WO2005026800A1 - Cadre de distribution de fibre optique avec relief incurve - Google Patents

Cadre de distribution de fibre optique avec relief incurve Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005026800A1
WO2005026800A1 PCT/GB2004/003797 GB2004003797W WO2005026800A1 WO 2005026800 A1 WO2005026800 A1 WO 2005026800A1 GB 2004003797 W GB2004003797 W GB 2004003797W WO 2005026800 A1 WO2005026800 A1 WO 2005026800A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
optical fibre
slot
unit
tray
opening
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2004/003797
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Heidi Bleus
Peter Bos
Fabirzio Di Girolami
Etienne Laeremans
Eric Schurmans
Bart Van Meeuwen
Original Assignee
Tyco Electronics Raychem Nv
Tyco Electronics Uk Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tyco Electronics Raychem Nv, Tyco Electronics Uk Ltd filed Critical Tyco Electronics Raychem Nv
Publication of WO2005026800A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005026800A1/fr

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Classifications

    • 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
    • G02B6/444—Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
    • G02B6/44528—Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box
    • 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
    • G02B6/444—Systems or boxes with surplus lengths
    • G02B6/4452—Distribution frames
    • G02B6/44526—Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to optical fibre distribution equipment, and especially to so-called racks, frames, cabinets and the like, and to parts and components thereof.
  • Optical fibre communication systems are used extensively in the telecommunications industry due to the large information-carrying capacity, their virtually noise-free performance, and the long distances which optical fibres can span before regeneration and amplification of the signal is required. Practical limits on the lengths of optical fibres which can be made, however, result in the need for optical fibres to be connected end-to-end frequently. Furthermore, when a cable carrying a plurality of optical fibres enters a building it is necessary for them to be connected or spliced to optical fibres within the building to reach their final destination.
  • overlength The large amount of slack or spare length of optical fibre which must be left in association with each connection is referred to as the "overlength", this may amount to a metre or more for each splice or connection.
  • optical fibre distribution equipment capable of handling several hundreds of optical fibres there may, therefore, be several hundred metres of overlength cable to store and organise.
  • the organisation of the overlength cable is of primary importance since it has to be possible for a technician to identify and select a specific cable for re-routing when changes become necessary. If the optical fibre is not systematically organised this can be a difficult task, and in the worst case, if the fibres become tangled, the risk of damage to an optical fibre by bending it at a tighter radius than its minimum bend radius becomes a serious possibility.
  • the present invention provides an improved shelf arrangement in which it is possible for an optical fibre to be connected to a splice block or to connectors within the shelf or tray without having first to be fed through the access opening, and, subsequently, to be introduced into the access opening laterally without it being necessary for an end of the fibre to be threaded lengthwise through the opening. This speeds up work on the frame and facilitates identification and separation of individual fibres when re-routing becomes necessary.
  • one aspect of the present invention provides a modular unit for an optical fibre distribution frame, carrying means for splicing, splitting or terminating the optical fibres and having means defining an opening in a wall thereof through which the optical fibres leading to or from the said unit pass to other such units and/or to or from the said distribution frame, in which the said opening is located towards the rear (or in an alternative, the front) of the unit as seen in use and communicates with a slot in the said wall, which slot is longer than the said opening and extends towards the front (or in an alternative, the rear) of the unit as seen in use and which slot is open at its end remote from the said opening, allowing an intermediate portion of an optical fibre to be laterally introduced into or removed from the opening without requiring an end of the fibre to be passed through the said opemng.
  • the said opening is located towards the rear of the unit as seen in use with the said slot extending towards the front of the unit, but the converse arrangement (as indicated above in brackets) may be convenient in some distribution frames.
  • the opening in the said wall of the unit has an optical fibre guide member associated therewith.
  • This association may be direct connection of the guide to the opening, or location of the guide close to or adjacent the opening by other support means for bend control purposes.
  • the said guide member may be a substantially annular element with an outwardly curved flaring wall.
  • a known such guide is referred to as a "trumpet".
  • the said guide member in order to communicate with the slot in the said wall of the frame, the said guide member needs to have a discontinuity in the side wall thereof and this is preferably in the form of a sinuous slot.
  • the sinuous slot is preferably so shaped that, in normal use, a cable cannot inadvertently escape from the guide due to the fact that it would not normally be shaped to a curve such as to run parallel to the slot.
  • Deliberate action to insert or remove a fibre can be achieved by feeding the fibre through the slot at an angle to the surface in which the slot is formed, thereby making it possible to transfer the optical fibre from one side of the guide wall to the other, namely into the interior of the guide.
  • a preferred feature of the invention will now be described, which reduces any tendency for the unit having the open-ended slot in its side wall to suffer from a reduced rigidity and a lowered resistance to vibration in comparison with a wall having no such slot.
  • the said wall of the unit preferably carries a reinforcement member spanning across the said slot therein in normal working conditions of the shelf.
  • the reinforcement member For installation of fibres, or when it is desired to make any changes to the installation, however, it is a simple matter to move the reinforcement member to a position where it does not obstruct the slot so that fibres can be introduced thereinto.
  • the reinforcement member is preferably movable between a first or operating position in which it is connected to the said wall on both sides of the slot, and a second position in which it is spaced from the slot and the slot is unobstructed thereby.
  • the reinforcement member In the said first position the reinforcement member preferably engages with means for locking or retaining it in the said first position.
  • Such reinforcement member may be pivoted to the said wall of the unit on one side of the slot so that it can be turned between its first and second positions, being engageable to the said locking or retaining means on the other side of the slot in the said second position.
  • a particularly convenient form of reinforcement member has an L-shape cross section a first limb of which lies parallel to the said wall of the unit to facilitate pivotal connection thereto and ensure secure reinforcement, and a second limb projecting laterally from the said wall of the unit to provide means for gripping manually whereby to allow manipulation of the reinforcement member between its first and second positions.
  • a cable guide for an optical fibre distribution frame or the like comprising at least two support members the positions of which are adjustable with respect to one another whereby to provide support for optical fibre cables which is adaptable to the curvature of the cables themselves.
  • each support member is adjustable with at least two degrees of freedom.
  • the said two degrees of freedom may be respectively rotational and translational.
  • each support member extends between two end plates.
  • each support member has a transverse flange or leg at each end of engaging to a respective end plate.
  • an optical fibre distribution frame comprising a plurality of shelves at different levels within the frame, at which are located means for splicing, splitting or terminating the optical fibres, and means for storing spare lengths of optical fibre to allow for subsequent modification of the interconnections thereof, in which there are provided supplementary storage means for spare lengths of optical fibre, the supplementary storage means being turnable between a first, or storage position and a second or access position in which latter position optical fibres can be introduced thereto or removed therefrom.
  • the said supplementary storage means may comprise an upwardly open channel member open at each end. Likewise each end of the floor of the channel may have a curved portion for guidance of optical fibres introduced thereto at a minimum bend radius. Conveniently, the supplementary storage means has associated guides with curved surfaces for receiving and guiding overlength portions of optical fibre.
  • the said associated guides may comprise drums at least one of which projects upwardly from the bottom or floor of the channel.
  • the present invention also comprehends a splice tray for an optical fibre distribution system, having means for retaining a plurality of optical fibre connectors in an array on the tray, in which the tray has a storage region provided with guide means for storing on the tray overlengths of the optical fibres connected by the connectors thereon.
  • the said storage region of the splice preferably has a tray cover over at least a portion thereof.
  • the said tray cover may be turnable about a pivot axis between a closed position overlying the said storage region, and an open position in which the said storage region is exposed.
  • Splice trays of the inventions may be stacked one above the other and pivoted at one edge for access.
  • the said tray cover preferably has a free edge inclined with respect to the pivot axis of the tray cover such that, when used in a stack of superimposed trays, the said cover can act as a brace or stay to hold adjacent trays apart.
  • the tray cover For securely holding the optical fibre overlengths in position there may be provided snap engagement means for holding the said tray cover in the closed position thereof.
  • the underside of the tray has means for locating and retaining an edge of a tray cover of an underlying tray in the said brace or stay position.
  • a patch panel or tray for an optical fibre distribution system having a plurality of connectors located laterally adjacent one another in an elongate array, in which the individual connectors are mounted to a support so as to be displaceable along the length of the said elongate array at least to a limited extent, and there are provided means for selectively determining the position of at least one of the end members of the array whereby to prevent or allow movement of the members of the array parallel to the length thereof.
  • a patch panel or tray for an optical fibre distribution system formed according to this aspect may utilise connectors which comprise an adaptor part having respective connector elements or parts removably connectable thereto, in which case the said adaptor part may be held captive between two elongate parallel retaining guides.
  • a lower of the said two parallel retaining guides is part of the floor of the said patch panel, and an upper guide is formed as a bridge element engaged to side walls of at least a part of the patch panel at two opposite ends thereof.
  • the adaptor parts presumably have respective transverse ridges engaged in longitudinal grooves in the said elongate parallel retaining guides.
  • a yet further aspect of the present invention comprises a patch panel or tray for an optical fibre distribution system, in which the said means for selectively determining the position of at least one of the said end members of the array comprises a removable locking element engageable in an opening in the bridge member whereby to act, when thus inserted, as an abutment stop engaging the adaptor part of the end connector in the array.
  • the removable locking element is conveniently a pin engageable in an opening passing through the ridge portion of the bridge, in line with the adaptor part of the adjacent connector.
  • Another aspect of the present invention provides a patch panel or tray for an optical fibre distribution system, having a plurality of connectors laterally adjacent one another in an elongate array thereof, in which the connectors are held in place on the panel by at least one row of upstanding resilient hook-shape elements between respective adjacent pairs of which the connector assemblies can be selectively retained.
  • the said hook elements may be teeth carried on respective upstanding resilient arms.
  • the said two rows of hook-shape elements comprise a first row with the teeth facing one direction of the row and a second row with teeth facing in the opposite direction along the row in adjacent pairs, one from each row, in which the teeth face in opposite directions.
  • the said displacement - resisting means may comprise respective ribs or ridges extending parallel to the length of the rows of hook-shape elements, between which a projecting part of a connector is engaged and retained when the teeth of the hook-shape arms engage over the connector.
  • Figure 1 is a front view of an optical fibre distribution frame formed as and incorporating, embodiments of the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a side view from the right hand side (as viewed from the front) of the frame illustrated in Figure 1
  • Figure 3 is a side view from the left hand side (as viewed from the front) of the frame illustrated in Figures 1 and 2
  • Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a modified detail of the frame of Figures 1 to 3
  • Figure 5 is a further enlarged side view of a part of the structure illustrated in Figure 4
  • Figure 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the lower part of the optical fibre distribution frame illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, illustrating a further embodiment of the invention
  • Figures 7, 8 and 9 are schematic face views illustrating part of the embodiment of Fig 6
  • Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view of the basic support structure of the optical fibre distribution frame illustrated in the drawings
  • Figure 11 is a schematic perspective perspective view of the basic support structure of the optical fibre distribution frame illustrated in the drawings
  • Figure 11 is
  • the optical fibre distribution frame of the present invention is generally indicated 10 and the overall view can best be seen in Figures 1 , 2 and 3.
  • the frame 10 comprises a plurality of modular units 11 , hereinafter referred to as "shelves" carried on two support columns 12, 13 in a canterlever fashion projecting forwardly of a plane defined by the two support columns 12, 13.
  • the two support columns 12, 13 are carried on respective feet 14, 15 joined by a transverse brace 16 to which the columns 12, 13 are joined by reinforcing fish plates 17, 18. Further fish plates 19, 20 and 21 , 22 reinforce the columns to forwardly and rearwardly projecting parts of the feet 14, 15 respectively.
  • the feet 14, 15 can be secured by fixings (such as set screws) at each end to a supporting platform or floor. In Figure 10 these fixings are identified in common by the reference numeral 23.
  • the frame 10 has ten shelves 11, each shelf carrying six splicing trays 24-29 (see Figure 4) which will be described in more detail below.
  • Each shelf 11 has a bottom wall 30 (see Figure 4) and respective left and right side walls 31, 32 and a front wall 33 which is pivoted to the side walls along a lower edge so that it can be turned to an open position, pivoting about this lower edge, as shown in Figure 1 where the fifth shelf from the top is shown with its front wall 33 turned about the pivot axis to an open position to reveal the trays within it, although in Figure 1 only one tray is shown for clarity. However, as can be seen in Figure 4 the height of the shelf is sufficient to accommodate six trays 24-29.
  • Optical fibres entering the frame 10 arrive in one or more cables from a low level (either through the floor or a platform) and these are connected, by means not shown, to flex tubes 34, illustrated in Figure 2, which are shown leading from a cable support tray 35 (which will be described in more detail below) to a respective shelf 11. Although their destinations are different the flex tubes 34, and the optical fibres within them, are effectively identical, so no separate identification of these is made.
  • each shelf 11 has a sliding drawer 36 which is exposed when the front wall 33 is pivoted downwardly, and which can be then drawn out, bearing the trays 24-29 for access as will be described in more detail below, and as can be seen in Figures 2 and 3 which show the drawer in the fifth shelf down from the top in the open position.
  • the optical fibres within the flex tubes 34 lead to individual trays 24-29 within their respective shelves 11, and within each tray is carried a splice block at which the individual fibres in the cables are spliced to ruggedised optical fibres, the so-called “pigtails” which then lead to one of twenty-four connectors within the tray.
  • These connectors allow connections between the pigtails and so-called “jumpers” or “patch cords” which lead from the tray to another shelf on the rack or to another rack in the array.
  • the arrangement of pigtails and jumpers on a tray will be described in more detail below. For the purposes of the present description it will be seen from Figures 3 and 4, that a plurality of jumpers 37 lead out from a shelf 11.
  • Figure 3 illustrates the jumpers 37 passing out through an opening 38 in the left hand side wall 31 one of the shelves 11, whilst Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment in which the jumpers 37 pass out through a corresponding opening provided with a so-called “trumpet” 39.
  • the trumpet 39 is a guide for the optical fibres, having a flared wall which limits the tightest bend which the optical fibres can make, acting to provide so-called "bend control" in the routing of the fibres.
  • each shelf 11 is provided with a horizontal slot 40 which opens at one end 41 into the opening 38 and has another open end 42 at the front end of the side wall 31.
  • the optical fibre guide 39 has a slot 43 in its side wall, also having an open end 44 in communication with the opening 38 and an open end 45 at the free edge of the optical fibre guide 39.
  • the slot 43 has a sinuous shape, in this case a semi circular curve defined by a projection 46 from one edge, and a corresponding bay or recess 47 in the other, so arranged that the projection 46 extends across the width of the slot 43 to such an extent that a ruggedised optical fibre j umper or patch cord 37 will not bend, other than deliberately, to match the curvature of the slot so that, although a patch cord 37 can be introduced into the cable guide 39 laterally of its length, it cannot escape from the cable guide inadvertently.
  • the side wall 31 is provided with a reinforcing element 48 which is pivoted at one end 49 to the upper part of the side wall 31 and provided with a notch 50 for engagement with a bent out tab 51 on the lower part of the side wall 31.
  • a reinforcing element 48 in its closed position the reinforcing element 48 lies at about 45° to the horizontal and the notch 50 is securely held by the tab 51 whereby to transmit forces from the upper part of the side wall 31 to the lower part thereof, and vice versa, and support any loads which may be imposed thereon in use.
  • the reinforcing element 48 is needed more to protect the side wall against displacements when the rack or frame 10 is subjected to vibration or casual load rather than a systematic load from the shelves above it.
  • the reinforcement member 48 lies above the slot 40 and presents no obstruction to the passage of patch cords being routed or re-routed to and/or from the trays 24-29 within the shelf.
  • the optical fibres arriving at the frame 10 are carried in flex tubes 34 the outer casing of which is constituted by a corrugated casing offering protection to the optical fibres within it whilst nevertheless allowing these to be bent to deliver them to their appropriate destination as can be seen particularly in Figures 2 and 6.
  • a cable support tray generally indicated 35 which is adjustable in order to accommodate the curvature of the incoming cables and that of the flex tubes.
  • This cable support tray comprises two elongate support surfaces of bars 52, 53 each of which has, at its opposite ends, respective pairs of transverse flanges in the form of legs 54, 55 and 56, 57 respectively (the support leg 54 cannot be seen in Figure 6).
  • each of the support bars 52, 53 have elongate slots 58, 59 through which pass clamping bolts 62, 63 by which the two legs 55, 57 are adjustably secured to a support plate 64 of double arcuate shape.
  • the double arcuate support plate 64 has two rows of curved slots 65, 66 by which the support plate 64 can be secured by clamping bolts 67, 68 to the transverse brace 16 spanning the two feet 14, 15 of the frame 10.
  • the support legs 55, 56 at the other ends of the support legs 52, 53 likewise have slots and are held by clamping bolts (not referenced) to an end plate 69.
  • a third support bar 70 spans between the support plate 64 and the end plate 69, in a fixed position, and this may, as can be see in Figures 7, 8 and 9, carry cable clamps 71 and attachments 72 for the "strength member", which, as is known, is an elongate element within a cable carrying a plurality of optical fibres, which provides physical resistance against tension loads along the length of the cable.
  • the "strength member" which, as is known, is an elongate element within a cable carrying a plurality of optical fibres, which provides physical resistance against tension loads along the length of the cable.
  • the fibre cables may be terminated at the cable element management tray 35 and the optical fibres continue within a flex tube 34.
  • Figure 7 shows a mid position
  • Figure 8 shows a gentle curve
  • Figure 9 shows the tightest bend to which an incoming cable may be subject by adjustment to a cable management tray 35.
  • optical fibres exiting a shelf 11 can be guided to a rear trough 74 (of which there are six in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3) via respective bend control guides 75 projecting laterally from the left hand column 12, and 76 projecting rearwardly from the column 12.
  • Such troughs are known.
  • each trough 74 In view of the large number of optical fibres 33 which need to be managed in the troughs 74 an additional, supplementary trough 77 is provided beneath each trough 74 (only one supplementary trough being shown in Figure 3).
  • the rear troughs 74 extend the full width of the frame 10, and when several such frames are placed side by side the rear troughs form a kind of highway for the patch cords 33.
  • the supplementary trough 77 associated with each rear trough 74 is pivotally connected, as shown in Figure 12, to the rear of the frame at a lower corner 78 and retained by a catch 79, which may be a screw, turn buckle or the like.
  • the supplementary trough 77 may have bend control guides 80 in the form of drums projecting from its floor, and likewise the floor of the supplementary trough has curved ends 81 , 82 acting as further bend control guides so that spare lengths of optical fibres 33 which are not intended to lead to another frame 10, can be located in the supplementary trough, for which purpose it can be wound around the drums 80 in a suitable winding pattern.
  • FIGS 13, 14 and 15 show the typical form of the trays 24-29 carried by an individual shelf 11.
  • Each of the trays 24-29 is identical and, therefore, only one (in this case tray 28) will be described in detail.
  • each tray such as the tray 28, is a flat generally rectangular member having a flat floor 83 with reinforcing ribs 84 on the lower surface (as can be seen by reference to the underside of tray 29 in Figures 13 and 14) and an upstanding peripheral wall 85.
  • a rear side 86 of each tray is pivoted to a set of three upright supports 87 by means of respective pivot pins 88 (see Figure 15) and in each rear corner of the tray the peripheral wall 85 is interrupted, to form an entrance 89 in the left hand rear corner, and an exit 90 in the right hand rear corner.
  • the rear part of the peripheral wall has an inwardly curved guide section 91 to provide guidance and bend control for patch cords leaving the tray, and likewise, as can be seen in Figures 13 and 14, at the entrance 89 the rear part of the peripheral wall 85 has a curved section 92 for the same purpose for the pigtails leading into the tray.
  • the area of the tray 28 is divided into two parts by a partition wall 93 running approximately centrally from front to back, and which has a rear curved section 94 meeting the rear part of the peripheral wall 85, and a curved section 95 at the front spaced from the peripheral wall 85 at the front of the tray by a transfer gap 96.
  • the right hand region of the tray is intended for storage of overlength patch cord, for which purpose it has two central oval drums 97, 98 projecting from the floor 83 in the central region to act as guides and for bend control purposes.
  • the left hand part of the tray carries a plurality of splice blocks 99 ( Figure 15b) at which optical fibres entering through the entrance 89 can be spliced to pigtails in the conventional manner.
  • Two circular drums 100, 101 project upwards from the floor of the tray, and have radial projections 102 to allow optical fibre and/or pigtails to be wound around the drums for storage to allow overlength for subsequent changes.
  • the left hand part of the tray also contains an array 103 of connectors which will be described in more detail below.
  • the array 103 of connectors is illustrated in Figures 13, 14 and 15 of the drawings without optical fibres.
  • the connectors themselves can be seen more clearly in Figures 16, 17 and 18.
  • there are twenty four connectors in the array 103 each connector comprising a central adaptor 104 (see Figure 17) retained under a central "bridge" 105 which spans between the side of the peripheral wall 85 and the partition wall 93.
  • a shaped channel 106 in the floor 83 of the tray see Figure 17
  • the bridge 105 likewise has a channel 107.
  • Each adaptor 104 has upper and lower transverse ridges 108, 109 which engage in the upper and lower channels 107, 106 loosely so that the adaptor 104 is retained against axial movement, that is movement towards the front or the back of the tray, but is free to slide along the length of the bridge 105 as will be described in more detail below.
  • Respective connector members 110, 111, at the ends of pigtails or patch cords, can be inserted into the adaptor 104 from either end.
  • the connectors themselves function in an entirely conventional way allowing pigtails to be releasably connected to patch cords in any desired arrangement.
  • the bridge 105 comprises a central spine 112 of channel section, within which the channel 107 is formed, and lateral parallel flanges 113, 114 reinforced by respective transverse ribs 115, 116 ( Figure 16).
  • the adapters When the picker pin 118 is removed from the hole 117 the adapters are free to slide to the right, in the free space 119 between the end of the right most adaptor 104 and the partition wall 93 thereby allowing any two connectors to be moved apart to give the operator access to these for removing them from the associated adaptor 104 for exchange or replacement when re-routing fibres as shown in Figure 18.
  • the picker pin 118 itself can be used for selecting particular fibres from the set stored in the tray to facilitate identification and separation of the desired fibre to be worked on.
  • the tray also has a plurality of bend control guides 120 in the form of upwardly projecting arcuate bend control guide walls between the array 103 of connectors and the front of the peripheral wall 85 to assist in guiding the optical fibre of the patch cord from the connectors 111 to run parallel to the front edge of the peripheral wall 85 and through the transfer gap 96.
  • the partition wall 93 carries, pivoted to it, a tray cover 121 which, as can be seen in the drawings, has a generally triangular shape with a free edge 122 inclined at an angle of about 30° to the pivoted edge 123.
  • the tray cover 121 can be moved between a closure position as illustrated in Figure 13, in which it covers the optical fibres in the right hand portion of the tray, and a generally upright position in which the inclined edge 122 provides support for an overlying tray to hold this open whilst the operator is working on the connections within the tray itself.
  • Figure 18 illustrates the connector array 103 with the picker pin 118 removed from the hole 117 in the bridge 105 and a number of connectors then moved to the right to isolate an individual connector for access by the installer.
  • FIG 19 illustrates an alternative embodiment of tray in which the same reference numerals as are used in relation to the embodiment of Figures 13 to 18 will again be used to identify the same or corresponding components. This embodiment is adapted for circumstances in which pigtails
  • the incoming optical fibre entering through the entrance 92 are led to a known type of S.M.O.U.F splice block 99 and the pigtails leading therefrom are wound on a single drum 100 and then pass to a connector array 103 the individual adaptors 104 of which are retained not by a retainer bridge but by a plurality of upstanding adaptor retainer arms 129 seen more clearly in Figures 21 and 22.
  • the individual connectors in the array 103 are permanently spaced slightly further apart than in the array 103 of the embodiment of Figures 13 to 18 (since these latter are, in effect, touching one another) and therefore the length of the array 103 in the embodiment of Figure 20 is longer than in the embodiment of Figures 13 to 19.
  • the partition wall 93 cannot be a straight division from front to back as in the embodiments of Figures 13 to 19, but has a sinuous bend 130 to provide a front partition wall portion 131 which is further to the right than a rear partition wall portion 132, so that the right hand space in the tray is slightly L-shape.
  • the drums 97, 98 are thus slightly offset from one another.
  • the peripheral wall 85 has two inwardly projecting lugs 131, 132 to retain that part of the set of patch cords 125 exposed by the inclined edge 122 of the tray cover 121.
  • the upstanding retainer arms 129 are arranged in two rows with the members of each row locate din pairs staggered along the row with respect to one another by the thickness of the retainer arm.
  • Each arm 129 has a hook-shape tooth 133 at the upper end thereof, the teeth on the forward retainer arms 129F facing to the right (and being identified 133F) whilst the teeth 133R on the rearward retainer arms 129R face to the left.
  • Each retainer arm 129 has a front face 134 on the side from which the tooth 133 proj ects and a rear face 135 on the opposite side therefrom.
  • the offset longitudinally of the row thereof of a laterally adjacent pair of retainer arms 129 is slightly flexible, the teeth can be displaced by the depth of the tooth 133 to allow the entire adaptor to be removed from the array so that changes in connections can be made easily.
  • the adaptor can then be replaced simply by pressing it downwardly into its space at which point the forward arm 129F to its left and the rearward arm 129R to its right flex to allow the respective teeth to engage.
  • Each adaptor is thus loosely but securely held between four arms, two of which, diagonally opposite one another, have teeth which engage that adaptor, and the other two of which (on the opposite diagonal) engage the adaptors on either side thereof.
  • a cable guide for an optical fibre distribution frame or the like comprising at least two support members the positions of which are adjustable with respect to one another whereby to provide support for optical fibre cables which is adaptable to the curvature of the cables themselves.
  • each support member is adjustable with at least 2 degrees of freedom.
  • each support member has a transverse flange or leg at each end for engaging to a respective end plate.
  • the said end plates have curved lower edges.
  • An optical fibre distribution frame comprising a plurality of shelves at different levels within the frame, at which are located means for splicing, splitting or terminating the optical fibres, and means for storing spare lengths of optical fibre to allow for subsequent modification of the interconnections thereof, in which there are provided supplementary storage means for spare lengths of optical fibre, the supplementary storage means being turnable between a first, or storage position and a second or access position in which latter position optical fibres can be introduced thereto or removed therefrom.
  • a splice tray for an optical fibre distribution system having means for retaining a plurality of optical fibre connectors in an array on the tray, in which the tray has a storage region provided with guide means for storing on the tray overlengths of the optical fibres connected by the connectors thereon.
  • a splice tray for an optical fibre distribution system as claimed in Claim 25, in which the said storage region of the splice tray has a tray cover over at least a portion thereof.
  • a splice tray for an optical fibre distribution system as claimed in Claim 26 in which the said tray cover is turnable about a pivot axis between a closed position overlying the said storage region, and an open position in which the said storage region is exposed.
  • a splice tray for an optical fibre distribution system as claimed in any of Claims 26, 27 or 28, in which there are provided snap engagement means for holding the said tray cover in the closed position thereof.
  • a patch panel or tray for an optical fibre distribution system having a plurality of connectors located laterally adjacent one another in an elongate array, in which the individual connectors are mounted to a support so as to be displaceable along the length of the said elongate array at least to a limited extent, and there are provided means for selectively determining the position of at least one of the end members of the array whereby to prevent or allow movement of the members of the array parallel to the length thereof.
  • a patch panel or tray for an optical fibre distribution system as claimed in Claim 31 , in which the connectors comprise an adaptor part having respective connector elements or parts removably connectable thereto, and the said adaptor part is held captive between two elongate parallel retaining guides.
  • a patch panel or tray for an optical fibre distribution system as claimed in Claim 32, in which a lower of the said two parallel retaining guides is part of the floor of the said patch panel.
  • a patch panel or tray for an optical fibre distribution system as claimed in Claim 32 or Claim 33, in which an upper guide is formed as a bridge element engaged to side walls of at least a part of the patch panel at two opposite ends thereof.
  • a patch panel or tray for an optical fibre distribution system as claimed in any of Claims 32 to 34, in which the adaptor parts have respective transverse ridges engaged in longitudinal grooves in the said elongate parallel retaining guides.
  • a patch panel or tray for an optical fibre distribution system as claimed in any of Claims 31 to 35, in which the said means for selectively determining the position of at least one of the said end members of the array comprises a removable locking element engageable in an opening in the bridge member whereby to act, when thus inserted, as an abutment stop engaging the adaptor part of the end connector in the array.
  • a patch panel or tray for an optical fibre distribution system as claimed in Claim 36, in which the removable locking element is a pin engageable in an opening passing through the ridge portion of the bridge, in line with the adaptor part of the adjacent connector.
  • a patch panel or tray for an optical fibre distribution system having a plurality of connectors laterally adjacent one another in an elongate array thereof, in which the connectors are held in place on the panel by at least one row of upstanding resilient hook-shape elements between respective adjacent pairs of which the connector assemblies can be selectively retained.
  • a patch panel or tray for an optical fibre distribution system as claimed in Claim 38, in which the said hook elements are teeth carried on respective upstanding resilient arms.
  • a patch panel or tray for an optical fibre distribution system as claimed in Claim 39, in which the said two rows of hook-shape elements comprise a first row with the teeth facing one direction of the row and a second row with teeth facing in the opposite direction along the row in adjacent pairs, one from each row, in which the teeth face in opposite directions.
  • a patch panel or tray for an optical fibre distribution system as claimed in Claim 40, in which there are provided means for resisting displacement of a connector engaged between each adjacent pairs of connector elements transverse the length of the row thereof.
  • a patch panel or tray for an optical fibre distribution system as claimed in Claim 41, in which the said retaining means comprise respective ribs or ridges extending parallel to the length of the rows of hook-shape elements, between which a projecting part of a connector is engaged and retained when the teeth of the hook-shape arms engage over the connector.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
  • Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne une unité modulaire (11) destiné à un cadre de distribution de fibres optique, portant un organe destiné à épicer, séparer ou terminer les fibres optiques et possédant un organe définissant une ouverture (38) dans une paroi de celui-ci à travers laquelle les fibres optiques arrivant ou partant de cette unité passent vers d'autres de ces unités et/ou partant ou arrivant de ce cadre de distribution, dans laquelle cette ouverture est située, tournée vers l'arrière (ou dans une variante vers l'avant) de l'unité comme vu en utilisation et, qui communique avec une fente (40) dans cette paroi, cette fente étant plus longue que l'ouverture et s'étendant vers l'avant (ou dans une variante vers l'arrière) de l'unité comme vu en utilisation et, cette fente est ouverte à son extrémité distante de l'ouverture, permettant à une partie intermédiaire d'une fibre optique d'être introduite latéralement dans l'ouverture ou retirée de l'ouverture sans qu'il soit nécessaire de faire passer une extrémité de la fibre à travers cette ouverture.
PCT/GB2004/003797 2003-09-16 2004-09-06 Cadre de distribution de fibre optique avec relief incurve WO2005026800A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0321679.3 2003-09-16
GBGB0321679.3A GB0321679D0 (en) 2003-09-16 2003-09-16 Improvements in or relating to optical fibre distribution equipment

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005026800A1 true WO2005026800A1 (fr) 2005-03-24

Family

ID=29227192

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2004/003797 WO2005026800A1 (fr) 2003-09-16 2004-09-06 Cadre de distribution de fibre optique avec relief incurve

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB0321679D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2005026800A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202009001709U1 (de) 2009-02-11 2010-07-01 Reichle + De-Massari Ag Traggestell zur bedarfsorientierten Aufnahme von Verbindungs- und/oder Verteileinrichtungen für Signalübertragungskabel, Baugruppenträger und Schwenkkassette hierfür sowie Winkeladapter
WO2012052332A1 (fr) * 2010-10-18 2012-04-26 Tyco Electronics Corporation India Pvt Limited Améliorations apportées à des glissières doubles télescopiques
EP3032304A1 (fr) * 2014-12-05 2016-06-15 Tyco Electronics Raychem BVBA Ensemble de télécommunication pré-câblé

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0215668A2 (fr) * 1985-09-17 1987-03-25 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Répartiteur de fibres optiques
EP0585809A1 (fr) * 1992-08-26 1994-03-09 Reichle + De-Massari AG Elektro-Ingenieure Ramificateur de terminaison pour câble de télécommunication, particulièrement pour câble optique
US5535298A (en) * 1995-01-30 1996-07-09 The Whitaker Corporation Pedestal for fiber optic cable
WO1999047961A1 (fr) * 1998-03-18 1999-09-23 N.V. Raychem S.A. Conduite pour cables a entree laterale
GB2356062A (en) * 1999-11-06 2001-05-09 Raychem Sa Nv Removable spool for fibre optic management
US20030108321A1 (en) * 2001-03-16 2003-06-12 Krampotich Dennis J. Cable clip

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0215668A2 (fr) * 1985-09-17 1987-03-25 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Répartiteur de fibres optiques
EP0585809A1 (fr) * 1992-08-26 1994-03-09 Reichle + De-Massari AG Elektro-Ingenieure Ramificateur de terminaison pour câble de télécommunication, particulièrement pour câble optique
US5535298A (en) * 1995-01-30 1996-07-09 The Whitaker Corporation Pedestal for fiber optic cable
WO1999047961A1 (fr) * 1998-03-18 1999-09-23 N.V. Raychem S.A. Conduite pour cables a entree laterale
GB2356062A (en) * 1999-11-06 2001-05-09 Raychem Sa Nv Removable spool for fibre optic management
US20030108321A1 (en) * 2001-03-16 2003-06-12 Krampotich Dennis J. Cable clip

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202009001709U1 (de) 2009-02-11 2010-07-01 Reichle + De-Massari Ag Traggestell zur bedarfsorientierten Aufnahme von Verbindungs- und/oder Verteileinrichtungen für Signalübertragungskabel, Baugruppenträger und Schwenkkassette hierfür sowie Winkeladapter
WO2012052332A1 (fr) * 2010-10-18 2012-04-26 Tyco Electronics Corporation India Pvt Limited Améliorations apportées à des glissières doubles télescopiques
EP3032304A1 (fr) * 2014-12-05 2016-06-15 Tyco Electronics Raychem BVBA Ensemble de télécommunication pré-câblé

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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