WO2007045323A1

WO2007045323A1 - Guide device for data ducts and distribution device for data ducts of a communication cable

Info

Publication number: WO2007045323A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/009259
Authority: WO
Inventors: Waldemar Iwanek
Original assignee: Ccs Technology, Inc.
Priority date: 2005-10-19
Filing date: 2006-09-23
Publication date: 2007-04-26
Also published as: DE202005016472U1; EP1938133A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a guide device for data ducts of a communication cable, especially for optical waveguides guided in optical waveguide cables such as patchcords or pigtails. Said guide device comprises a plurality of guide channels (14) for the data ducts that extend side by side, said guide channels (14) being delimited by a base (12) and a plurality of parallel sidewalls (13) that extend in the longitudinal direction o the base (12). A plurality of groove-type recesses (15) are introduced into the sidewalls (13) of the guide channels (14) one behind the other when seen from the longitudinal direction of the base. At least the base (12) is produced from an elastically deformable material in such a manner that the guide device can be reversibly transferred from a planar contour to a curved contour while maintaining admissible minimum radii of bending for the data ducts to be guided in the guide channels (14).

Description

Guide device for data conductors and distribution device for data conductors of a communication cable

The invention relates to a guide device for data conductors of a communication cable, in particular for guided in optical waveguide cables such as patchcords or pigtails optical waveguide. Furthermore, the invention relates to a distribution device for data conductors of a communication cable, in particular an optical fiber distribution device for guided in optical fiber cables such as patchcords or pigtails optical fiber.

To ensure structured cabling in the construction of communication cable networks, distribution facilities are required for storage or handling of data conductors carried in the communication cables. One requirement placed on such manifolds is maximum loading thereof with high packing density and concomitant slight mechanical stress on the data conductors.

In the construction of fiber optic cable networks to ensure a structured cabling designed as distribution cabinets fiber optic distribution devices are used, and it is already known in such optical fiber distribution devices a plurality of modules, for. B. multiple connectors or multiple splice cassettes to place on a common recording, which is surrounded by a housing, wherein the receptacle for making available the connector or splice cassettes can be moved at least partially out of the housing by folding out or swinging out. When folding out or swiveling out of the housing the plug connectors or the splice cassettes, it is important that the data conductors designed as optical waveguides are exposed to only minimal mechanical stress, and furthermore that minimum bending radii for the same are maintained. There is therefore a need for a guide device in which the optical waveguides are guided when unfolding or swiveling out an assembly from another assembly of a distributor device and protected against impermissible mechanical stress.

The same applies to the handling of communication cables designed as copper cables, in particular of copper cables with high transmission rates.

On this basis, the present invention is based on the problem to provide a novel guide device for data conductors of a communication cable and a novel distribution device.

This problem is solved by a guide device according to claim 1. The guide device according to the invention has a plurality of adjacent guide channels for the data conductors, wherein the guide channels of a main body and a plurality of mutually parallel, extending in the longitudinal direction of the body side walls are limited, seen in the side walls of the guide channels in the longitudinal direction of the main body successively several groove-like recesses are introduced, and wherein at least the base body is formed from an elastically deformable material, such that the guide device is reversibly convertable from a flat contour into a curved contour while maintaining permissible minimum bending radii for the data channels to be guided in the guide channels. With the guide device according to the invention data conductors of a communication cable within distribution devices can also be performed safely and in compliance with permissible minimum bending radii, if z. B. designed as a receptacle first assembly of the distribution device with respect to a z. B. designed as a housing second assembly to be moved by folding out or swinging out. The guide device adapts its contour to such a relative movement, in which the same is reversibly convertible from a flat contour into a curved contour. In this case, the data conductors are guided in the guide channels of the guide device safely and in compliance with permissible minimum bending radii.

Preferably, the groove-like recesses of the side walls are contoured in such a way that lateral flanks of groove-like recesses can be moved toward one another when the guide device is transferred from the planar contour into the curved contour, whereby the same is limited while limiting the radius of curvature that forms and thus permitting Minimum bending radii for the data conductor to each other to the plant can be brought.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the guide channels for the data conductors are bounded on a section of the side walls opposite the base body by protrusions which protrude at least one side from the side walls viewed in the transverse direction of the base body, wherein the projections of the side walls define slots extending in the longitudinal direction of the base body . Limit over which the data conductors are introduced or introduced into the guide channels.

The side walls, which define the guide channels together with the base body, are formed exclusively on one side of the base body, so that the adjacent guide channels run exclusively on one side of the base body.

The distributor device according to the invention is defined in claim 10. Preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description below. Embodiments of the invention will be described, without being limited thereto, with reference to the drawing. In the drawing shows:

1 shows a perspective view of a guide device according to the invention for data conductors of a communication cable together with a data conductor in a planar contour, FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the guide device according to the invention for data conductors of a communication cable together with the data conductor in a curved contour,

3 shows an enlarged detail of the guide device according to FIG. 2, FIG. 4 shows a representation to clarify the mode of operation of the guide device according to the invention with regard to compliance with permissible minimum bending radii during the transfer of the same from the flat contour into the curved contour, FIG 5: a detail of a distributor device according to the invention in a perspective view from the front together with a guide device according to the invention, wherein the guide device assumes a curved contour,

6 shows an enlarged detail of the distributor device according to FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 shows an enlarged detail of the distributor device in a perspective view from behind together with a guide device according to the invention, wherein the guide device assumes a planar contour.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a guide device 10 according to the invention for data conductors of a communications cable, in the exemplary embodiment shown for optical fibers routed in patch cords 11. 1 and 2 show the guide device 10 according to the invention in each case together with a single patch cord 11. The guide device 10 according to the invention comprises a main body 12 and a plurality of mutually parallel, extending in the longitudinal direction of the base body 12 side walls 13, wherein two adjacent te side walls 13 together with the main body 12 a guide channel 14 for patch cords 11 and for in the patch cords define guided optical fibers. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, seven sidewalls 13 extend approximately parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction of the main body 11, these seven sidewalls 13 defining a total of six guide channels 14 for the patchcords or the optical waveguides guided in the same.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the side walls 13, which define the guide channels 14 together with the base body 12, are formed exclusively on one side of the main body 12, so that the adjacent guide channels 14 extend exclusively to one side of the main body 12.

In each of the guide channels 14 of the guide device 10 according to the invention, a single patch cord or a single optical waveguide is preferably accommodated. Likewise, a plurality of patch cords or a plurality of optical waveguides can be accommodated in each of the guide channels 14, wherein preferably only such patch cords or optical waveguides are positioned in a common guide channel 14 and thus guided, which are required to construct a common data circuit or circuit.

1 and 2 seen in the longitudinal direction of the base body 12 extending side walls 13 in the longitudinal direction of the base body 12 seen a plurality of groove-like recesses 15 are introduced. The groove-like recesses 15 extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the main body 12 through all mutually parallel side walls 13 of the guide device 10, that is over the entire width of the guide device 10th In the region of the side walls 13, each groove-like recess 15 is delimited by lateral flanks 16, the lateral flanks 16 delimiting a recess 15 proceeding in a diverging manner starting from the base body 12. It follows that the recesses 15 are designed V-shaped.

At a portion of the side walls 13 opposite the base body 12, the guide channels 15 are further bounded by projections 17, the projections 17 projecting transversely to the longitudinal direction of the base body 12 at least on one side with respect to the side walls 13. In the exemplary embodiment shown, in the region of the two outer side walls 13, the projections 17 are only on one side opposite the same, namely in the direction of the respectively adjacent side wall 13.

In contrast, in the region of the side walls 13 positioned between the two outer side walls 13, the projections 17 project transversely to the longitudinal direction of the base body 12 on both sides relative to the side walls 13. In this case, the projections 17 define slots 18 extending in the longitudinal direction of the main body 12, via which the patch cords 11 or optical waveguides can be inserted or inserted into the guide channels 14.

The projections 17 thus form opposite to the main body 12 no closed surface of the guide channels 14, but the projections 17 adjacent side walls 13 to form the slots 18 are separated from each other, so through the slots 18, the patch cords 11 and the optical fibers are inserted into the guide channels 14 ,

It should be noted at this point that the base body 12, the side walls 13 and the projections 17 are preferably made in one piece from the same material. At least the main body 12 of the guide device 10 according to the invention is formed from an elastically deformable material. By the use of an elastically deformable material for the base body 12 and by the introduction of over the entire width of the body 12 transversely to the longitudinal direction thereof extending, the side walls 13 and the projections 17 by cutting recesses 15, the guide device 10 of the in Fig. 1 illustrated planar contour in the illustrated in Fig. 2 curved contour reversible.

When transferring the guide device 10 from the planar contour (see FIG. 1) into the curved contour (see FIG. 2), the lateral flanks 16, which delimit the recesses 15, are moved toward one another, wherein the lateral flanks 16 continue to be stops for the maximum curvature of the guide device 10 form. If the lateral flanks 16 come into abutment against one another, the guide device 10 can not be curved any further.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, the recesses 15 are contoured in such a way that when the lateral flanks 16 of the recesses 15 touch one another, the curvature of the guide device 10 exceeds the permissible minimum bending radius RMIN for the optical waveguides or patchcords 11 corresponds.

The side walls 13 and thus the guide channels 14 extend in the illustrated, preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 on one side of the Grundkör- pers 12, namely on the radially inner side in the curved state.

In the region of lateral ends 19 and 20 10 recesses 21 are introduced into the base body 12 of the guide device to the guide device 10 according to the invention z. B. to be fastened by screwing to modules of a distribution device. According to FIG. 4, the guide device 10 can preferably be transferred from the flat contour into the curved contour in such a way that a first end 19 of the base body 12 is approximately stationary, whereas the second, opposite end 20 of the base body 12 moves along an involute path and as it were being rolled up. When transferring the curved contour into the planar contour, the second end 20 is unrolled.

5 to 7 show a distributor device 22 according to the invention for the optical waveguides guided in the patch cords 11, wherein a plurality of guide devices 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 4 are used in the distributor device 22. As can best be seen from the detail section of FIG. 6, a total of six guide devices 10 are integrated into the distributor device 22 in the exemplary embodiment shown. However, this number is purely exemplary.

The distributor device 22 according to the invention has a housing, of which in the representations of FIGS. 5 to 7 a bottom wall 23, a roof wall 24, opposite side walls 25 and 26 and a rear wall 27 which can be folded out or swung out of the housing are shown. FIGS. 5 and 6 show the distribution device 22 in a front view, wherein a front wall of the housing is not shown to reveal the view of the rear wall 27. The rear wall 27 is pivoted in Fig. 5 and 6 in the housing or folded into it. On the other hand, FIG. 7 shows a detail of the distributor device 22 from the rear with the rear wall 27 swung out or folded out of the housing.

In the embodiment shown, the fold-out of the housing rear wall 27 forms a receptacle for splice cassettes 28, wherein the splice cassettes 28 are fastened via a splice cassette holder 29 to the rear wall 27. The splice tray holder 29 is fixedly connected to the rear wall 27 of the housing of the optical fiber distribution device 22, wherein the splice cassettes 28 are pivotally mounted in the splice tray holder 29. On the bottom wall 23 of the housing of the manifold 22, guide members 30 for optical fibers guided in the patch cords are attached to supply the optical fibers to the splice cassettes 28. As already mentioned, the rear wall 27 is pivotable relative to the housing and thus opposite the bottom wall 23, in which case the rear wall 27 extends from the position shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 in which it is approximately perpendicular to the bottom wall 23. can be converted into the position shown in Fig. 7, in which the rear wall 27 extends approximately parallel or in the plane of the bottom wall 23.

The guide devices 10 are attached to the first end 19 on the bottom wall 23 and with the second end 20 on the opposite to the bottom wall 23 hinged or pivotable rear wall 27.

The guide means 10 are reversible when pivoting the rear wall 27 relative to the bottom wall 23 of the planar contour shown in Fig. 7 in the in Fig. 5 and 6 shown curved contour can be transferred. It should be noted that the rear wall 27 is pivotable relative to the bottom wall 23 of the housing of the distributor device 22 according to the invention, that during the transfer of the guide means 10 from the planar contour in the curved contour or from the curved contour in the planar contour the same good as no change in length subject. This is achieved by virtue of the fact that the rear wall 27, as well as the guide elements 10, are moved in an involute manner relative to the bottom wall 23, with the chain-like hinge element 31 shown in FIG. 7 serving for this purpose.

Accordingly, the guide device 10 according to the invention is a flexible guide device which can be reversibly reversed between a planar contour and a curved contour and which is preferably used between two subassemblies of a distributor device which are pivotable relative to one another. As a result, optical waveguides or data conductors can be guided back and forth safely and stress-free between mutually pivotable or foldable components. Due to the fact that the sensible guiding devices, when transferring from the planar contour into the curved contour and from the curved contour into the planar contour, undergo practically no change in length, it is not necessary to provide overlengths for realizing the pivoting movement.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 guide device

11 patchcord 12 main body

13 side wall

14 guide channel

15 recess

16 flank 17 projections

18 slot

19 end

20 end

21 recess 22 distribution device

23 bottom wall

24 roof wall

25 side wall

26 side wall 27 rear wall

28 splice tray

29 splice tray holder

30 guide element

31 hinge element

Claims

claims

1. Guide device for data conductors of a communication cable, in particular for guided in optical waveguide cables such as patchcords or pigtails optical fiber, with a plurality of juxtaposed guide channels (14) for the data conductor, wherein the guide channels (14) of a base body (12) and a plurality of mutually parallel , in the longitudinal direction of the main body (12) extending side walls (13) are delimited, wherein in the side walls (13) of the guide channels (14) seen in the longitudinal direction of the body seen a plurality of groove-like recesses (15) are introduced, and wherein at least the Base body (12) is formed from an elastically deformable material, such that the guide device is reversibly convertable from a flat contour into a curved contour, while maintaining permissible minimum bending radii for the data conductors to be guided in the guide channels (14).

2. Guide device according to claim 1, characterized in that the base body (12) and the side walls (13) are made in one piece and each formed from an elastically deformable material.

3. Guide device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the groove-like recesses (15) of the side walls (13) are contoured such that upon transfer of the guide means of the planar contour in a curved contour lateral flanks (16) of groove-like Recesses (15) are movable towards each other, wherein the same come to rest under limitation of the forming radius of curvature and thus under observance of permissible minimum bending radii for the data ladder.

4. guide device according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the groove-like recesses (15) are contoured V-shaped.

5. Guide device according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the guide channels (14) for the data conductors on a base body opposite portion of the side walls (13) of projections (17) are limited, in the transverse direction of the body ( 12) seen projecting at least on one side opposite the side walls (13).

6. Guide device according to claim 5, characterized in that the projections (17) and the side walls (13) are made in one piece and each formed from an elastically deformable material.

7. Guide device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the groove-like recesses (15) on the one hand cut through the side walls (13) and on the other hand, the projections (17).

8. guide device according to one or more of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the projections (17) of the side walls (13) in the longitudinal direction of the base body (12) extending slots (18) define or limit, via which the data conductors in the Guide channels (14) can be inserted or introduced.

9. guide device according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the same can be converted from the flat contour into a curved contour, that a first end (19) of the base body (12) is stationary, whereas a second, gegenüberlie - Gendes end (10) of the body along an involute path is movable.

10. Guide device according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the side walls (13), which define the guide channels (14) together with the base body (12), are formed exclusively on one side of the base body (12).

11. Distribution device for data conductors of a communication cable, in particular optical fiber distribution device for guided in optical waveguide cables such as patchcords or pigtails optical waveguide, with at least two relatively pivotable assemblies between which data conductors run or to be transferred, characterized by at least one guide device (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 10.