Patent ID: 6789952
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: G02B,H01R

Abstract:
Connection device for optical fibres, comprising a first connector (2) intended to be associated with at least a first optical fibre (16) and a second connector (3) intended to be associated with at least a second optical fibre (25) which is to be connected to the first fibre, characterised in that one (3) of the two connectors (2, 3) carries a reserve (36) of a fluid having a refractive index equal to that of the optical fibres, and at least one pumping means (37) which is connected to said fluid reserve and which, in service, can be actuated in response to the connection and disconnection movements of the two connectors (2, 3) in order, at each connection/disconnection movement, to inject fluid into a space (58) surrounding the front ends of the two fibres bringing them closer together or spacing them apart,wherein the first connector (2) comprises a first fixed casing or base (4) which has, in its end face turned towards the second connector (3), a first cavity (6) which is open towards said second connector and on the bottom (12) of which there project on the one hand at least one fixed optical contact (11) in the form of a socket, in which the first optical fibre (16) is fixed, and on the other hand at least one pusher (13) forced by a first spring (15) towards the second connector (3), wherein the second connector (3) comprises a second moving casing or plug (8), which can be fitted in the first cavity (6) of the first casing (4) and which has, in its end face turned towards the first connector (2), a second cavity (21) which is open towards said first connector and which contains at least one movable optical contact (24) in the form of a socket, in which the second optical fibre (25) is fixed, which is provided with a second rigid contact piece (26), wherein the second connector (3) also comprises a wandering sub-assembly (38), which carries said reserve (36) of said fluid and said pumping means (37) and which is able to move in the second cavity (21) of the second casing (8) in the direction of the connection-disconnection movement between a first position in which said wandering sub-assembly is retracted in the second cavity of the second casing, and a second position in which it is partially emerged from said second cavity, and wherein the wandering sub-assembly (38) comprises a body (39) in which there are formed at least a first passage for the movable optical contact (24), a first chamber forming said fluid reserve (36) and a second, cylindrical, chamber (51) which is connected to the first chamber by a second passage (52) containing a first non-return valve (53) allowing the fluid to pass only from the first to the second chamber, and in that a piston (54), provided with a second non-return valve, is disposed in the second chamber (51) and divides the latter into a suction chamber (55), into which said second passage (52) opens out, and a delivery chamber (56) which communicates with said first passage through a third passage (57) formed in the body (39) of the wandering sub-assembly (38) and with the space (58) situated inside the movable optical contact (24) in the form of a socket, in front of the second contact piece (26) of the second optical fibre (25), by means of at least a fourth passage formed in said movable optical contact.