EP2238491A1

EP2238491A1 - Connection housing for a telecommunication cable

Info

Publication number: EP2238491A1
Application number: EP08866540A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Daniel Fillatre; Philippe Lesueur; Pacôme CHEVALIER; Olivier Martin
Original assignee: Acome SCOP
Current assignee: Acome SCOP
Priority date: 2007-12-20
Filing date: 2008-12-22
Publication date: 2010-10-13
Also published as: FR2925778A1; FR2925778B1; RU2010128083A; RU2467363C2; WO2009083538A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a junction and/or connection housing for a telecommunication cable (7), in particular for an FTTH subscriber network, the cable comprising several optical modules (8) which themselves include one or more optical fibres, comprising a main part (1) comprising, at the level of its ends (11, 12), means (6) for holding the cable in position on the main part (1), characterized in that it furthermore comprises means (4) for generating an overlength of the optical modules (8) with respect to the axis of the cable and for causing said optical modules to move away from the axis of the cable, these optical modules (8) being rendered accessible through at least one aperture made by removing a portion of the sheath of the cable (7) over a length of between a few centimetres and ten centimetres by opening up a window.

Description

HOUSING FOR CONNECTING A TELECOMMUNICATION CABLE

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a junction box and / or telecommunication cable connection, particularly used for the subscriber network (FTTH network or "Fiber To The Home" according to the English terminology generally used) and its method associated installation.

The particular structure of these telecommunication cables allows easy and fast access to optical fibers in full cable, gathered in several modules, each module comprising one or more optical fibers.

Prior art

Currently, the connection of subscribers with these telecommunication cables is carried out, from the foot of the building or from a floor, in standard housings in which the optical fibers are connected either mechanically or by fusion between them (splicing).

To provide the connection, a conventional fiber optic stitching solution is also used which requires to overwire cable lengths on each floor to perform the installation operations of these boxes based on optical fiber splicing.

This technique allows the installer to splice on an optical module but will also have to louvre the unused modules contained in the cable. These optical modules in excess of length as the cable are also called optical modules passage.

These operations increase the installation time.

Moreover, optical modules are often difficult to identify, especially for an operator performing a subsequent intervention. In addition, these standard housings, intended to be installed on the door bearings, are generally square and therefore relatively bulky.

In addition, these standard boxes are not suitable for all types of telecommunication cables (FTTH network), including the type of cable proposed in the patent EP 1 203 255 (Dl) filed in the name of the Applicant.

Indeed, the cable proposed in Dl is a cable whose modules are not only easily accessible, but are also permanently accessible. These cables may contain optical modules of 1 to 2 optical fibers 250μm sheathed 900μm so called "fiber with semi-tight insulation", "tight" and / or optical modules gathering bundles of at least one optical fiber of 250μm so-called " compact tube ".

For a permanently accessible cable, a part of the cable is thus opened over a very short length (generally less than 10 cm) in the direction of its length, then a portion of the cable sheath is removed (for example by means of a tool particularly adapted to the shape and dimensions of the cable), which allows a first access window to the location provided for the derivation of one or more optical modules of the cable to the floor considered.

The opening is safe for modules or optical fibers, because of their play in the cavity.

The same operation is reproduced downstream, at a distance from the first window chosen as a function of the desired derivation length, which may range for example from a few tens of centimeters to several meters, and thus form a second access window.

It is then sufficient to access the module chosen in the second window, to cut it, then to extract it by the first window which is the window chosen for the derivation. A permanently accessible cable thus enables in-line taping of the modules containing one or more optical fibers when the cable is stretched, without the need to lover the passing modules, as described above in the conventional stitching technique.

An object of the invention is to provide a housing that facilitates access to the optical modules after mounting the housing.

An object of the invention is to provide such a housing, wherein the cable is perfectly held in position.

An object of the invention is to provide a connection box of reduced size.

Another object of the invention is to provide a housing particularly well suited for the new generation of telecommunication cables, that is to say permanently accessible housings.

Another object of the invention is to propose a method for implementing such a housing.

Summary of the invention

At least one of these aims is achieved by means of a junction box and / or a connection of a telecommunication cable, in particular for an FTTH subscriber network, the cable comprising several optical modules gathering one or two optical modules together. a plurality of optical fibers, comprising a main part comprising, at its ends, means for holding the cable in position on the main part, characterized in that it further comprises means for generating an excess length of the optical modules with respect to the axis of the cable and cause said optical modules to deviate relative to the axis of the cable, these optical modules being made accessible by at least one opening made by removing a portion of the cable sheath on a length between a few centimeters and ten centimeters by practicing a window.

At least one of these objectives is also achieved by a method of installing a telecommunication cable, in particular for the FTTH subscriber network, the cable comprising a plurality of optical modules gathering one or more optical fibers themselves. in a junction box and / or cable connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the cable having been previously opened over a given distance to access the optical modules, an excess length of the optical modules is generated by relative to the axis of the cable by causing said optical modules to deviate from the axis of the cable.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, and with reference to the appended drawings, given by way of non-limiting example and in which:

Figure 1 shows a housing according to the invention according to a first embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a housing according to the invention according to a variant of the first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of an embodiment of a plate of the housing shown, in particular shown in Figure 1;

- Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the base of the housing shown in Figures 1 or 2; FIG. 5 represents the box illustrated in FIG. 1, once the telecommunication cable has been put in place on the base of the latter;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view, from the representation of Figure 5, on an area B showing the cable arrangement in the housing;

Figure 7 shows a portion of the housing according to the invention according to a second embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 8 shows a first part of a housing according to the invention according to a third embodiment of the invention, on which a cable previously opened over a given distance has been placed;

Fig. 9 is another further enlarged view, from the representation of Fig. 5, on an area B showing the arrangement of the cable in the housing.

Detailed description of the invention

The branch and / or connection box is intended for a telecommunication cable 7, in particular for the FTTH subscriber network, the cable comprising one or more modules which themselves gather one or more optical fibers.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the housing comprises a main part 1 which is, in a first embodiment, an elongated base 1 having, at its ends 11, 12, means 6 for holding the cable in position on the base 1, and means 13, 14 serving as positioning means for the cable 7 to keep a central position relative to the width of the housing, and also serving as a guide of the bypass tube which goes up to the maid. Typically, the housing has a length L such that 160 <L <250 mm and a width I such that 30 <I <50 mm and preferably l <60 mm. For example, it is possible to provide housing dimensions such as L = 190mm, I = 38mm and a height h = 36mm.

The holding means 6, the cable disposed at the ends of the base 1 comprises roughnesses 6, preferably integral from the base 1, to limit the sliding movements / translation of the cable. These roughnesses 6 help to limit the rotational movements of the cable around its longitudinal axis.

As shown in FIG. 3, the housing mainly comprises means 4 for generating an excess length of the optical modules 8 with respect to the axis of the cable, these optical modules 8 being made accessible by at least one opening made in the cable sheath, and cause them to deviate from said axis. These means consist of a secondary part 4 forming a removable plate 4 adapted to be positioned on the base 1 with a spacing relative to the bottom of the base 1.

This spacing makes it possible to pass the sheath of the cable 7, whose interior has been made accessible, between the plate 4 and the bottom of the base 1.

As shown in Figure 4, the base 1 and the plate 4 are mounted together with complementary fastening means 5, for example formed of pads and hollow cylinders of corresponding dimensions.

It can be provided that this spacing is dimensioned so that it constrains the sheath of the cable 7 thus made accessible against the bottom of the base 1, when the plate is mounted on the base 1. This plate 4 and positioned participates in the no rotation of the cable. In addition, the sheath 7 of the cable which is not cut partly ensures the mechanical strength of the cable and participates in the non-rotation of the cable due to its locking between the plate and the bottom of the base 1.

The plate 4 also has an upper face 41 adapted to receive the optical modules of the cable. These optical modules can thus be made easily accessible for an operator.

The upper part 41 of the plate generally has the shape of a flat rectangle. By the upper part 41 of the plate, it is necessary to understand the part of the plate which is oriented towards the outside of the base 1, when the plate 4 and the base 1 are mounted together.

As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 (see also FIG. 9), the removable plate 4 is therefore able to be positioned in the base 1 and is also arranged so that it generates an excess length of the modules optical 8 relative to the axis of the cable, these optical modules are made accessible by an opening made in the sheath of the cable, and are caused to deviate relative to said axis, in this case by positioning on the part upper 41 of the plate.

Alternatively, the upper portion 41 of the plate 4 may however provide guide means 10 for the optical modules. These guide means 10 are not absolutely necessary for the implementation of the invention, but when implemented, they help to avoid any traction of the optical modules. For this, the guide means 10 of the plate 4 may be formed of a plurality of pads 10. For example, one can provide four pads 10 facing each other in pairs, so that the optical modules pass between these pads. The studs 10 also have rounded external surfaces to allow, in this case, the winding of the optical module overelongers on the plate 4 (zone of coiling optical modules). This is interesting to avoid any accidental pull that could be caused on the cable 7. Whatever the variant envisaged, the positioning of the cable 7 is carried out as follows: the plate 4 is inserted between the sheath of the cable 7 and the optical modules 8 by generating an excess length and therefore the sheath of the cable 7 is placed between the base 1 and the plate 4, and the optical modules 8 are placed on the upper part 41 of the plate 4.

The height of the side walls 9 of the base 1 located near the fastening means 5 is adapted, so that the plate 4 is preferably locally overtaken with respect to the walls 9 of the base 1. This generates the length of the optical modules relative to the axis of the cable.

This overhead facilitates the identification and gripping optical modules to be derived by the operator. More specifically, it helps the operator to have an overview of the optical modules 8 by elevation thereof relative to the walls of the cable, which facilitates for example the selection of those he will derive and allows him to effectively route the optical modules to their point of derivation.

Note that the housing is so that the cable 7 is centered on the housing. Such centering makes it possible to have an elongated housing, of reduced size.

The housing comprises one or more cassettes 2 removably mounted on the base 1. Their use is however optional in the context of the invention.

Indeed, when the operator will work for example with a cable comprising 900μm semi-tight insulation fibers, it can perform a bypass operation with the housing. The optical module is simply derived within the housing, the cable 7 to a tube dedicated to the subscriber it is desired to wire. To obtain a sufficient fiber length, the operator is not then obliged to perform a splice. For that, it is enough for him to use the principle of the cable with permanent accessibility, that is to say to go up one or several stages according to the length which it wishes to recover, to cut the module in question, then go down and pull the module thus cut. The derivation then consists simply in pushing this optical module into a tube up to the subscriber (use of the means 13 for guiding the tube)

This solution is advantageous in that it does not require an experienced operator, able to perform splicing.

Of course, a splice may be necessary in some cases, and a cassette having dimensions adapted to process an optical module is thus provided in the housing for the operator to perform this operation.

It is also possible to provide housings comprising both cassettes for treating fibers with a diameter of 250 μm from compact tubes or with a semi-tight insulation fiber with a diameter of 900 μm.

In all cases, the housing provides means for fixing the cassettes at each of its ends.

The cassette or cassettes 2 are therefore removable and allow the operator to perform a splicing operation in case of implementation problem or particular situation.

It will be noted, however, that the cassette or cassettes 2 have the particularity of positioning the splicing of the optical fibers in their center, which contributes to the small bulk of the housing; the cassettes having any size similar to those of the base 1 and a cover 3 of the housing.

We will now describe the method of installing a telecommunication cable in a housing as described above. The cable 7 is first opened over a given distance, for example between a few centimeters and ten centimeters, with a specific tool by making a window so as to access the optical modules 8.

The plate 4 is slid between the cable 7 at its opening and the optical modules 8 which are then on the upper part 41 of the plate 4.

The cable 7 is then inserted between the positioning means 13, 14 and attached by holding means (Colson type collars) of the housing base, preferably out of the previously opened area.

The plate 4 is then fixed on the base 1 of the housing by means of the complementary fastening means 5 (for example, studs / cylinders).

In a variant, it is conceivable to interchange the two preceding steps, namely to fix the plate 4 on the base 1 before inserting the cable into the means for holding the cable 7 of the base 1.

At this point, the cable 7 and the optical modules 8 are in place on the housing.

To distribute one or more optical fibers to the stage considered for supplying one or more subscribers, various steps can then be envisaged.

If the cable in question is a cable of the type illustrated in D1, namely a permanently accessible cable, an optical module of the cable is taken and drifted at the housing to the subscriber or subscribers.

To obtain a sufficient length of optical module, a second window in the cable is made downstream of the first window, for example at the level of an upper floor of the building, the optical module is sectioned at the level of this second window. , and finally, we recover the length of the optical module (for example twenty or so meters) at the level of the first window as explained in the passage "prior art" of this description. We are in the case of a bypass which is generally operated on a 900μm semi-tight insulation fiber. As described above, this optical module, after its derivation, is pushed into a tube to the subscriber.

In the case of a splicer, the length required for the optical module whose splice or optical fibers are to be spliced is less (1 to 2 meters). Splicing is done with an optical fiber brought from the outside. Once the splicing is done, the assembly is coiled in a cassette 2 adapted to the diameter of the optical module in question.

In a second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in part in Figure 7, the main part 1 is a U-shaped piece having an opening 111 on its upper part 121 to access the optical modules.

Moreover, the means 4 for generating an excess length of the optical modules 8 with respect to the axis of the cable, these optical modules being made accessible by at least one opening made in the cable sheath, and causing the optical modules to move apart. relative to said axis consist of a secondary part wedge 4 having a flat bottom 421 and a portion 422 protruding from the flat bottom 421.

More precisely, the protruding part 422 makes it possible to push both the previously opened sheath portion and the optical modules towards the opening 111 of the main part 1, and consequently amplifies the opening of the sheath of the cable 7 in a plane substantially parallel to the plane formed by the opening 111 of the workpiece 1 (in other words substantially perpendicular to the pushing direction).

This stuffing acts to raise the modules as is the case in the first embodiment. This overhead facilitates locating and gripping the optical modules to be derived by the operator.

The protrusion 422 may have different types of shapes (for example a rounded shape with a radius of curvature similar to the radius of the cable, a tip / triangle shape or a rectangular shape), insofar as this shape constrains the optical modules. made accessible by an opening made in the cable sheath to deviate from each other.

The main step of the installation process is therefore to make an opening over a given distance of the cable, and to dispose the assembly formed by the remaining sheath of the cable and the modules on the protrusion 422.

In a third embodiment, illustrated in part in FIG. 8, the part 1 is a base including the means 4. The means 4 for generating an excess length of the optical modules 8 with respect to the axis of the cable and bringing them to FIG. away from said axis, are formed of at least two retaining elements 411 and 412 of the cable sheath respectively disposed on one of the two longitudinal edges of the first part 1.

In particular, the retaining elements 411 and 412 can face each other.

To install the cable in the housing, here two openings of the sheath of the cable are made, approximately 180 ° on the circumference of the same part of said cable 7 over a given length, so as to come have each of the two parts of sheath cable thus formed in a respective retainer element 411, 412.

Thus the optical modules contained in the cable 7 are caused to deviate due to the excess length generated by the positioning of the two sheath portions on the retainers 411 and 412, as shown in Fig. 8.

Here again there is an elevation of the optical modules in particular because the length of the optical modules is higher than the length of the housing (the optical modules will tend to bend). This overhead facilitates the identification and gripping optical modules to be derived by the operator.

For these two embodiments also, the housing may have a length L such that 160 <L <250 mm and a width I such that 30 <I <50 mm ^ iojiιvlθ £ θfVvLL.i35iliiiil> However, it is noted that for the third embodiment, the housing will have a L / l form ratio lower than for the other embodiments, because it requires a minimum width I to properly separate the modules.

Furthermore, the main part 1 comprises means 13, 14 (not shown in FIG. 7) for positioning the cable, centered on the width of the casing, so that the casing is centered on the cable 7.

The holding means 6 of the cable disposed at the ends of the main part 1 may comprise roughnesses 6 (not shown in FIGS. 7, 8, preferably integrally formed from the main part 1, to limit the sliding / translation movements of the cable.

Again, the housing may include one or more cassettes 2 removably mounted on the main part 1, and cassette attachment means at each of its ends.

As can be understood, the proposed housing is particularly well suited to the type of cable shown in Dl, namely a permanent accessibility cable. Indeed, in this case of massive deployment of optical fibers, permanently accessible wiring solutions generate significant savings. In addition, apart from laying in a straight line, the fact of not splicing upstairs allows the use of less qualified personnel and reduced installation time.

More generally, the proposed housing offers the following advantages:

- reduced encumbrance of the housing due to the symmetry of the housing relative to the cable;

- adaptability to narrow and congested areas (eg in a duct duct technique) and especially when posing in appearance;

speed and safety of implementation during connection without splicing;

- connection to the nearest subscribers;

- ease of any new access by an operator for any subsequent intervention to the installation / assembly;

- Easy to grip optical modules because of their spacing relative to the cable sheath.

Claims

1. Bypass and / or connection box for a telecommunication cable (7), in particular for an FTTH subscriber network, the cable comprising a plurality of optical modules (8) gathering one or more optical fibers, comprising: a main part (1) comprising, at its ends (11, 12), means (6) for holding the cable in position on the main part (1), characterized in that it further comprises means ( 4) for generating an excess length of the optical modules (8) with respect to the axis of the cable and causing said optical modules to deviate relative to the axis of the cable, these optical modules (8) being made accessible by at least an opening made by removing a portion of the sheath of the cable (7) over a length of between a few centimeters and ten centimeters by practicing a window.

2. Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the main part (1) being a base and the means (4) for generating an excess length of the optical modules (8) relative to the axis of the cable and to bring said modules optical to deviate from the axis of the cable being a removable secondary part (4) forming plate, the plate (4) is adapted to be positioned on the base (1) with a spacing relative to the bottom of the base, this spacing making it possible to pass the sheath of the cable whose interior has been made accessible between the plate (4) and the bottom of the base (1), the plate (4) also having an upper surface ( 41) adapted to receive the optical modules.

3. Housing according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the spacing provided under the plate (4) is dimensioned so that it forces the cable sheath against the bottom of the base (1), when the plate (4) ) is mounted on the base (1).

4. Housing according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sheath 7 of the cable which is not cut partly ensures the mechanical strength of the cable and contributes to the non-rotation of the cable due to its blocking between the plate and the bottom of the base 1

5. Housing according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the plate (4) and the base (1) are adapted to be positioned relative to each other with fixing means (5). ) complementary, for example formed of pads and hollow cylinders of corresponding dimensions.

6. Housing according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the side walls (9) of the base (1) located near the fastening means (5) have a height adapted so that the plate (4) is locally exposed in over-height with respect to said walls (9).

7. Housing according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the plate (4) comprises, on its upper face (41), guide means (10) optical modules, further arranged in the form of a plurality of studs having rounded outer surfaces to allow the winding of excess lengths of modules around these pads.

Housing according to Claim 1, characterized in that the main part (1) is a U-shaped part having an opening (111) on its upper part (121) to access the optical modules (8), and the means (4) for generating an excess length of the optical modules (8) with respect to the axis of the cable and causing said optical modules to deviate from the axis of the cable being constituted by a secondary part (4) forming a wedge , the wedge (4) has a flat bottom (421) and a portion (422) protruding from the flat bottom (421) to push both the previously opened sheath portion and the optical modules (8) towards the opening (111) of the main part (1)

9. Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the main part (1) being a base, the means (4) for generating an excess length of the optical modules (8) relative to the axis of the cable and to bring said optical modules to deviate relative to the axis of the cable consist of at least two retaining elements (411, 412) of the cable sheath respectively disposed on one of the two longitudinal edges of the main part (1).

10. Housing according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the retaining elements (411, 412) face each other.

11. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has an elongated shape, for example with a length L such that 160 <L <250 mm and a width I such that 30 <I <50 mm preferably I <60mm.

Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main part (1) comprises means (13, 14) for positioning the cable (7), centered on the width of the housing, so that the housing is centered on the cable (7).

13. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding means (6) of the cable disposed at the ends of the base (1) comprise roughnesses (6), preferably integrally from the main piece (1), to limit the sliding movements of the cable.

14. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises one or more cassettes (2) removably mounted on the main part (1).

15. Housing according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises means for fixing cassettes at each of its ends.

16. A method of installing a telecommunication cable (7), in particular for the FTTH subscriber network, the cable comprising a plurality of optical modules, which in turn gather one or more optical fibers in a branch box and / or cable connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the cable (7) having been previously opened over a given distance to access the optical modules, an excess length of the optical modules (8) is generated with respect to the cable axis by causing said optical modules to deviate relative to the axis of the cable.

17. A method of installing a telecommunication cable (7) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, the housing comprising a secondary part formed by a plate (4) according to one of claims 2 to 6, slides the plate (4) between the cable sheath (7) at its opening and the optical modules, then the optical modules are positioned on the upper part (41) of the plate (4).

18. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the plate (4) is fixed on the base (1) of the housing.

19. Method according to one of claims 17 or 18, characterized in that the cable (7) is inserted between the positioning means (13, 14) of the base (1), preferably in a non-open area. cable.

20. A method of installing a telecommunication cable (7) according to claim 16, characterized in that the housing comprises a secondary part formed by a shim (4) having a flat bottom (421) and a portion (422). ) outgrowth from flat bottom (421), it has the previously opened sheath portion and the optical modules (8) on the protruding portion (422).

21. A method of installing a telecommunication cable (7) according to claim 16, characterized in that the housing comprising at least two retaining elements (411, 412) of the cable sheath respectively disposed on one two longitudinal edges of the housing are made, two openings are made about 180 ° circumferentially of the same part of the cable over a given length, and each sheath portion thus formed is arranged in a retaining element (411, 412) respective.

22. Method according to one of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that, the cable (7) being a permanently accessible cable, the cable is reopened at a predefined distance from the first opening, to access the (x ) said optical module (s), one accesses this or these optical module (s) chosen (s) by the second opening, we cut a module chosen for the derivation, then extracted the module by the first opening, which is the opening chosen for the bypass, the length of the bypass thus corresponding to the predefined distance.