Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
  • H02G3/02—Details
  • H02G3/06—Joints for connecting lengths of protective tubing or channels, to each other or to casings, e.g. to distribution boxes; Ensuring electrical continuity in the joint
  • H02G3/0608—Joints for connecting non cylindrical conduits, e.g. channels
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
  • G02B6/4439—Auxiliary devices
  • G02B6/4459—Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres

Definitions

• This invention pertains to a system for the management and routing of fiber optic cables, more particularly to system for coupling transition elements or transition troughs, to other troughs and junctions.
• fiber optic troughs are normally used to carry or route the fiber optic cables. Although not necessarily, in most facilities the troughs are located overhead and over the location of the fiber optic distribution frames, bays and equipment.
• a significant trough network is needed to contain and route the fiber cables.
• the installation time and expense can be substantial for said trough systems.
• the installation time and expense is further increased when the troughs, trough supports and junctions are not readily adaptable to the configuration desired in the facility and when the troughs, couplings, junctions, downfalls and other equipment do not readily or easily assemble, or when tools such as screwdrivers are required for installation.
• the typical prior art system requires numerous screws to secure the covers and other components together.
• Some embodiments of this invention provide a new transition trough coupling system which reduces the assembly and installation time and expense significantly and requires no tools to accomplish the assembly.
• Other embodiments of this invention allow transition troughs to be moved together with recipient troughs in a pre-determined way to assemble the two together without any further tools, screws or hardware.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view showing embodiments of this invention with multiple transition troughs and recipient troughs, in an application;
• FIG 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a transition trough sometimes referred to as a trumpet;
• Figure 3 is a side view of the trumpet trough shown in Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a transition trough in the process of being attached to an embodiment of a recipient trough;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a transition trough as contemplated by this invention, referred to as a downward elbow or sometimes a downspout;
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a transition trough as contemplated by this invention, only with two latches being located on the side walls of the transition trough;
• Figure 7 is a bottom perspective exploded view of an embodiment of a transition trough as contemplated by this invention, showing its relation to a junction recipient trough, illustrating the tab latches on the recipient trough which complement and correspond to the latch on the bottom wall of the transition trough;
• latch is used herein in a broad sense, and covers numerous different mechanisms of attachment/detachment, including each component of a latch such as corresponding and complementary components which interact with one another.
• the term latch as used herein is in no way to be limited to the configuration(s) shown in the drawings or described herein.
• the term latch as used herein, by way of example but not limitation, would therefore include structures which fasten or retain, such as a flexible member with a detent or a tab contained thereon, which would then interact with a corresponding and complementary component (also referred to as a latch), which may be a detent or a tab.
• Latch is intended to cover each of the configurations or structures that attach or fasten to one another in a complementary way, or would for example allow a component to attach to the side wall of the trough. Further the term latch is intended to cover each of the two complementary components which interact or complement each other. Consistent with this definition and in the case of transition troughs, the retention pegs and the lateral support structure are considered and defined as latches.
• trough as used herein means any straight, transition, curved or junction trough.
• junction trough or junction as used herein means any junction point or area, such as without limitation, horizontal elbows, tees, four way junctions or intersections, and others.
• transition trough means any trough component that facilitates the vertical routing of fiber optic cables, including without limitation, what are referred to as a downspout, downspout converter, down elbow, up elbow and as a trumpet, and others.
• recipient trough as used herein means any trough component that is to be coupled with the transition trough, such as straight troughs, junction troughs or junctions, and even including other transition troughs.
• a downspout or down elbow may be a recipient trough at its lower end for a trumpet trough element, as shown in the figures.
• lateral support stop means any structure which has a stop element to engage the retention peg and prevent the movement of the transition trough away from the recipient trough (lateral movement), including without limitation, an aperture into which the retention peg may be placed. Additionally, the term lateral support stop as used herein is considered to be a latch as defined herein.
• retainer peg as used herein means a peg or other structure which has a vertically oriented support structure. Depending on the orientation of the trough, the vertically oriented structure may actually be horizontal within the contemplation of this invention, if the movement apart of the transition trough from the recipient trough would necessarily be in the vertical direction. Additionally, the term retainer peg is considered to be a latch as defined above.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view showing embodiments of this invention with multiple transition troughs and recipient troughs, in a possible application of embodiments of this invention.
• Figure 1 shows elbow trough 110 (a junction trough), with fiber support surface 110a, first side wall 110b, second side all 110c, retention peg 111, retention peg 112, acting as a recipient trough to trumpet transition trough 100, and coupled by trough coupler 140 to junction trough 120, a four way junction trough.
• Trumpet transition trough 100 is shown with fiber support surface 100a (or bottom wall), a latch represented by a lateral support stop 102 or structure on first side wall 100b, and a latch represented by a lateral support stop 101 on second side wall 100c.
• Junction recipient trough 120 has fiber support surface 120a (bottom wall), first side wall 120b, second side wall 120c, and acting as a recipient trough for downspout transition trough 130.
• Junction recipient trough 120 has retention pegs 121 and 122 which are latches as that term is used herein, to allow transition trough 130 to be attached to it.
• Transition trough 130 with fiber support surface 130a, first side wall 130b, second side wall 130c, lateral support stops 131 and 132 (latches), and retention pegs 133 & 134. Transition trough 130 also acts as a recipient trough via retention pegs 133
• Trumpet transition trough 140 is shown with fiber support surface 140a, first side wall 140b, second side wall 140c, lateral support stop 141 (latch) on second side wall 140c and lateral support stop 142 on first side wall 140b.
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a transition trough sometimes referred to as a trumpet 100, illustrating a bottom wall 100a, a first side wall 100b and a second side wall 101c.
• Figure 2 also illustrates two of the numerous possible transition trough latches which may be used within the contemplation of this invention.
• the first two latches are the combination of lateral support structure 101 combined with latch aperture 103, and the combination of lateral support structure 102 combined with latch aperture 104.
• the apertures 103 and 104 may be lifted above corresponding and complementary latches on a recipient trough, and lowered onto a retention peg as shown in later figures.
• the combination of the lateral support structure 102 combined with latch aperture 104 provides lateral support and vertical support, thereby retaining transition trough 100 adjacent a recipient trough.
• Figure 2 also shows a another embodiment of a latch as contemplated by this invention, a flexible member 105 with detents 106.
• the flexible member flexes to allow flexible member 105 to move over two tabs (latches) on the recipient trough which complement the detents 106.
• the detents 106 will match up to the tabs and the flex member 105 will return toward its non-flexed position.
• two detents 106 are shown, and in that case, the spacer between the two detents 106 provides some lateral support. However, there may be any number of detents 106 within the contemplation of this invention.
• Figure 3 is a side view of the trumpet trough shown in Figure 2, and shows second side wall 100c, latch 101, flexible member 105 of the lower latch and detent 106.
• the lower latch is the combination of flexible member 105 and detent 106.
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a transition trough in the process of being attached to an embodiment of a recipient trough.
• the apertures 103 and 104 are lifted above corresponding and complementary latches on a recipient trough, which in Figure 4 are retention pegs 111 & 112, which are located in a recess from the top of the side walls of the recipient trough 110.
• Moving the transition trough and the recipient trough together in a pre-determined way involves lowering the lateral support structures 101 & 102 down such that apertures 103 and 104 are lowered over and engage retention pegs 111 & 112. This provides lateral and vertical support.
• the retention pegs provide lateral support in all lateral directions when the peg corresponds to and complements the aperture in the other of the recipient trough or the transition trough.
• the recess around the peg also provides in a direction perpendicular to the lateral support, which would typically (but need not be) in the vertical direction.
• the lower portion of the transition trough is moved together with the lower portion of the recipient trough, causing flexible member 105 to flex to initially allow it to pass over corresponding tabs on the bottom of recipient trough 110.
• the tabs or latches on the bottom of recipient trough are corresponded to the transition trough latch such that when the troughs are in the desired location, the detent 106 engages and surrounds the corresponding tabs on the recipient trough, thereby preventing the bottom walls 110a and 100a from moving apart.
• Figure 4 also shows first side wall 100b, second side wall 100c, and bottom wall
• transition trough 100 100a (also fiber support surface) of transition trough 100, as well as first side wall 110b, second side wall 110c, and bottom wall 100a or fiber support surface of recipient trough 110.
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a transition trough 130 as contemplated by this invention, referred to as a downward elbow or sometimes a downspout.
• Figure 5 illustrates bottom wall 130a, first side wall 130b, second side wall 130c, a latch comprised of flexible member 135 and detent 136 at a first end of transition trough 130.
• first side wall 130b At the first end of first side wall 130b is a latch, the latch being comprised of lateral support structure stop 132 and aperture 134.
• the latch At the first end of second side wall 130c is a latch, the latch being comprised of lateral support structure stop 131 and aperture 133.
• Figure 5 also illustrates how an embodiment of a transition trough may also be a recipient trough to another transition trough, in that the transition trough 130 has a second end which further comprises a first recipient trough latch 138 on the first side wall 130b; a second recipient trough latch 137 on the second side wall 130c; and a third recipient trough latch of a flexible member 135 with detent 136 thereon, attached to the bottom wall 130a.
• lowered when the term lowered is used herein in connection with a lateral support aperture being lowered onto a retention peg for example, it is not required that this be only in a vertical direction, but instead means placing or sliding the latch aperture in the lateral support stop or lateral support structure, over and onto the retention peg.
• bottom wall when the term bottom wall is used herein, it refers to a fiber support surface which does not necessarily have to be vertically lower than the side walls, depending on the orientation of the trough being described.
• Figure 5 shows retention peg 137 (latch) on the second end of second side wall * 130c, and retention peg 138 on the second end of first side wall 130b.
• a trumpet may be the transition trough attached to the second end of transition trough 130.
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a transition trough 200 as contemplated by this invention, only with two latches being located on the side walls of the transition trough instead or in replacement of the latch represented by flexible member 135 combined with detent 136 (shown in Figure 5).
• transition trough 200 On the first side wall 200b of transition trough 200 is a first latch represented by flexible member 205 and detent 206, in addition to the latch represented by lateral support structure 202 and aperture 203. Also, on the second side wall 200c is a latch represented by flexible member 207 and detent 208, in addition to the latch represented by lateral support member 201 combined with aperture 204.
• Figure 6 also shows transition trough bottom wall 200a or fiber support surface.
• Figure 7 is a bottom perspective exploded view of an embodiment of a transition trough 130 as contemplated by this invention, showing its relation to a junction recipient trough 120, illustrating the tab latches 139 on the recipient trough 120 which complement and correspond to the latch on the bottom wall of the transition trough 130 which is represented by flexible member 135 and detent 136.
• Figure 7 also shows the bottom wall 130a or fiber support surface of transition trough 130, first side wall 130b, second side wall 130c, retention posts 137 and 138 at a second end of the trough, and which would be latches to render transition trough 130 a recipient trough if desired.
• Figure 7 also shows recipient trough bottom wall 120a or fiber support surface, first side wall 120b and second side wall 120c.
• retention peg latches shown and described herein are preferably at or near a top of side wall, they need not be and can be located anywhere thereon within the contemplation of this invention.
• the coupling system is comprised of: a recipient trough with a fiber support surface, a first side wall and a second side wall, and further comprising: a first recipient trough latch on the first side wall; a second recipient trough latch on the second side wall; a third recipient trough latch; a transition trough with a fiber support surface, a first side wall and a second side wall corresponding to the recipient trough, the transition trough comprised of: a first and a second transition trough latch which correspond to and engage the first and second recipient trough latches, the first and second transition trough latches being disposed to provide lateral support to retain the transition trough at a position adjacent
• first transition latch may be a lateral support stop
• first recipient trough latch may be a retention peg
• one trough is both a transition trough and a recipient trough, such as the trough shown in Figure 5.
• a fiber optic transition trough coupling system for coupling a transition trough to a recipient trough
• the coupling system comprises: a recipient trough with a fiber support surface, a first side wall, a second side wall and at least two recipient trough latches; and a transition trough with a fiber support surface, a first side wall and a second side wall corresponding to the recipient trough, and at least two transition trough latches corresponding and complementary to the transition trough latches; wherein the recipient trough and the transition trough are disposed to operatively attach to one another by movement together in a predetermined way. Further embodiments of this would be when the recipient trough is one piece, and/or the transition trough is one piece.
• Process embodiments are also disclosed, such as a process for the assembly of a fiber optic transition trough to a recipient trough, the process comprising the following steps: providing a recipient trough which includes a fiber support surface, a first side wall, a second side wall, and at least two recipient trough latches; providing a transition trough which includes a fiber support surface, a first side wall, a second side wall corresponding to the recipient trough, and at least two transition trough latches which correspond and are complementary to the at least two recipient trough latches, the at least two transition trough latches further being one piece with the transition trough; and moving the transition trough and the recipient trough together in a predetermined way to form an operative attachment, wherein moving the transition trough and the recipient trough together in the predetermined way is the only step required to form the operative attachment. Similar to the apparatus embodiments, further process embodiments of this would be when the recipient trough is one piece, and/or the transition
• transition trough and the recipient trough are moved together in a predetermined way to attach the two and no tools are required and no additional components need be added, to form the operative attachment.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
• Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Cited By (15)

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Citations (2)

• 2001
  • 2001-08-24 WO PCT/US2001/026430 patent/WO2002018991A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2001-08-24 CA CA2417742A patent/CA2417742C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-08-24 AU AU2001288376A patent/AU2001288376A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-08-24 MX MXPA03001354A patent/MXPA03001354A/es unknown

Patent Citations (3)

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