Optical fiber connector having enhanced provisions for interconnection and for prevention of optical and mechanical disconnection.

摘要

An optical fiber connector (22) which is assembled to a coupling housing (90) by causing only relative linear motion between the connector and the housing and which also includes facilities for preventing optical disconnection from another connector having a portion disposed in the housing includes a cap (45) having two diametrically opposed slots (53-53) each having an enlarged portion (57). A barrel (42) is retained within the cap and has mounted thereto a ferrule (40) in which is terminated an end portion of an optical tiber (21) which is to be connected to another optical tiber. The connector is moved to cause the ferrule to enter a sleeve (92) of a housing of a coupling (35) and to cause locking pins (96-96) of the housing to enter and to be moved along the slots of the cap until each pin is received in an enlarged portion of a slot. A cap extender (60) is connected to an end of the cap and includes an annular detent (63). A shell (27) which is disposed about and is slidably movable on the cap is moved to cause the annular detent projecting radially from the cap extender to become locked to latching means (89) formed on an inner wall of the shell to lock the shell to the cap and prevent mechanical disconnection of the connector from the coupling mounted in a panel (37). An annular shoulder (70) on the cap extender limit's the travel of the ferrule (40) to prevent optical decoupling from another ferrule (40 min ) in the coupling housing when tensile forces are applied to a cable (30) the optical tiber of which is terminated by the ferrule. <IMAGE>