Connector for fibre optic cables

In a connector for fibre optic cables a female element with which a first terminal element of a fibre optic cable is associated and a male element with which there is associated a first sleeve into which a second terminal element is inserted, the female element being of the type which can be associated with a fixed assembly and comprising a base and a flanged sleeve free to position itself relative to the base by moving only in a plane perpendicular to the jointing axis of the connector. Any rotation of the flanged sleeve about the connector jointing axis or about axes parallel thereto is prevented; the male element consists of a hollow body closed by a flanged tubular element and provided with a bored end plate, the male element receiving the first sleeve in such a manner as to prevent its rotation and also receiving elastic means engaged with the end plate and with the first sleeve, the tubular element being lockably insertable into the female element.

This invention relates to a connector for fiber optic cables. Various types 
of connectors for fiber optic cables are known, their purpose being to 
bring the end sections of the cables to be joined together into 
coinciding, superposed relationship so that they mate perfectly. 
This operation is very important in that the transmission efficiency and 
service of the cable depend on it. In this respect reference should be 
made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 472,252 (now U.S. Pat. No, 
4,984,867) in the name of the present applicant. 
Various types of terminals for fiber optic cables are known, for each type 
it being necessary to provide an appropriate connector to obtain perfect 
coincidence and superposition of the cable end sections. 
Some of these terminals are of essentially retangular section and can be 
joined together by a plastics sleeve which houses and retains the two 
abutting terminals. 
However, such a sleeve does not ensure the necessary terminal joining 
accuracy. 
The object of the present invention is to provide a connector for fiber 
optic cables which is able to correct such inaccuracy by reliably ensuring 
perfect coincidence between the end sections of the cables to be joined 
together. 
This object is attained by providing in a connector for fiber optic cables 
a female element with which a first terminal element of a fiber optic 
cable is associated, and a male element with which there is associated a 
first sleeve into which a second terminal element is inserted, said female 
element being of the type which can be associated with a fixed assembly 
and comprising a base and a flanged sleeve free to position itself 
relative to said base by moving only in a plane perpendicular to the 
jointing axis of the connector, any rotation of said flanged sleeve about 
said connector jointing axis or about axes parallel thereto being 
prevented, characterised in that said male element consists of a hollow 
body closed by a flanged tubular element and provided with a holed end 
plate, said male element receiving said first sleeve in such a manner as 
to prevent its rotation and also receiving elastic means engaged with said 
end plate and with said first sleeve, said tubular element being lockably 
insertable into said female element. 
According to the invention said connector is further characterised in that 
said female element is provided within said flanged sleeve with two 
half-collars and suitable fixing means able to render said first terminal 
element rigid with said flanged sleeve to prevent its rotation. 
Said fixing means consist of a ring nut engageable with a complementary 
thread provided on the inside of said flanged sleeve and arranged to clamp 
said two half-collars together, one of said two half-collars being 
provided with a locating tooth engaging in a suitable seat provided in 
said flanged sleeve. 
Furthermore, said tubular element has an internal portion of frusto-conical 
shape to receive said first terminal element associated with said female 
element. 
Moreover according to the invention said tubular element is provided 
externally with a seat housing a split ring which snap-engages a 
complementary seat provided on the inside of said female element. 
Said seat housing said split ring is provided on the outside of said 
tubular body, in a position corresponding with said frustoconically shaped 
portion. 
Again according to the invention said elastic means are a pair of helical 
springs engaging said end plate and said first sleeve. Moreover, said 
holed end plate is provided with a substantially square aperture.

In the figures the reference numeral 11 indicates overall a connector 
according to the invention, consisting essentially of a female element 12 
and a male element 13. A first terminal 14 for a fiber optic cable is 
fixed to the female element 12 by two half-collars 15 and 16, which retain 
the terminal 14 within a flanged sleeve 17 by a threaded ring nut 18 which 
embraces the half-collars 15 and 16 and is screwed into the sleeve 17. The 
flanged sleeve 17 is provided in known manner with a groove (not shown), 
as is the base 19. 
The groove in the base 19 faces and is perpendicular to the groove in the 
sleeve, between the base 19 and sleeve 17 there being provided an annular 
element 20 carrying on its two opposing faces two pairs of mutually 
perpendicular keys (not shown) which engage the grooves in the base 19 and 
sleeve 17. In this manner when joining the parts of the connector together 
the flanged sleeve 17 can slide along the perpendicular diameters defined 
by the keys in overall directions given by the combination of the two 
movements, but without being able to rotate on itself about the jointing 
axis. 
The flanged sleeve 17 is also provided with a seat 21 which receives a pin 
22 provided on the half-collar 15, to enable the terminal 14 to be 
correctly positioned. In proximity to the outwardly flared free end 23 of 
the sleeve 17 there is internally provided an annular seat 24 to receive a 
split ring 25 with which the male element 13 is provided. 
The element 13 consists of a hollow body 26 closed by a flanged tubular 
element 28. The hollow body 26 is provided with a holed end plate 27 and 
internally houses a sleeve 29 into which a second fiber optic cable 
terminal 30 is inserted. 
The flanged tubular element 28 which closes the hollow body 26 and 
cooperates in housing the sleeve 29 is provided in proximity to its free 
end with a seat 35 which receives the split ring 25. On the inside of the 
flanged tubular element 28 in a position corresponding with the seat 35 
there is provided a frustoconically shaped portion 33 to receive the first 
terminal element 14 associated with the female element 12. 
When the male and female component parts of the connector are joined 
together, the female element is usually rigid with a fixed assembly (not 
shown) to which the base 19 is fixed. 
The terminal 14 is fixed to the flanged sleeve 17 by the half-collars 15 
and 16 and the threaded ring nut 18. The half-collar 15 with the reference 
pin 22 on the half-collar 15 and the seat 21 in the flanged sleeve 17 
ensure that the terminal 14 is correctly positioned for the connection. On 
inserting the male element 13 into the female element 12, the terminal 14 
enters the sleeve 29 until it reaches an abutting position. When in this 
position (FIG. 1) the split ring 25 on the flanged tubular element 28 
engages the annular seat 24 in the flanged sleeve 17. 
The male element 13 carries at the other end of the sleeve 29 the other 
terminal 30, which thus abuts against the terminal 14. Any imperfections, 
working tolerances and/or inaccuracies in assembly or simply in the 
connecting together of the connector parts are taken up by the ability of 
the female element to move within a plane (see U.S. Ser. No. 472,252, U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,984,867) and by the springs 31 for the male element 13 and 
consequently for the sleeve 29 within which the terminals 14 and 30 of the 
fiber optic cables abut (snapwise).