Optical fiber connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9297976-B2
Application number	US-201314078449-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2013
Priority date	Nov 14, 2012
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

An optical fiber connector and method for assembly and use are disclosed. The optical fiber connector is configured to have a small footprint so that the connector may be pushable or pullable through a conduit if use of a conduit may be needed. The connector may include a first number of connector components configured to fit through a conduit, and a second number of connector components that are configured to be installed to the first components, for example, after the connector is pushed or pulled through a conduit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A terminal end assembly for an optic fiber cable, the assembly comprising:
a ferrule assembly comprising:
a ferrule for receiving and terminating an optic fiber of an optic fiber cable, and
a ferule holder having a first end for receiving the optic fiber therethrough, and a second end opposite the first end for receiving and retaining the ferrule therein;
a tubular connector body having a first end configured for receiving and retaining a terminal end of the fiber optic cable therein, and a second end configured for slidably receiving the ferrule holder therein, the ferrule holder being axially movable within the second end for movement of the ferrule towards and away from the connector body;
a biasing member disposed within the connector body for biasing the ferrule holder axially away from the connector body; and
a ferrule retainer for retaining the ferrule holder within the connector body, the ferrule retainer formed as a solid tubular body configured to surround the ferrule holder, the ferrule retainer comprising a first end configured to be fixedly engaged with the second end of the connector body, and a second end configured to engage the ferrule holder to retain the ferrule holder and the biasing member within the connector body, wherein the ferrule retainer and the connector body together encase the biasing member and the ferrule holder.

2. The terminal end assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising an end cap disposed around the ferrule and in engagement with the ferrule retainer, the end cap having a first end for receiving the ferrule therein and a second closed end opposite the first end and the end cap, the ferrule retainer and the tubular connector body being configured to form a capsule encasing the biasing member, the ferrule retainer, and the ferrule.

3. The terminal end assembly according to claim 2 , wherein:
the ferrule has an external cylindrical surface, the end cap has an internal cylindrical surface, and the internal cylindrical surface of the end cap is configured to frictionally engage with the external cylindrical surface of the ferrule to retain the end cap on the ferrule; and
at least one of the ferrule retainer and the end cap comprises an engagement portion for engaging with the other of the ferrule retainer and the end cap to prevent rotation of the end cap about the ferrule.

4. The terminal end assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the end cap, the ferrule retainer, and at least a portion of the connector body each define a cylindrical surface disposed about a longitudinal axis, at least one of the cylindrical surface of the end cap, the ferrule retainer, and the at least a portion of the connector body defines a maximum radius, and the at least one of the cylindrical surface of the end cap, the ferrule retainer and the at least a portion of the connector body are configured to have the maximum radius that allows the terminal end assembly to fit through a microconduit.

5. The terminal end assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the microconduit is a bend limited microconduit having an internal diameter of less than about 10 mm.

6. The terminal end assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the ferrule retainer is configured for frictionally engaging with the second end of the connector body.

7. The terminal end assembly of claim 6 , wherein the ferrule retainer defines an internal diameter, the second end of the connector body defines an external diameter, and the internal diameter is less than the external diameter for frictional engagement of the ferrule retainer with the connector body.

8. The terminal end assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first end of the connector body comprises a crimp tube configured for being crimped to a fiber optic cable;
the first end of the ferrule retainer frictionally engages with the second end of the connector body for retaining the ferrule holder with the connector body against the biasing of the ferrule holder;
the biasing member comprises a spring disposed about the first end of the ferrule holder;
the connector body comprises an internal circumferential edge configured for supporting the spring within the connector body;
the ferrule holder comprises an external circumferential edge configured for bearing the biasing of the spring;
at least one of the second end of the connector body and the ferrule holder comprises a device for preventing rotation of the ferrule holder within the connector body;
the assembly further comprises an end cap disposed around the ferrule and in engagement with the ferrule retainer, the end cap having a first end for receiving the ferrule therein, a second closed end opposite the first end, and a body portion disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein an exterior of the end cap at the second end is hemispherical, and the body portion comprises at least one indentation configured for enhancing gripping of the end cap;
the end cap, the ferrule retainer, and at least a portion of the connector body are configured to completely surround and enclose the ferrule, ferrule holder, and spring; and
the end cap, the ferrule retainer, and at least a portion of the connector body together define a substantially cylindrical surface of the terminal end assembly.

9. A pre-terminated optical fiber cable comprising at least one optical fiber terminated at at least one end thereof with an encased ferrule assembly of a size configured for being axially movable through a microconduit
a ferrule holder comprising a ferrule;
a tubular connector body having a first end retaining a terminal end of the optical fiber cable therewith, and a second end disposed about at least a portion of the ferrule holder, the ferrule holder being axially movable within the second end;
a ferrule retainer for retaining the ferrule holder within the connector body, the ferrule retainer formed as a solid tubular body configured to surround the ferrule holder, the ferrule retainer comprising a first end configured to be fixedly engaged with the second end of the connector body, and a second end configured to engage the ferrule holder to retain the ferrule holder and the biasing member within the connector body, wherein the ferrule retainer and the connector body together encase the biasing member and the ferrule holder; and
an end cap disposed around the ferrule and in engagement with the ferrule retainer; wherein the ferrule retainer, the tubular connector body and the end cap form a solid encasement surrounding the ferrule retainer and ferrule.

10. The pre-terminated cable according to claim 9 , wherein the encased ferrule assembly is of a size configured for being axially movable through a microconduit having an internal diameter of about 6 mm.

11. An optical fiber connector comprising:
a pre-terminated optical fiber cable configured for being pushed or pulled through a conduit, the pre-terminated optical fiber cable comprising:
a fiber optic cable comprising an optic fiber;
a tubular connector body having a first end disposed about an end of the optic cable and retaining the fiber optic cable therein, and a second end opposite the first end;
a ferrule assembly terminating the optical fiber cable, the ferrule assembly comprising: a ferrule terminating the optic fiber, and a ferrule holder having a first end axially slidably disposed within the second end of the connector body, and a second end opposite the first end and retaining the ferrule therein;
a spring member disposed about the first end of the ferrule holder within the second end of the connector body and biasing the ferrule holder axially away from the connector body;
a ferrule retainer for retaining the ferrule h

Assignees

• Clearfield Inc

Inventors

• Hill John P
• Power Ii Walter E
• Nishiguchi Yuki

Classifications

• G02B6/3897

  Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/44515

  Fibre drop terminals with surplus length (without surplus length G02B6/4472) · CPC title

• G02B6/46

  Processes or apparatus adapted for installing {or repairing} optical fibres or optical cables (installation of cables containing electric conductors and optical fibres H02G) · CPC title

• G02B6/3874

  using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules · CPC title

• G02B6/4442 Primary

  Cap coupling boxes · CPC title