WO2005050276A1

WO2005050276A1 - Device for laying or handling optical waveguides

Info

Publication number: WO2005050276A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/012389
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oliver Lapp; Franz-Friedrich Fröhlich
Original assignee: Ccs Technology, Inc.
Priority date: 2003-11-20
Filing date: 2004-11-03
Publication date: 2005-06-02
Also published as: DE202004017492U1; DE10354370A1; EP1685437A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for laying or handling optical waveguides or optical waveguides extending in at least one cable (11), said device comprising a housing (12) and a receiving element (13) that is displaceably mounted in the housing. Said receiving element (13) receives modules for connecting or laying the optical waveguides or optical waveguides extending in the or each cable, and can be at least partially displaced out of the housing (12) in order to simplify the access to the modules that are used to connect or lay the optical waveguides or optical waveguides extending in the cables (11). According to the invention, a deviation system (15) is associated with the receiving device (13), and the optical waveguides or optical waveguides extending in the or each cable are guided on said deviation system (15). The deviation system performs an unrolling motion when the receiving element (13) is at least partially displaced out of the housing (12), in such a way that the optical waveguide or optical waveguides guided on the deviation system (15) essentially perform only a bending movement.

Description

Device for storing or handling optical fibers

The present invention relates to a device for storing or handling optical fibers according to the preamble of claim 1.

When building optical fiber cable networks, devices for storing or handling optical fibers, such as distribution cabinets, are required to ensure structured cabling. One requirement that is placed on such devices is a maximum assembly of the same with high packing density and at the same time minimal mechanical stress on the optical waveguides. Furthermore, the optical waveguides stored in such devices must be easily accessible in order, for example, to be able to safely carry out splicing or shunting work.

In order to meet the above-mentioned requirements, it is already known from the prior art to arrange a plurality of assemblies, for example plug connectors or splice cassettes, on a common receiving device, which is surrounded by a housing, in a device for storing or handling optical fibers. The assemblies positioned on the receiving device can be moved together with the receiving device at least partially out of the housing, in particular by pulling them out or by folding them out or by pivoting them out. When moving the receptacle and the modules positioned on the receptacle out of the housing, it is of crucial importance that the optical fibers are handled stress-free, ie with minimal mechanical stress, and in compliance with the permissible minimum bending radii. will have. As a result of the movement of the optical fibers, only brief increases in attenuation must be avoided.

In order to make this possible, according to the prior art, the optical waveguides or the cables in which the optical waveguides run are stored in the housing of the device with corresponding excess lengths. The excess lengths are activated when the receiving device or the modules positioned on the receiving device, which are used for connecting or depositing the optical fibers, are moved out. A difficulty that can arise when using such excess lengths occurs in particular when the receiving device is to be returned to the housing together with the modules positioned on the receiving device. It must then be ensured that the excess lengths can be pushed back into the housing with as little mechanical stress as possible and in compliance with the permissible minimum bending radii. Therefore, the prior art often requires complex mechanisms to ensure the safe handling of the excess lengths when pulling out and then pushing them into the housing.

Proceeding from this, the present invention is based on the problem of creating a novel device for storing or handling optical fibers.

This problem is solved by a device with the features of claim 1. According to the invention, a deflecting device is assigned to the receiving device, the optical waveguides or the optical waveguides running in the or each cable being guided on the deflecting device, and the deflecting device executing a rolling movement when the receiving device is at least partially moved out of the housing, such that the other Deflection device guided optical fibers or the optical fibers running in the or each cable essentially only perform a bending movement. The present invention provides a device for storing or handling optical fibers or optical fibers running in at least one cable, which enables stress-free access to modules, such as connectors or splice cassettes, for the optical fibers, but which does not require the optical fibers or the cable in which the optical fibers run, gets by. With the aid of the device according to the invention, it is possible for the first time to move the assemblies, which are used for connecting or depositing the optical fibers, at least partially out of the device without using excess lengths.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the deflection device executes a cycloid-like rolling movement, such that a center point of the deflection device can be moved along a straight path in the case of a pivoting movement or rotary movement that at least partially moves the receiving device out of the housing.

According to an alternative preferred development of the invention, the deflection device executes an epicycloid-like rolling movement in such a way that a center point of the deflection device can be moved along a circular path in the case of a pivoting movement or rotary movement that at least partially moves the receiving device out of the housing.

In addition to the deflection device, guide elements, in particular guide pins, are preferably assigned to the receiving device, the guide elements of the receiving device engaging in the housing, in particular in guide slots, and being movable therein. To provide the above cycloid-like rolling movement, a first guide pin of the receiving device, which is positioned in the center of the deflecting device, engages in a linear guide slot in the housing, whereas a second guide pin of the receiving device device, which is positioned outside the region of the deflection device, engages in a cycloid-like curved guide slot in the housing.

To provide the above epicycloid-like rolling movement, on the other hand, a first guide pin of the receiving device, which is positioned in the center of the deflection device, engages in a guide slot in the housing in the form of a segment of a circle, whereas a second guide pin of the receiving device, which is positioned outside the region of the deflection device, engages in an epicycloid-like manner curved guide slot engages in the housing.

Alternatively, to provide the epicycloid-like rolling movement, a first guide pin of the receiving device, which is arranged laterally offset from the center of the deflection device, can engage in an arcuate guide slot in the housing, whereas a second guide pin of the receiving device, which is also laterally offset to the center of the deflection device is engaged in an epicycloid-like guide slot in the housing, tangents to movement paths of the guide pins predetermined by the guide slots being approximately perpendicular to one another.

Preferred developments of the invention result from the subclaims and the following description. An embodiment is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows:

1: a device according to the invention for storing or handling optical fibers or optical fibers running in at least one cable according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention in a pivoted-in position of the device in a schematic plan view; 2: the device according to the invention according to FIG. 1 in a pivoted-out position of the device, likewise in a schematic plan view;

3: the device according to the invention according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in the pivoted-in position together with a cable for further clarification of the invention in a schematic plan view;

4: the device according to the invention according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in the pivoted-out position together with a cable for further clarification of the invention in a schematic plan view;

5: a device according to the invention for storing or handling optical fibers or optical fibers running in at least one cable according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention in a pivoted-in position of the device together with a cable in a schematic plan view;

6: the device according to the invention according to FIG. 5 in the pivoted-out position together with a cable, likewise in a schematic plan view;

7: a device according to the invention for storing or handling optical fibers or optical fibers running in at least one cable according to a third exemplary embodiment of the invention in a pivoted-in position of the device in a schematic plan view; and

8: the device according to the invention according to FIG. 7 in the pivoted-out position, likewise in a schematic plan view. 1 to 4 show a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 1 and 3 showing a device according to the invention in the pivoted-in position and FIGS. 2 and 4 showing the device according to the invention in the pivoted-out position. 3 and 4, the device is shown together with a cable guiding the optical waveguide, which is stored or can be handled in the device.

The device 10 for storing or handling optical fibers or optical fibers guided in a cable 11 comprises a housing 12 and a receiving device 13 movably mounted in the housing 12. A plurality of assemblies for connecting or storing optical fibers are preferably positioned on the receiving device 13 , wherein these modules can be designed as splice cassettes or connectors. 3 and 4, the cable 11 with the optical waveguides running in the cable 11 is inserted into the device 10 from a rear side 14 of the housing 12 and the receiving device 13 or the modules positioned on the receiving device 13 for connecting or storing the optical fibers fed.

Since the assemblies for connecting or storing the optical fibers are very difficult to access when the receiving device 13 is pivoted into the housing 12, the receiving device 13 can be at least partially swung out of the housing for easier access to the assemblies. As already mentioned, FIGS. 1 and 3 show the device 10 with a receiving device 13 pivoted into the housing 12, FIGS. 2 and 4 show the device 10 with a receiving device 13 pivoted out of the housing 12.

In the sense of the present invention, a deflection device 15 is positioned on the receiving device 13 of the device 10, the optical waveguides or the optical waveguides running in the cable 11 being guided on the deflection device 15. When at least partially moving the Receiving device 13 from the housing 12 of the device 10, the deflecting device 15 executes a rolling movement designed in such a way that the optical waveguides guided on the deflecting device 15 or the cable 11 with the optical waveguides essentially only perform a bending movement. Accordingly, since the optical waveguides perform practically no longitudinal movement, there is no need to handle excess lengths of optical waveguides in the housing 12 of the device 10. This represents a significant improvement over the prior art.

The deflection device 15, which is designed as a deflection roller, is firmly connected to the receiving device 13 and, together with the receiving device 13, can be moved relative to the housing 12. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the receiving device 13 is further assigned guide elements which are designed as guide pins in the exemplary embodiment. Thus, a first guide pin 16 is arranged in a center 17 of the deflection device 15, a second guide pin 18 is arranged outside the area of the deflection device 15. The two guide pins 16 and 18 of the receiving device 13 engage in guide elements of the housing 12, the guide elements of the housing being designed as guide slots in the exemplary embodiment shown. The first guide pin 16, which is arranged in the center 17 of the deflection device 15, thus engages in a linear guide slot 19. The second guide pin 18, on the other hand, which is arranged outside the region of the deflection device 15, engages in an arcuate or curved guide slot 20. The guide pins 16 and 18, together with the guide slots 19 and 20, define the movement of the receiving device 13 relative to the housing 12 and thus the movement of the deflection device 15 relative to the cable 11 with the optical waveguides running in the cable 11. In the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 4, the translatory longitudinal movement of the deflection device 15 along the guide slot 19 is superimposed on a rotary movement along the guide slot 20. Such a superposition of a rotary movement with a longitudinal movement results in a cycloid curve. In the embodiment 1 and 2, the deflection device 15 accordingly executes a cycloid-like rolling movement. The curved or curved guide slot 20 describes a section or a segment of a cycloid.

When the receiving device 13 is partially moved out, the receiving device 13 is pivoted on the one hand by approximately 90 ° relative to the housing 12 and on the other hand is moved translationally out of the housing 12 by the path shown by a double arrow 21 in FIG. 2. In this position, the assemblies positioned on the receiving device 12, in particular the plug connectors and splice cassettes, are easily accessible.

Due to the above-described configuration of the device 10 according to the invention, the optical waveguides running in the cables 11 are subject exclusively to a bending movement when the receiving device 13 is moved out of the housing 12. This is visualized in FIGS. 3 and 4 by markings 22 and 23 on the cable 11. The markings 22 and 23 define the section of the cable 11 along which the deflecting device 15 with its outer circumferential surface moves or rolls along when the receiving device 13 is pivoted in or out in the housing 12 or out of the housing 12. A comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4 shows that in particular the relative position of the marking 22 remains unchanged. Accordingly, there is no longitudinal movement of the cable 11 in addition to the bending movement thereof. The longitudinal movement is carried out only by the deflection roller 15 and the receiving device 13.

The present invention is therefore based on the idea of moving the receptacle 13 together with modules positioned on the receptacle 13, such as plug connectors or splice cassettes, out of the housing 12 of the device 10 in such a way that on the cable 11 or on the in the Cable 11 running optical fibers no length gene difference arises. For this purpose, a deflection device is, so to speak, unwound along the cable 11.

In this context it is important that the radius of the deflection device 15 is adapted to the smallest permissible bending radius of the cable 11 or the optical waveguides running in the cable 11. The radius of the deflection device 15 must not fall below the smallest permissible bending radius, but only exceed it. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the optical waveguides or the optical waveguides running in the cable 11 enclose the deflection device 15 by approximately 90 °, ie by the amount of a quarter circle, when the receiving device 13 is pivoted in.

The exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 4 is designed in particular for those cases in which cables are inserted into the device 10 only from one direction, in the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 4 from the rear 14, of the housing 12. 5 and 6 show a second exemplary embodiment of a device 24 according to the invention for storing or handling optical fibers, which is used in particular when cables with optical fibers are fed to the device 10 simultaneously from several directions. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 5 and 6, optical waveguides are fed to the device 10 simultaneously from two different directions via two cables 25 and 26.

The device 24 of FIGS. 5 and 6, like the device 10 of FIGS. 1 to 4, in turn has a housing 27 and a receiving device 28 which is movable in the housing 27. According to FIGS. 5 and 6, the cable 25 is from a rear side 29 ago introduced into the housing 27 of the device 10. The cable 26, on the other hand, is inserted into the housing 27 from a side wall 30, the side wall 30 being offset by approximately 90 ° with respect to the rear wall 29. In accordance with the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, a deflection device 31 is also permanently mounted on the receiving device 28 in the device 24 according to the invention according to FIGS. 5 and 6. In addition to the deflection device 31, the receiving device 28 is also assigned two guide pins. A first guide pin 32 is arranged in the region of a center 33 of the deflection device 31. In contrast, a second guide pin 34 is positioned outside the area of the deflection device 31. The guide pins 32 and 34 in turn engage in corresponding guide slots which are assigned to the housing 27. In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, a first guide slot 35, in which the guide pin 32 positioned in the center 33 of the deflection device 31 engages, is designed as a segment of an arc of a circle. A second guide slot 36, in which the guide pin 34 positioned outside the region of the deflection device 31 engages, is in turn curved or curved.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the deflection device 31 in turn executes a rolling movement, and as a result of this rolling movement the optical waveguides which are guided on the deflection device 31 essentially again only perform a bending movement. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 4, in the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 5 to 6 the center 33 of the deflection device 31 is not moved on a straight line for this purpose, but rather on an arc segment. This results in an epicycloid-like rolling movement of the deflection device 31 in the superposition with the rotary movement of the receiving device 28. The curved or curved guide slot 36 is accordingly designed as a section or segment of an epicycloid.

Another difference between the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 and the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 is that in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 not only is the deflecting device 28 assigned to a deflection device 31, but rather also a deflection device 37 is assigned to the housing 27. Around the deflection device 37 the optical fibers are guided, which are inserted into the device 24 from the side wall 30 via the cable 26. The deflection device 37 is fixed to the housing 27. The deflection device 31 associated with the receiving device 28 accordingly moves relative to the deflection device 37 of the housing 27 when the receiving device 28 is moved out of the housing 27.

5 and 6, a channel 38 is formed between the two deflection rollers 37 and 31 through which the cables 25 and 26 can be passed. The deflection rollers 31 and 37 are accordingly spaced such that their lateral surfaces do not touch. Both in the pivoted-in position of the receiving device 28 according to FIG. 5 and in the pivoted-out position of the receiving device 28 according to FIG. 6, the channel 38 has a sufficient width to stress-free the cables 25 and 26 with the optical fibers running therein, i.e. with minimized mechanical stress to pass between the two deflection devices 31 and 37. This is ensured, inter alia, by a suitable distance between the two deflection devices 31 and 37 and by the movement of the center 33 of the deflection device 31 along the guide slot 35 in the form of a segment of a circle.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a third exemplary embodiment of a device 39 according to the invention for storing or handling optical fibers. The device 39 of FIGS. 7 and 8 corresponds in terms of its functioning to the device 24 according to FIGS the same reference numbers are used for unnecessary repetitions for the same assemblies. 7 and 8, the deflection device 31 also executes an epicycloid-like rolling movement, whereby as a result of this rolling movement, optical waveguides which are guided on the deflection device 31 essentially again only perform a bending movement. The details which distinguish the device 39 in FIGS. 7 and 8 from the device 24 in accordance with FIGS. 5 and 6 are discussed below. n In accordance with the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the deflection device 31 is also fixedly mounted on the receiving device 28 in the device 39 according to the invention according to FIGS. 7 and 8. In addition to the deflection device 31, the receiving device 28 is also assigned two guide pins 40 and 41. The guide pins 40 and 41 in turn also engage in guide slots 42 and 43 which are assigned to the housing 27. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, however, in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 both guide pins 40 and 41 are laterally offset from the center 33 of the deflection device 31 and outside the region of the deflection device 31. The guide pin 40 engages in the arcuate guide slot 42 in the housing 27, whereas the guide pin 41 of the receiving device 28, which is also laterally offset from the center 33 of the deflection device 31, engages in the epicycloid-like curved guide slot 43 in the housing 27. The guide slots 42 and 43 are aligned with one another in such a way that tangents to movement paths of the guide pins 40 and 41 predetermined by the guide slots 42 and 43 run approximately perpendicular to one another. 7 and 8, the deflection device 31 also executes an epicycloid-like rolling movement. Due to the arrangement of the guide pins and guide slots which differs from the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 5 and 6, the risk of the receiving device 28 becoming jammed when the latter is moved out of the housing 27 is minimized.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Device 39 Device Cable 40 Guide pin housing 41 Guide pin receptacle 42 Guide slot rear 43 Guide slot deflection device Guide pin center point Guide pin Guide slot Guide slot double arrow Marking Device Cable Cable housing receptacle Rear side wall deflection device Guide pin Center point Guide pin Guide slot Guide slot deflection device Channel

Claims

Expectations

1. Device for storing or handling optical fibers or optical fibers running in at least one cable (1 1; 25, 26), with a housing (12; 27) and a receiving device (13; 28) movably mounted in the housing ), the receiving device (13; 28) receiving assemblies for connecting or depositing the optical waveguides or the optical waveguides running in the or each cable, and wherein the receiving device (13, 28) for easier access to the assemblies corresponding to the Connecting or depositing the optical waveguides or the optical waveguides running in the cables (1 1; 25, 26) serve to be at least partially movable out of the housing, characterized in that the receiving device (13; 28) has a deflection device (15; 31) is assigned, the optical waveguides or the optical waveguides running in the or each cable being guided on the deflection device (15; 31), and the at least partially se moving the receiving device (13; 28) from the housing (12; 27), the deflection device (15; 31) executes a rolling movement in such a way that the optical waveguides guided on the deflection device or the optical waveguides running in the or each cable essentially only perform a bending movement.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the deflection device (15; 31) is fixedly connected to the receiving device (13; 28).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in addition to the deflection device, guide elements, in particular guide pins (16, 18; 32, 34; 40, 41), are assigned to the receiving device (13, 28), the guide elements of The receiving device cooperate with the guide elements associated with the housing (12; 27), in particular guide slots (19, 20; 35, 36; 42, 43).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the guide elements of the receiving device (13; 28) and housing (12; 27), in particular the guide pins (16, 18; 32, 34; 40, 41) together with the guide slots (19th , 20; 35, 36; 42, 43), define the movement of the receiving device relative to the housing.

5. The device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the guide elements of the receiving device (13; 28) and housing (12; 27), in particular the guide pins (16, 18; 32, 34; 40, 41) together with the guide slots (19, 20; 35, 36; 42, 43), define the movement of the deflection device (15; 31) relative to the optical waveguides or to the optical waveguides running in the or each cable.

6. The device according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the deflection device (15) executes a cycloid-like rolling movement, such that when the receiving device (13) at least partially moves out of the housing (12) or A center point (17) of the deflection device (15) can be rotated along a straight path.

7 Device according to claim 6, characterized in that for this purpose a first guide pin (16) of the receiving device (13), which is positioned at the center (17) of the deflection device (15), engages in a straight-line guide slot (19), whereas a second guide pin (18) of the receiving device (13), which is positioned outside the region of the deflection device (15), engages in a curved or curved guide slot (20) in the housing (12).

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the curved or curved guide slot (20) describes a section of a cycloid.

9. The device according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the deflection device (31) executes an epicycloid-like rolling movement, such that when the receiving device (28) moves at least partially out of the housing (27) or A central point (33) of the deflection device (31) can be rotated along a circular path.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that for this purpose a first guide pin (32) of the receiving device (28), which is positioned in the center (33) of the deflection device (31), engages in a circular guide slot (35), whereas a second guide pin (34) of the receiving device (28), which is positioned outside the region of the deflection device (31), engages in a curved or curved guide slot (36) in the housing (27).

1 1. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that for this purpose a first guide pin (40) of the receiving device (28), which is laterally offset to the center (33) of the deflection device (31), engages in an arcuate guide slot (42) , whereas a second guide pin (41) of the receiving device (28), which is also laterally offset from the center (33) of the deflection device (31), engages in a curved or curved guide slot (43) in the housing (27), tangents on movement paths of the guide pins (40, 41) predetermined by the guide slots (42, 43) run approximately perpendicular to one another.

12. The device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the curved or curved guide slot (36; 43) describes a portion of an epicycloid.

13. The device according to one or more of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that in addition to the receiving device (28) and the housing (27) is associated with a deflection device (37), both on the deflection device (31) of the receiving device (28) as well as on the deflection device (37) of the housing (27) optical fibers or optical fibers running in a cable.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that on the deflection device (31), which is assigned to the receiving device (28), such optical fibers or optical fibers running in a cable are guided, which are supplied to the device from a first side (39) be and that

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that on the deflection device (37) which is associated with the housing (27), such optical fibers or optical fibers running in a cable are guided, which are supplied to the device from a second side (30) are, the second side (30) to the first side (29) offset by approximately 90 °.

16. The device according to one or more of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the two deflection device (31, 37) are spaced apart from one another in such a way that between the two deflection device (31, 37) optical waveguides or optical waveguides running in the or each cable are feasible.

7. The device according to one or more of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the deflection device (37) assigned to the housing (27) is fixed, the deflection device (31) assigned to the receiving device (28) relative to the housing (27) and the the same associated deflection device (37) can be moved, namely in the sense of an epicycloid-like rolling movement.