Abstract: A plug mounted on a coupling member comprises an attachment terminal in which at least one optical fiber is accurately positioned at one end. The terminal is abuttingly applied against the downstream end of the plug body by means of a spring but is movably mounted in a "floating" arrangement within the plug body by means of locating keys on the plug body and corresponding grooves in the terminal which is thus given a limited degree of freedom of rotation about its axis. The plug body has at least one locating element for angularly orienting the plug body within the coupling member and is associated with a locking device in order to be rigidly fixed to the coupling member.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a multi-fiber optical connection endpiece, an optical fiber connector using such an endpiece, as well as an apparatus for mounting fibers in the said endpiece. This connector comprises a reference plane of the connection and two cylindrical measuring rods substantially perpendicular to this plane. Each endpiece comprises an endpiece reference plane of the endpiece bearing on the connection reference plane and two V-shaped channel grooves on its rear face from where issue fibers situated at a precise coordinate with respect to the endpiece reference plane. The endpieces are aligned when the V-shaped grooves abut on either side of the measuring rods.

Abstract: The device for mounting optical fibers within an attachment terminal comprises a base having a terminal-positioning V-groove for placing a terminal in a reference position and a V-groove for positioning the optical fibers. A calibrated spacer member is placed at the bottom of the fiber-positioning groove, a bearing member having a V-shaped cross-section being placed above the spacer member in order to maintain the optical fibers in position. The calibrated spacer member defines a first and a second lateral V-groove, one optical fiber being placed within each lateral V-groove. The bearing member comes into mechanical contact with the sides of the fiber-positioning groove and with the optical fibers but does not come into contact with the calibrated spacer member.

Abstract: A connector having at least one contact with a resiliently deformable arm, inserted longitudinally in a socket formed in an insulating block and having longitudinal generatrices, and comprising: a body cooperating with at least one edge of the socket so that, once the contact has been inserted, it has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the direction of the generatrices of the socket; an output terminal disposed at a longitudinal end of the body of the contact and extending beyond the socket; an extention forming an abutment for the contact on the insulating block in the direction of insertion of the contact; and a resilient tongue cooperating with a stopping face of a retention cavity disposed in the socket so as to form an abutment in the direction opposite the direction of insertion of the contact; the resiliently deformable arm being disposed at the other longitudinal end of the body and extending beyond the socket.

Abstract: The device for connecting multiple-conductor cables is composed of two hermaphroditic connectors which are coupled by means of their electric connection face, the first connector being joined to the input cable and the second connector being joined to the output cable. Locking after coupling of said connectors is performed by means of U-shaped stirrups, the respective arms of which are swung back to a position along the longitudinal sides of the connectors. The pivotally mounted ends of the stirrup arms are each provided with a member having an engagement slot and a locking recess in which is engaged a projecting portion of the body of the other connector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fibre connector end fitting, a process for centering this fibre, as well as a device for centering the fibre in the end fitting. According to the invention, the end fitting includes a sleeve on which is positioned a centering device having a corresponding internal shape and having a cylindrical opening in which is housed the fibre. The end fitting also has a hole, which is connected to the internal cylindrical channel of the end fitting and into which is poured a polymerizable resin, while the fibre is held in place by the centering device. After polymerization, the terminal portion of the end fitting is polished by means of a suitable tool.

Abstract: A drawback device to ensure the return of a moving part to its original position, after it has been moved away from it by another force. The existing method, involving an elastic mechanical component which acts as a spring, is replaced in this invention by a quantity of liquid, placed between the moving part and a fixed part, and remaining there through the effect of capillarity. When the moving part moves away from the fixed part, surface tension is created on the surface of the liquid, tending to draw the moving part back to its original position. Such devices are used in sealed miniaturized relays with mercury-wetted contacts.

Abstract: The invention relates to connectors for optical transmission lines. It more specifically relates to an end fitting for an optical fibre connector, comprising at least one substantially cylindrical locating sleeve in which an optical monofibre is fixed. According to the invention the locating sleeve is provided with orientation means in the form of a ball joint permitting the sleeve to pivot within the end fitting. Preferably the ball joint comprises an elastic O-ring ensuring the sealing of the optical cable.

Abstract: The end faces of a plurality of parallel optical fibers are all located in one plane at right angles to the general direction of the fibers after simultaneous cutting by a tool unit comprising a sliding shoe which carries a cutting-tool support. During translational displacement of the shoe, the cutting edge of the tool scores each optical fiber in turn. A flat, parallel array of fibers is stretched tangentially to the top generator-line of a bearing cylinder and held in position between two clamping members on each side of the bearing line. At the level of the notch formed in the glass fiber by scoring, each optical fiber is split in transverse cross-section by applying an abrupt tensile stress or flexural deformation to the fiber.

Abstract: This invention concerns a device to spread out flat the fibres of an optical cable, which has first been stripped, so that the fibres can be cut across precisely aligned cross-sections, thereby allowing them to be butt-jointed individually with the fibres of another cable, in a splicing operation.This device comprises hand-operated mechanical means of inserting blades, positioned on a diametrical plane of the cable, to separate the fibres into two groups. One blade acts as a stop, while the first group of fibres is being gathered into the notches of one comb, while the other blade performs the same function for a second comb. The combs and blades are then made to rotate in opposite directions, flattening out the group of fibres on a horizontal plane.This device can be applied to optical fibres used for telecommunications.

Abstract: A connector for components having a large number of connection lugs utilizing an insulating block having three superimposed wafers and a plurality of contacts in the form of resilient clips, the intermediate wafer being movable and providing connection with the lugs of the component by means of a pusher which it carries bearing on lateral levers carried by one of the legs of each contact parallel thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of contact elements for electric connection. In use, when these elements are positioned and connected to the wiring of circuits by automatic machines, they are fixed in a large number on a supporting strip or border, from which they are successively detached by a V-shaped cut. In accordance with the invention, they are firmly secured by means of a transverse V-section bar supported by a stirrup. After the V cut, the contact thus presents advantageously a pyramid-shaped point.

Abstract: A gas-analysis probe is provided, the sensor of which is formed by a concentration pile.The electric signal supplied by the sensor is picked up by means of at least two metal rods which are brazed to the sensor by thermocompression on thin filler-metal layers. The connecting lead-outs are isolated in pure-alumina sheaths maintained in place in a ceramic body by a hardened liquid ceramic filling. A spring absorbs the differences in expansion and fins on the metal casing remove the heat. A perforated cap protects the sensor.

Abstract: An interconnection system, both electrical and thermal, allowing improved evacuation of the thermal dissipation of printed-circuit boards.It comprises zero insertion force electrical and thermal connectors such as (67) and (69) of the plug-in type, which are applied by their metallic bases to one of the metallic layers of the mother boards (60) and (61), and other connectors of the same type, such as (68) and (70), which are applied by their bases to the other external layer of these mother boards (60) and (61). The mother boards are inclined, sloping downwards from the front panel or door (63) to the rear part (64) of a cabinet.Application: racks and cabinets for electrical and telecommunication equipment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for articulating a moving blade pivoting on its base.The mobile member is constituted by a blade fixed to a float, which floats on a liquid contained in a cavity made in a base, the liquid being kept in the cavity by capillarity. The nature and dimensions of the float are adapted to the liquid density. The cavity dimensions are large enough to permit the float to move, without mechanical jamming. The mobile assembly, blade and float is prevented from escaping from the cavity by at least one bridge welded to the base towards the ends of the float.Application to switches with blades wetted by an electricity-conducting liquid.

Abstract: A connector for plug-in card circuits is provided with at least one connecting-strip constituted by a parallelepipedal base and cover-plate for supporting a plurality of resilient electrical contact elements. The cover-plate is capable of pivotal displacement with respect to the base for inserting the edge of a card in the open position and establishing an electrical contact between the conductive elements of the strip and of the card in the closed position. Deformation of the strip in the closed position is prevented by a clip in the form of a U-section member having a resilient central portion, the two arms of which are applied respectively on the base of the connecting-strip and on the cover-plate.

Abstract: A self-stripping terminal for an electrical connector has a resilient fork formed of two prongs or limbs which extend towards each other, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the terminal. Defined between the ends of the prongs is an electrical conductor receiving slot formed with flat parallel walls and with a bevel configuration at the opening or mouth of the slot. The limbs are carried on resilient arms whereby the slot can resiliently open over a wide range of sizes to allow the terminal to accommodate a wide range of electrical conductor diameters and to be used repeatedly.The terminal may also include a second fork which is turned towards the first fork and which may be a semi-rigid fork or another resilient fork. In either case, the second fork has a groove for retaining the conductor, thereby to prevent radial disengagement thereof from the fork.The flat and bevel configuration is formed with walls that are parallel to the axis of the conductor received therein.

Abstract: A device for protecting contact elements of a connector having two ends, made up of an inner and outer disk mounted to support cylinders placed in front of the contact face of each end, and pierced with openings. The openings on the outer disk are normally masked by the inner disk, and are open to the contact elements only at the time of connection, under the action of a circumferentially disposed control ring, carrying a lug working with grooves on the support cylinders. The applications of the invention are particularly in the fields of television cameras and oil prospecting.

Abstract: In order to connect fibers so as to ensure high efficiency of light transmission through connectors, fiber ends must be centered in terminals with a high degree of accuracy. In the proposed connector, each fiber terminal serves as a mold for the injection of a polymer or a fiber-retaining adhesive. A simple geometrical device is employed for centering the fiber end within its terminal, accuracy of centering being ensured solely by the device itself without being dependent on precision-machining of the terminal.The invention is applicable to either single or multiple connectors employed in optical-fiber data-transmission systems.

Abstract: A card-edge connector support providing electric and thermal connections for cards or boards of the printed circuit type in which removal of thermal energy constitutes an essential requirement. The support comprises a common flat base adapted to carry a plurality of strip connectors placed at right angles to each other, a groove being formed in each strip for receiving one edge of the card. The opposite internal faces of the groove are adapted to carry electrical and thermal contacts respectively, the bearing force for heat transmission being obtained by elastic deformation of the electrical contacts.