阅读说明：本技术 连接器 (Connector with a locking member ) 是由 是枝雄一 岛津秀人 石黑正树 于 2019-01-22 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种连接器,具备：电缆保持部、具有第一外螺纹部和第一导向部的第一保持部件、光连接器、光模块、具有第二外螺纹部和第二导向部的第二保持部件、以及具有内螺纹部的连接螺母。第一导向部和第二导向部相互协同动作,容许第一保持部件相对于第二保持部件的前后方向的相对移动,而限制周向上的第一保持部件相对于第二保持部件的相对移动。通过内螺纹部与第一外螺纹部和第二外螺纹部的双方啮合,维持前后方向上的第一保持部件与第二保持部件的相对位置。(The present invention provides a connector, comprising: the optical connector includes a cable holding portion, a first holding member having a first male screw portion and a first guide portion, an optical connector, an optical module, a second holding member having a second male screw portion and a second guide portion, and a coupling nut having a female screw portion. The first guide portion and the second guide portion cooperate with each other to allow relative movement of the first holding member with respect to the second holding member in the front-rear direction, while restricting relative movement of the first holding member with respect to the second holding member in the circumferential direction. The relative positions of the first holding member and the second holding member in the front-rear direction are maintained by the engagement of the female screw portion with both the first male screw portion and the second male screw portion.)

1. A connector, comprising: a cable holding section, a first holding member, an optical connector, an optical module, a second holding member, and a coupling nut,

the cable holding portion holds an optical fiber cable that transmits an optical signal,

the cable holding portion is attached to the first holding member,

the first holding member holds the optical connector,

the first holding member has a first male screw portion and a first guide portion,

the optical connector is mounted to the optical fiber cable,

the optical module is connected with the optical connector,

the optical module is provided with a photoelectric conversion part and an electric connector,

the second holding member is located forward of the first holding member in the front-rear direction,

the second holding member holds the optical module,

the second holding member has a second external thread portion and a second guide portion,

the first guide portion and the second guide portion cooperate with each other to allow the relative movement of the first holding member with respect to the second holding member in the front-rear direction and to restrict the relative movement of the first holding member with respect to the second holding member in the circumferential direction about an axis parallel to the front-rear direction,

the coupling nut has an internal threaded portion,

the relative position of the first holding member and the second holding member in the front-rear direction is maintained by the engagement of the female screw portion with both of the first male screw portion and the second male screw portion.

2. The connector of claim 1,

the first guide portion is provided with at least one projecting piece,

the at least one tab extends forward in the front-to-rear direction,

the second guide portion is provided with at least one groove and at least two holding wall portions,

the at least two holding wall portions hold the at least one groove in an up-down direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction,

the at least one groove extends in the front-rear direction and opens rearward in the front-rear direction,

the at least one slot at least partially receives the at least one tab.

3. The connector of claim 2,

the at least one tab is two in number,

the at least one slot is two in number,

the slots receive the tabs, respectively,

the optical connector is positioned between the two protruding pieces in a lateral direction orthogonal to both the front-back direction and the up-down direction.

4. The connector according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first male threaded portion is provided to the at least one tab.

5. The connector according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the second external thread portion is formed at the clamping wall portion.

6. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that when the female screw portion is engaged with both of the first male screw portion and the second male screw portion, a position of the first male screw portion and a position of the second male screw portion partially overlap in the front-rear direction.

7. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first holding member holds the optical connector movably in the front-rear direction.

8. The connector of claim 7,

the optical connector has a protruding portion orthogonal to the front-rear direction,

the first holding member has a front side restriction portion and a rear side restriction portion,

the protruding portion is located between the front-side confining portion and the rear-side confining portion in the front-rear direction,

the protruding portion is movable by a predetermined distance between the front restricting portion and the rear restricting portion.

9. The connector of claim 8,

the internal thread part has a pitch,

the predetermined distance is larger than the pitch of the internal thread portion.

10. The connector according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the first holding member further includes a pressing member that presses the protruding portion toward the front side restriction portion.

11. The connector of claim 10,

the urging member is a spring member housed in the first holding member,

the spring member presses the protruding portion forward in the front-rear direction.

12. The connector according to any one of claims 7 to 11,

the female screw portion meshes with both of the first male screw portion and the second male screw portion by rotating the coupling nut in a first rotational direction in the circumferential direction in both directions with respect to the first holding member and the second holding member,

the first external thread portion has a thread ridge,

the thread ridge of the first external thread portion has a cross surface,

the intersecting surface is located at one end of the thread ridge of the first male thread portion in a second rotational direction in the circumferential direction,

the second rotational direction is opposite the first rotational direction,

the intersecting surface intersects the first rotational direction,

the internal thread part is provided with a thread tooth,

the thread ridge of the internal thread portion has a start end,

when the internal thread portion engaged with the second external thread portion starts to engage with the first external thread portion when the internal thread portion and the first external thread portion are displaced in the front-rear direction at the time of the engagement, the first external thread portion is moved in the front-rear direction by the start end of the thread ridge of the internal thread portion coming into contact with the intersecting surface, and the displacement is eliminated.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector for connection of an optical cable and an electrical device.

Background

Referring to fig. 24 and 25, patent document 1 discloses a connector 900 for connection with an adapter 990. The adapter 990 includes a fitting portion 992 and an optical module 995. A projection 993 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion 992. The connector 900 includes: cable 970, coupling body (cable holder) 910, tube 920, optical connector 930, and outer tube 960. A fiber optic cable 980 carrying optical signals is plugged into the cable 970. The cable holder 910 holds the optical fiber cable 980. The cable holder 910 is attached to the tube 920. The barrel 920 holds the optical connector 930. The optical connector 930 is mounted to the fiber optic cable 980. The optical connector 930 is connected to the optical module 995 when the connector 900 is connected to the adapter 990. The outer tube 960 is movable within a predetermined range in the front-rear direction (X direction) with respect to the tube 920. The outer tube 960 has a groove 962. When the connector 900 is connected to the adapter 990, the groove portion 962 of the outer cylinder portion 960 of the connector 900 engages with the projection 993 of the fitting portion 992 of the adapter 990. This maintains the relative position between the cylindrical portion 920 of the connector 900 and the fitting portion 992 of the adapter 990 in the front-rear direction (X direction).

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

In the connector 900 of patent document 1, when the optical module connected to the optical connector 930 is further arranged in the connector 900, the optical fiber cable 980 between the end 932 of the optical connector 930 and the cable holder 910 needs to have a length depending on the dimension in the front-rear direction of the connected optical module. Thus, when the optical fiber cable 980 between the end 932 of the optical connector 930 and the cable holder 910 is set so that the dimension in the front-rear direction has a length determined by the smallest optical module, if the optical fiber cable 980 is replaced with a longer optical module, the optical fiber cable 980 between the end 932 and the cable holder 910 is bent due to the excessively long length, which causes a problem that the optical loss of the optical fiber cable 980 increases.

Means for solving the problems

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector in which an optical fiber cable is not bent due to an excessively long length even if the connector is replaced with an optical module having a different dimension in the front-rear direction.

One aspect of the present invention provides a connector including: a cable holding section, a first holding member, an optical connector, an optical module, a second holding member, and a coupling nut. The cable holding section holds an optical fiber cable that transmits an optical signal. The cable holding portion is attached to the first holding member. The first holding member holds the optical connector. The first holding member has a first male screw portion and a first guide portion. The optical connector is mounted on the optical fiber cable. The optical module is connected with the optical connector. The optical module includes a photoelectric conversion unit and an electrical connector. The second holding member is located forward of the first holding member in the front-rear direction. The second holding member holds the optical module. The second holding member has a second external thread portion and a second guide portion. The first guide portion and the second guide portion cooperate with each other to allow relative movement of the first holding member with respect to the second holding member in the front-rear direction, while restricting relative movement of the first holding member with respect to the second holding member in the circumferential direction about an axis parallel to the front-rear direction. The coupling nut has an internal threaded portion. The relative positions of the first holding member and the second holding member in the front-rear direction are maintained by the engagement of the female screw portion with both the first male screw portion and the second male screw portion.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

The connector of the present invention is constituted in the following manner: a first holding member that holds the optical connector has a first male screw portion and a first guide portion; a second holding member for holding the optical module, the second holding member having a second external thread portion and a second guide portion; the connecting nut is provided with an internal thread part; the first guide portion and the second guide portion cooperate with each other to allow relative movement of the first holding member with respect to the second holding member in the front-rear direction and to restrict relative movement of the first holding member with respect to the second holding member in the circumferential direction about an axis parallel to the front-rear direction; the relative positions of the first holding member and the second holding member in the front-rear direction are maintained by the engagement of the female screw portion with both the first male screw portion and the second male screw portion. Thus, the optical fiber cable can have a fixed length between the optical connector and the cable holding portion, and therefore even if the optical connector is replaced with an optical module having a different dimension in the front-rear direction, the optical fiber cable is prevented from being bent due to an excessively long length in the connector.

The purpose of the present invention will be properly understood and its structure will be fully understood by studying the following description of the best mode with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the female screw portion of the coupling nut meshes with both the first male screw portion of the first holding member and the second male screw portion of the second holding member.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the connector of fig. 1. In the drawing, the female screw portion of the coupling nut is not engaged with either of the first male screw portion of the first holding member and the second male screw portion of the second holding member. Further, the optical module is held by the second holding member, but is not connected to the optical connector.

Fig. 3 is another exploded perspective view illustrating the connector of fig. 1. In the figure, the optical module is connected to an optical connector.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an optical module included in the connector of fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a second holding member included in the connector of fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing an optical connector included in the connector of fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing an optical connector main body portion included in the optical connector of fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the tabs of the first guide portion of the first holding member are inserted into the grooves of the second guide portion of the second holding member, respectively, in the connector of fig. 3. In the figure, the coupling nut is omitted.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the connector of fig. 8 enlarged. In the figure, a part of the first male screw portion and the second male screw portion is further enlarged.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the connector of fig. 8. In the figure, a part of the first male screw portion and the second male screw portion is shown enlarged.

Fig. 11 is another perspective view showing a state in which the tabs of the first guide portion of the first holding member are inserted into the grooves of the second guide portion of the second holding member, respectively, in the connector of fig. 3. In the figure, the coupling nut is omitted.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the connector of fig. 11 enlarged.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the connector of fig. 11. In the figure, a part of the first male screw portion and the second male screw portion is shown enlarged.

Fig. 14 is a side view for explaining a procedure of replacing the optical module of the connector of fig. 1. Here, the tab of the first guide portion of the first holding member is not inserted into the groove of the second guide portion of the second holding member.

Fig. 15 is a plan view showing the connector of fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view showing the connector of fig. 15 along the line a-a. In the figure, a part of the first holding member and the coupling nut is shown enlarged.

Fig. 17 is another side view for explaining a procedure of replacing the optical module of the connector of fig. 1. Here, the protruding pieces of the first guide portion of the first holding member are inserted into the grooves of the second guide portion of the second holding member, respectively, but the female screw portion of the coupling nut is not engaged with either of the first male screw portion of the first holding member and the second male screw portion of the second holding member.

Fig. 18 is a plan view showing the connector of fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view showing the connector of fig. 18 along the line B-B.

Fig. 20 is a plan view for explaining a procedure of replacing the optical module of the connector of fig. 1. Here, the protruding pieces of the first guide portion of the first holding member are inserted into the grooves of the second guide portion of the second holding member, respectively, and the female screw portion of the coupling nut is engaged with the second male screw portion of the second holding member but is not engaged with the first male screw portion of the first holding member.

Fig. 21 is a sectional view showing the connector of fig. 20 along the line C-C.

Fig. 22 is another plan view for explaining a procedure of replacing the optical module of the connector of fig. 1. Here, the female screw portion of the coupling nut meshes with both the first male screw portion of the first holding member and the second male screw portion of the second holding member.

Fig. 23 is a sectional view showing the connector of fig. 22 along the line D-D.

Fig. 24 is a side view showing the connector and the adapter of patent document 1.

Fig. 25 is a sectional view showing the connector and the adapter of fig. 24.

Reference numerals

100 connector 200 cable holder 210 disc portion 212 bore 220 bore 222 internal screw thread

300 first retaining member 305 first cylindrical portion 306 external threads 307 first protrusion of O-ring 308

310 first guide 320 tab 322 upper surface 324 lower surface 326 outer surface 328 inner surface

330 first male screw thread part 340 thread ridge 342 intersection 350 front limit 360 rear limit 360

370 push member (spring member) 400 optical connector 401 optical connector body 402 push part

403 optical fiber cable housing 404 supporting part 406 receiving part 407 claw part 408 front surface 409 clamping part

410 the protruding part 411, the hole 412, the rear surface 414, the protruding abutting part 416, the front side restricted part

418 rear restricted section 500 optical module 510 photoelectric conversion section 520 electric connector 530 locked section

540 to be locked part 600, second holding member 610, second guide part 615, guide group 620, groove 622 wall surface

624 the side surface 630 of the wall 626 holds the second external thread 642 of the wall 640

644 third male thread part 646 thread ridge 650 cap part 660 second cylindrical part 662 receiving part

663O-ring 664O-ring 665O-ring 666 locking portion 667 outer cylindrical portion of second boss 670

672 a protrusion 700 coupled to a first contact portion at a start 730 of a thread tooth 722 of an internal thread portion 720 of a nut 710

740 second contact 750 small diameter part 800 optical fiber cable AX axis P1 pitch P2 pitch

P3 Pitch PD is defined by a distance R1 first direction of rotation R2 second direction of rotation S circumferential

Detailed Description

The present invention can be implemented in various modifications and forms, and specific embodiments shown in the drawings will be described below in detail as an example thereof. The drawings and embodiments are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

As shown in fig. 2, a connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a cable holding section 200, a first holding member 300, an optical connector 400, an optical module 500, a second holding member 600, and a coupling nut 700.

As shown in fig. 1, the cable holding portion 200 of the present embodiment is located rearward of the first holding member 300 in the front-rear direction. The rear end of the cable holding portion 200 is the rearmost end of the connector 100. As shown in fig. 16, the cable holding portion 200 holds an optical fiber cable 800 that transmits an optical signal. In the present embodiment, the front-rear direction is the X direction. Here, the front is the + X direction, and the rear is the-X direction.

As shown in fig. 1 and 8, the cable holding portion 200 of the present embodiment includes a disc portion 210 and a cylindrical portion 220.

As shown in fig. 8 and 16, the disk portion 210 of the present embodiment has a substantially disk shape centered on an axis AX parallel to the front-rear direction. The disc portion 210 has a hole 212 penetrating the disc portion 210 in the front-rear direction. The disk portion 210 is located rearward of the cylindrical portion 220 in the front-rear direction. More specifically, the front end of the disc portion 210 is coupled to the rear end of the cylindrical portion 220 in the front-rear direction. The optical fiber cable 800 is held by the cable holding portion 200 so as to pass through the hole 212 of the disc portion 210 of the cable holding portion 200.

As shown in fig. 8 and 16, the cylindrical portion 220 of the present embodiment has a shape rotationally symmetrical with respect to the axis AX. More specifically, the tube portion 220 has a polygonal tube shape extending in the front-rear direction about the axis AX. The inner wall of the cylindrical portion 220 is provided with female threads 222.

As shown in fig. 8 and 16, the first holding member 300 of the present embodiment holds the optical connector 400. In more detail, the first holding member 300 holds the optical connector 400 movably in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 8, the first holding member 300 of the present embodiment includes: a first cylindrical portion 305, a first guide portion 310, and a first externally threaded portion 330.

As shown in fig. 2, 8, and 16, the first cylindrical portion 305 of the present embodiment has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction about the axis AX. The first cylindrical portion 305 has: a front limit 350, a rear limit 360, an O-ring 307, a first protrusion 308, and external threads 306. That is, the first holding member 300 has a front-side restriction portion 350 and a rear-side restriction portion 360.

As shown in fig. 2 and 9, the front restricting portions 350 of the present embodiment are located at the front end of the first cylindrical portion 305 in the front-rear direction, respectively. The front-side stoppers 350 protrude inward in the radial direction perpendicular to the axis AX. More specifically, the front restricting portions 350 protrude inward in the lateral direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The lateral direction is the Y direction in this embodiment.

As shown in fig. 16, the rear stopper 360 of the present embodiment is located near the front end of the first cylindrical portion 305. Referring to fig. 2 and 16, the rear limiting portion 360 is located rearward of the front limiting portion 350 in the front-rear direction. Further, the rear restricting portion 360 is located forward of the O-ring 307 in the front-rear direction. The rear limiting portion 360 is a plane that faces forward in the front-rear direction.

Referring to fig. 16, the O-ring 307 of the present embodiment has an annular shape centered on the axis AX. The O-ring 307 is disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion 305. The O-ring 307 is disposed near the front end of the first cylindrical portion 305. The O-ring 307 is located between the rear-side restricting portion 360 and the first protrusion 308 in the front-rear direction. That is, the O-ring 307 is located rearward of the rear restricting portion 360 and forward of the first projecting portion 308.

As shown in fig. 16, the first convex portion 308 of the present embodiment protrudes radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion 305. The first protrusion 308 is located between the O-ring 307 and the external thread 306 in the front-rear direction. That is, the first protrusion 308 is located rearward of the O-ring 307 and forward of the external threads 306.

As shown in fig. 16, the male screw 306 of the present embodiment is located at the rear end of the first cylindrical portion 305. The external thread 306 is screwed into the internal thread 222 of the barrel portion 220 of the cable holding portion 200. That is, the cable holding portion 200 is attached to the first holding member 300.

As shown in fig. 2 and 9, the first guide portion 310 of the present embodiment extends forward from the front end of the first cylindrical portion 305 in the front-rear direction. The first guide 310 includes two protruding pieces 320. The protruding pieces 320 extend forward in the front-rear direction, respectively. The tab 320 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the lateral direction. The tabs 320 have upper and lower surfaces 322 and 324, respectively. The upper surface 322 is orthogonal to the up-down direction. The lower surface 324 is orthogonal to the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the vertical direction is the Z direction. Here, the upper side is the + Z direction, and the lower side is the-Z direction. In addition, the tabs 320 have outer and inner surfaces 326 and 328, respectively. The outer surface 326 faces laterally outward. The inner surface 328 faces laterally inward. The inner surface 328 of the tab 320 is located laterally outward of the front stopper 350 of the first cylindrical portion 305. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The first guide portion 310 may include at least one protruding piece 320 extending forward in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 2 and 9, the first male screw portion 330 of the present embodiment is provided to the protruding piece 320 of the first guide portion 310. More specifically, the first male screw portion 330 is provided on the outer surface 326 of the protruding piece 320, and the thread 340 of the first male screw portion 330 protrudes laterally outward. Referring to fig. 8 to 10, the first male screw part 330 has a screw thread 340. The thread ridge 340 of the first male thread portion 330 has a cross surface 342. The intersecting surface 342 is located at one end of the thread ridge 340 of the first male thread portion 330 in the second rotational direction R2 in the circumferential direction S about the axis AX. Here, the intersecting surface 342 intersects the first rotational direction R1. The first rotational direction R1 is opposite the second rotational direction R2. That is, the second rotational direction R2 is the opposite direction of the first rotational direction R1. More specifically, the intersecting surface 342 is inclined so as to extend forward and upward. The thread ridges 340 of the first male thread portion 330 are arranged at intervals of a pitch P1 in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the first rotational direction R1 is clockwise when the connector 100 is viewed from the front, and the second rotational direction R2 is counterclockwise when the connector 100 is viewed from the front.

As shown in fig. 16, the first holding member 300 further includes a pressing member 370. The urging member 370 is a spring member 370 housed in the first holding member 300. In more detail, the spring member 370 is housed in the first cylindrical portion 305 of the first holding member 300. The spring member 370 of the present embodiment is a coil spring extending in the front-rear direction.

Referring to fig. 2 and 16, the optical connector 400 according to the present embodiment connects the optical fiber cable 800 and the optical module 500. That is, the optical connector 400 is attached to the optical fiber cable 800, and the optical connector 400 is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the optical module 500.

As shown in fig. 2 and 9, the optical connector 400 of the present embodiment is held near the front end of the first cylindrical portion 305 of the first holding member 300. The front end of the optical connector 400 is located forward of the front end of the first cylindrical portion 305 of the first holding member 300. The optical connector 400 is positioned between the two protruding pieces 320 of the first holding member 300 in the lateral direction orthogonal to both the front-back direction and the up-down direction. The connection portion between the optical connector 400 and the optical module 500 is located forward of the first cylindrical portion 305 of the first holding member 300 in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 6, the optical connector 400 of the present embodiment includes an optical connector main body 401 and an extension portion 410. The protruding portion 410 is orthogonal to the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 7, the optical connector main body 401 of the present embodiment includes: an optical fiber cable housing 403, a receiving portion 406, a claw portion 407, a support portion 404, a pressing portion 402, and a locking portion 409.

As shown in fig. 7, the optical fiber cable housing 403 of the present embodiment has a substantially rectangular tubular shape extending in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 7, the receiving portions 406 of the present embodiment are provided on the upper surface of the optical fiber cable housing portion 403 and near the center in the front-rear direction. The receiving portions 406 are rear surfaces of protrusions protruding upward in the vertical direction, respectively.

As shown in fig. 7, the claw portions 407 of the present embodiment are located at the rear end of the optical fiber cable housing portion 403 in the front-rear direction. The claw portions 407 each have a hook shape protruding radially outward. The claw portions 407 have front surfaces 408 that face forward in the front-rear direction, respectively. The claw portions 407 are respectively movable in the radial direction.

As shown in fig. 7, the support portion 404 of the present embodiment extends rearward and upward from the front end of the upper surface of the optical fiber cable housing portion 403. The support portion 404 is supported in a cantilever manner by the optical fiber cable housing portion 403. The support portion 404 can be elastically deformed.

As shown in fig. 7, the pressing portion 402 of the present embodiment is located at the upper end and the rear end of the support portion 404.

As shown in fig. 7, the locking portions 409 of the present embodiment are each a plane intersecting the front-rear direction. The locking portions 409 are located near the rear ends of the support portions 404, respectively. As described above, since the support portion 404 is elastically deformable, the engagement portions 409 can move in the vertical direction. That is, if pressing part 402 is pressed from above, supporting part 404 is elastically deformed, and locking part 409 moves downward. When the pressing to pressing part 402 is stopped, support part 404 returns to the original shape, and locking part 409 moves upward and returns to the original position.

As shown in fig. 6, the protruding portion 410 of the present embodiment is located near the rear end of the optical connector 400 in the front-rear direction. The outer circumference of the extension 410 defines the outermost circumference of the optical connector 400 in the radial direction.

As shown in fig. 6 and 16, the extension portion 410 of the present embodiment includes: the hole 411, the rear surface 412, the protruding abutment portion 414, the front side restricted portion 416, and the rear side restricted portion 418. The rear surface 412 faces rearward in the front-rear direction. The protruding abutment portion 414 faces forward in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 6, a hole 411 penetrates the protruding portion 410 in the front-rear direction. Referring to fig. 16, the rear surface 412 is a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction. Referring again to fig. 6, the protruding abutment portion 414 is a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction. Each front-side restricted portion 416 is a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction. Each front-side restricted portion 416 is located rearward of the protruding abutting portion 414 in the front-rear direction. The rear restricted portion 418 is a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction. The rear restricted portion 418 is located rearward of the front restricted portion 416 in the front-rear direction. Referring again to fig. 16, the rear restricted portion 418 is located radially outward of the rear surface 412. The rear surface 412 and the rear restricted portion 418 are located on the same plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction.

Referring to fig. 9 and 16, the protruding portion 410 of the present embodiment is located between the front side regulating portion 350 and the rear side regulating portion 360 of the first cylindrical portion 305 of the first holding member 300 in the front-rear direction. That is, the protruding portion 410 is located rearward of the front-side confining portion 350 and forward of the rear-side confining portion 360 in the front-rear direction. The front-side restricted portions 416 of the protruding portions 410 are respectively opposed to the front-side restricting portions 350 of the first cylindrical portion 305 of the first holding member 300 in the front-rear direction. The rear restricted portion 418 of the protruding portion 410 is opposed to the rear restricted portion 360 of the first cylindrical portion 305 of the first holding member 300 in the front-rear direction. The protruding portion 410 is movable by a predetermined distance PD between the front-side restricting portion 350 and the rear-side restricting portion 360 of the first cylindrical portion 305 of the first holding member 300. That is, the first holding member 300 can move forward by a predetermined distance PD with respect to the optical connector 400. The spring member 370 of the first holding member 300 presses the protruding portion 410 forward in the front-rear direction. More specifically, the spring member 370 of the first holding member 300 presses the rear surface 412 of the protruding portion 410, and presses the front-side restricted portion 416 of the protruding portion 410 against the front-side restricting portion 350 of the first cylindrical portion 305 of the first holding member 300. That is, the first holding member 300 further includes a pressing member 370 that presses the protruding portion 410 of the optical connector 400 against the front-side restricting portion 350.

As can be seen from fig. 6 and 7, the protruding portion 410 of the present embodiment is held between the receiving portion 406 of the optical connector main body portion 401 and the front surface 408 of the claw portion 407. Here, the receiving portion 406 of the optical connector main body portion 401 faces the protruding contact portion 414 of the protruding portion 410 in the front-rear direction.

Referring to fig. 4 and 16, the optical module 500 of the present embodiment is an SFP (Small Form-factor plug-in Small Form-factor Pluggable) module. That is, the optical module 500 transmits an optical signal to the optical connector 400 and receives an optical signal from the optical connector 400.

As shown in fig. 4 and 16, the optical module 500 of the present embodiment includes: the photoelectric conversion device includes an electrical connector 520, a photoelectric conversion unit 510, a locked unit 530, and a locked unit 540.

Referring to fig. 4 and 16, the electrical connector 520 inputs and outputs an electrical signal to and from the photoelectric conversion portion 510. The photoelectric conversion part 510 mutually converts an optical signal and an electronic signal between the optical connector 400 and the electrical connector 520. The locked portion 530 protrudes downward in the vertical direction. The engaged portions 540 are flat surfaces facing forward. The locked portions 540 are located near the rear ends of the optical modules 500, respectively.

As shown in fig. 3 and 16, the optical module 500 of the present embodiment is connected to the optical connector 400. Here, the engaged portions 540 (see fig. 4) of the optical module 500 are located behind the locking portions 409 (see fig. 7) of the optical connector 400 in the front-rear direction. That is, the engaged portions 540 of the optical module 500 face the locking portions 409 of the optical connector 400 in the front-rear direction. In the connector 100 of the present embodiment, the optical module 500 can be replaced. The method of replacing the optical module 500 will be described later.

As shown in fig. 1, the second holding member 600 of the present embodiment is located forward of the first holding member 300 in the front-rear direction. The front end of the second holding member 600 is the foremost end of the connector 100.

As shown in fig. 15 and 16, the second holding member 600 of the present embodiment includes: a cap portion 650, a second cylindrical portion 660, a second guide portion 610, a second external thread portion 640, a third external thread portion 644, and an outer cylindrical portion 670.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the cover 650 of the present embodiment has a substantially semi-rectangular cylindrical shape. The substantially half-cylindrical shape of the cover 650 extends in the front-rear direction and is open downward. The cover 650 is positioned in front of the second cylindrical part 660 in the front-rear direction. That is, the rear end of the cover 650 is coupled to the front end of the second cylindrical portion 660 in the front-rear direction.

As can be seen from fig. 3 and 5, the second cylindrical portion 660 of the present embodiment has a shape rotationally symmetrical with respect to the axis AX. More specifically, the second cylindrical portion 660 of the present embodiment has a cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction about the axis AX. As shown in fig. 8, the connection portion between the optical connector 400 and the optical module 500 is located behind the second cylindrical portion 660 in the front-rear direction. That is, the connection portion between the optical connector 400 and the optical module 500 is located between the first cylindrical portion 305 of the first holding member 300 and the second cylindrical portion 660 of the second holding member 600 in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 16, the second cylindrical portion 660 of the present embodiment includes: a receiving portion 662, three O- rings 663, 664, 665, a locking portion 666, and a second protrusion 667.

As shown in fig. 5, the accommodating portion 662 of the present embodiment is a square-cylindrical hole that penetrates the second cylindrical portion 660 in the front-rear direction. As shown in fig. 16, the front end of the receiving portion 662 is coupled to the rear end of the substantially half-square tube of the cover 650. That is, the receiving portion 662 of the second cylindrical portion 660 and the substantially half square cylinder of the cover portion 650 constitute a space for receiving the optical module 500.

Referring to fig. 16, the O- rings 663, 664, 665 of the present embodiment each have an annular shape centered on the axis AX. The O- rings 663, 664, 665 are disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 660. The O-ring 663 of the O- rings 663, 664, 665 is positioned foremost in the front-rear direction. Of the O- rings 663, 664, 665, the O-ring 665 is positioned rearmost in the front-rear direction. That is, the O-ring 664 is located between the O-ring 663 and the O-ring 665 in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 5 and 16, the locking portions 666 in the present embodiment are provided on the inner walls of the lower side of the receiving portions 662, respectively. When the optical module 500 is inserted into the second holding member 600, the lock portions 666 engage with the to-be-locked portions 530 of the optical module 500, respectively, to thereby fix the optical module 500 to the second holding member 600. That is, in the connector 100 of the present embodiment, the second holding member 600 holds the optical module 500.

As shown in fig. 16, the second protrusion 667 of the present embodiment protrudes outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 660. The second projection 667 is located between the O-ring 663 and the O-ring 664 in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 5, the second guide portion 610 of the present embodiment extends rearward from the rear end of the second cylindrical portion 660. The second guide portion 610 includes two grooves 620 and four sandwiching wall portions 630. In more detail, the second guide portion 610 has two guide sets 615 composed of one groove 620 and two holding wall portions 630. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The second guide portion 610 may include at least one groove 620 and at least two sandwiching wall portions 630.

As shown in fig. 15, the guide groups 615 of the present embodiment correspond to the protruding pieces 320 of the first guide portion 310 of the first holding member 300, respectively. The two sets of guide sets 615 are laterally located at spaced apart locations. As shown in fig. 5, in each guide group 615, the sandwiching wall 630 sandwiches the groove 620 in the vertical direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction. The groove 620 extends in the front-rear direction. The groove 620 opens rearward in the front-rear direction. The groove 620 is recessed laterally inward. The slot 620 has two walls 622, 624 and a side 626. The walls 622 and 624 are perpendicular to the vertical direction. Side 626 intersects the lateral direction. That is, in the groove 620, the side surface 626 interconnects the laterally inner ends of the two wall surfaces 622, 624. As can be seen from fig. 17 and 18, if the second holding member 600 is fitted to the first holding member 300, the grooves 620 receive the projecting pieces 320 of the first guide portions 310, respectively. At this time, in the vertical direction, upper wall surface 622 of groove 620 faces upper surface 322 of corresponding tab 320, and lower wall surface 624 of groove 620 faces lower surface 324 of corresponding tab 320. Further, in the lateral direction, the side 626 of the slot 620 is opposite the inner surface 328 of the corresponding tab 320. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. At least one groove 620 may be sandwiched between the at least two sandwiching wall portions 630 in the vertical direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction. The at least one groove 620 extending in the front-rear direction and opening to the rear in the front-rear direction may be configured to at least partially receive the at least one protruding piece 320.

In the connector 100 of the present embodiment, as described above, the protruding pieces 320 of the first guide portion 310 of the first holding member 300 are respectively accommodated in the grooves 620 that open to the rear of the second guide portion 610 of the second holding member 600. This allows the relative movement of the first holding member 300 with respect to the second holding member 600 in the front-rear direction, while restricting the relative movement of the first holding member 300 with respect to the second holding member 600 in the circumferential direction S. That is, the first guide portion 310 and the second guide portion 610 cooperate with each other to allow the relative movement of the first holding member 300 with respect to the second holding member 600 in the front-rear direction, and to restrict the relative movement of the first holding member 300 with respect to the second holding member 600 in the circumferential direction S around the axis AX parallel to the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 5, the second external thread portions 640 of the present embodiment are formed on the holding wall portions 630, respectively. The thread 642 of the second external thread portion 640 protrudes radially outward. As shown in fig. 13, the thread ridges 642 of the second external thread portion 640 are arranged at intervals of a pitch P2 in the front-rear direction. As shown in fig. 17, in a state where the protruding piece 320 of the first guide portion 310 is received in the groove 620, the position of the first male screw portion 330 overlaps the position of the second male screw portion 640 in the front-rear direction. In more detail, the first male screw portion 330 of the tab 320 is located between the forwardmost screw thread 642 and the rearwardmost screw thread 642 of the second male screw portion 640 of the clamping wall portion 630 of the corresponding guide group 615 in the front-rear direction. That is, the size of the first male screw portion 330 is smaller than the size of the second male screw portion 640 in the front-rear direction. Further, the first male screw portions 330 of the tabs 320 are located between the second male screw portions 640 of the sandwiching wall portions 630 of the corresponding guide group 615 in the up-down direction.

As shown in fig. 5, the third male screw portion 644 of the present embodiment has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction. The third external screw thread part 644 extends rearward from the rear end of the second cylindrical part 660. The third male screw portion 644 is located between a holding wall portion 630 on one lower side of the guide group 615 and a holding wall portion 630 on the other lower side of the guide group 615 in the width direction. That is, the third male screw portion 644 links the lower clamping wall portions 630 of the two guide groups 615 to each other in the width direction. The thread ridge 646 of the third male thread portion 644 is coupled to the thread ridge 642 of the second male thread portion 640 in the circumferential direction S.

As shown in fig. 3 and 5, the outer cylinder 670 of the present embodiment has a shape rotationally symmetrical with respect to the axis AX. More specifically, the outer cylinder 670 of the present embodiment has a polygonal cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction about the axis AX. The outer cylinder 670 is formed in a shape having a larger diameter than the second cylinder 660. That is, the outer cylinder part 670 is located outside the second cylinder part 660 in the radial direction. The inner circumferential surface of the outer tube section 670 and the outer circumferential surface of the second tube section 660 form a substantially annular space extending in the front-rear direction. As shown in fig. 16, the outer cylinder 670 has a projection 672 projecting radially inward from the inner circumferential surface. The projection 672 of the outer cylinder portion 670 is located rearward of the second projection 667 of the second cylinder portion 660 in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 2, the coupling nut 700 of the present embodiment has a shape rotationally symmetrical with respect to the axis AX. More specifically, the coupling nut 700 of the present embodiment has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction about the axis AX. As shown in fig. 16, the coupling nut 700 is located radially outside the first holding member 300.

As shown in fig. 21, a coupling nut 700 according to the present embodiment includes: a first contact portion 730, an internal threaded portion 710, a second contact portion 740, and a small diameter portion 750.

As shown in fig. 23, the first contact portion 730 of the present embodiment is a part of the inner peripheral surface of the coupling nut 700. The first contact portion 730 is located near the front end of the coupling nut 700. When the female screw portion 710 of the coupling nut 700 is engaged with both the first male screw portion 330 of the first holding member 300 and the second male screw portion 640 of the second holding member 600, the first contact portion 730 is accommodated in a substantially annular space formed by the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 670 and the outer peripheral surface of the second cylinder portion 660. At this time, the first contact portion 730 radially contacts both of the O- rings 664 and 665 of the second cylindrical portion 660 of the second holding member 600.

As shown in fig. 21, the female screw portion 710 of the present embodiment is located rearward of the first contact portion 730 in the front-rear direction. The thread 720 of the female screw 710 protrudes inward from the inner circumferential surface of the coupling nut 700 in the radial direction. Referring to fig. 16, the thread 720 of the female screw portion 710 is arranged at an interval of pitch P3 in the front-rear direction. Referring to fig. 16, 13, and 10, the pitch P3 of the ridges 720 of the internal thread part 710 is the same as the pitch P1 of the ridges 340 of the first external thread part 330 and the pitch P2 of the ridges 642 of the second external thread part 640. As described above, the protruding portion 410 of the optical connector 400 can move by the predetermined distance PD between the front-side restricting portion 350 and the rear-side restricting portion 360 of the first holding member 300. Referring to fig. 9 and 16, the predetermined distance PD is greater than the pitch P3 of the female screw portion 710.

Referring to fig. 23, if the female screw portion 710 of the coupling nut 700 is engaged with both the first male screw portion 330 of the first holding member 300 and the second male screw portion 640 of the second holding member 600, the relative movement in the front-rear direction of the first holding member 300 and the second holding member 600 is hindered by the ridge 720 of the female screw portion 710. That is, the female screw portion 710 engages with both the first male screw portion 330 of the first holding member 300 and the second male screw portion 640 of the second holding member 600, thereby maintaining the relative positions of the first holding member 300 and the second holding member 600 in the front-rear direction. When the female screw portion 710 is engaged with both the first male screw portion 330 of the first holding member 300 and the second male screw portion 640 of the second holding member 600, the position of the first male screw portion 330 and the position of the second male screw portion 640 overlap in the front-rear direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. When the female screw portion 710 is engaged with both the first male screw portion 330 and the second male screw portion 640, the position of the first male screw portion 330 may partially overlap the position of the second male screw portion 640 in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 23, the second contact portion 740 of the present embodiment is a part of the inner peripheral surface of the coupling nut 700. The second contact portion 740 is located rearward of the female screw portion 710 in the front-rear direction. When the female screw portion 710 of the coupling nut 700 is engaged with both the first male screw portion 330 of the first holding member 300 and the second male screw portion 640 of the second holding member 600, the second contact portion 740 is radially contacted with the O-ring 307 of the first cylindrical portion 305 of the first holding member 300.

As described above, when the female screw portion 710 of the coupling nut 700 is engaged with both the first male screw portion 330 of the first holding member 300 and the second male screw portion 640 of the second holding member 600, the first contact portion 730 and the second contact portion 740 of the coupling nut 700 are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion 305 of the first holding member 300 and the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 660 of the second holding member 600 via the O- rings 307, 664, 665. Thus, the connection portion between the optical connector 400 and the optical module 500, which is located between the first cylindrical portion 305 and the second cylindrical portion 660, is blocked from the outside of the connector 100. That is, the connection portion between the optical connector 400 and the optical module 500 is waterproof from the outside.

As shown in fig. 23, the small diameter portion 750 of the present embodiment is located at the rear end of the coupling nut 700. The small diameter portion 750 protrudes inward from the inner circumferential surface of the coupling nut 700 in the radial direction. The small diameter portion 750 is located rearward of the second contact portion 740 in the front-rear direction. The small diameter portion 750 is located rearward of the first convex portion 308 of the first cylindrical portion 305 of the first holding member 300 in the front-rear direction. When the female screw portion 710 of the coupling nut 700 is engaged with both the first male screw portion 330 of the first holding member 300 and the second male screw portion 640 of the second holding member 600, the front surface of the small diameter portion 750 faces the rear surface of the first convex portion 308 of the first cylindrical portion 305 of the first holding member 300 in the front-rear direction.

Referring to fig. 23, in the connector 100 according to the present embodiment, the position of the second holding member 600 when the optical module 500 having a large dimension in the front-rear direction is attached is farther from the first holding member 300 in the front-rear direction than the position of the second holding member 600 when the optical module 500 having a small dimension in the front-rear direction is attached. That is, in the connector 100 of the present embodiment, the difference in the dimension of the optical module 500 in the front-rear direction is absorbed by the difference in the position of the second holding member 600 in the front-rear direction with respect to the first holding member 300. Thus, since the optical fiber cable 800 can have a fixed length between the optical connector 400 and the cable holding portion 200, even if the optical module 500 is replaced with an optical module 500 having a different dimension in the front-rear direction, the optical fiber cable 800 is prevented from being bent due to an excessively long length in the connector 100.

The method of replacing the optical module 500 in the connector 100 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below.

First, in the connector 100 in the state of fig. 1, the coupling nut 700 is rotated in the second rotational direction R2 in the bidirectional circumferential direction S with respect to the first holding member 300 and the second holding member 600. Thereby, the engagement between the female screw portion 710 of the coupling nut 700 and both the first male screw portion 330 of the first holding member 300 and the second male screw portion 640 of the second holding member 600 is released. That is, the coupling nut 700 can be moved rearward of the first male screw portion 330 of the first holding member 300 and the second male screw portion 640 of the second holding member 600.

In this state, if the second holding member 600 holding the optical module 500 is pulled forward from the first holding member 300, the optical connector 400 and the optical module 500 are disconnected from each other, and the connector 100 is in the state shown in fig. 2. In the state of fig. 2, the optical module 500 is pulled out rearward from the second holding member 600 and taken out.

Thereafter, if a new optical module 500 is attached to the optical connector 400 held by the first holding member 300, the connector 100 is in the state of fig. 3. In the state of fig. 3, the second holding member 600 is moved rearward with respect to the optical module 500 so that the optical module 500 is inserted from the rear end of the receiving portion 662 of the second cylindrical portion 660, and the second holding member 600 is fitted to the first holding member 300. Thus, the locking portions 666 (see fig. 16) of the second holding member 600 engage with the to-be-locked portions 530 (see fig. 16) of the optical module 500, and the optical module 500 is fixed to the second holding member 600. That is, the connector 100 is in the state of fig. 19. The present invention is not limited to this. The connector 100 may also be brought into the state shown in fig. 19 as follows: after a new optical module 500 is fixed to the second holding member 600, the second holding member 600 to which the optical module 500 is fixed is brought close to the first holding member 300.

Further, referring to fig. 8 and 20 to 23, if the coupling nut 700 is rotated and advanced with respect to the first rotation direction R1 in the both-direction circumferential direction S of the first and second holding members 300 and 600, the internal thread portion 710 of the coupling nut 700 engages with the second external thread portion 640 of the sandwiching wall portion 630 of the second guide portion 610 of the second holding member 600 and with the first external thread portion 330 of the projecting piece 320 of the first guide portion 310 of the first holding member 300.

Here, referring to fig. 10 and 13, in the case where the female screw portion 710 of the coupling nut 700 and the first male screw portion 330 of the first holding member 300 are offset in the front-rear direction at the time of the engagement, the offset in the front-rear direction of the female screw portion 710 and the first male screw portion 330 is canceled as follows: when the female screw portion 710 engaged with the second male screw portion 640 of the second holding member 600 starts to be engaged with the first male screw portion 330, the leading end 722 (see fig. 16) of the ridge 720 of the female screw portion 710 comes into contact with the intersecting surface 342 of the ridge 340 of the first male screw portion 330, and the first male screw portion 330 is moved in the front-rear direction.

More specifically, referring to fig. 10, in the case where the female screw portion 710 of the coupling nut 700 and the first male screw portion 330 of the first holding member 300 are offset in the front-rear direction at the time of the engagement, the offset in the front-rear direction of the female screw portion 710 and the first male screw portion 330 is eliminated as follows. When the female screw portion 710 that meshes with the second male screw portion 640 of the second holding member 600 starts to mesh with the first male screw portion 330, the leading end 722 (see fig. 16) of the ridge 720 of the female screw portion 710 comes into contact with the intersecting surface 342 of the ridge 340 of the first male screw portion 330, and a force in the first rotational direction R1 is applied to the intersecting surface 342. Here, as described above, since the intersecting surface 342 is inclined so as to extend forward and upward, the force in the first rotational direction R1 applied to the intersecting surface 342 is converted into a force directed forward. As described above, the first holding member 300 can be moved forward by the predetermined distance PD with respect to the optical connector 400. Therefore, referring to fig. 13, the first male screw portion 330 moves forward until the female screw portion 710 and the first male screw portion 330 become the same position in the front-rear direction. That is, the internal thread portion 710 and the first external thread portion 330 are offset in the front-rear direction.

In the state where the offset is eliminated, the female screw portion 710 is engaged with both the first male screw portion 330 and the second male screw portion 640 by continuing the rotation of the coupling nut 700 in the first rotational direction R1 with respect to both the first holding member 300 and the second holding member 600.

Here, even when the optical module 500 is replaced with the optical module 500 having a different dimension in the front-rear direction, as described above, in the connector 100 of the present embodiment, the difference in the dimension in the front-rear direction of the optical module 500 is absorbed by the difference in the position in the front-rear direction of the second holding member 600 with respect to the first holding member 300. Thereby, the optical fiber cable 800 can have a fixed length between the optical connector 400 and the cable holding portion 200. Thus, even if the optical module 500 is replaced with an optical module 500 having a different dimension in the front-rear direction, the optical fiber cable 800 is prevented from being bent due to an excessively long length in the connector 100.

The present invention has been specifically described above with reference to the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made.

The first guide 310 of the present embodiment has two protruding pieces 320, and the second guide 610 of the present embodiment has two guide sets 615, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the connector 100 may be configured as follows: the first guide portion 310 has a semi-circular protruding piece 320, the second guide portion 610 has a semi-circular guide set 615, and the semi-circular ring of the protruding piece 320 and the semi-circular ring of the guide set 615 are combined to form a cylinder.

The first male screw portion 330 of the present embodiment is formed at the first guide portion 310, and the second male screw portion 640 of the present embodiment is formed at the second guide portion 610, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the first male screw portion 330 may be provided in the first cylindrical portion 305, and the second male screw portion 640 may be provided in the second cylindrical portion 660.

In the connector 100 of the present embodiment, when the female screw portion 710 of the coupling nut 700 is engaged with both the first male screw portion 330 of the first holding member 300 and the second male screw portion 640 of the second holding member 600, the position of the first male screw portion 330 and the position of the second male screw portion 640 overlap in the front-rear direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, when the female screw portion 710 of the coupling nut 700 is engaged with both the first male screw portion 330 of the first holding member 300 and the second male screw portion 640 of the second holding member 600, the position of the first male screw portion 330 may not overlap the position of the second male screw portion 640 in the front-rear direction.

The invention is based on japanese patent application No. 2018-068775, filed by 2018, 3, 30 to the sun of the present patent office, the content of which forms part of the present description by reference.

While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended that such embodiments fall within the scope of the invention.