried in the cylindrical main body.

That is, in the optical transmission hose of the present invention, by inserting the window material into the bag-shaped sealing film, the clad material and the window material are separated from each other in a state where no gap is provided between the clad material and the window material. It is sealed by a sealing film.

Therefore, the liquid core material does not originally invade between the clad material and the window material, the sealing film is inserted into the clad material, and the inner peripheral surface of the clad material and the cylindrical film of the sealing film are mainly formed. In addition to being bonded to the outer peripheral surface by adhesion or heat fusion,
Since the window material is dried in the cylindrical main body made of a thermoplastic resin or an elastomer, the sealing film is in close contact with the clad material and is in a sealed state. There is virtually no intrusion between the outer peripheral surface of the clad material and the inner peripheral surface of the clad material, and when the clad material and the sealing film are heat-sealed, of course, the clad material and the sealing film are bonded together. Even when the adhesive is adhered, the adhesive is prevented from being attacked by the core material as much as possible, and the liquid core material filled in the clad material is reliably sealed to prevent leakage to the outside. At the same time, there is no problem that air enters the clad material from the outside and causes bubbles in the core material, and therefore the optical transmission function can be maintained for a long period of time.

In this case, as the sealing film, one having both ends of the cylindrical main body closed is used, and a window material can be enclosed therein, and the sealing film has a ring-shaped collar body at the outer peripheral edge of the base end surface of the cylindrical main body. It is preferable to integrally project the core material, and by covering the end surface of the clad material with this collar body, the core material can be more reliably sealed.

Further, an adhesive or heat-fusible sheet is laminated on the outer peripheral surface of the clad material, and a cylindrical bonded body is integrally projected on the outer peripheral edge of the inner side surface of the collar of the sealing film. Covering the fusible sheet, or integrally projecting a cylindrical bonded body on the outer peripheral edge of the inner side surface of the collar of the sealing film, covering the outer peripheral surface of the clad with this bonded body and covering the bonded portion. By stacking the heat-shrinkable tubes, the sealing film surely adheres to the clad material, and the core material is more surely sealed.

Example Hereinafter, a typical example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be described with reference to the drawings.

In each of the following examples, only the configuration on one end side of the clad material will be described, and the configuration on the other end side is the same as the configuration on the one end side, so description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 shows an optical transmission hose 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The optical transmission hose 1 includes a cylindrical clad material 2 and a liquid core material 3 having a higher refractive index than the clad material 2.
The columnar window material 4 is inserted into one end of the clad material 2.
The sealing film 5 is interposed between the window member 4 and the window member 4.

The sealing film 5 has a ring-shaped collar body 5b integrally formed on the outer peripheral edge portion of the base end surface of a cylindrical main body 5a having a closed front end surface, and a cylindrical bonded body on the outer peripheral edge portion of the inner surface of the collar body 5b. It is configured to integrally project 5c. In this case, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the outer diameter of the cylindrical main body 5a is the clad material 2
Is formed with the same size as the inner diameter on one end side, the axial length thereof is formed with the same size as the axial length of the window member 4, and the radial width of the ring-shaped collar body 5b is the radial direction of the one end face of the clad member 2. It has the same size as the width. The cylindrical main body 5a of the sealing film 5 is fitted into one end of the clad material 2, and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical main body 5a, the inner peripheral surface of the clad material 2, and the ring-shaped collar body 5b.
At least one of the inner side surface of the clad material 2 and one end surface of the clad material 2 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical bonded body 5c and the outer peripheral surface of the clad material 2 are adhered or heat-sealed by an adhesive or the like. The one end opening of the clad material 2 is hermetically closed.

Thus, in the state where the sealing film 5 is airtightly joined to the clad material 2 in this manner, the window material 4 is inserted into the cylindrical main body 5a of the sealing film 5, and thus the clad material having such a structure is used. The leakage of the liquid core material 3 enclosed in the inside 2 is reliably prevented.

In the bonding of the sealing film 5 to the clad material 2, the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical main body 5a and the inner peripheral surface of the clad material 2 are bonded or heat-sealed by leaching the liquid core material 3 into the bonded portion. When hindering the bonding, it is preferable to bond or heat-bond other portions. In addition, the bonding or heat fusion may be whole surface bonding or partial bonding. Further, the sealing film 5 and the window material 4
Joining with is not always necessary.

Here, as the material of the clad material 2, the liquid core material 3, and the window material 4, those which are normally used can be used.

In this case, the window material 4 arranged at both ends of the clad material 2
Is provided with an input guidance function or the like for causing the incident light to enter the core material 3 of the light transmission hose at a constant angle to the light incident portion, and to the device connected to the light emission portion. In response, the output guidance function required for accurately inputting optical signals to these devices has been added,
If necessary, it is equipped with a lens, optical filter, heat filter, etc. to collect, diffuse, selectively absorb and transmit light in a specific wavelength range, and at the connection part that connects optical transmission hoses. On the other hand, in order to prevent light loss, the core material 3 is made of a material having substantially the same refractive index and excellent light transmittance. Examples of materials for forming the window member 4 include fused silica, boric acid glass, flint glass, crown glass, soda glass, chalcogenide glass, fluoride glass, lithium fluoride, sodium fluoride, calcium fluoride, Barium fluoride, sodium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium chloride, thallium bromide, thallium iodide, KRS-5, KRS-6, sapphire, crystal, magnesia, titania, alumina, silicon, germanium, polystyrene, ABS copolymer, AS copolymer, styrene-maleic acid resin, methyl methacrylate-styrene copolymer resin, styrene-maleic anhydride resin, methacrylic resin, cellulose acetate, polyester carbonate, polyester, polymethylpentene, polyarylate, polyether sulfone , Polyether ether keto , Polycarbonate, nylon, polysulfone, etc., or by combining two or more of these materials with a composition in which a pigment or the like is further added to these materials as necessary according to the function required for the window material 4. It is also possible to use the window material 3 that is formed of the obtained composite material, and that the surface of the molded product is treated by forming a coloring material thin film or the like.

Further, the sealing film 5 is preferably excellent in light transmittance, excellent in flexibility, and excellent in adhesiveness to the clad material 2 and thermal adhesiveness. 5 is core material 3
When it comes into contact with the core material 3, it is preferable to have solvent resistance to the liquid forming the core material 3 at least in the contact portion with the core material 3. Similarly, the sealing film 5 is exposed to heat, light, oxygen, ozone, and the like. In this case, those which are stable against these are preferred. Further, if necessary, the sealing film 5 may be provided with various functions such as an optical filter action such as wavelength selectivity for transmitted light, an antireflection effect, a thermal filter action and the like.

As a material for forming the sealing film 5, a material having the above-mentioned properties is appropriately selected, and from this point, a thermoplastic resin or an elastomer is used. Specifically, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, natural rubber,
Synthetic polyisoprene, polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, butyl rubber, EPDM, halogenated butyl rubber, chloroprene rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer, halogenated polyethylene, polyacrylonitrile, acrylonitrile-methyl methacrylate copolymer, polystyrene, acrylonitrile- Styrene copolymer, ABS copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, polymethyl methacrylate, cellulose acetate, polyacrylate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, ionomer, ethylene-ethyl acrylate Copolymer, polymethylpentene, polyfluoroisopropyl methacrylate, polydimethylsiloxane, polyvinyl acetate, polytetrafluoroethylene , Polyacetal, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl fluoride, polymotochlortrifluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkoxyethylene copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene- Vinylidene fluoride copolymer,
One or more of vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer and the like can be mentioned. The sealing film 5 has the above-mentioned optical filter action, antireflection effect,
When a film is formed using the above materials in order to impart various functions such as thermal filter action, etc., a compounding agent such as a dye may be added to the above materials, or a dye film or reflection may occur in the light transmitting portion of the sealing film. It can also be coated with an anti-prevention film.

Further, the sealing film 5 formed of the above material may have either a single layer structure or a laminated structure.
In this case, the laminated structure may be a whole laminated structure or a partial laminated structure, and can be made of an appropriate material. For example, a film formed of a material having excellent adhesiveness and heat-sealing property with the clad material 2 is arranged in a portion to be joined with the clad material 2, and heat resistance, light resistance, and ozone resistance are provided in a portion in contact with the core material 3. Of a film excellent in heat resistance and external damage, or a single-layer film having a high light transmittance is placed in the portion between the core material 3 and the window material 4 in order to emphasize the optical characteristics. For example, it is possible to use the one obtained by forming the entire surface laminated structure or the partial laminated structure in which the material of the surface layer is partially changed so as to give each part a necessary property.

Furthermore, the film thickness of the sealing film 5 differs depending on the optical characteristics such as light transmittance of the material forming the sealing film 5 and the properties such as flexibility and mechanical strength, and the inner and outer diameters of the clad material. The range required is different and is not particularly limited, but a range of usually 20 to 5000 μm, particularly 50 to 1000 μm is suitable.

When the sealing film 5 is bonded to the clad material 2, it is preferable to preliminarily perform cleaning pretreatment such as degreasing with a solvent on the bonding portion of the sealing film 5 and the clad material 2 in advance. It is preferable to perform mechanical surface roughening treatment, corona discharge treatment, plasma treatment, metallic sodium solution treatment, flame treatment and the like in order to give stronger adhesion to the joint portion of the stop film 5 and the clad material 2.

Further, in order to mount the liquid-tight sealing film 5 without forming a gap at the bonding or heat-sealing portion, in the process of bonding or heat-sealing, hose band fastening, winding by wire wire, sleeve, It can be fixed by tightening through an O-ring, packing or the like.

As described above, when pre-cleaning treatment is performed if necessary, the treatment for improving the adhesiveness is performed on the end portion of the clad material 2 and the necessary portion of the sealing film 5, and when the adhesion is performed, the clad When the adhesive is applied to the end portion of the material 2 and the necessary portion of the sealing film 5, and when heat fusion is performed, the sealing film 5 is directly attached to the end portion of the clad material 2 and then the window material is attached. The sealing film 5 is bonded to both ends of the clad material 2 directly or by using the fixing means in a state where the sealing film 5 is disposed and both ends of the clad material 2 are closed.
The sealing film 5 is attached by maintaining the temperature at a predetermined temperature for a required time. In this last step, heating is performed when bonding is performed using a thermosetting adhesive or when heat fusion is performed, and when heat fusion is performed, the temperature is usually maintained at a predetermined temperature. Heating in a furnace, heating with a microburner, an air heater, etc. is performed.

When joining using an adhesive, various kinds of adhesives such as room temperature curable type, thermosetting type, and photocurable type can be used, and specifically, fluororesin type, silicon type, epoxy type,
Phenol-based, urethane-based, diene-based, butyral-based,
Formal type, polyester type, polyamide type, polyamide-imide type, cellulose type, polyimide type, polyolefin type, polyacrylate type, ionomer type, cyanoacrylate type, DAP resin type, melamine resin type, urea resin type and the like, These 1 type (s) or 2 or more types can be used.

2 to 10 show another embodiment of the present invention.

That is, the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is an example in which the axial length of the cylindrical main body 5a of the sealing film 5 is made longer than the axial length of the window material 4 and the window material 4 is deeply inserted into the clad material 2. Therefore, in this example, the joint area between the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical main body 5a and the inner peripheral surface of the clad material 2 can be widened. In contrast to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 shows an example in which the axial length of the cylindrical main body 5a is formed shorter than the axial length of the window material, and a part of the window material 4 projects outward from one end of the clad material 2. Is. Here, the cylindrical main body in the embodiment of FIG.
By inserting the protrusion of the window member 4 in the embodiment of FIG. 3 into 5a and connecting the optical transmission hoses to each other, long-distance optical transmission becomes possible. In addition, at the time of connection, it is preferable to make connection so as to prevent light loss at the connection portion.In this case, in order to prevent reflection of the connection portion, connection via a connection material considering the refractive index of the connection portion Further, the window material 4 having a refractive index substantially the same as that of the core material 3 is used.

Further, the embodiment of FIG. 4 is an example in which the sealing film 5 is composed of a cylindrical main body 5a and a ring-shaped collar body 5b, and the embodiments of FIG. 5 and FIG. 5a, the axial length of the main body 5a is the same as the axial length of the window material 4 in the embodiment of FIG. 5, and the axial length of the main body 5a is greater than the axial length of the window material 4 in the embodiment of FIG. It's a long one.

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the sealing film 5 is formed in a cylindrical shape (hollow columnar shape) with both end faces closed, and the window member 4 is arranged in this cylindrical main body 5a. It is a thing. Here, the sealing film 5 covering the window material 4 can be formed by immersing the window material 4 in a liquid in which the components of the sealing film are dissolved (dipping) and then drying the sealing material. An adhesive agent is applied to the barrier film-covering window material, or the window material is directly placed in the opening of the clad material 2 to close the clad material 2 and then bonded or heat-sealed as in the embodiment of FIG. It can be mounted by doing.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, an adhesive or heat-fusible sheet 6 is preliminarily laminated on the outer peripheral surface on one end side of the clad material 2, and the sealing film 5 as shown in FIG. The example shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is the same as the example shown in FIG. 1 except that the heat-shrinkable tube 7 is disposed so as to cover the cylindrical joint portion 5c of the sealing film 5. 9 shows an example in which the heat-shrinkable tube 7 has a single-layer structure, and FIG. 10 shows an inner layer 7a in which the heat-shrinkable tube 7 is easily bonded or heat-shrinked and an outer layer 7b which gives a high shrinkage force at the bonding or heat-sealing temperature. It is an example formed in a laminated structure with.

It should be noted that although the above description has described preferred embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the configuration of the present invention may be variously modified without departing from the scope thereof. obtain.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION With the above configuration, the optical transmission hose of the present invention ensures that the liquid core material is sealed in the clad material by the sealing film that covers the openings at both ends, so that the liquid core material remains liquid even when exposed to a high temperature atmosphere for a long time. Leakage of the core material is reliably prevented, and therefore, there is no problem of air bubble mixing and the like, and the optical transmission function can be maintained for a long period of time.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 10 are partially omitted sectional views showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a partially omitted sectional view of a conventional example. 1 ... Optical transmission hose, 2 ... Clad material, 3 ... Core material, 4 ... Window material, 5 ... Sealing film, 5a ... Cylindrical main body, 5b
...... Ring-shaped collar body, 5c …… Cylindrical bonded body, 6 …… Adhesive or heat-fusible sheet, 7 …… Heat-shrinkable tube.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-57-30803 (JP, A) JP-A-59-22201 (JP, A) Practical application Sho-57-32907 (JP, U)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A solution in which a cylindrical clad material is filled with a liquid core material having a refractive index higher than that of the clad material, and openings at both ends of the clad material are closed to form a window material. Type optical transmission hose, the main body of a sealing film having a cylindrical main body formed of a light-transmitting thermoplastic resin or elastomer and having a closed front end surface is provided from the front end side to both end openings of the clad material. Insert,
The outer peripheral surface of the main body is airtightly bonded or heat-sealed to the inner peripheral surface of the clad material to close the openings at both ends of the clad material, and the window material is fitted into the cylindrical main body of these sealing films. An optical transmission hose characterized by being inserted. 2. The sealing film is a hollow columnar body having a cylindrical main body whose front end face is closed and whose base end face is further closed, and a window member is enclosed in the sealing film. The optical transmission hose described in the item. 3. A sealing film, comprising a cylindrical main body and a ring-shaped brim integrally projecting from the outer peripheral edge of the base end surface. The brim covers the end surface of the clad. The optical transmission hose according to item 1. 4. An adhesive or heat-fusible sheet is laminated on the outer peripheral surface of the clad material, and a cylindrical bonded body is integrally formed on the outer peripheral edge of the inner surface of the collar of the sealing film, and bonded with this bonded body. The optical transmission hose according to claim 3, which is coated with a heat-resistant or heat-fusible sheet. 5. A cylindrical joint is integrally provided on the outer peripheral edge of the inner surface of the collar of the sealing film, and the outer periphery of the clat is covered with the joint, and the heat-shrinkable tube is covered with the joint. The optical transmission hose according to claim 3, which is laminated.