Push-pull type MPO connector
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a push-pull type multi-fiber push-on (MPO) connector, including a ferrule assembly, an inner housing, an outer housing, a stopper, a pull handle housing, and a tail sleeve. According to the connector, a fitting structure capable of sequentially transmitting a pulling force is disposed between adjacent two of the tail sleeve, the pull handle housing, and the outer housing. Meanwhile, a fitting structure capable of sequentially transmitting a pushing force is disposed between adjacent two of the tail sleeve, the pull handle housing, and the stopper. According to the present invention, the problem of difficult plugging and unplugging of a conventional MPO connector in high-density connection scenarios is effectively solved. During unplugging, there is no need to hold the space-constrained outer housing; and during plugging, there is no need to act directly on the outer housing or the bottom of the stopper.
1 . A push-pull type multi-fiber push-on (MPO) connector, comprising a ferrule assembly, an MPO inner housing, an MPO outer housing, and an MPO stopper which constitute a connector body, and a pull handle housing and an MPO tail sleeve which constitute a connector sleeve housing, wherein the pull handle housing is detachably connected to the MPO tail sleeve, and the pull handle housing is connected to the MPO outer housing;
a fitting structure capable of sequentially transmitting a pulling force is disposed between adjacent two of the MPO tail sleeve, the pull handle housing, and the MPO outer housing, such that when the MPO tail sleeve is pulled, the MPO outer housing is driven to move to withdraw the ferrule assembly of the connector from a receptacle; and
another fitting structure capable of sequentially transmitting a pushing force is disposed between adjacent two of the MPO tail sleeve, the pull handle housing, and the MPO stopper, such that when the MPO tail sleeve is pushed, the MPO stopper is driven to move to insert the ferrule assembly of the connector into the receptacle;
two opposite sidewalls of the MPO outer housing are each provided with axially extending sliding grooves, the pull handle housing is correspondingly provided with sliding rails, and the pull handle housing is snap-fitted into the MPO outer housing after the sliding grooves are slidably connected to the sliding rails and slide into place.
2 . The push-pull type MPO connector according to claim 1 , wherein in the fitting structure capable of sequentially transmitting the pulling force between adjacent two of the MPO tail sleeve, the pull handle housing, and the MPO outer housing,
an outer sidewall of an end part of the MPO tail sleeve is provided with a tail sleeve fastener boss, and the pull handle housing is correspondingly provided with a pull handle housing fastener recess that fits with the tail sleeve fastener boss;
an outer sidewall of the MPO outer housing is provided with an outer housing fastener boss that is located between the two sliding grooves on a same side, and the pull handle housing is correspondingly provided with a pull handle housing fastener boss that fits with the outer housing fastener boss; and
when the MPO tail sleeve is pulled, a fit surface between the tail sleeve fastener boss and the pull handle housing fastener recess, and a fit surface between the pull handle housing fastener boss and the outer housing fastener boss transmit the pulling force to drive the MPO outer housing to move.
3 . The push-pull type MPO connector according to claim 2 , wherein a position of a sidewall of the pull handle housing corresponding to the outer housing fastener boss is provided with a fastener release hole penetrating through the sidewall of the pull handle housing; and
when the pull handle housing needs to be disassembled from the MPO outer housing, a tool is inserted into the fastener release hole and an acting force is applied toward the outer housing fastener boss, such that the outer housing fastener boss is elastically deformed and disengaged from the pull handle housing fastener boss, thereby releasing a pulling force transmission connection between the pull handle housing and the MPO outer housing.
4 . The push-pull type MPO connector according to claim 1 , wherein in said another fitting structure capable of sequentially transmitting the pushing force between adjacent two of the MPO tail sleeve, the pull handle housing, and the MPO stopper,
a front end of the MPO tail sleeve is provided with a forward thrust surface extending radially inward, and a rear end surface of the pull handle housing is provided with a pull handle housing outer fitting surface corresponding to the forward thrust surface;
a rear end of the MPO stopper is provided with a forward force-bearing surface extending radially inward, and a front end surface of the pull handle housing is provided with a pull handle housing force application surface corresponding to the forward force-bearing surface; and
when the MPO tail sleeve is pushed, the forward thrust surface abuts against the pull handle housing outer fitting surface to transmit the pushing force from the MPO tail sleeve to the pull handle housing, and the pull handle housing force application surface abuts against the forward force-bearing surface to transmit the pushing force from the pull handle housing to the MPO stopper, thereby driving the MPO stopper to move.
5 . The push-pull type MPO connector according to claim 1 , wherein two opposite outer sidewalls of the MPO inner housing are provided with spring grooves, and side springs are mounted in the spring grooves;
other two opposite outer sidewalls of the MPO inner housing are provided with inner housing fasteners, inner sidewalls of the MPO outer housing are correspondingly provided with outer housing fasteners, the MPO outer housing is sleeved outside the bottom of the MPO inner housing, and the MPO outer housing is snap-fitted into the MPO inner housing via the inner housing fasteners and the outer housing fasteners; and
the ferrule assembly is inserted into the top of the MPO inner housing, the MPO stopper is inserted from the bottom of the MPO inner housing, two opposite outer sidewalls of the MPO stopper are provided with side fasteners, the MPO inner housing is correspondingly provided with side fastener holes, and the side fasteners are snap-fitted into the side fastener holes.
6 . The push-pull type MPO connector according to claim 5 , wherein a tail end of the ferrule assembly is sleeved with an MPO female socket, a central spring is disposed between the MPO female socket and the MPO stopper, one end of the central spring abuts against the MPO female socket, and the other end of the central spring abuts against the MPO stopper.
7 . The push-pull type MPO connector according to claim 1 , wherein two opposite sides of the bottom of the pull handle housing are provided with reinforcing posts; corresponding sides of a port of the MPO tail sleeve are provided with notch grooves, the notch grooves are configured to avoid the reinforcing posts and to enhance the elasticity of the port of the MPO tail sleeve, and groove bottoms of the notch grooves are provided with plug holes; and when the pull handle housing is connected to the MPO tail sleeve, the reinforcing posts are inserted into the plug holes.
8 . The push-pull type MPO connector according to claim 1 , wherein the outer periphery of the bottom of the MPO tail sleeve is provided with several boss dots, and the boss dots are configured to increase a gripping friction force; and
the outer periphery of the bottom of the MPO tail sleeve is provided with a plurality of gaps, and bending reinforcement ribs are arranged in the gaps and configured to increase the bending stiffness of the tail sleeve.
9 . The push-pull type MPO connector according to claim 1 , wherein one end of a cable outlet hole of the MPO tail sleeve is provided with a dual-ring platform, the dual-ring platform comprises a first ring platform close to the outside and a second ring platform close to the inside, the outer diameter of the first ring platform is greater than the outer diameter of the second ring platform, and a transitional inclined surface is provided between the two ring platforms.