Device for retaining wire-like optical wave-guide

Abstract: A device for retaining a wire-like optical wave-guide, which is for use in an optical connector or the like, includes: a cylindrical plug (2) made of an elastic material for gripping the outer peripheral surface of a wire-like optical wave-guide (6), at least one end portion of the plug, having a predetermined length, being divided into a plurality of portions (10) in its circumferential direction, the cylindrical plug having an expanded form in which a distance from an axis of the plug to each of the divided portions (9) gradually increases toward the one end of the plug; and a tightening member (3) for pressing the vicinity of said free end of said cylindrical plug, which is in a state where the wire-like optical wave-guide is passed through the plug along the axis of the plug so as to allow the wire-like optical wave-guide to be retained by the cylindrical plug, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the plug from the outside of the plug and for deforming the divided portions and thereby causing a retaining force to be applied to the optical fiber in a proximal end of the divided portions, which is separated from the pressing portion (5).

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for retaining a wire-like optical wave-guide which is for use in an optical connector or the like. Optical connectors are used at many places in optical telecommunication systems where detachable optical connection is required, such as switch-over of equipment, removal or reception transmission boards or adjustment of devices. The optical connector is basically constructed as follows: a sleeve or housing is fitted onto the outer periphery of a wire-like optical wave-guide (e.g., an optical fiber), consisting of a core and a clad, coaxially with it to form a plug having a sufficiently large diameter which ensures easy handling, and another plug with a tightening fastener is then mounted on the outer periphery of the plug. A pair of thus-obtained assemblies are coupled with each other utilizing the above-described another plugs. Alignment and coupling of the two plugs is achieved by using a receptacle with a split sleeve or a collect chuck to align a plug. Various types of "wire-like optical wave-guide retaining devices" for use in an optical connector are known. Examples of such devices include one in which a wire-like optical wave-guide is fixed by means of an adhesive, and one in which a wire-like optical wave-guide is fixed by means of the caulking. In such retaining devices which employ the above-described conventional fixing techniques, although reliable fixing of the wire-like optical wave-guide is provided, a difference in the rate at which the optical wave-guide and the retaining member are expanded or contracted when the temperature changes, caused by a difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the wire-like optical wave-guide and the optical wave-guide retaining member, or variations in the dimensions of the components cannot be absorbed. In consequence, an excess stress may be generated in the components of the retaining device, particularly, in the wire-like optical wave-guide, thus shortening the life of the wave-like optical wave-guide. Furthermore, in the retaining devices employing the above-described conventional fixing techniques, in a case where it is determined that the retaining device is a non-conforming article in a test which is conducted after the assembly has been completed, it is impossible to disassemble the device to replace the non-conforming component with a good one. In consequence, the yield is low, and production is very uneconomical. In the case of the retaining device which employs an adhesive to fix the optical wave-guide, it takes some time for the adhesive to dry, and this lowers the productivity. Furthermore, hardening of the adhesive may shift the position of the wire-like optical wave-guide. In the case of the retaining device which employs caulking, when the amount of caulking force exceeds a predetermined magnitude, the wire-like optical wave-guide is broken, necessitating strict management of the caulking force. Another known retaining device, described in GB-A-2 177 229, comprises a body bearing a threaded portion accomodating an optical fibre between a tapered section. If a nut is screwed onto the threaded portion, the fibre is clamped and squeezed between the length of the tapered section. This leads to an undefined extent and direction of the gripping force endangering the fibre itself. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a device for retaining a wire-like optical wave-guide which allows no excess stress to be applied to the wire-like optical wave-guide, which would occur when environments including a change in the temperature change or when variations in the dimensions of components occur. Another object of the present invetion is to provide a device for retaining a wire-like optical wave-guide which provides easy assembly and improved productivity, which can be disassembled and then be assembled again, after a test has been conducted on an assembly, and which therefore allows production costs to be reduced. To this end, the present invention provides a device for retaining a wire-like optical wave-guide comprising a cylindrical member of an elastic material having a central bore and comprising a gripper portion and a base portion, wherein at least one wire-like optical wave guide is to be inserted into said central bore from a free end of said gripper portion and the inner diameter of the central bore within the gripper portion is largest at said free end and becomes smaller toward the proximal end of said gripper portion; and a tightening member being arranged around said gripper portion for applying a pressing force in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of said gripper portion from an outside of the gripper portion so as to narrow said central bore within said gripper portion and thereby is adapted to apply a retaining force to the wire-like optical wave-guide, wherein at least one end portion of said cylindrical member is formed as said gripper portion, the gripper portion is divided into a plurality of finger-shaped portions over the entire length thereof in the circumferential direction, the circumference of said gripper portion expands, when the tightening member is in place, from a point, which is adjacent to said proximal end of said gripper portion but is separated from said proximal end, towards said free end of said gripper portion in such a manner that the distance from the longitudinal center axis of said cylindrical member to the respective inner and outer surfaces of each of the finger-shaped portions increases in a direction toward said free end of said cylindrical member, and wherein the inner diameter of said central bore defined by the plurality of said tightened finger-shaped portions is narrowest at a point which is adjacent to said proximal end of said gripper portion but is separated therefrom; and said tightening member is adapted to apply said pressing force at said free end of said gripper portion onto the wire-like optical wave guide extending in said central bore so that said retaining force is applied to the wire-like optical wave-guide at said narrowest point which is distant from said free end of said gripper portion. In a device according to the invention, the fibre is gripped by the finger-shaped portions at points distant from their free end in a cantilever action which effects a secure and defined grip without damaging the fibre. Divided finger-shaped portions are known per se, see WO-A1-8601610, but not for gripping the fibre but for clamping a buffer jacket surrounding and protecting the fibre. For the fibre itself, a resiliently compressible clamp is provided which is compressed by the end points of the finger-shaped portions and over its length is squeezing the fibre. Now, the expanded form of the cylindrical member or plug will be defined: in a typical expanded form, the divided finger-shaped portions of the cylindrical plug have the same wall thickness in the axial direction of the plug, and the inner and outer surfaces of the finger-shaped portions are inclined such that they gradually separate from the axis as they approach the one end, i.e, a free end thereof. In this form, the inner and outer diameters of the finger-shaped portions are generally at maximum at the free and thereof. In another example of the expanded form, whereas the outer diameter of the finger-shaped portions remains the same in the axial direction of the cylindrical plug, the inner diameter is larger, i.e., the wall thickness is smaller, than that of the remaining portion, over a predetermined length of the plug from the one end, i.e., from the free end thereof. In that case, the inner diameter may be gradually increased or may be increased uniformly over the predetermined range from the free end, as they approach to the end. In still another example of the expanded form, the outer surface of the finger-shaped portions is gradually separated from the axis toward the one end, i.e., a free end, and the inner surface of the finger-shaped portions is formed in the same manner as that of the second example. In the first example, the inner surface of the finger-shaped portions is inclined such that it is gradually separated from the axis of the plug toward the free end thereof. The angle at which the inner surface is inclined is referred to as an expansion angle. In the other two examples, the inner surface of the finger-shaped portions is not always inclined. So, magnitude of the expansion angle is defined by a difference between the inner diameter of the portion having a large wall thickness which is remote from the free end and the inner diameter of the portion having a small wall thickness which is close to the free end. In other words, the larger the difference, the larger the expansion angle. The smaller the difference, the smaller the expansion angle. The vicinity of the free end of the finger-shaped portions of the cylindrical plug which are shaped in an expanded form is pressed from the outside thereof by the tightening member and is thereby deformed, by means of which the other portion to the finger-shaped portions which is separated from the pressing portion and which is the proximal end or the gripping portion of the finger-shaped portions is pressed against the surface of the wire-like optical wave-guide so as to allow the wire-like optical wave-guide to be reliably retained. In this invention, since the point at which the pressing force is applied to the finger-shaped portions is separated from the point at which the retaining force of the finger-shaped portion acts on the wire-like optical wave-guide in the axial direction of the cylindrical plug, the pressing force applied to the finger-shaped portion acts on the wire-like optical wave-guide in the form of an elastic force of the finger-shaped portions which serve as cushioning members. The magnitude of the retaining force applied to the wire-like optical wave-guide is determined by the initial expansion angle of the finger-shaped portions because, as the initial expansion angle of the finger-shaped portions increases, the degree at which the free end of the finger-shaped portions is deformed by the tightening member increases, thereby increasing the pressure exerted on the wire-like optical wave-guide by the finger-shaped portions, i.e., the retaining force. This means that the retaining force applied to the wire-like optical wave-guide can be adequately determined by suitably, selecting the initial expansion angle of the finger-shaped portions. In this invention, even if there exists a difference in the rate at which the components of the retaining device and the wire-like optical wave-guide are expanded or contracted when the temperature changes, or even if there exist variations in the dimensions of the components of the retaining device and the optical wave-guide, the difference in the expansion or contraction rate or the variations in the dimensions is absorbed by the portion of the elastic divided finger-shaped portions which is located between the point of application of pressing force and the point of action, and generation of excessive stress in the wire-like optical wave-guide or damage of the wire-like optical wave-guide can be thereby eliminated. Furthermore, the retaining device can be easily disassembled by removing the pressing force exerted on the cylindrical plug by the tightening member, and the separate components can be put together again to form the retaining device. In consequence, yield can be increased, and the production cost can be reduced. The cylindrical plug may be formed of any elastic material, such as brass, stainless steel (JIS SUS 304), an engineering plastic or a fiber reinforced resin. Other and further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an exploded side elevational view of a first embodiment of a wire-like optical wave-guide retaining device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the retaining device of Fig. 1, showing an assembly process; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the retaining device in an assembled state; Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4 - 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5 - 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5A is a cross-sectional view a modification of a cylindrical plug, and corresponds to Fig. 5; Fig. 6 explains the wire-like optical wave-guide retaining principle; Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the essential parts of the wire-like optical wave-guide retaining device, showing a second embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the essential parts of the wire-like optical wave-guide retaining device, showing a third embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. Referring first to Fig. 1, a device for retaining a wire-like optical wave-guide (hereinafter referred to as an optical fiber) includes an optical fiber guide tube 1, a cylindrical plug 2 made of a relatively soft elastic material, a cylindrical tightening member 3, a jacket retaining tube 4, and a pressurizing ring 5. The optical fiber guide tube 1 has an end wall 7 at one end thereof. The other end of the guide tube 1 is opened. An opening 7a having the same diameter as that of the outer diameter of an optical fiber 6 is formed in the end wall 7. The optical fiber guide tube 1 may be formed of 18 Cr-8Ni stainless steel (JIS SUS 304), zirconia or a resin. It has an outer diameter of 1.25 mm, 2.0 mm or 2.5 mm. The cylindrical plug 2 is formed of a relatively soft material such as copper or a copper alloy. A left half of the cylindrical plug 2 as viewed in Fig. 1 forms a base portion 8 having a peripheral wall which is continuous in the circumferential direction. A right half of the cylindrical plug 2 has two cuts 9 which extend along the axis of the plug 2 from the right end thereof through a predetermined length and which thereby divide the cylindrical plug 2 into a pair of opposed elastic portions 10 along the axial direction thereof. The divided portions 2 have an expanded form. Each of the portions 10 has a groove 10a on its inner surface at the center thereof. The groove 10a extends over the entire length of the portion 10 (see Figs. 4 and 5). In this embodiment, the right half of the cylindrical plug 2 has two cuts 9. However, it may have more than two cuts. The same thing applies to a cut 11, which will be described later. In contract to the plug 2, the tightening member 3 has two cuts 11 on a left half thereof which extend along the axis thereof from its left end through a predetermined length and which thereby divide the left half portion into a pair of opposed portions 12 in the circumferential direction, as shown in Fig. 1. The opposed portions 12 are expanded at the open end thereof. The right half of the tightening member 3 forms a base portion 13 having a peripheral wall which is continuous in the circumferential direction. The tightening member 3 has a protrusion 14 on the outer peripheral surface of the portion thereof which is the end portions, in the vicinity of the base portion 13, of the divided portions 12. The protrusion 14 is substantially annular excluding the cuts 11. Each of the portions 12 has a groove 12a on its inner surface at the center thereof. The groove 12a extends over the entire length of the portion 12 (see Figs. 4 and 5). The jacket retaining tube 4 has a small-diameter center hole 15 having the same dimension as the outer diameter of the optical fiber 6, and a large-diameter center hole 16 having the same dimension as the outer diameter of a jacket 17 which covers the optical fiber 6, as shown in Fig. 2. The small-diameter center hole 15 and the large-diameter center hole 16 continue in the longitudinal direction of the jacket retaining tube 4 and thereby form a through-hole which passes the tube 4 along the axis thereof. The pressurizing ring 5 has an opening 18 at the central portion thereof which passes the ring 5 along the axis thereof. The opening 18 has an inner diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the protrusion 14 of the tightening member 3. The pressurizing ring 5 has at least one positioning groove 19 on its outer peripheral surface. The positioning groove 19 is used to align the optical axis of the optical fiber to that of an optical fiber which is retained by an opposite optical connector. Next, how to assemble this retaining device will be described. First, the divided portions 10 of the plug 2 are inserted into a hollow portion of the tightening member 3 in a state where the cuts 9 oppose the corresponding cuts 11, as shown in Fig. 1. Next, the forward end portion of the tightening member 3 with the portions 10 inserted therein is inserted into the hollow portion of the optical fiber guide tube 1 until the protrusion 14 makes contact with the open end of the optical fiber guide tube 1. Subsequently, the jacket retaining tube 4 is inserted into a central hole formed in the base portion 13 of the tightening member 3, and the pressurizing ring 5 is then fitted onto the outer periphery of the base portion 13 at a position where the end of the pressurizing ring 5 is in contact with the protrusion 14. Thus, the optical fiber guide tube 1, the plug 2, the tightening member 3, the jacket retaining tube 4 and the pressurizing ring 5 are put together to form an assembly. Next, in this state, the optical fiber 6 excluding part of the jacket 17 thereof is passed first through the large-diameter center hole 16 of the jacket retaining tube 4, the small diameter center hole 15, a central hole 20 of the plug 2 then through the opening 7a of the end wall 7 until the forward end portion of the optical fiber 6 protrudes from the optical fiber guide tube 1 and part of the jacket 17 is placed within the large-diameter center hole 16 of the jacket retaining tube 4, as shown in Fig. 2. Thereafter, the pressurizing ring 5 is forcibly moved in the direction indicated by the arrow X in Fig. 2 and fitted onto the protrusion 14. As stated above, the portions 12 initially have an expanded form. In consequence, the forced movement of the pressurizing ring 5 presses the portions 12 inwardly. As shown in Fig. 6, when the pressing force F is applied perpendicular to the axis of the plug 2, the free end portions of the divided portions 10 are pressed toward the axis of the plug 2. This causes the portion (gripping portion 21) of the divided portions 10 which is close to the base portion to grip elastically the periphery of the optical fiber 6. Fig. 5 shows a state in which the substantially overall periphery of the optical fiber 6 is firmly gripped by the elastic portions 10. The free end portions of the divided portions 10 are not in contact with the optical fiber 6, as shown in Fig. 4. They are separated from the optical fiber 6 by a gap 22. Thus, the gripping portion 21 of the divided portions 10 (a point of gripping action) and a pressing portion 23 (a point of application of force) are separated by a predetermined distance in the axial direction of the optical fiber 6, i.e., the pressing portion 23 is not equal to the gripping portion 21. Fig. 5A shows another examples of the divided portions 10 and 10A. In this example, only one divided portion 10 in the pair of divided portions has a groove 10a. After the optical fiber 6 has been retained in the above-described manner, the forward end portion (shown by the dot-dashed line in Fig. 3) of the optical fiber 6 which protrudes from the optical fiber guide tube 1 is cut or polished to align the optical fiber 5 to the forward end surface of the optical fiber guide tube 1, thereby completing assembly of a ferrule type optical connector. In this embodiment, the pressurizing ring 5 is forcibly fitted onto the outer periphery of the tightening member 3 to impart a pressing force to the plug 2 through the tightening member 3. However, the optical fiber guide tube 1 may be arranged such that it has the function of the pressuring ring 5. A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 7. In this embodiment, the cylindrical plug 2 made of an elastic material has a base portion 8 at a center thereof, and a plurality of divided portions 10 on the two sides of the base portion 8. When the cylindrical tightening member 3 is forcibly fitted onto the outer periphery of the plug 2, the pressing force is received by the pressing portion 23, by which the optical fiber 6 is elastically gripped by the gripping portion 21. In this embodiment, the gripping portion 21 and the pressing portion 23 are separated from each other along the axis of the optical fiber 6, as in the case of the first embodiment. It will be also understood that a modified plug, being divided into a plurality of portions over the entire length thereof without base ring-like portion such as the portion 8, can be adopted by those skilled in the art, maintaining the same function as the plug 2. A third embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 8. In this embodiment, the tightening member 3 has no cuts and thus has a cylindrical shape. The tightening member 3 has a shoulder 25 on its inner peripheral surface at the substantially central position thereof in the longitudinal direction. The shoulder 25 is inclined inwardly in the radial direction. A cylindrical holder 26 is interposed between the optical fiber guide tube 1 and the plug 2. The cylindrical holder 26 has a collar 27 on its outer periphery at a substantially central position. A washer 28 is fitted onto the outer periphery of the tightening member 3 at a position where it is in contact with a stopper shoulder formed on the outer periphery of the tightening member 3. Between the washer 28 and the collar 27 is interposed a compression coil spring 29. Fig. 8 shows a state in which the wire-like optical wave-guide retaining device is being assembled. The spring 29 is not yet compressed, and bifurcated forward end portion 30 of the plug 2 are opposed to the inclined shoulder 25 of the tightening member 3. In this state, the optical fiber 6 is inserted into the central hole 20 of the plug 2, and the tightening member 3 is then forcibly moved toward the holder 26 against the elastic force of the spring 29. This causes the forward end portions 30 of the plug 3 to ride on the inclined shoulder 25 of the tightening member 3. As a result, a strong gripping force is generated in the pair of portions 10 which are expanded toward the open ends thereof, and reliable retaining of the optical fiber 6 is thereby ensured. As will be understood from the foregoing description, since the gripping portion (the point of gripping action) of the divided portions which retain the wire-like optical wave-guide and the pressing portion (the point of application of force) are separated from each other in the axial direction of the plug, a difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the wire-like optical wave-guide and the plug or variations in the dimensions in the radial direction can be absorbed, and no undesired stress is thereby generated. In a case where it is determined in a test that the completed retaining assembly is a non-conforming article, the retaining assembly can be disassembled into components without damaging them by removing the tightening member or the like and thereby removing the pressing or tightening force, the disassembled components, being then put together into an assembly again. Consequently, yield is increased, and production cost is reduced.

Claims: A device for retaining a wire-like optical wave-guide, the device comprising: a cylindrical member of an elastic material having a central bore and comprising a gripper portion and a base portion (8), wherein at least one wire-like optical wave guide (6) is to be inserted into said central bore from a free end of said gripper portion and the inner diameter of the central bore within the gripper portion is largest at said free end and becomes smaller toward the proximal end of said gripper portion; and a tightening member being arranged around said gripper portion for applying a pressing force in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of said gripper portion from an outside of the gripper portion so as to narrow said central bore within said gripper portion and thereby is adapted to apply a retaining force to the wire-like optical wave-guide (6), wherein at least one end portion of said cylindrical member (2) is formed as said gripper portion, the gripper portion is divided into a plurality of finger-shaped portions (10) over the entire length thereof in the circumferential direction, the circumference of said gripper portion expands, when the tightening member is in place, from a point, which is adjacent to said proximal end of said gripper portion but is separated from said proximal end, towards said free end of said gripper portion in such a manner that the distance from the longitudinal center axis of said cylindrical member to the respective inner and outer surfaces of each of the finger-shaped portions (10) increases in a direction toward said free end of said cylindrical member, and wherein the inner diameter of said central bore defined by the plurality of said tightened finger-shaped portions is narrowest at a point which is adjacent to said proximal end of said gripper portion but is separated therefrom; and said tightening member (3) is adapted to apply said pressing force at said free end (23) of said gripper portion onto the wire-like optical wave guide extending in said central bore so that said retaining force is applied to the wire-like optical wave-guide at said narrowest point (21) which is distant from said free end (23) of said gripper portion. A device for retaining a wire-like optical wave-guide according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said finger-shaped portions (10) has a wire-like optical wave-guide retaining groove (10a) on its inner surface, said groove extending along the axis of said cylindrical member (2). A device for retaining a wire-like optical wave-guide according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical member has a base portion (8) and said finger-shaped portions which are formed integrally with and extending from said base portion, said base portion (8) having a peripheral wall which is continuous in the circumferential direction, and a central hole (20) for the wire-like optical wave-guide which extends along the axis of the plug. A device for retaining a wire-like optical wave-guide according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical member (2) has central portion which forms a base portion (8) and is divided into plurality of finger-shaped portions (10) on the circumference thereof at both ends of the plug over a predetermined length. A device for retaining a wire-like optical wave-guide according to claim 1, modified insofar as said cylindrical member (2) is divided into a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction over the entire lenght thereof, i.e. so as to form said cylindrical member as a collection of a plurality of portions. A device for retaining a wire-like optical wave-guide according to claim 1, wherein said tightening member (3) includes a base portion (13) and a plurality of divided portions (12) which extend from one end portion of said base portion, the entirety of said tightening member having a substantially cylindrical shape, said divided portions (12) having an expanded form in which the distance from the axis of the base portion to each of the divided portions gradually increases toward free ends of said divided portions (12) so that all the finger-shaped portions (10) of said cylindrical member (2) having an expanded form can be received in thee free ends of the divided portions (12) and so that the wire-like optical wave-guide (6) can be passed there through along the axis of said tightening member, and wherein, when a pressing force is applied to all the divided portions (12) of said tightening member (3) from the outside thereof in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said tightening member (3) in a state where the wire-like optical wave-guide (6) is passed through said cylindrical member (2) and said tightening member (3) along the axes thereof and in a state where all the finger-shaped portions (10) of said cylindrical member (2) are placed within an inner space formed by said plurality of divided portions (12) of said tightening member (3), a retaining force is applied to the wire-like optical wave-guide (6) in said gripping portion (21) of said finger-shaped portions (10) of said cylindrical member (2). A device for retaining a wire-like optical wave-guide according to claim 6, wherein the wall thickness of the end portion (14), in the vicinity of said base portion (13), of said plurality of divided portions (12) of said tightening member (3) is made larger than that of the other portion, and the outer surface of said end portion (14) forms an inclined shoulder, so that a pressurizing ring (5) to be fitted onto said shoulder is made to apply pressing force to all the divided portions (12) of said tightening member (3) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis thereof. A device for retaining a wire-like optical wave-guide according to claim 1, wherein said tightening member (3) has a tubular form, said tightening member having a substantially fixed inner diameter over a predetermined range from one end thereof, said inner diameter being reduced in a tapered fashion (25) over another predetermined range beyond said predetermined range, and wherein, when all the finger-shaped portions (10) of said cylindrical member (2) are inserted into said tightening member (3) from said end thereof in a contracted state until the free ends of said finger-shaped portions (10) make contact with said tapered portion (25) and then the finger-shaped portions (10) are pushed further into the tightening member (3), portions (10) are pressed towards each other and thus deformed by which a retaining force is applied to the wire-like optical wave-guide in the gripping portion (21) of said finger-shaped portions (10), which is separated from the free ends to which the pressing force (F) is applied. A wire-like optical wave-guide retaining assembly, particularly a connector, comprising the device according to one of claims 1 to 8, in which a wire-like optical wave-guide (6) is inserted. An assembly according to claim 9, further comprising a guide tube (1) which is open at one end thereof and which has an end wall (7) at the other end thereof, the base portion of said cylindrical member (2) being inserted into said guide tube, a forward end portion of said wire-like optical wave-guide which is passed through said cylindrical plug being passed through an opening (7a) formed in said end wall on an axis of said guide tube.

Inventors: KOAKUTSU YASUMASA, MATUMOTO SYUJI, KOAKUTSU, YASUMASA, MATUMOTO, SYUJI
Applicants: HITACHI LTD, SHINKO GIKEN KK, HITACHI, LTD., SHINKOGIKEN, LTD.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G02B6
IPC codes: G02B6