Plug and socket union for joining optical glass fibres - consisting of two plugs and a central socket

摘要

Device for connecting optical fibres by means of a plug-and-socket union consists of two plugs and a socket with connections on both sides into which the plugs fit. Fibres are mounted symmetrically around the plugs in cylindrical capillary tubes with outwardly tapering ends, so that the ends of the fibres pass right through the plug, protruding to equal lengths, which are half the thickness of the socket. The socket has matching capillary tubes embedded in it, one per fibre, the dia. of which is sufficient to guide the ends of the fibres from opposite facing plugs into contact with each other at a position half way through the socket. The plugs and socket are then connected together, and the fibres driven into contact with each other with the aid of vibration, then the socket is heated to the softening point of the glass by passing an electric current through the socket. The appts. may be disconnected by removing the plugs from the sockets with vibration and opt. with heating.