Efficient alignment structure for multiple connectors branching from a single optical cable
A housing structure includes: an optical cable including optical fibers; connector units branching off from the optical cable; and a housing body that houses the connector units. Each of the connector units includes: a first tube through which the optical fibers pass; second tubes through each of which the optical fibers branching off from the first tube pass; and a connector group constituted by optical connectors that are each disposed at an end part of each of the second tubes. The connector group of each of the connector units is disposed at a different position in a length direction from the connector group of any other one of the connector units. The first tube of each of the connector units other than a first connector unit that is shortest among the connector units overlaps in the length direction the connector group of the first connector unit.
1 . A housing structure comprising:
an optical cable comprising optical fibers;
connector units branching off from the optical cable; and
a housing body that houses the connector units, wherein
each of the connector units comprises:
a first tube through which the optical fibers pass;
second tubes through each of which the optical fibers branching off from the first tube pass; and
a connector group constituted by optical connectors that are each disposed at an end part of each of the second tubes,
in a length direction, none of the connector groups overlap one another,
an outer diameter of each of the second tubes is smaller than an outer diameter of the first tube,
a total of cross-sectional areas of the second tubes in one of the connector units is larger than a cross-sectional area of the first tube in the one of the connector units,
the connector units are divided into at least a first unit group and a second unit group,
the connector units in the second unit group are all disposed closer to a leading end of the optical cable than any of the connector units in the first unit group,
in the length direction, none of the connector groups of the connector units in the first unit group overlaps the second tubes of any of the other connector units, and
in the length direction, the connector groups of the connector units in the second unit group other than a longest one of the connector units overlaps the second tubes of at least one of the connector units in the second unit group.
2 . A pulling-end-equipped optical cable comprising:
an optical cable comprising optical fibers;
connector units branching off from the optical cable; and
a housing body that houses the connector units, wherein
each of the connector units comprises:
a first tube through which the optical fibers pass;
second tubes through each of which the optical fibers branching off from the first tube pass; and
a connector group constituted by optical connectors that are each disposed at an end part of each of the second tubes,
in a length direction, none of the connector groups overlap one another,
an outer diameter of each of the second tubes is smaller than an outer diameter of the first tube,
a total of cross-sectional areas of the second tubes in one of the connector units is larger than a cross-sectional area of the first tube in the one of the connector units,
the connector units are divided into at least a first unit group and a second unit group,
the connector units in the second unit group are all disposed closer to a leading end of the pulling-end-equipped optical cable than any of the connector units in the first unit group,
in the length direction, none of the connector groups of the connector units in the first unit group overlaps the second tubes of any of the other connector units, and
in the length direction, the connector group of the connector units in the second unit group other than a longest one of the connector units overlaps the second tubes of at least one of the connector units in the second unit group.
3 . The pulling-end-equipped optical cable according to claim 2 , further comprising
a braided tube that houses the housing body, wherein
a pulling part is disposed at a first end part of the braided tube, and
a second end part of the braided tube that is on an opposite side from the second end part is fixed to the optical cable.
4 . A method for manufacturing a housing structure, the method comprising:
creating connector units that:
branch off from an optical cable, and
each include:
a first tube;
second tubes; and
a connector group constituted by optical connectors that are each disposed at an end part of each of the second tubes, by
passing optical fibers that branch off from the optical cable through the first tube,
passing the optical fibers that branch off from the first tube through the second tubes, and
providing each of the optical connectors at an end part of each of the optical fibers that have been passed through the second tubes; and
housing the connector units in a housing body such that
the connector units are divided into at least a first unit group and a second unit group,
the connector units in the second unit group are all disposed closer to a leading end of the optical cable than any of the connector units in the first unit group,
in a length direction, none of the connector groups of the connector units in the first unit group overlaps the second tubes of any of the other connector units, and
in the length direction, the connector groups of the connector units in the second unit group other than a longest one of the connector units overlaps the second tubes of at least one of the connector units in the second unit group, wherein
an outer diameter of each of the second tubes is smaller than an outer diameter of the first tube, and
a total of cross-sectional areas of the second tubes in one of the connector units is larger than a cross-sectional area of the first tube in the one of the connector units.