CH704418B1 - Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of optical fibers. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for distributing a cable (3) for routing optical fibers in a plurality of unitary strands (4) via a distribution zone (2), characterized in that the zone distribution (2) is of parallelepipedal shape. The invention also relates to a storage structure for said dispensing device, a cable distribution assembly and a method for effecting the separation into a plurality of single strands of a cable by means of said dispensing device.

Description

The present invention relates to a dispensing device for separating the optical fibers of an optical fiber routing cable into a plurality of single strands. The device is advantageously used to connect an active element for transforming an electrical signal into an optical signal into an optical distribution cabinet. The present invention also relates to the use of this device.

[0002] An FTTH network is a telecommunications network whose terminal portion arriving at the user's premises consists of optical fibers. FTTH is the abbreviation of the English term "Fiber To The Home", literally meaning "fiber to the home". This is the name of a technology to replace Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technologies.

In FTTH networks, the fibers are passed between passive elements that may be distribution cabinets or bays, called OMDF (Optical Management Distribution Frames) and routers or active elements for transform an electrical signal into an optical signal. For this purpose, distribution devices are used which make it possible to deploy a plurality of unitary strands derived from an optical fiber routing cable.

Due to the implementation of current distribution devices, such a transit of fibers generally calls for lengths and large volumes of routing cables and strands. As a result, the deployment zone usually occupies an important place and the distribution of fibers is difficult to structure.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

It proposes in particular a dispensing device for separating a fiber optic routing cable into a plurality of single strands, both compact and easily insertable in storage boxes.

The invention thus relates to a distribution device for separating an optical fiber routing cable into a plurality of single strands via a distribution zone.

According to the invention, the dispensing zone is of parallelepipedal shape.

The fibers present in the fiber routing cable are advantageously in a non-tight configuration.

The routing cable may thus comprise optical fibers coated with a sheath of 250 microns in inner diameter.

The routing cable may comprise around the fibers a water-swellable powder and the cable may not comprise gel.

The invention also relates to a storage structure comprising a plurality of devices described above.

The devices are preferably stacked at the level of the distribution zones.

The storage structure may comprise one or two rows of stacking distribution areas.

The distribution zones may be surrounded by an elastic material.

The elastic material may be a polyurethane foam.

The invention also relates to a method for performing the separation into a plurality of single strands of a cable of optical fiber cable type free-form tube, which separates the strands of the cable to means of the dispensing device according to the invention the separation being carried out at the dispensing zone of said device

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: <tb> Fig. 1 <SEP> illustrates an optical fiber distribution device according to the invention, <tb> figs. 2 and 3 <SEP> illustrate two embodiments of a storage structure of the device, and <tb> fig. 4 <SEP> illustrates the distribution device in operational configuration.

The device 1 for distributing optical fibers, as illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises a distribution zone 2, of substantially parallelepipedal shape, within which penetrates, on one side, a cable 3 for routing optical fibers and from which spring, on the opposite side, a plurality of strands 4. Each unit strand 4 comprises an optical fiber.

Advantageously used a compact routing cable, small diameter.

Advantageously used a loose tube type cable, that is to say a cable in which the fibers are in a free configuration (ie not tight), with fibers coated with a sheath of about 250 microns of diameter.

It is preferable to eliminate the gel for manufacturing reasons and production costs. Indeed, when the cable type "cable free-form tube", or "loose tube" according to the English name, is stripped, the fibers are then pushed individually over several meters, in a mini-tube, this operation being delicate. With dry fiber without gel, the fiber slides better, the cleaning times of the fibers are zero and the risks of breakage related to this problem are greatly reduced.

The substantially parallelepipedal shape of the dispensing zone makes it easy to stack the dispensing devices. Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate a storage system 5 for storing several dispensing devices 1 according to the invention.

In a first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the storage structure comprises a storage belt 5A for surrounding two rows of dispensing devices 1. The dispensing devices 1 are stacked at their distribution zones 2.

In a second embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3, on which the elements identical to those of FIG. 2 have the same references, the storage structure 5 comprises a single row of devices 1.

Fig. 3 4 illustrates an example of connection that can be performed using devices 1. For clarity, a single device 1 has been shown. The dispensing zone of the device 1 is disposed inside a block 6 made of polyurethane foam. Block 6, which may for example be obtained by water jet cutting, is intended to clamp the dispensing zone. The dispensing area can thus be fixed without having to be attached.

Thus, the optical fiber routing cable 3 is connected to a patch bay and is deployed via the unitary strand distribution zone 4, for example 24 single strands if the cable 3 comprises 24 strands, said single strands. 4 can be connected to a fiber coiling and splicing holding cassette, to a router or to an active element for transforming an electrical signal into an optical signal.

The device according to the invention makes it possible to increase the density of the fiber routing cables between the active elements and the brewing bays, and also to gain volume between the active elements and the passive elements. The devices can be easily stacked and the individual fiber lengths can be set according to the equipment to be connected, thereby eliminating excess fiber lengths. Individual cables can be adapted to the distribution cabinet infrastructure. The foam support of the dispensing zones allows a flexible and reliable fixation of the devices.

The device also guarantees good mechanical protection of the fibers. It allows organized and structured cabling, and thanks to the small diameter of the cable, it is easy to organize oversize.

Claims (9)

A dispensing device (1) for separating the optical fibers of an optical fiber cable (3) into a plurality of single strands (4), each unit strand (4) comprising an optical fiber, said device comprising a distribution zone (2) separating said conveying cable from said plurality of unitary strands (4), said device (1) being characterized in that the dispensing zone (2) is a parallelepiped-shaped zone at a distance of interior of which penetrates, on one side, the cable (3) for routing optical fibers and from which spring, by the opposite side, the plurality of unitary strands (4). 2. Storage structure (5) characterized in that it is configured to accommodate a plurality of devices (1) according to claim 1 stacked with each other at their distribution areas (2). 3. Storage structure (5) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises one or two stacking rows of the distribution zones (2). 4. Fiber optic distribution cable distribution assembly (3) characterized in that it comprises at least one dispensing device according to claim 1, the dispensing zone (2) of said device (1) being arranged at a distance of inside a block (6) of elastic material. 5. Dispensing assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the elastic material is a polyurethane foam. 6. A method for separating into a plurality of single strands a free-form tube cable-type optical fiber cable (3), characterized in that the strands of the cable are separated by means of the Device according to Claim 1, the separation being carried out at the level of the distribution zone (2) of said device. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said cable (3) comprises optical fibers coated with a sheath of 250 microns in inner diameter. 8. Method according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein said cable (3) comprises dry optical fibers. The method of any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said cable (3) comprises a water swellable powder.