Low cost hardened fiber optic connection system
The present disclosure relates to a ruggedized/hardened fiber optic connection system designed to reduce cost. In one example, selected features of a fiber optic adapter are integrated with a wall ( 24 ) of an enclosure ( 22 ). The adapter comprises a sleeve port ( 26 ) into which an optical adapter subassembly is inserted. The subassembly comprises a sleeve part ( 44 ) which is inserted into the sleeve, a ferrule alignment sleeve ( 48 ) which is inserted into the sleeve part, a ferrule ( 55 ) with hub which is inserted into the alignment sleeve, and fixing clip ( 46 ) securing the ferrule with hub into the alignment sleeve and the sleeve part.
1. A telecommunications device, comprising:
an enclosure having an outer enclosure wall including a port defining portion unitarily integrated with the outer enclosure wall, the port defining portion defining a connector port having an outer end and an inner end, the connector port being configured for directly receiving a fiber optic connector through the outer end of the connector port; and
a subassembly that mounts at the inner end of the connector port, the subassembly including a housing piece that mounts at the inner end of the connector port, the subassembly also including a ferrule alignment sleeve that mounts within the housing piece, the subassembly further including a ferrule having a front end portion that fits within the ferrule alignment sleeve, the ferrule supporting an optical fiber that extends through the ferrule in a lengthwise orientation.
2. The telecommunications device of claim 1 , wherein the ferrule is semi-permanently secured in the ferrule alignment sleeve.
3. The telecommunications device of claim 1 , wherein the subassembly does not include a connector release sleeve for use in releasing the ferrule from the housing piece.
4. The telecommunications device of claim 1 , wherein the ferrule is axially fixed relative to the housing piece.
5. The telecommunications device of claim 1 , wherein the ferrule is not spring biased relative to the housing piece.
6. The telecommunications device of claim 1 , wherein the subassembly further includes a retaining housing arrangement that attaches to the housing piece to retain the ferrule in the ferrule alignment sleeve.
7. The telecommunications device of claim 6 , wherein the retaining housing arrangement interlocks with the housing piece.
8. The telecommunications device of claim 7 , wherein the retaining housing arrangement interlocks with the housing piece by a snap-fit connection.
9. The telecommunications device of claim 8 , wherein the retaining housing arrangement snaps inside the housing piece.
10. The telecommunications device of claim 7 , wherein the subassembly does not include a release sleeve for releasing the retaining housing arrangement from the housing piece.
11. The telecommunications device of claim 8 , wherein the retaining housing arrangement semi-permanently connects to the housing piece.
12. The telecommunications device of claim 1 , wherein the housing piece includes opposite first and second ends, wherein the first end is positioned at the inner end of the connector port, and wherein the subassembly further comprises a retainer that loads into the housing piece through the second end of the housing piece and that captures and retains the ferrule alignment sleeve within the housing piece.
13. The telecommunications device of claim 1 , wherein the housing piece includes opposite first and second ends, wherein the first end is positioned at the inner end of the connector port, wherein the ferrule is inserted into the housing piece through the second end of the housing piece, wherein the subassembly includes a ferrule hub mounted on the ferrule, and wherein the ferrule hub interlocks with the housing piece to retain the ferrule in the ferrule alignment sleeve.
14. The telecommunications device of claim 13 , further comprising a mechanical interface between the ferrule hub and an interior of the housing piece that retains the ferrule in a fixed rotational position relative to the housing piece, the fixed rotational position being relative to a central longitudinal axis that extends axially through the ferrule.
15. The telecommunications device of claim 1 , wherein the housing piece includes opposite first and second end ends, wherein the first end is positioned at the inner end of the connector port, wherein the ferrule is inserted into the housing piece through the second end of the housing piece, wherein the subassembly includes a ferrule hub mounted on the ferrule, and wherein the ferrule hub includes a portion that opposes an end of the ferrule alignment sleeve and retains the ferrule alignment sleeve within the housing piece.
16. The telecommunications device of claim 1 , further comprising a connector fastening structure positioned along a length of the connector port configured to mate with a corresponding fastening structure of the fiber optic connector to secure the fiber optic connector within the connector port.
17. The telecommunications device of claim 16 , wherein the fastening structures include interlocking features.
18. The telecommunications device of claim 17 , wherein the interlocking features include threads.
19. The telecommunications device of claim 1 , further comprising an interlock positioned along a length of the connector port configured to engage the fiber optic connector to secure the fiber optic connector within the connector port.
20. The telecommunications device of claim 1 , wherein in normal use the ferrule is not intended to be removed from the housing piece.
21. A telecommunications device, comprising:
an enclosure having an enclosure wall and a sleeve unitarily integrated with the enclosure wall, the sleeve defining a connector port that extends through the enclosure wall, the sleeve having an outer end and an inner end, the connector port being configured for directly receiving a fiber optic connector through the outer end of the sleeve; and
a subassembly that mounts within the enclosure at the inner end of the sleeve, the subassembly including a housing including a front housing piece that mounts at the inner end of the sleeve, the subassembly also including a ferrule alignment sleeve that mounts within the front housing piece, the subassembly further including a ferrule assembly including a ferrule and a ferrule hub mounted at a rear end of the ferrule, the ferrule having a front end portion that fits within the ferrule alignment sleeve, the ferrule supporting an optical fiber that extends through the ferrule in a rear-to-front orientation, and the subassembly further including a rear housing piece that is secured behind the front housing piece and retains the ferrule within the ferrule alignment sleeve.
22. The telecommunications device of claim 21 , wherein the ferrule is semi-permanently secured in the ferrule alignment sleeve.
23. The telecommunications device of claim 21 , wherein in normal use the ferrule is not intended to be removed from the front housing piece.
24. The telecommunications device of claim 21 , wherein the subassembly does not include a connector release sleeve for use in releasing the ferrule from the front housing piece.
25. The telecommunications device of claim 21 , wherein the ferrule is axially fixed relative to the front housing piece.
26. The telecommunications device of claim 21 , wherein the ferrule is not spring biased relative to the front housing piece.
27. The telecommunications device of claim 21 , wherein the subassembly does not include a release sleeve for releasing the rear housing piece from the front housing piece.
28. The telecommunications device of claim 21 , wherein the rear housing piece semi-permanently connects to the front housing piece.
29. The telecommunications device of claim 21 , further comprising a mechanical interface between the ferrule hub and an interior of the front housing piece that retains the ferrule in a fixed rotational position relative to the front housing piece, the fixed rotational position being relative to a central longitudinal axis that extends axially through the ferrule.
30. The telecommunications device of claim 21 , wherein the front housing piece includes opposite first and second end ends, wherein the first end is positioned at the inner end of the sleeve, wherein the ferrule is inserted into the front housing piece through the second end of the front housing piece, and wherein the ferrule hub includes a portion that opposes an end of the ferrule alignment sleeve and retains the ferrule alignment sleeve within the front housing piece.
31. The telecommunications device of claim 21 , further comprising a connector fastening structure positioned along a length of the sleeve configured to mate with a corresponding fastening structure of the fiber optic connector to secure the fiber optic connector within the connector port.
32. The telecommunications device of claim 31 , wherein the fastening structures include interlocking features.
33. The telecommunications device of claim 32 , wherein the interlocking features include threads.
34. The telecommunications device of claim 21 , further comprising an interlock positioned along a length of the sleeve configured to engage the fiber optic connector to secure the fiber optic connector within the connector port.