US4050781A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector for optical fibers
Assignee: Alcatel CIT SA
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Filing: 1975-11-10
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Granted: 1977-09-27
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Expires: 1995-11-10
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a connector for optical fibres. The connector between two fibres comprises a pressing assembly formed by three rolls inside a flexible casing and two cones partly engaged inside the pressing assembly, at its respective ends, and a means for actuating one of the cones in a linear movement to control the opening and closing of the pressing assembly on the ends of the fibres. The invention applies to the transmitting of data by a light beam.
Inventors
- 👤 Pierre Beauhaire
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:56
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3809; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3834; G02B6/3841; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3874; G02B6/3878
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
A connector for optical fibers comprising a pressing assembly including three rollers and a flexible sheath surrounding said rollers and applying perssure thereto for pressing said rollers against a pair of optical fibers placed end to end in the interior of the rollers, said rollers extending parallel to one another in equally spaced relation to define a bore with a central longitudinal axis in which the optical fibers can be aligned and held in alignment, said rollers having tapered ends to form flared openings at the respective ends of the assembly of rollers, first and second cones disposed at the respective ends of the assembly of rollers and engaged in said flared openings, each cone having a central bore for the passage of a respective fiber therethrough and into the bore of the assembly of rollers, and means for relatively moving one of said cones with respect to the other in a longitudinal direction to selectively cause (a) the cones to advance into the flared openings and displace the rollers radially against the opposition of said flexible sheath whereby to enlarge the bore in the roller assembly and permit free insertion and removal of said optical fibers and (b) the cones to retract in the flared openings and permit the rollers to be displaced inwardly under the action of the flexible sheath to clamp the rollers against the optical fibers in the bore of the roller assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
A connector for optical fibers comprising a pressing assembly including three rollers and a flexible sheath surrounding said rollers and applying perssure thereto for pressing said rollers against a pair of optical fibers placed end to end in the interior of the rollers, said rollers extending parallel to one another in equally spaced relation to define a bore with a central longitudinal axis in which the optical fibers can be aligned and held in alignment, said rollers having tapered ends to form flared openings at the respective ends of the assembly of rollers, first and second cones disposed at the respective ends of the assembly of rollers and engaged in said flared openings, each cone having a central bore for the passage of a respective fiber therethrough and into the bore of the assembly of rollers, and means for relatively moving one of said cones with respect to the other in a longitudinal direction to selectively cause (a) the cones to advance into the flared openings and displace the rollers radially against the opposition of said flexible sheath whereby to enlarge the bore in the roller assembly and permit free insertion and removal of said optical fibers and (b) the cones to retract in the flared openings and permit the rollers to be displaced inwardly under the action of the flexible sheath to clamp the rollers against the optical fibers in the bore of the roller assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rollers are cylindrical and have a diameter less than 6.5 times the diameter of the fibers to be connected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
A connector as claimed in claim 1 comprising a tubular part receiving said cones and said pressing assembly, said tubular part having an axis coincident with said central axis, said first cone being secured in said tubular part, the second cone being longitudinally movable in said tubular part, and two stop means operatively associated with said second cone to limit the longitudinal movement thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A connector as claimed in claim 3 comprising a seat on said second cone disposed between said two stop means, and a flexible washer disposed between the seat and one of the stop means for acting on the seat to urge the second cone into the associated flared opening in the roller assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
A connector as claimed in claim 4 wherein the means for relatively moving one of the cones with respect to the other comprises a stud on said second cone, a housing rotatable around said central longitudinal axis loosely receiving said second cone, said housing having a slot in which said stud is received, said slot having a surface inclined with respect to said central longitudinal axis and forming a ramp against which said stud bears such that rotation of said housing causes movement of said stud along said ramp and consequent linear movement of said second cone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
A connector as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means for guiding an end of one of the two fibres for the insertion thereof in said pressing assembly, the guiding means comprising a sleeve, a hollow cylinder linearly movable within said sleeve and surrounding a portion of said one fibre, in the vicinity of its end, said hollow cylinder having an end face provided with a central duct abutting against said tubular part for guiding the end of said one fibre into said pressing assembly during movement of said hollow cylinder along the said sleeve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
A connector as claimed in claim 4 comprising a plurality of said pressing assemblies equal in number to the number of pairs of fibres to be connected together, a casing for said pressing assembly, each pressing assembly being associated with a respective pair of said cones and with respective individual flexible washers, said first and second cones being urged inside the respective pressing assemblies under the action of said individual flexible washers, said means for relatively moving the cones comprising a single longitudinally movable member mechanically connecting said second cones, a stud engaging said member, and a rotatable member having a slot with an oblique ramp engaging said stud to move said longitudinally movable member upon rotation of said rotatable member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A connector as claimed in claim 7 wherein said rollers are cylindrical and have a diameter less than 6.5 times the diameter of the fibres to be connected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A connector as claimed in claim 1 comprising a liquid having a refraction index close to that of the core of the fibres between the connection faces of said fibers, said liquid being polyisobutylene.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-09-26 | 1981-03-28 | 1981-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-26 | 1985-03-28 | 1985-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-26 | 1989-03-28 | 1989-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |