Patent ID: 8556521
Filing Date: 2013-10-15
Classification: G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An expanded beam optical fibre connector for joining optical fibre cables, comprising: a housing; a port within the housing for receiving an end of an optical fibre; a cylindrical ferrule within the housing having opposite first and second ends, an optical fibre stub held axially within the ferrule and extending between said ferrule ends; an optical system for projecting and/or receiving an expanded beam, said system comprising at least one optical element arranged to optically couple said expanded beam with the optical fibre stub at the first ferrule end; a sleeve within the housing, a first portion of said sleeve receiving the ferrule and a second portion of said sleeve extending towards the port axially away from the second ferrule end and having an open end for receiving within said second portion a termination ferrule of an optical fibre inserted into the port; and a connector portion for connecting the optical fibre connector to another expanded beam optical fibre connector so that said expanded beam traverses between said connectors; wherein a channel extends through the housing from the port towards the optical system, the ferrule being secured by a ring within the channel, said ring having an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer surface of the ring making an interference fit with an inner surface of the channel and said inner surface of the ring making an interference fit with an outer surface of the ferrule towards the first ferrule end.