JPH025009A - Optical connector locking tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability and to prevent erroneous detachment at the time of attaching and detaching a plug by forming 1st - 3rd links and 5th - 7th links in symmetry while putting a 4th link between them. CONSTITUTION:The 1st - 3rd links 11 - 13 and the 5th - 7th links 15 - 17 are formed in symmetry while putting the 4th link between them. The 1nd and the 6th links 12 and 16 are moved toward the plug while respectively locking 1st and 7th locking parts are with the projection 3 of an adapter 30. While fitting the rear edge side of a housing for the plug to the rotation preventing part of a 4th frame, the rear edge surface of the housing is made to abut on the plug fixed part of the 4th frame. And the relative movement of the 2nd and the 3rd links 12 and 13 or the 5th and the 6th links 15 and 16 is checked by a link fixing mechanism or a link fixture. Thus, the plug 40 can be easily and surely locked with the adapter and easily detached therefrom. The locking of the optical connector can be accomplished without exceeding the dimension which is important at the time of packaging the optical connector.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an optical connector locking tool used to prevent accidental disconnection of an optical connector that connects an adapter and a plug using a non-rotating fastening method. It is.

(Prior Art) Optical connectors employing a non-rotating fastening method do not use fastening mechanisms such as screws, and therefore have the advantage that there is less risk of loosening.

Typical conventional optical connectors of this type are:
As shown in FIG. 2, there is a rectangular cylindrical housing 3 in which a rectangular opening 2 is formed, and on the upper and lower surfaces of both ends of the housing 3, the housing 3 extends in the direction of both ends of the housing 3 and is engaged with the tip portion. An adapter 1 having a cantilever-shaped elastic locking piece 4 on which a locking claw 4a is formed, a housing 6 having a rectangular outer diameter to be inserted into the opening 2 of the adapter 1, and upper and lower portions of the housing 6. A plug 5 having a recess 6a formed on the outer surface and locking the locking claw 4a of the elastic locking piece 4.
The plug 5 is slidably mounted on the outer surface of the housing 6 of the plug 5 back and forth, and the opening 8 allows the locking pawl 4a of the elastic locking piece 4 to pass through, and the elastic locking piece 4 of the adapter 1 when retracting. It is known that the sliding frame 7 includes a convex portion 7a and a concave portion 7b for releasing the locking between the locking pawl 4a and the concave portion 6a of the plug 5 by pressing the peripheral portion of the plug outward. (See Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1987-78507).

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, in the above-mentioned optical connector, although the mounting density of the optical fiber cord, the operability when attaching and detaching the plug 5, and the economic efficiency of the optical connector have been improved, the high-density mounting state still remains. There is a problem that the plug 5 may be accidentally removed during work, and prevention of accidental removal of the plug 5 is still insufficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector locking tool that allows a plug to be securely locked to an adapter with good operability, and that prevents the plug from being accidentally disconnected when the plug is attached or detached. .

(Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve the above object, claim (1) provides an adapter in which two axially symmetrical protrusions are provided on the outer periphery of the end side opening, and a In an optical connector locking tool for locking a plug that is non-rotationally fastened with a housing provided with a hood having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the end face inserted into the opening, the protrusion of the adapter First and seventh links formed with locking portions, second and third links formed on at least one side with a link fixing mechanism for restraining relative movement of each other, and similarly formed. a plug fixing part in which a hood through-hole into which the hood of the plug is inserted is formed in the center thereof, and a rear end of the housing of the plug at the peripheral edge of the plug fixing part. A fourth link provided with a rotation prevention portion to be fitted, and a fourth link that connects each link in the order of the first to seventh links, and allows movement only in the rotational direction with respect to one link parallel to each other. the first to sixth hinges, and the first to third links and the fifth to seventh links are connected to the fourth hinge.
The shape is symmetrical across the links.

Moreover, in claim (2), a link fixture for suppressing relative movement of the second and third links or the fifth and sixth links is separately provided.

Furthermore, in claim (3), the fourth link of the optical connector locking device according to claim (1) or claim (2) has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the optical fiber cord and that reaches the hood penetration hole from the outer surface. A fiber cord slit having a width was formed.

(Function) According to claim (1) or claim (2), the optical fiber cord is passed through the hood through-hole in advance, and the optical fiber cord is inserted into the optical fiber with the adapter and the plug of the optical connector non-rotatably fastened. 1
and the seventh locking portion are respectively locked to the protrusions of the adapter. In this state, by moving the second and sixth links in the direction of the plug, the rear end side of the housing of the plug is fitted into the rotation prevention part of the fourth frame, and the rear end surface of the housing is further moved toward the plug of the fourth frame. The plug is locked to the adapter by bringing it into contact with the fixed part and by suppressing the relative movement of the second and third links or the fifth and sixth links by a link fixing mechanism or a link fixing device. be able to.

Furthermore, according to claim (3), the optical connector locking tool can be easily attached, removed, and replaced by inserting and removing the optical fiber cord from the hood through-hole through the fiber cord slit.

(Example) Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the optical connector locking tool according to the present invention, and Fig. 1 (a) shows the optical connector locking tool according to the embodiment of Section 1 in a non-rotating type. A partially cutaway side view showing the state in which it is attached to a fastening type optical connector, Figure 1 (b) is the first
Figure (a) is a plan view, Figure 1 (c) is Figure 1 (a),
It is a figure which shows the state in which the plug was removed from (b). In the figure, 10 is an optical connector locking tool, 30 is an adapter, 4
0 is a plug.

The optical connector locking tool 10 is manufactured by molding resin, and includes plate-shaped first to seventh links 11 to 17 and first to sixth hinges 18 to 23 that connect these links.
The first to sixth hinges 18 to 23 are shown in FIG. 1(a).
Only the movement in the rotational direction about the axis perpendicular to the plane is the first
-Allowed to seventh links 11-17. Locking holes 11a and 17a are formed in the first and seventh links 11 and 17, respectively, to lock two protrusions 31 in an abbreviated shape provided axially symmetrically on the outer circumference of the adapter 30. .

Further, the second and third links 12 and 13 are provided with a second link, which is made of an elastic member such as resin, as a link fixing mechanism to suppress relative movement between the two.
A link fixing protrusion 13a is provided on the second link 12 and consists of a narrow diameter portion 13b slightly longer than the plate thickness of the link 12 and a large diameter tip 1.3c. The large diameter tip 1 is wider than the small diameter part 13b of 13a.
A link fixing hole 12a having a hole diameter smaller than 3c is provided at a position corresponding to the link fixing protrusion], 3a.

In such a link fixing mechanism, the second link 1
2, the third link 13 is approached from the clockwise direction by the second hinge 19, and by applying a constant force F or more in that direction, the large diameter tip 13C is elastically deformed,
By passing the link fixing protrusion 13a through the link fixing hole 12a and creating the state shown in FIG.
The relative movement of the third link 12 and the third link 13 is suppressed. On the other hand, by pushing open the second link 12 and the third link 13 with a force F' in a direction opposite to the force F described above, the link fixing state is released.

Similarly, the fifth link 15 is provided with a link fixing protrusion 15a having the same material and shape as the link fixing protrusion 13a of the third link 13, and the sixth link 16 is provided with a link fixing protrusion 15a of the same shape as the link fixing protrusion 13a of the third link 13. A link fixing hole 16a having the same shape as the fixing hole 12a is provided.

Furthermore, the fourth link 14 has a plug 4 in its center.
larger than the diameter of the hood 42 of 0, and the housing 41
A hood through-hole 14 having a diameter that does not allow the rear end to pass through.
The plug fixing part 14b in which a is formed, and the plug fixing part 1
The housing 41 of the plug 40 is formed on the peripheral edge of the plug 4b.
A rotation prevention portion 14c in the form of an enclosure is provided to which the rear end portion of the rotation prevention portion 14c is fitted.

As mentioned above, the first to seventh links 11 to 17 are
The first to third links 11 to 13 with the link 14 in between
The fifth to seventh links 15 to 17 have the same mechanism and symmetrical shape.

Next, a method for selecting the lengths of the first to seventh links 11 to 17 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 1(C), without fastening the plug 40 to the adapter 30, the locking holes 11a and 17a of the first and seventh links 11 and 17 are inserted into the two protrusions 31 of the adapter 30. , the front ends (left side in the figure) of the locking holes 11a and 17a are brought into contact with the protrusion 31, and this contact portion (two points) is assumed to be a fixed end. Based on this assumption, the second and sixth links 12.16 and the third and fifth links 1315 are moved symmetrically with the fourth link 14 in between, so that the fourth link]4 is moved to the leftmost position in the figure. The distance from the tip of the adapter 30 (on the right side in the figure, hereinafter referred to as reference plane A) to the plug fixing part 14b of the fourth link 14 when it reaches the state (hereinafter referred to as bottom dead center) Let it be Ll. In FIG. 1(a), assuming that the distance from the reference plane A to the rear end surface of the housing 41 of the plug 40 is L2, the relationship between L1 and L2 is LL = L2 or Ll is slightly shorter than L2. Select link length.

Also, when the fourth link 14 reaches the bottom dead center, the link fixing protrusions 13a are inserted into the link fixing holes 12a and 16a.
The positions of the link fixing holes 12a, 16a and the link fixing protrusions 13a, 15a are selected so that the link fixing holes 12a, 16a and the link fixing protrusions 13a, 15a penetrate through the link fixing holes 12a, 16a, respectively.

Next, the procedure for attaching and locking the optical connector locking tool 10 according to the embodiment of the bookcase 1 having the structure described in "1" to the optical connector and its effects will be explained based on FIG. 3.

First, the optical fiber sheet 50 is passed through the hood through-hole 14a of the optical connector locking tool 10, and the plug 40 is assembled. Next, with the adapter 30 and the plug 40 connected, the second link 12 and the sixth link are connected as shown in FIG.
Open the links 16 outward (in the figure, the second link 12 is upward and the sixth link 16 is downward), and
The locking holes 11a and 17a of the link 1117 of the adapter 3
0 to the two protrusions 31 respectively.

At this time, since the link fixing protrusions 13a and 15a are not fixed in the link fixing holes 12a and 16a, due to the nature of the link mechanism, the distance L3 from the reference plane A to the plug fixing part 14b is the same as the reference plane. The distance L2 from A to the rear end surface of the housing 41 of the plug 40 has a relationship of L2<L3. As a result, the fourth link 14 is located rearward (on the right side in the figure) from the rear end surface of the housing 41, and a gap is created between the plug fixing portion 11b and the rear end surface of the housing 41, so that the fourth link 14 is not engaged with the protrusion 31 of the adapter 30. Stop hole 11, a, 1
．． 7a can be easily locked.

Subsequently, after passing the hood 42 of the plug 40 through the hood penetration hole 14a of the fourth link [4], while fitting the rear end side of the housing 41 into the rotation prevention part 14c, the plug fixing part 1 is inserted.
4b comes into contact with the rear end surface of the /'% housing 41,
The second link 12 and the sixth link 16 are inside (in the figure, the second link 12 is downward and the sixth link 16 is upward)
When the fourth link 14 finally reaches the bottom dead center, the plug 40 is engaged with the adapter 30 by passing the link fixing protrusions 13a and 15a through the link fixing holes 12a and 16a, respectively. Stopping is completed.

As described above, in the optical connector locking tool 10 in the embodiment of the bookcase 1, when the plug 40 is not locked, the distance L3 from the reference surface A to the plug fixing part 14b and the reference surface A
Distance L from to the rear end surface of the housing 4 of the plug 40
Since the relationship between L2 and L3 is L2<L3, it is possible to attach and detach the adapter to the adapter 30.

On the other hand, when the plug 40 is locked, the fourth link 1
4 has reached the bottom dead center, so the entire link is stable, and the second and third links 12 and 13, and the fifth and sixth links 15 and 16 are linked with the link fixing protrusions 13a and 15a. Fixing hole 12a.

The fourth link 14 does not move because it is fixed by the link fixing mechanism 16a and its relative movement is suppressed. Furthermore, even if an external force is applied to pull out the plug 40 from the outside of the first, second, sixth, and seventh links 11, 12, 16, and 17 (in the vertical direction in FIG. 1(a)), the plug No force is directly applied to 40. Furthermore, even if an external force is directly applied to the plug 40 from the side surface of the plug 40 (vertical direction in FIG. 1(b)), the optical connector locking tool 10 is locked and fixed to the adapter 30, so that the external force will not be applied. can be resisted. Even if a twisting force is applied to the optical connector locking tool]0, the rear end side of the nose ring 41 is fitted into the rotation prevention part 14c, and the inner wall of the rotation prevention part 14C and the rear end side surface of the nose ring 41 are connected to the rotation prevention part 14c. Since they are in contact with each other, rotation of the locking tool 10 itself can be prevented. Therefore, the optical connector locking tool 10 connects the plug 40 to the adapter 3.
0, and can prevent the plug 40 from accidentally coming off.

From the above, the optical connector locking tool 10 in the embodiment of the bookcase 1 has the following effects.

■ Nature of link mechanism and link fixing protrusions 13a, 15a and link fixing holes 12a, 16
By using a, the second link 12 and the sixth link 16 or the adapter 30 can be easily attached and detached.

(2) Because of the simple shape and mechanism, the optical connector can be locked without exceeding the dimensions important for mounting the optical connector consisting of the adapter 30 and the plug 40, and the mounting density of the optical connector will not be reduced.

- The plug 40 can be attached to and detached from the adapter 30 and the plug 30 can be locked at the rear of the plug 40, providing good operability.

■Since the shape is simple and does not require special precision, it can be manufactured by resin molding, and because the number of parts is small, it is highly mass-producible and economical.

In the embodiment of Section 1, the link fixing protrusion is attached to the second link 12 or the sixth link 16, and the link fixing hole is attached to the third link 13 or the fifth link 15.
It goes without saying that the link fixing protrusion and the link fixing hole may be provided near the third hinge 20 and the fourth hinge 21.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the optical connector locking device according to the present invention, and FIG. 4(a) shows the optical connector locking device according to the embodiment of Section 2. Fig. 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing the state in which it is attached to the optical connector of the system.
b) is a plan view of FIG. 4(a). The difference between the embodiment of this section 2 and the first embodiment is that the link fixing protrusions 13a, 15a and the link fixing holes i2a, 1, which are the link fixing mechanism of the optical connector locking device 10 in the first embodiment, are different from each other.
6a, the second link 12 and the sixth link 16
A link fixture protrusion 12b having a cylindrical base and a hemispherical tip on the outer surface of each of the link fixture protrusions 12b.

16b, and furthermore, a rectangular cylindrical link fixture 60 is separately provided in order to fix the link.

This link fixture 60 has protrusion holding slits 61 formed at two opposing positions on the side surface. The width of the projection holding slit 61 is the same as that of the link fixing tool projection 12.
The opening 61.b is narrower than the diameter of the hemispherical tip of 16b and wider than the diameter of the cylindrical portion. a, a constricted portion 61b whose width is slightly narrower than the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the link fixture protrusions 12b and 16b, and a holding portion 61c.

The optical connector locking device according to the embodiment of Section 2 having such a structure], the Oa can be attached and locked to the optical connector by closing the second link 12 and the sixth link 16 inward and attaching the plug fixing part. 14b is brought into contact with the rear end surface of the housing 41 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and then the link fixture 60 is inserted into the opening 61a of the protrusion holding slit 61.
is inserted into the optical connector locking tool 10b toward the link fixture protrusions 12b and 16b, and with a constant pushing force,
Locking of the plug 40 is completed by allowing the cylindrical portions of the link fixture protrusions 12b and 16b to pass through the constricted portion 61b of the protrusion holding slit 61 and holding the plug 40 in the holding portion 61c.

According to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment/example, the link is fixed using a link fixing device 60 provided separately from the optical connector locking device 10a, so that Compared to the optical connector locking tool 10 according to the embodiment, the optical connector can be locked more firmly, and the plug can be more reliably prevented from being accidentally removed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the optical connector locking device according to the present invention. The optical connector locking device 10b according to the embodiment of Section 3 reaches the hood through hole 14a from the outer surface of the fourth link 4 of the optical connector locking device 10 according to the first embodiment, and the optical fiber cord 50 The fiber cord slit 70 is formed to have a width W slightly larger than the diameter of the optical fiber cord 50 (see FIG. 1(a)) so that the fiber cord can freely pass through. Therefore, this fiber cord slit 70 allows the optical connector locking tool 10b to be attached to and removed from the optical fiber cord on which the plug 40 has already been assembled.

As described above, the optical connector locking part 10b in the embodiment of Section 3 can be easily replaced even if the optical connector locking tool 10b is damaged and cannot perform its function, and can be easily replaced with an existing optical connector. Optical connector locking tool 1
It is possible to install 0b. Therefore, the optical connector locking tool 10b according to the embodiment of Section 3 has improved operability in comparison with the optical connector locking tool according to the first embodiment.

It goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if the fiber cord slit 70 shown in the third embodiment is provided in the optical connector locking tool according to the second embodiment.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to claim (1), by applying it to a non-rotating fastening type optical connector, the plug can be easily and reliably locked to the adapter, and the plug can be easily and reliably locked to the adapter. can be easily attached and detached.

Furthermore, since the structure and mechanism are simple, the optical connector can be locked without exceeding dimensions important for optical connector mounting, and the optical connector mounting density is not reduced. Furthermore, since the adapter can be attached to and removed from the adapter and the plug can be locked at the rear of the plug, it is easy to operate. Furthermore, since the shape is simple and does not require special precision, it can be manufactured by molding resin or the like, and the number of parts is small. Therefore, there is an advantage that an optical connector locking tool that can prevent erroneous disconnection during plug attachment/detachment work can be realized in a small and economical manner.

Further, according to claim (2), in addition to the effect of claim (1), there is an advantage that the optical connector can be more firmly locked, and the plug can be more reliably prevented from being accidentally disconnected.

Furthermore, according to claim (3), in addition to the effects of claim (1) or claim (2), even if the optical connector locking device is damaged, it can be easily replaced and the existing optical connector can be easily replaced. Since it can be easily attached and detached from the device, operability can be further improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the optical connector locking tool according to the present invention, and FIG. 1(a) shows the optical connector locking tool according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1(b) is a partially cutaway side view showing the state in which it is attached to the
Fig. 1(c) is a plan view of Fig. 1(c) with the plug removed from Fig. 1(a), Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a conventional optical connector, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1(c) with the plug removed from Fig. 1(a). FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the procedure for attaching and locking the optical connector locking tool according to the first embodiment to the optical connector, and FIG. 4 shows the second embodiment of the optical connector locking tool according to the present invention. Figure 4(a) shows the bookcase 2
FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state in which the optical connector locking tool according to the embodiment is attached to a non-rotating fastening type optical connector; FIG.
FIG. 5(b) is a plan view of FIG. 4(a), and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the optical connector locking device according to the present invention. In the figure, 10, 10a, 10b... optical connector locking tool,
11 to 17...1st to 7th links, 1la17a・
... Locking hole, 12a, 16a ... Link fixing hole, 1
2b, 16b...Protrusion for link fixture, 13a, 15
a...Link fixing protrusion, 14a...hood through hole,
14b...Plug fixing part, 14c...Rotation prevention part,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 18-23... 1st - 6th hinge, 30... Adapter, 31... Protrusion, 40... Plug, 41... Housing, 42... Hood, 50... Optical fiber cord,
60...Link fixture, 70...Slit for fiber cord. Patent Applicant Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation Agent Patent Attorney Yoshi 1) Takashi Sei (b) Second implementation of the present invention! 'IE diagram 1 Figure 4

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) For an adapter that has two axially symmetrical protrusions on the outer periphery of the opening on one end side, insert a housing that has a hood on the rear end surface that has an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the rear end surface into the opening. In the optical connector locking tool for locking a plug that is non-rotatably fastened in a state of
and a seventh link, second and third links each having a link fixing mechanism formed on at least one of them for restraining relative movement of each other, and fifth and sixth links formed in the same manner, and the center. A plug fixing part in which a hood through-hole into which the hood of the plug is inserted is formed, and a rotation preventing part in which a rear end of the housing of the plug is fitted to the peripheral edge of the plug fixing part. connecting each link in the order of the fourth link and the first to seventh links;
first to sixth hinges that allow movement only in the rotational direction about one axis parallel to each other, the first to third links and the fifth to seventh links, and the fourth link An optical connector locking tool characterized by being sandwiched to form a symmetrical shape. (2) The optical connector locking device according to claim (1), further comprising a link fixing device for suppressing relative movement of the second and third links or the fifth and sixth links. (3) The fourth link is provided with a fiber cord slit that reaches the hood through-hole from the outer surface and has a width larger than the diameter of the optical fiber cord. Optical connector locking tool.