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BR-102024018051-A2 - Optical adapter for linear connection between two optical connectors.

BR102024018051A2BR 102024018051 A2BR102024018051 A2BR 102024018051A2BR-102024018051-A2

Abstract

Optical connectors (C) comprise a tubular housing (10) having one end coupled to a protective element (40) of an optical cable (CO) and an opposite end coupled to a tubular ferrule (30) having a free end portion (31) with a cross-section reduced by a flat wall (33) and provided with at least one longitudinal end slot (34). The optical adapter (A) comprises a tubular body (50) with ends provided with an internal thread (51) into which an external end thread (21) of a fixing sleeve (20) of an optical connector (C) is engaged, the tubular body (50) incorporating internally two positioning ridges (52), each being seated against the flat wall (33) of a respective optical connector (C), and also tabs (53), each being fitted into a longitudinal end slot (34) of an optical connector (CO).

Inventors

  • NICOLAS CHUNG
  • Marcela CARNEIRO LOPES

Assignees

  • LIGHTERA LATAM S.A

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20240902

Claims (8)

  1. 1. Optical adapter for linear connection between two optical connectors of the type comprising a tubular housing (10) that externally carries a fixing sleeve (20) having an external end thread (21), said tubular housing (10) having one end coupled to a tubular ferrule (30) and an opposite end coupled to a protective element (40) receiving an optical cable (CO), the tubular ferrule (30) having a free end portion (31) housing a ferrule (32) and having a cross-section reduced by a flat wall (33), recessed and secant to the contour of the tubular ferrule (30) and laterally provided with at least one longitudinal end slot (34), the optical adapter (A) being characterized by comprising a tubular body (50) in a single piece and with opposite ends each provided with an end annular edge (50a) from which extends an internal thread (51) into which the external end thread (21) of the fixing sleeve is engaged. (20) of an optical connector (C), the tubular body (50) incorporating, radially and internally, two positioning projections (52) seated, each, against a longitudinal extension of the flat wall (33) of the free end portion (31) of the tubular tip (30) of a respective optical connector (C), radially locking the tubular tip inside the tubular body (50), and also at least two tabs (53), each being fitted into a respective longitudinal end slot (34) of the free end portion (31) of the tubular tip (30) of a respective optical connector (CO), rotationally locking the tubular tip (30) in the tubular body (50).
  2. 2. Optical adapter, according to claim 1, characterized in that the two positioning protrusions (52) are radially opposed to each other.
  3. 3. Optical adapter, according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the tabs (53) are arranged in a plane orthogonal to the plane in which the positioning protrusions (52) are arranged.
  4. 4. Optical adapter, according to claim 3, characterized in that two radially opposed tabs (53) are provided for each optical connector (C), said tabs (53) being fitted into respective extreme longitudinal slots (34) of the free end portion (31) of the tubular tip (30) of a respective optical connector (CO).
  5. 5. Optical adapter, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each positioning protrusion (52) comprises at least two radial fins (52a), parallel to each other and having a longitudinal edge (52b) that is seated against a respective extension of the flat wall (33) of the free end portion (31) of the tubular tip (30) of a respective optical connector (C).
  6. 6. Optical adapter, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the axial extension of the internal threads (51) of the tubular body (50) is greater than the axial extension of the external end thread (21) of the fixing sleeve (20) of each optical connector (C), said external end thread (21) having its end of travel defined by a peripheral projection (22) externally incorporated into the fixing sleeve (20) and which is axially seated against the respective and confronting end annular edge (50a) of the tubular body (50), defining the extension of each optical connector (C) that is fitted inside the tubular body (50).
  7. 7. Optical adapter, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the tubular body (50) incorporates, externally and medially, an annular flange (54) and, next to one face of the latter, an external thread (55), the face of the annular flange (54), facing the external thread (55), being seated against an opposing face of a support element (60) provided with a through hole (61) through which the tubular body (50) is disposed, the latter being fixed to the support element (60) by a nut (56) mounted on the external thread (55) and pressable against a sealing washer (57) seated against an opposing face of the support element (60) opposite to that against which the annular flange (54) is seated.
  8. 8. Optical adapter, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it further comprises a cap (70), in the form of a threaded plug, to be fitted to the internal thread (51) of a respective end of the tubular body (50), while still lacking optical connectors (C).

Description

Field of invention [001] The present invention relates to an optical adapter to enable, by means of a simple construction and using a single-piece body, a direct and secure connection between two optical connectors of multi-fiber networks, positionable in outdoor environments subject to inclement weather, the adapter being designed to eliminate the need for junction boxes in situations where only the provision of signal continuity is required in the deployment of an optical channel to serve more distant customers. Background of the invention [002] Different constructive solutions are known in the state of the art to provide a direct and linear optical connection between two optical connectors adapted to the end of a respective single-fiber or multi-fiber optical cable extension, avoiding the need for the connection between optical cable extensions to be made inside a junction or termination box. [003] A well-known adapter design is described in US patent 9,739,951. Although it allows direct linear coupling between two reinforced connectors for outdoor applications, this known solution has some drawbacks related to a multi-piece body, preventing constructive simplicity and ensuring that the optical connectors have a large part of their axial length securely fitted inside a respective portion of the adapter body, thus hindering the desired greater rigidity in the assembly and a better optical connection between the ferrules of the two optical connectors. Another drawback of this solution stems from the constructive complexity of the means provided inside the adapter body to guarantee correct and stable alignment between the ferrules of the two optical connectors. An additional deficiency of this adapter is that its body lacks means to allow for easy, watertight adaptation through an environment-dividing structure such as, for example, an optical termination/branching box wall. [004] Another known solution can be seen in document US 7,744,288 B2. This solution presents the same drawbacks of multiple parts in the formation of the adapter device body, reduced axial fit of the connectors inside the adapter, complex internal alignment means, and lack of adaptation means in partition structures. Similar deficiencies are also found in the solutions proposed in documents US 7,762,726 B2 and WO 2020167779 A1. Summary of the invention [005] Due to the limitations and drawbacks of known construction solutions, the present invention aims to provide an optical adapter to be applied in the direct linear optical connection between two optical connectors, reinforced or not, and which has a tubular body, in a single piece, housing and retaining, inside and through a simple construction, at least 1/3 of the length of each of the two optical connectors that then have the extreme interfaces of the respective ferrules axially aligned by means of protrusions and tabs that are radially and internally incorporated into the tubular body of the optical adapter, avoiding relative movements of the optical connectors and preserving the critical interface between the respective ferrules, to guarantee the continuity of the optical signal with reduced performance loss. [006] In addition to the above characteristics, the optical adapter in question also has its tubular body incorporating, externally and medially, means to allow its watertight fixation through a through hole provided in a support element, such as a termination or branch optical box wall. Brief description of the drawings [007] The invention will be described below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of example of a possible embodiment of the optical adapter and in which: [008] Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the optical adapter in question; [009] Figure 2 represents a partial, longitudinally cut perspective view of the tubular body of the optical adapter of the invention, with the cut taken along a plane parallel to the internal rotational locking tabs of the connectors; [0010] Figure 3 represents a partial, longitudinally cut perspective view of the tubular body of the optical adapter of the invention, with the cut taken along a plane parallel to the radial locking positioning lugs of the connectors; [0011] Figure 4 represents a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the optical adapter housing and retaining two optical connectors: [0012] Figure 5 represents a perspective view of the tubular body of the optical adapter when cut along a plane parallel to the radial locking lugs of two optical connectors housed and retained in the tubular body; and [0013] Figure 6 represents a perspective view of the tubular body of the optical adapter when cut along a plane parallel to the radial locking lugs and housing one of the optical connectors. Description of the invention [0014] The optical adapter of the invention is designed to provide a linear and direct connection between two optical connectors C of the type comprising a tubular housing 10 that carri