Hybrid fiber power connection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018024302-A1
Application number	US-201615546585-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 26, 2016
Priority date	Jan 26, 2015
Publication date	Jan 25, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A connector body includes a connector body ( 111 ) having a main body ( 10 ) and two sub bodies ( 12 ) that project from a first side of the main body ( 10 ). A latching mechanism ( 14 ) at the first side of the main body is positioned between the sub bodies. Electrical conductors ( 18 a, 18 b ) are positioned in the sub bodies and have interface ends at a forward face of the main body. First and second ferrules ( 16 a, 16 b ) are mounted at the main body. The first and second ferrule are spring biased in a forward direction perpendicular to the forward face of the main body. The first and second ferrules have interface ends accessible at the forward face. Optical fibers ( 19 a, 19 b ) are supported by the first and second ferrules ( 16 a, 16 b ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A connector body comprising:
a main body having a first side and a forward face; two sub bodies that project from the first side of the main body; a latching mechanism disposed at the first side of the main body and positioned between the two sub bodies; electrical conductors positioned in the sub bodies, the electrical conductors having interface ends at the forward face of the main body; first and a second ferrules mounted at the main body, wherein the first and second ferrules are spring biased in a forward direction perpendicular to the forward face of the main body, the first and second ferrules having interface ends accessible at the forward face; and optical fibers supported by the first and second ferrules.

2 . The connector of claim 1 , further comprising a rear housing disposed at the main body, the rear housing having a nut rotatable about the main body and a seal located along threads of the nut.

3 . The connector body of claim 1 , wherein the first and second ferrules have a center-to-center spacing compatible with a standard duplex LC adapter.

4 . The connector body of claim 1 , wherein the main body has an end face from which the first and second ferrules protrude, the end face defining apertures leading to rearwardly extending passages in which the electrical conductors are disposed and through which the electrical conductors are accessible.

5 . The connector body of claim 1 , further comprising a rear housing configured to couple at a rear of the main body, the rear housing includes a twist-to-lock mounting structure.

6 . The connector body of claim 5 , wherein the twist-to-lock mounting structure includes threads.

7 . The connector body of claim 5 , wherein the twist-to-lock mounting structure includes part of a bayonet connection.

8 . The connector body of claim 4 , wherein the rear housing carries a seal for creating an environmental seal between the rear housing and a port receiving the main body.

9 . The connector body of claim 1 , wherein the electrical conductors and optical fibers are surrounded by a jacket to form a hybrid cable terminated by the connector body.

10 . The connector body of claim 1 , wherein the two sub bodies form a widest portion of the connector body.

11 . An optical adapter comprising:
an adapter body defining a port configured to receive a connector body; an alignment sleeve arrangement disposed within the adapter body and accessible via the port; a latching member disposed within the adapter body and accessible via the port; electrical contacts disposed within the adapter body and accessible via the port, the electrical contacts being configured to receive electrical conductors; and electrical conductors that electrically connect the electrical contacts to electrical equipment.

12 . The optical adapter of claim 11 , wherein the alignment sleeve arrangement includes two laterally aligned alignment sleeves, the alignment sleeves having a center-to-center spacing compatible with a standard duplex LC adapter.

13 . The optical adapter of claim 11 , wherein the electrical contacts are laterally aligned and disposed on opposite sides of the latching member.

14 . The optical adapter of claim 11 , wherein the electrical contacts include electrical pins.

15 . The optical adapter of claim 11 , wherein the adapter body forms part of a twist-to-lock connection.

16 . The optical adapter of claim 15 , wherein the adapter body defines threading.

17 . The optical adapter of claim 15 , wherein the adapter body forms part of a bayonet connection.

18 . The optical adapter of claim 11 , wherein the port is a first port; and wherein the adapter body defines a second port aligned with the first port, the second port being sized to receive an optical connector and is not configured to receive an electrical conductor.

19 . The optical adapter of claim 18 , wherein the first port is larger than the second port.

20 . The optical adapter of claim 11 , wherein the adapter body includes a sealing surface against which a seal of a connector body is pressed when the connector body is received at the port.

Assignees

• Commscope Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Gurreri Michael Lawrence
• Flaig Robert Charles
• Bretz Dwight A
• Chappell Eric Ryan

Classifications

• H01R13/5219

  Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal · CPC title

• H01R33/94

  Holders formed as intermediate parts for linking a counter-part to a coupling part · CPC title

• G02B6/3825

  with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs · CPC title

• G02B6/3821

  with axial spring biasing or loading means (G02B6/3847 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/3885

  Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type (optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448) · CPC title