| 摘要 |
<p>In an optical fiber connector (20), an alignment sleeve (66) for holding two conically shaped portions (30-30) of plugs (24-24) of plug assemblies (22-22) each of which terminates an optical fiber (25) of a cable 35 includes two conically shaped cavities (68,70) communicating through a common plane (72). The conically shaped portion of each plug is urged toward the center of the sleeve by a spring (44). Each plug assembly at its cable entrance end is provided with an end retainer (80) having a central opening which is larger than the cross sectional area of the plug body but not of a retaining ring (42) disposed around the plug. When caps (46-46) of the plug assemblies are mounted and turned into a coupling housing (57) which encloses the sleeve and which is supported by a panel, the sleeve is maintained in a floating position under the urging of each plug. The sleeve together with the plugs therein is capable of movement prior to the occurrence of relative movement between one of the plugs and the sleeve. When unwanted exterior axial forces are applied to one cable, the plug which terminates that cable may move slightly but the distance between the retaining ring and the end retainer does not exceed that required to cause relative movement between the plug and sleeve and hence is insufficient to cause the optical connection between the two plugs to be broken. Also, the diameter of the plug and of the opening through the end retainer and through an interior annular lip in the cap are such that upon the application of forces laterally to the plug, the plug engages the end retainer before it engages the lip thereby limiting angular movement of the plug.</p> |
