Hardened Fiber Optic Housing and Cable Assembly

Abstract

A female fiber optic connector includes an outer housing, a single internal male fiber optic connector, and a fiber optic adapter. The outer housing has a first end, which receives a fiber optic cable, positioned opposite from a second end, which defines a connector port for receiving an external male connector. The single internal male fiber optic connector is positioned within the outer housing and includes a ferrule in which a fiber is terminated. The fiber optic adapter is positioned within the outer housing and includes an alignment sleeve, a first end, which receives the single internal male fiber optic connector with the ferrule of the single internal male fiber optic connector positioned within the alignment sleeve, and an opposite second end facing toward the connector port and being configured so that a ferrule of the external male connector fits within the alignment sleeve when inserted in the connector port.

1 . A fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly comprising:
 a fiber optic cable;   an outer housing defining a first central axis and including a first end positioned opposite from a second end, the first end of the outer housing secured to the fiber optic cable and the second end of the outer housing defining a connector port for receiving an external fiber optic connector, a through-passage extending through the outer housing from the first end of the outer housing to the connector port, the through-passage including an enlarged interior compartment;   a single internal fiber optic connector positioned entirely within the enlarged interior compartment of the through-passage of the outer housing, the single internal fiber optic connector including a first ferrule in which a fiber of the fiber optic cable is terminated;   a fiber optic adapter positioned within the outer housing, the fiber optic adapter defining a second central axis aligned with the first central axis of the outer housing, the fiber optic adapter including an alignment sleeve, a first end and an opposite second end, the first end of the fiber optic adapter receiving the single internal fiber optic connector with the first ferrule of the single internal fiber optic connector positioned within the alignment sleeve, the second end of the fiber optic adapter facing toward the connector port and being configured such that a second ferrule of the external fiber optic connector fits within the alignment sleeve when the external fiber optic connector is inserted in the connector port; and   a flexible boot mounted over the first end of the outer housing and also mounted over an interface between the fiber optic cable and the first end of the outer housing;   wherein the fiber optic adapter is configured to float within the through-passage of the outer housing, the fiber optic adapter being biased toward the connector port but able to move axially away from the connector port along the first central axis of the outer housing; and   wherein the fiber optic adapter can be forced away from the connector port by the external fiber optic connector when the external fiber optic connector is inserted into the connector port.   
   
   
       2 . The fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber optic cable is adhesively secured to the first end of the outer housing. 
   
   
       3 . The fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer housing includes an elongate main body, an end piece inserted into an end portion of the main body to form the second end of the outer housing, and a side cover that mounts laterally to the main body. 
   
   
       4 . The fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the end piece defines the connector port, and wherein the end piece defines internal threads within the connector port. 
   
   
       5 . The fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising springs captured between the fiber optic adapter and a shoulder within the main body, wherein the fiber optic adapter is retained within the main body by the end piece. 
   
   
       6 . The fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the side cover of the outer housing is adhesively affixed to the main body of the outer housing. 
   
   
       7 . The fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the side cover of the outer housing is mechanically retained to the main body of the outer housing with a crimp sleeve. 
   
   
       8 . The fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising springs that bias the fiber optic adapter toward the connector port. 
   
   
       9 . A fiber optic connector housing comprising:
 an outer housing including a first end positioned opposite from a second end, the second end of the outer housing defining a connector port for receiving an external fiber optic connector, a through-passage extending through the outer housing from the first end of the outer housing to the connector port, the through-passage including an enlarged interior compartment;   a single internal fiber optic connector positioned entirely within the enlarged interior compartment of the through-passage of the outer housing, the single internal fiber optic connector including a first ferrule terminating an optical fiber;   a fiber optic adapter positioned and configured to float within the through-passage of the outer housing, the fiber optic adapter including an alignment sleeve, a first end and an opposite second end, the first end of the fiber optic adapter receiving and retaining the single internal fiber optic connector with the first ferrule of the single internal fiber optic connector positioned within the alignment sleeve, the second end of the fiber optic adapter facing toward the connector port and being configured such that a second ferrule of the external fiber optic connector fits within the alignment sleeve when the external fiber optic connector is inserted in the connector port; and   springs that bias the fiber optic adapter toward the connector port;   wherein the springs can compress when the fiber optic adapter is forced away from the connector port by the insertion of the external fiber optic connector into the connector port;   wherein the enlarged interior compartment of the through-passage of the outer housing is sufficiently large to allow the optical fiber to bend within the enlarged interior compartment without violating minimum bend radius requirements when the fiber optic adapter is forced away from the connector port;   wherein the fiber optic adapter defines a first central axis aligned with a second central axis defined by the outer housing, wherein the optical fiber terminated at the first ferrule of the single internal fiber optic connector is coaxially aligned with the second central axis of the outer housing, and wherein another fiber within the second ferrule of the external fiber optic connector is also coaxially aligned with the second central axis of the outer housing when the external fiber optic connector is inserted into the connector port; and   wherein the fiber optic adapter moves axially away from the connector port along the second central axis of the outer housing when the fiber optic adapter is forced away from the connector port by the insertion of the external fiber optic connector into the connector port.   
   
   
       10 . The fiber optic connector housing of  claim 9 , wherein the single internal fiber optic connector is an SC connector. 
   
   
       11 . A fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly comprising:
 a fiber optic cable;   an outer housing including a proximal end positioned opposite from a distal end, the proximal end of the outer housing secured to the fiber optic cable and the distal end of the outer housing defining a connector port for receiving an external fiber optic connector, the outer housing including a through-passage defining an axis and extending through the outer housing from the proximal end of the outer housing to the connector port, and the outer housing including at least one spring seat positioned within the through-passage of the outer housing;   at least one spring extending between a first end and a second end, the spring positioned within the through-passage of the outer housing, the first end of the spring seated against the spring seat of the outer housing; and   a housing positioned within the through-passage of the outer housing, the housing adapted to float generally along the axis of the through-passage, the housing adapted to receive a ferrule of the external fiber optic connector, and the spring adapted to bias the housing distally toward the connector port;   wherein the housing can be forced proximally away from the connector port by the external fiber optic connector when the external fiber optic connector is inserted into the connector port.   
   
   
       12 . The fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the housing includes an alignment sleeve adapted to receive the ferrule of the external fiber optic connector. 
   
   
       13 . The fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising an internal fiber optic connector positioned entirely within the through-passage of the outer housing, wherein the ferrule of the external fiber optic connector is a first ferrule, the internal fiber optic connector includes a second ferrule in which a fiber of the fiber optic cable is terminated, and the second ferrule is positioned within the alignment sleeve of the housing. 
   
   
       14 . The fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the internal fiber optic connector is a single fiber internal fiber optic connector. 
   
   
       15 . The fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one spring seat of the outer housing includes a pair of the spring seats positioned opposite the axis of the through-passage, the at least one spring includes a pair of the springs, and the pair of the springs are captured between the pair of the spring seats and the housing. 
   
   
       16 . The fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the outer housing includes a main body and an end piece, the end piece forms the distal end of the outer housing, and the pair of the spring seats are distally facing inner shoulders of the main body. 
   
   
       17 . The fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the housing includes a pair of flanges that capture the pair of the springs. 
   
   
       18 . The fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the outer housing includes a main body, a side cover, and an end piece and wherein the side cover provides access for inserting the second ferrule of the internal fiber optic connector into the alignment sleeve of the housing. 
   
   
       19 . The fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a sleeve positioned over the main body and the side cover to retain the side cover to the main body. 
   
   
       20 . The fiber optic connector housing and cable assembly of  claim 11 , wherein insertion of the external fiber optic connector into the connector port of the outer housing moves the housing in a proximal direction and thereby compresses the spring.