JP2011002705A - Boot for optical connector and optical cable assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

An optical fiber core wire inside an optical cable is protected while suppressing the optical cable from being bent in a direction other than the intended direction.
A plurality of main grooves 60 are formed on an upper surface 54A and a lower surface 54B of the boot main body 54 of the optical connector boot 16 at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the boot main body 54 (Y-axis direction). A plurality of lightening grooves 62 are formed on the side surfaces 54C and 54D. Each main groove 60 extends in the left-right direction (X-axis direction), and both end portions in the groove longitudinal direction and one end portion in the groove depth direction are opened on the outer peripheral surface of the boot body 54. Is extended along the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), and both ends in the groove longitudinal direction and one end in the groove depth direction are opened in the outer peripheral surface of the boot body. The main grooves 60 </ b> A to 60 </ b> D positioned at least on the front end side of the boot main body 54 among the plurality of main grooves 60 described above have a groove depth direction other end between the outer peripheral surface of the boot main body 54 and the hole 58. It is terminated.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector boot and an optical cable assembly.

  Patent Document 1, a plurality of slits alternately in the boot main body is formed, the respective slits holes and communicated optical connector boot for insertion optical cable formed boot body is disclosed.

  Further, Patent Document 2, the optical cable, the optical connector connected to the distal end side of the optical cable, optical cable assembly with a fixed boot for an optical connector is disclosed in the rear end side of the optical connector . In this optical cable assembly, the optical cable includes an optical fiber core, a pair of tensile members provided in parallel with the optical fiber core, and a covering material that covers the optical fiber core and the pair of tensile members. It is configured.

Japanese Patent No. 3361395 Japanese Patent No. 3884648

  However, in the optical connector boot according to Patent Document 1, each slit is communicated with a hole for inserting an optical cable formed in the boot body, flexural rigidity is reduced in all directions of the boot body. For this reason, the optical cable inserted through the boot body can be bent in a direction other than the intended direction.

  Also, such as an optical cable assembly according to Patent Document 2, in a configuration in which an optical cable having a pair of strength members, as described above in the optical connector boot, the flexural rigidity in all directions of the boot body is reduced , the direction other than the direction in which the optical cable is intended, i.e., when it is bent in parallel direction of the pair of strength members, there is a possibility that connection portion of the optical cable and the optical connector comprising a pair of strength members may be damaged.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a boot for an optical connector that can prevent the optical cable from being bent in a direction other than the intended direction.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical cable assembly that can suppress damage to the connecting portion between the optical cable and the optical connector.

  In order to solve the above problems, an optical connector boot according to claim 1 is an optical connector boot fixed to a rear end side of an optical connector connected to a front end side of an optical cable, wherein the optical connector boot includes: A boot body formed in a longitudinal shape protruding from the rear end along the axial direction of the optical connector, having a hole portion through which the optical cable is inserted, and formed of a flexible material The boot body has a second orthogonal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and the first orthogonal direction on both sides of the hole in the first orthogonal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the boot body. A plurality of main grooves extending at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the groove and at one end in the depth direction of the groove on the outer peripheral surface of the boot body are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction. Less Also the main groove located at the top side of the boot body has a structure in which the groove depth direction other end is terminated between said hole and said outer peripheral surface.

  According to the optical connector boot, since the flexural rigidity of the boot main body in a first orthogonal direction is reduced by a plurality of main grooves formed in the boot body, a inserted through optical cable to the boot body first straight It can be bent in the cross direction.

  On the other hand, among the plurality of main grooves, the main groove located at least on the front end side of the boot body has the other end in the groove depth direction terminated between the outer peripheral surface and the hole. Therefore, since the bending rigidity of the boot body in the second orthogonal direction is ensured, the optical cable inserted through the boot body can be prevented from being bent in the second orthogonal direction.

  Thus, according to this optical connector boot, it is possible to suppress the optical cable from being bent in a direction other than the intended direction, ie, the second orthogonal direction.

  The optical connector boot according to claim 2 is the optical connector boot according to claim 1, wherein the boot main body is at least between the main grooves adjacent in the longitudinal direction, in the first orthogonal direction. It is set as the structure by which the lightening groove | channel which extended along the groove longitudinal direction and the groove depth direction one end was opened in the outer peripheral surface of the said boot main body, respectively was formed.

  According to this optical connector boot, the bending rigidity of the boot body in the first orthogonal direction is further reduced by the plurality of lightening grooves formed in the boot body. Therefore, the optical cable inserted through the boot body can be bent more easily in the first orthogonal direction.

  The optical connector boot according to claim 3 is the optical connector boot according to claim 2, wherein each of the lightening grooves is configured such that the other end portion in the groove depth direction communicates with the hole portion. Yes.

  According to this optical connector boot, each of the lightening grooves is communicated with the hole at the other end in the groove depth direction, thereby further reducing the bending rigidity of the boot body in the first orthogonal direction. can do.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an optical cable assembly according to claim 4, wherein the optical fiber core wire is exposed from a coating material covering the optical fiber core wire and the tensile member, and at least the optical fiber core wire In the exposure range from the covering material, an optical cable having an exposed portion on the distal end side where the tensile body is separated into a plurality of tensile strength portions, an optical connector connected to the distal end side of the exposed portion, and a rear end of the optical connector An optical connector boot fixed to the side, wherein the optical connector boot is formed in a longitudinal shape projecting from the rear end of the optical connector along the axial direction of the optical connector, and the optical cable. A portion of the exposed portion at least including a rear end side of the exposed portion is provided with a hole, and has a boot body formed of a flexible material, The main body includes a longitudinal direction of the boot body and both sides of the hole in a direction perpendicular to the parallel direction of the pair of strength members, extending along the parallel direction, and both ends of the longitudinal direction of the groove and the groove depth. A plurality of main grooves having one end in the length direction opened at the outer peripheral surface of the boot body are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction, and at least the rear end side of the exposed portion and the longitudinal direction of the plurality of main grooves The main groove in the overlapping range is configured such that the other end in the groove depth direction is terminated between the outer peripheral surface and the hole.

  According to this optical cable assembly, since the flexural rigidity of the boot body in a direction perpendicular above the plurality of main grooves formed in the boot body boots for optical connectors is reduced, the inserted through optical cable in this boot body It can be bent in the aforementioned orthogonal direction.

  On the other hand, among the plurality of main grooves, at least the rear end side of the exposed portion and the main groove within a range overlapping in the longitudinal direction of the boot body have a groove depth direction other end at the outer peripheral surface of the boot body and the hole portion. Is terminated between. Accordingly, since the flexural rigidity of the boot body in the parallel direction of the pair of strength members is secured, it is possible to prevent the inserted through optical cable to the boot body are bent in parallel direction of the pair of strength members.

  Thus, according to the optical cable assembly, optical cable intended direction (i.e., parallel direction respectively orthogonal to the direction of the longitudinal and a pair of strength members of the boot body) other than the direction (i.e., parallel pair of strength members (Direction) can be suppressed. Thereby, it can suppress that the connection part of this optical cable and an optical connector is damaged.

  In addition, as described above, the main groove in the range that overlaps at least the rear end side of the exposed portion in the longitudinal direction among the plurality of main grooves has the other end in the groove depth direction between the outer peripheral surface and the hole. Terminated between. Therefore, the optical fiber core wire can be protected by preventing the optical fiber core wire from being exposed to the outside.

  Light cable assembly of claim 5, in the optical cable assembly of claim 4, wherein the boot body, between the main groove adjacent to at least the longitudinal direction, grooves longitudinally extends along a direction the perpendicular Both end portions in the direction and one end portion in the groove depth direction are each formed with a lightening groove having an opening on the outer peripheral surface of the boot body.

  According to this optical cable assembly, the bending rigidity of the boot main body in the above-described orthogonal direction is further reduced by the plurality of lightening grooves formed in the boot main body. Therefore, the optical cable inserted through the boot body can be bent more easily in the above-described orthogonal direction.

  Light cable assembly of claim 6, in the optical cable assembly of claim 5, wherein the exposed portions, respectively as well as covering the tensile strength portion, the coating material is torn along the axial direction from the distal end of the optical cable Each of the hollow grooves has a communication port with the hole at the other end in the groove depth direction, and the communication ports are formed by the coating unit. It is configured to be closed from the inside of the boot body.

  According to this optical cable assembly, the lightening groove, since the groove depth direction other end portion is communicated with the hole portion, thereby, to further reduce the flexural rigidity of the boot main body in a direction orthogonal to the above Can do.

  In addition, each of the lightening grooves is communicated with the hole at the other end in the groove depth direction, and the communication port with the hole of each of the lightening grooves is blocked from the inside of the boot body by the covering portion. ing. Therefore, the optical fiber core wire can be protected by preventing the optical fiber core wire from being exposed to the outside.

  As described above in detail, according to the optical connector boot of the present invention, the optical cable can be prevented from being bent in a direction other than the intended direction.

  Moreover, according to the optical cable assembly of this invention, it can suppress that the connection part of an optical cable and an optical connector is damaged.

1 is a perspective view of an optical cable assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the state which removed the slider and the boot from the optical cable assembly shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing of the optical cable shown by FIG. It is side surface sectional drawing of the optical cable assembly shown by FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of the optical cable assembly shown in FIG. 1. (A) is the perspective view seen from the front end side of the boot for optical connectors shown by FIG. 1, (B) is the perspective view seen from the rear end side of the boots for optical connectors shown by FIG. (A) is a top view of the boot for optical connectors shown by FIG. 1, (B) is a bottom view of the boot for optical connectors shown by FIG. (A) is a left side view of the optical connector boot shown in FIG. 1, and (B) is a right side view of the optical connector boot shown in FIG. (A) is a side sectional view of the optical connector boot shown in FIG. 1, (B) is a plan sectional view of the optical connector boot shown in FIG. 1, and (C) is a front sectional view of the optical connector shown in FIG. FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which bent the optical cable downward in the optical cable assembly shown by FIG. It is side surface sectional drawing of the optical cable assembly which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the optical cable shown by FIG.

[First embodiment]
First, the optical cable assembly 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In each figure, the arrow FR and the arrow RR indicate the front side and the rear side in the connection direction of the optical connector 14, respectively, and the arrow X, the arrow Y, and the arrow Z indicate that the optical connector 14 is horizontal with the counterpart optical connector. The left-right direction, the front-back direction, and the up-down direction when connected along the direction are shown.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the optical cable assembly 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes an optical cable 12, an optical connector 14, and an optical connector boot 16 as main components.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the optical cable 12 includes a support wire 18, an optical fiber core wire 20, a pair of strength members 22, and a covering material 26 (sheath). The support wire 18 is made of a steel wire, and the optical fiber core wire 20 is made of a single-core optical fiber, a multi-core tape fiber, or the like.

  The pair of strength members 22 are provided in parallel to the optical fiber core wire 20 on both sides of the optical fiber core wire 20. The covering material 26 is made of a flexible synthetic resin or the like, and integrally covers the support wire 18, the optical fiber core wire 20, and the pair of strength members 22.

  A thin portion 28 is formed in the covering material 26 between the pair of strength members 22 along the axial direction of the optical cable 12, and between the support wire 18 and one strength member 22 in the axial direction of the optical cable 12. A thin portion 30 is formed along the line. In the optical cable 12, the covering material 26 can be torn along the thin portions 28 and 30.

  Further, at the distal end side of the optical cable 12, the covering material 26 is torn along the thin-walled portion 28, so that the covering material 26 is disposed on the distal end side of one strength member 22 as shown in FIG. 5. It is separated into a covering portion 26A that covers the tensile strength portion 22A that constitutes and a covering portion 26B that covers the tensile strength portion 22B that constitutes the distal end side of the other tensile strength body 22.

  Further, at the distal end side of the optical cable 12, the coating material 26 is torn along the axial direction from the distal end of the optical cable 12 as described above, whereby the optical fiber core wire 20 is exposed from the coating material 26. That is, the distal end side of the optical cable 12 where the optical fiber core wire 20 is exposed from the covering material 26 is an exposed portion 36.

  Further, the distal ends of the pair of strength members 22 and the covering material 26 are cut and removed, and the distal ends of the optical fiber core wire 20 are projected from the distal ends of the pair of strength members 22 and the covering material 26. Furthermore, the bare fiber is exposed at the distal end side of the protruding portion of the optical fiber core wire 20 that protrudes from the distal ends of the pair of strength members 22 and the covering material 26 by removing the coating of the optical fiber core wire 20. Yes. As shown in FIG. 2, the support line 18 is cut and removed before the optical connector 14.

  The optical connector 14 is, for example, an SC type optical connector, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a ferrule 38, a plug frame 40, a fixing member 42, a spring 44, a gripping member 46, And a slider 48.

  The ferrule 38 is configured to have a fiber hole, and a bare fiber on the distal end side of the optical fiber core wire 20 is inserted into the fiber hole. The bare fiber is bonded and fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the fiber hole.

  The plug frame 40 and the fixing member 42 are formed in a cylindrical shape and are fixed to each other. The ferrule 38 is accommodated inside the plug frame 40 and the fixing member 42 so as to be movable in the axial direction, and the spring 44 is accommodated inside the plug frame 40 and the fixing member 42. Is urged toward the distal end side of the optical connector 14 with respect to the fixing member 42.

  In addition, a support portion 50 is formed on the rear end side of the fixing member 42, and the gripping member 46 is configured in an annular shape and disposed around the support portion 50.

  In the optical cable assembly 10, the distal ends of the pair of tensile strength portions 22 </ b> A and 22 </ b> B in a state where the distal end side of one tensile strength portion 22 </ b> A and the distal end side of the other tensile strength portion 22 </ b> B are disposed on both sides with respect to the support portion 50. The side is gripped by the support portion 50 and the gripping member 46 via the covering portions 26A and 26B. Thereby, the optical connector 14 is connected to the distal end side of the optical cable 12.

  A slider 48 is slidably provided outside the plug frame 40. The optical cable assembly 10 is configured such that the optical connector 14 is attached to and detached from the counterpart optical connector as the slider 48 slides.

  In the optical cable assembly 10, the distal end side 36A of the exposed portion 36 as described above is connected to the optical connector 14, the rear end 36B of the exposed portion 36 except for the optical connector 14 with the connected distal end 36A is The optical connector 14 protrudes from the rear end.

  In the optical cable assembly 10, when the optical connector 14 is connected to the counterpart optical connector along the horizontal direction, the pair of strength members 22 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) of the optical connector 14. As shown, the optical cable 12 is connected to the optical connector 14.

  The optical connector boot 16 includes a connector fixing portion 52 and a boot main body 54. The optical connector boot 16 is formed of a flexible material as a whole and has a substantially square cross section. The connector fixing portion 52 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a hole portion 56, and the inner peripheral surface of the hole portion 56 is fitted to the outer peripheral surfaces of the fixing member 42 and the gripping member 46. Thus, the optical connector boot 16 is fixed to the rear end side of the optical connector 14.

  The boot body 54 is integrally formed on the rear end side of the connector fixing portion 52. The boot main body 54 is formed in a longitudinal shape protruding from the rear end of the optical connector 14 along the axial direction of the optical connector 14, and is formed in a taper shape having a diameter reduced toward the rear end side.

  The boot main body 54 is formed with a hole 58 that communicates with the hole 56 described above along the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction). The length of the boot main body 54 in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length of the rear end side 36B of the exposed portion 36 described above, and the hole 58 of the boot main body 54 is behind the exposed portion 36 of the optical cable 12. A portion 12A including the end side 36B is inserted.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the boot body 54 includes a longitudinal direction of the boot body 54 (Y-axis direction) and a parallel direction (X-axis direction) of the pair of strength members 22 described above. A plurality of main grooves 60 are formed on both sides (upper surface 54A and lower surface 54B) with respect to the hole 58 in the orthogonal direction (first orthogonal direction / Z-axis direction) at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the boot body 54. .

  Each main groove 60 extends along the parallel direction of the pair of strength members 22 (second orthogonal direction / X-axis direction), and both ends in the longitudinal direction of the groove are the outer peripheral surfaces of the boot body 54 (side surfaces 54C and 54D on both sides). ). Each main groove 60 has one end in the groove depth direction opened at the outer peripheral surface (upper surface 54A or lower surface 54B) of the boot body 54, and the other end in the groove depth direction has an outer peripheral surface (lower surface) of the boot main body 54. 54B or upper surface 54A) and the hole 58.

  Of the plurality of main grooves 60, main grooves 60 </ b> A to 60 </ b> D formed on the front end side of the boot main body 54 have a longitudinal direction of the rear end side 36 </ b> B of the exposed portion 36 and the boot main body 54 as shown in FIG. 4. It is located within a range overlapping with (i.e., are located within in the longitudinal direction of the rear end 36B of the exposed portion 36).

  On the other hand, the main grooves 60E to 60G formed on the rear end side of the boot main body 54 among the plurality of main grooves 60 overlap with the rear end side 36B of the exposed portion 36 in the longitudinal direction of the boot main body 54. It is located outside (that is, it is located at a position away from the rear end side 36B of the exposed portion 36 in the longitudinal direction of the boot body 54).

  The main groove 60 formed on one side (upper surface 54A) with respect to the hole 58 and the main groove 60 formed on the other side (lower surface 54B) with respect to the hole 58 are aligned with the longitudinal direction of the boot body 54. Formed in position.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, on the side surfaces 54 </ b> C and 54 </ b> D on both sides of the boot body 54, the lightening grooves 62 </ b> A to 62 </ b> F are formed between the main grooves 60 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the boot body 54. In addition, a lightening groove 62G is formed on the rear end side with respect to the rearmost main groove 60G.

  Each of the lightening grooves 62 extends along a direction (Z-axis direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the boot body 54 and the parallel direction (X-axis direction) of the pair of strength members 22 described above. Both ends in the longitudinal direction of the groove are opened at the outer peripheral surface (upper surface 54A and lower surface 54B) of the boot body 54.

  In addition, each of the lightening grooves 62 is open at one end in the groove depth direction at the outer peripheral surface (side surfaces 54C and 54D) of the boot body 54 and communicates with the hole 58 at the other end in the groove depth direction. In addition, the groove depth direction other end part (bottom part) in each of the lightening grooves 62 communicates with the hole 58 as a communication port 64 at a part of the groove longitudinal direction central part.

  In this optical cable assembly 10, as shown in FIG. 5, in the state where the optical connector boot 16 is fixed to the optical connector 14, the communication port 64 with the hole 58 in each of the lightening grooves 62 is formed as described above. The pair of covering portions 26A and 26B are respectively closed from the inside of the boot main body 54.

  Further, in the optical cable assembly 10, as shown in FIG. 10, in a state where the optical cable 12 with respect to the optical connector 14 is substantially a right angle bend in the vertical direction (Z axis direction), the side of the optical cable 12 is bent The plurality of main grooves 60 positioned at the position are deformed in the closing direction.

  Further, among the plurality of main grooves 60, at least at the main grooves 60A to 60E located on the front end side of the boot main body 54, the inner walls facing each other of the main grooves 60A to 60E are brought into contact, so that the optical cable 12 is connected to the optical connector. 14 is configured to be inhibited from being bent at substantially a right angle or more.

  The optical connector boot 16 is made of, for example, a resin material having a flexural modulus of 100 MPa or more and a hardness of Shore hardness 55 or more.

  Next, the operation and effect of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  According to the optical cable assembly 10, the boot body 54 of the optical connector boot 16 has a hole in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) when the optical connector 14 is connected to the counterpart optical connector along the horizontal direction. A plurality of main grooves 60 are formed on both sides with respect to 58 at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the boot body 54.

  Each main groove 60 extends along the parallel direction (X-axis direction) of the pair of strength members 22, and both ends in the groove longitudinal direction and one end in the groove depth direction are the outer peripheral surfaces of the boot body 54 (side surfaces 54 </ b> C on both sides). , 54D and upper surface 54A or lower surface 54B).

  Therefore, since the bending rigidity of the boot body 54 in the vertical direction is reduced by the plurality of main grooves 60, the optical cable 12 inserted through the boot body 54 can be bent in the vertical direction.

  On the other hand, the other end of each of the plurality of main grooves 60 is terminated between the outer peripheral surface (the lower surface 54B or the upper surface 54A) of the boot body 54 and the hole 58. Accordingly, since the flexural rigidity of the boot body 54 in the parallel direction (X axis direction) of the pair of strength members 22 is ensured, bending an optical cable 12 which is inserted into the boot body 54 is in parallel direction of the pair of strength members 22 It can be suppressed.

  Thus, according to the optical cable assembly 10, it is possible to suppress the optical cable 12 from being bent in a direction other than the vertical direction that is the intended direction, that is, in the parallel direction (left-right direction) of the pair of strength members 22. it can. Thus, it is possible to prevent the connection between the cable 12 and the optical connector 14 (in particular, a pair of tensile strength portions 22A, 22B is the part held by the fixed member 42 and the gripping member 46) is damaged.

  The boot body 54 is formed with a plurality of lightening grooves 62, and the bending rigidity of the boot body 54 in the vertical direction is further reduced by the plurality of lightening grooves 62.

  That is, as described above, when the other end in the groove depth direction of the main groove 60 is terminated between the outer peripheral surface and the hole 58, the dimension L between the main grooves 60 in the vertical direction (FIG. 9C As a result, the bending rigidity in the vertical direction of the boot body 54 is increased. However, by forming the lightening grooves 62 on the side surfaces 54C and 54D of the boot body 54, the vertical direction of the boot body 54 is increased. The bending stiffness at is reduced. Therefore, the optical cable 12 inserted through the boot body 54 can be bent more easily in the vertical direction.

  Further, each of the lightening grooves 62 is communicated with the hole 58 at the other end portion in the groove depth direction, whereby the bending rigidity in the vertical direction of the boot body 54 can be further reduced.

  In addition, as described above, the plurality of main grooves 60 have the other end in the groove depth direction terminated between the outer peripheral surface and the hole 58. Accordingly, the optical fiber core wire 20 can be protected by preventing the optical fiber core wire 20 from being exposed to the outside.

  Further, each of the lightening grooves 62 is communicated with the hole 58 at the other end in the groove depth direction. The communication port 64 with the hole 58 of each of the lightening grooves 62 is formed by the covering portions 26A and 26B. The boot body 54 is closed from the inside. Accordingly, the optical fiber core wire 20 can be protected by preventing the optical fiber core wire 20 from being exposed to the outside.

  Next, a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the above-described embodiment, the optical connector 14 is an SC type optical connector as an example, but may be another type of single-core optical connector or multi-fiber optical connector.

  Moreover, although the optical connector boot 16 is formed in a substantially square shape in cross section, it may be formed in a substantially circular shape in cross section.

  The length of the boot body 54 in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length of the rear end side 36B of the exposed portion 36, but may be the same as the length of the rear end side 36B of the exposed portion 36.

  Moreover, although the groove depth direction other end part of all the main grooves 60 was terminated between the outer peripheral surface and the hole 58, the rear end side 36B of the exposed part 36 and the boot body among the plurality of main grooves 60. 54, only the main grooves 60A to 60D in the overlapping range in the longitudinal direction are terminated at the other end in the groove depth direction between the outer peripheral surface and the hole 58, and the other main grooves 60E to 60G are The other end in the groove depth direction may communicate with the hole 58.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the optical cable assembly 110 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  An optical cable assembly 110 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes an optical cable 112 (optical cord), an optical connector 14, and an optical connector boot 16 as main components. In addition, about the optical connector 14 and the optical connector boot 16, it is set as the structure similar to the structure in 1st embodiment of the above-mentioned this invention.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the optical cable 112 includes an optical fiber core 120, a covering material 126 (sheath) that accommodates the optical fiber core wire 120, and the optical fiber core wire 120 and the covering material 126. The strength member 122 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the optical fiber core wire 120 and the strength member 122 are exposed from the distal end of the covering material 126 by cutting and removing the covering material 126 at the distal end side of the optical cable 112. That is, the exposed portion 136 is the distal end side of the optical cable 112 where the optical fiber core wire 120 and the tensile body 122 are exposed from the distal end of the covering material 126.

  Further, on the distal end side of the exposed portion of the optical fiber core wire 120 exposed from the distal end of the covering material 126, the bare fiber is exposed by removing the coating. The bare fiber is inserted into the fiber holes formed in the ferrule 38, and is bonded and fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the fiber holes.

  In the optical cable assembly 110, the strength member 122 exposed from the tip of the covering material 126 is separated into a pair of strength portions 122 A and 122 B, and the pair of strength portions 122 A and 122 B are disposed on both sides of the support portion 50. Has been. In this state, the pair of tensile strength portions 122 </ b> A and 122 </ b> B is gripped by the support portion 50 and the gripping member 46, so that the optical connector 14 is connected to the distal end side of the optical cable 112.

  In FIG. 11, for easy understanding, the pair of tensile strength portions 122A and 122B are illustrated as being shifted in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). However, in the optical cable assembly 110, When the optical connector 14 is connected to the counterpart optical connector along the horizontal direction, the pair of tensile strength portions 122A and 122B are arranged side by side in the left-right direction of the optical connector 14 (the above-described X-axis direction). The optical cable 112 is connected to the optical connector 14.

  In the optical cable assembly 110, the front end side 136A of the exposed portion 136 is connected to the optical connector 14 as described above, and the rear end side 136B of the exposed portion 136 excluding the front end side 136A connected to the optical connector 14 is The optical connector 14 protrudes from the rear end. A portion 112 </ b> A including the rear end side 136 </ b> B of the exposed portion 136 in the optical cable 112 is inserted into the hole 58 of the boot main body 54.

  Similarly to the optical cable assembly 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, the optical cable assembly 110 includes the optical connector boot 16, so that the optical cable 112 is in a direction other than the vertical direction, which is the intended direction, That is, it is possible to prevent the pair of tensile strength portions 122A and 122B from being bent in the parallel direction (left-right direction). Thereby, it is possible to suppress damage to the connecting portion between the optical cable 112 and the optical connector 14 (particularly, the portion where the pair of tensile strength portions 122A and 122B are gripped by the fixing member 42 and the gripping member 46).

  The boot body 54 is formed with a plurality of lightening grooves 62, and the bending rigidity of the boot body 54 in the vertical direction is further reduced by the plurality of lightening grooves 62. Therefore, the optical cable 112 inserted through the boot main body 54 can be bent more easily in the vertical direction.

  Each of the lightening grooves 62 has a communication port 64 that communicates with the hole 58, but the communication port 64 does not need to be formed large in order to reduce the bending rigidity of the boot body 54 in the vertical direction, and is formed small. Has been. Therefore, even if the communication port 64 is formed, the protection effect of the optical fiber core wire 120 can be maintained.

  As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention and its modification were demonstrated, this invention is not limited above, In addition to the above, it implements various deformation | transformation within the range which does not deviate from the main point. Of course, it is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,110 Optical cable assembly 12,112 Optical cable 14 Optical connector 16 Optical connector boot 18 Support line 20,120 Optical fiber core wire 22,122 Tensile member 22A, 22B, 122A, 122B Tensile part 26,126 Coating material 26A, 26B Coating Portions 36 and 136 Exposed portions 36A and 136A Exposed portion tip side 36B and 136B Exposed portion rear end side 54 Boot body 54A Upper surface (outer peripheral surface)
54B Lower surface (outer peripheral surface)
54C, 54D Side (outer peripheral surface)
58 Hole 60 Main groove 62 Meat removal groove 64 Communication port

Claims (6)

An optical connector boot fixed to a rear end side of an optical connector connected to a front end side of an optical cable,
The optical connector is formed in a longitudinal shape protruding from the rear end of the optical connector along the axial direction of the optical connector, and has a hole portion through which the optical cable is inserted, and is formed of a flexible material. A boot body made of
The boot body extends along the second orthogonal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and the first orthogonal direction on both sides of the hole in the first orthogonal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the boot body. A plurality of main grooves having both ends in the groove longitudinal direction and one end in the groove depth direction opened in the outer peripheral surface of the boot body are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction,
The main groove located at least on the front end side of the boot body among the plurality of main grooves has a groove depth direction other end portion terminated between the outer peripheral surface and the hole portion,
Boots for optical connectors. The boot body extends along the first orthogonal direction at least between the main grooves adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction, and both ends in the groove longitudinal direction and one end in the groove depth direction are on the outer peripheral surface of the boot body. Each of which has an open meat groove,
The optical connector boot according to claim 1. Each of the lightening grooves is communicated with the hole at the other end in the groove depth direction.
The optical connector boot according to claim 2. The optical fiber core wire is exposed from a coating material covering the optical fiber core wire and the tensile strength body, and the strength body is separated into a plurality of strength portions at least in an exposed range of the optical fiber core wire from the coating material. An optical cable having an exposed portion on the tip side;
An optical connector connected to the tip side of the exposed portion;
A boot for an optical connector fixed to a rear end side of the optical connector;
With
The optical connector boot is formed in a longitudinal shape protruding from the rear end of the optical connector along the axial direction of the optical connector, and a portion including at least the rear end side of the exposed portion of the optical cable is inserted. Having a boot body formed of a flexible material,
The boot body extends along the parallel direction on both sides of the hole in the longitudinal direction of the boot body and in the direction orthogonal to the parallel direction of the pair of strength members, and both longitudinal ends of the groove and the groove depth. A plurality of main grooves having one end in the length direction opened at the outer peripheral surface of the boot body are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction,
Among the plurality of main grooves, the main groove in a range overlapping at least the rear end side of the exposed portion in the longitudinal direction has a groove depth direction other end between the outer peripheral surface and the hole portion. Terminated,
Optical cable assembly. The boot body extends along the orthogonal direction at least between the main grooves adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction, and both ends in the groove longitudinal direction and one end in the groove depth direction are opened in the outer peripheral surface of the boot body. Each of the cut-out grooves are formed,
The optical cable assembly according to claim 4. The exposed portions each have a pair of covering portions that are formed by covering the tensile strength portions and the covering material is torn along the axial direction from the tip of the optical cable,
Each of the lightening grooves has a communication port with the hole at the other end in the groove depth direction,
Each communication port is closed from the inside of the boot main body by the covering portion.
The optical cable assembly according to claim 5.

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