Optical connector and splicing device using double diameter resilient

Abstract

A connector for coupling opposed optical fibers includes a cluster of resilient cylindrical rods which are given double diameters for ease of rod mounting, with the large diameter distal ends of the rods providing that the smaller diameter nose ends are in spaced-apart relationship when the distal ends are maintained in mutual contact in a housing. The spaced-apart nose ends are compressed onto a fiber by sliding a rigid ferrule with a tapered central bore over the nose ends. Each double diameter rod has two cylindrical portions, a nose portion of smaller diameter sized to provide an interstitial space between the nose portions of the rod cluster which is slightly smaller than the smallest fiber to be utilized so as to clamp the smallest fiber, and a distal portion of larger diameter sized to provide an interstitial space between the distal portions which is slightly larger than the largest of the optical fibers to be utilized. In the connector version of the subject system, ferruled clusters are inserted in opposition in an alignment sleeve, whereas in a version adopted for splicing, a single cluster of double diameter rods is utilized in which fibers are inserted at either end so as to meet in the interstitial space adjacent the nose portions. A centrally-bored rigid cap is then forced over the nose portions to capture and align the opposed fibers contained therein.