Detachable coupling for optical fibres

Claim 1

A detachable connector for coupling a pair of optical fibers comprising: two connector elements, each connector element comprising: a cylindrical housing having a reference end face and having a circularly cylindrical bore extending from the reference end face and transverse thereto, said bore having an axis and beginning with a narrow portion at the reference end face and widening with increased axial distance from the reference end face to form a conical seat and to form a rim which is parallel to the reference end face; a spherical lens accomodated in the widening portion of the bore in the housing; a disc-shaped fiber holder having a flat side and a bore for accomodating an end of an optical fiber, the bore being perpendicular to the flat side, said fiber holder being arranged in the bore of the housing to slide along the axis; means for adjusting the axial displacement of the fiber holder; means for adjusting the displacement of the fiber holder parallel to the reference end face; and a lens clamp, secured in a groove in the housing, for securing the lens in the conical seat; said detachable connector further comprising: a connector holder; and means for detachably connecting each connector element to the connector holder such that the reference end faces of the connector elements contact each other.