USRE37489E1 - Optical fiber distribution frame - Google Patents

Abstract

An optical fiber distribution frame is disclosed which includes a plurality of modular cabinets. The plurality of cabinets includes a connector cabinet having a front panel with sleeve adaptors for mounting a plurality of connector sleeves on said panel at an angle to said panel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to signal transmission systems with signals carried over optical fibers. More particularly, this invention pertains to a fiber distribution frame for use with an optical fiber signal transmission system.

2. Description of the Art

The increased use of optical fiber transmission in the telecommunications industry has resulted in a need for the development of optical fiber termination equipment. Certain equipment has been developed to respond to this need. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,754 describes an optical fiber interconnection mechanism. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,710 teaches a distributing frame for optical wave guides. U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,486 teaches an adaptor for mounting a variety of fiber optic connector sleeves to a panel.

Notwithstanding prior design efforts, the optical fiber signal transmission industry is in continued need of new designs of optical fiber distribution equipment. Industry users require systems which can address a variety of functional requirements as well as permit the user to customize distribution equipment to a customer's particular needs. It is a object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber distribution frame which meets these and other needs of the telecommunications industry.

II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a fiber distribution frame is disclosed which includes a plurality of modular cabinets including a novel optical fiber cross-connect cabinet. The cross-connect cabinet includes a front panel having a plurality of openings for receiving any one of a plurality of designs of fiber optic connector sleeve adaptors. The connector sleeve adaptors are mounted into two fields. Adaptors in a first field on a left side of the panel are angled toward the left side of the panel. Similarly, adaptors mounted on a right side of the panel are angled toward the right side of the panel. The cross-connect cabinet facilitates organized management of fiber optic cables. The frame is modular such that each one of the modularized cabinets can be removed and replaced with the other modularized cabinets of different function. The frame includes means for organizing and managing fiber optic cables.

III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front, right side and top perspective view of three fiber distribution frames mounted in side-by-side relation and made according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of a frame member without modular units installed;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the frame of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3A is a view taken in elevation of a mounting clip for mounting a fiber optic cable to the frame of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of a frame of FIG. 2 (shown lengthened to accommodate a greater number of modular cabinets) with a plurality of different modular cabinets installed within the frame;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the fiber distribution frame of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of two fiber distribution frames in side-by-side relation;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view of the fiber distribution frames of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a connector module for use with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a front plan view of the module of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front plan view of a connector panel of the module of FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of a first connector sleeve adaptor for use with the connector panel in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a front plan view of the adaptor of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of a second connector sleeve adaptor for use with a connector panel of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a front plan view of the adaptor of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of a third connector sleeve adaptor for use with the connector panel of FIG. 10;

FIG. 16 is a front plan view of the adaptor of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a side elevation view of a fourth connector sleeve adaptor for use with the panel of FIG. 10;

FIG. 18 is a front plan view of the adaptor of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a fifth connector sleeve adaptor for use with the panel of FIG. 10;

FIG. 20 is a front elevation view of the adaptor of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a front elevation view of a splice module for use with the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a rear elevation view of the module of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a top plan view of the module of FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of a splice tray for use with the module of FIG. 21;

FIG. 25 is a side elevation view of a tray of FIG. 24 showing an elastic strap being positioned;

FIG. 26 is a plan view of an optical fiber guides for use on the frame of FIG. 3;

FIG. 27 shows a fiber guide mounted on a mounting plate;

FIG. 28 is an enlarged view of the slide compartment of the tray of FIG. 21;

FIG. 29 is a front plan view of a fiber storage module for use with the frame of the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a top plan view of the module of FIG. 29 showing a fiber storage tray in an extended position;

FIG. 31 is a side elevation view of the module of FIG. 29;

FIG. 32 is a top plan view of a fiber storage tray for use with the module of FIG. 29; and

FIG. 33 is an enlarged view of a fiber storage tray of the module of FIG. 29 being mounted for sliding engagement within the module of FIG. 29.

IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTA. Generally

Referring now to the several drawing figures in which identical elements are numbered identically throughout, a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

In FIG. 1, three optical fiber distribution frames are shown generally at 10, 10′, and 10″. Each offrames 10, 10′, and 10″ are identical and a description of one will suffice as a description of the other.

FIG. 4 shows, in front elevation, opticalfiber distribution frame 10. FIG. 5 shows thesame frame 10 but showing the back view thereof.

B. Frame Member

Fiber distribution frame 10 includes a rigidstructural frame member 12 which carries a plurality of modular cabinets which may be interchanged and mixed at the option of a user of the product. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, theframe member 12 carries three opticalfiber storage modules 14, five opticalfiber connector modules 16 and three opticalfiber splice modules 18.

With the benefit of the teachings of the present invention, one skilled in the art will recognize that the particular number and arrangement ofstorage modules 14,connector modules 16 andsplice modules 18 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 may be widely varied and permutated at the option and convenience of the user. For example, anentire frame member 12 may includeonly storage modules 14, onlyconnector modules 16 or only splicemodules 18. Also, the number and variety of such modules may be intermixed at the discretion of the user.

For reasons that will become apparent, as shown in FIG. 5, optical fiber distribution guide strips 20, 20a are provided on the rear sides offrame member 12 in the area of connector modules (or cabinets) 16 and splice modules (or cabinets) 18.

To illustrate the modularity and versatility of the design, FIGS. 6 and 7 show in front and rear elevation, respectively, fiber distribution frames 10 and 10″. Shown best in FIG. 7, the reader can see howcabinets 14, 16 and 18 have been rearranged withinframe 12″ to present a different permutation of cabinets as that shown inframe 12. The difference in arrangement of cabinets betweenframes 10 and 10″ is not readily apparent in FIG. 6 since, as will be described, all cabinets have similar front covers for sake of appearance. Such covers are not essential.

Referring back now to FIGS. 2 and 3, theframe member 12 for use in the opticalfiber distribution frame 10 will now be described.Frame member 12 includesright sidewall 22 and leftsidewall 24 which are spaced apart and rigidly connected bybottom frame wall 26 andtop frame wall 28.Walls 24, 22, 26 and 28 are rigidly connected to define a generally rigid, hollow rectangular box defining aframe interior 30. The construction offrame member 12 thus described is standard. Pairs of aligned mountingbrackets 32 are secured to the forward edges ofsidewalls 22 and 24. As will be more fully described, mountingbrackets 32 receive and hold themodular cabinets 14, 16 and 18.

On the rear edges ofsidewalls 22, 24 are mounted the optical fiber distribution guide strips 20, 20a. Unlike the guide strips of FIG. 5, the guide strips of FIG. 3 are shown extending the entire length offrame member 12. In most applications, strips 20, 20a are only required in the region ofconnector cabinets 16 andsplice cabinets 18. The are not required in the region ofstorage cabinets 14 for reasons that will become apparent.

Each of guide strips 20, 20a includes a flat,elongated plate 34, 34a which is secured through any suitable means (not shown) to sidewalls 22, 24. On each ofplates 34, 34a plurality of fiber guides includinginner guide 36, 36a andouter guides 37, 37a are mounted in offset straight vertical columns as shown in FIG. 3.

Each ofguides 36, 36a, 37, 37a are identical. With reference to FIG. 26, asingular fiber guide 36 is shown. Thefiber guide 36 includes a generally oval shapedpillar 38 and a triangular shapedcover plate 40. Attachment clips 42 are provided withinpillar 38 for clipping thefiber guide 36 into aligned holes (not shown) inplate 34.

Thepillar 38spaces plate 40 from plate 34 (as shown in FIG. 27). Thepillar 38 has rounded top andbottom surfaces 44, 46 which are radiused to present a minimum bending to which an optical fiber may be subjected without substantial risk of harm to the fiber. It is recognized within the industry that a radius of 1.5 inches corresponds to a desired minimum bending radius.

When mounted on theplate 34, the fiber guides 36 present opposing surfaces which define a plurality of cable pathways through the guide strips 20, 20a. These include horizontalframe exit pathways 50 defined between opposing surfaces ofradiuses 44, 46 ofguides 36, 36a. Similarly,entrance fiber pathways 52 are defined between opposing surfaces ofradiuses 44, 46 of fiber guides 37, 37a.Pathways 50 and 52 are in direct communication with each other. Opposing surfaces ofcover plates 40 defineaxial openings 41 which permit direct access topathways 50 and 52 through the rear face of guide strips 20 and 20a.

With the structure of the guide strips 20, 20a as thus described, fiber optic cables can be accessed to the rear ofmember 12. Cables (such asrear cables 13 in FIG. 1) are directed from along the top offrame member 12 toguides 36 and 36a. Cable clamps 400 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 3A) are attached toplates 34, 34a (which, in turn, are attached to sidewalls 22, 34) by mountingbrackets 402. Theclamps 400 hold thecable 13 at an angle to thestrips 20, 20a. Thereby, theclamps 400 direct optic fibers to guide 36, 36a with minimum bending of the fibers. Individual optic fibers 15 (commonly carried in tubed bundles of 12 fibers per tube) from thecable 13 may be directed throughhorizontal passages 50, 52 to the rear of the cabinets (not shown in FIGS. 2 or 3) carried byframe member 12.

When desired to passfibers 15 to an adjacent frame, the fibers may be threaded throughpassages 50, 52. The radiused surfaces 44 and 46 prevent undue overbending and possible damage to the fiber optic cable.

Shown in FIG. 1, the forward face oftop wall 28 is provided with anupper trough 60. Similarly,bottom wall 26 is provided with alower trough 62.Troughs 60, 60′ and 60″ are aligned to define a pathway to retain afiber optic cables 64 along the top offrames 10—10″.Troughs 62—62″ are aligned to define a pathway to retaincables 66 along the bottom ofpanels 10—10″. Cables carried introughs 60, 62 will be individual patch cords.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, each of mountingplates 32 carries three triangularly aligned and spaced apart fiber guide clips 70. Shown best in FIGS. 1 and 6, the guide clips 70 guide thecables 64, 66 from either oftroughs 60 or 62 into thevertical spaces 72 defined between opposing andadjacent panels 10 and 10″. The spaced apart clips 70 permit individual fibers to be fed from thevertical space 72 inwardly to thecabinets 14, 16 or 18 mounted on theframe member 12.

C. Modular Cabinets

As previously mentioned, three modular cabinets are provided for use withframe member 12. The three styles of cabinets include astorage cabinet 14,connector cabinet 16 andsplice cabinet 18.

1. Cross-Connect Cabinet

FIGS. 8 and 9 show across-connect cabinet 16 for use with the present invention.Cabinet 16 includesrigid metal sidewalls 74, 76 each having mountingplates 75.Sidewalls 74, 76 are joined by a top wall 78 andbottom wall 80. A partially opaqueforward wall 82 is provided covering the forward face ofcross-connect cabinet 16.Forward wall 82 includes abottom hinge 84 for pivotally connecting forwardwall 82 tobottom wall 80. A commerciallyavailable latch 86 is provided for releasably latching the top edge offorward wall 82 to top wall 78.

Shown best in FIG. 8, the forward edges 74a, 76a ofsidewalls 74, 76 do not extend to forwardwall 82. Instead, they are spaced fromforward wall 82 to provide right and leftsidewall entrance gaps 88, 90 for passage of fiber optic cables from the sides ofcabinet 16 throughgaps 88, 90 into the interior ofcabinet 16.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,cross-connect cabinet 16 is hollow and does not include a back wall. As a result, it is accessible through both the back and the front (when thefront wall 82 is pivoted to the down position).

Retained within the interior ofcabinet 16 is aconnector panel 92 which is spaced fromforward wall 82. On opposite sides ofpanel 92 and disposed withingaps 88, 90 are fanningclips 94 for maintaining vertical spacing of fiber optic cables passing throughedges 88, 90.

Shown best in FIGS. 9 and 10, connectingpanel 92 includes a plurality of square shapedopenings 96 formed therethrough. The openings are arranged in a left field 96a and afight field 96b disposed on opposite sides of the center of connector panel 92 (when viewed in FIG. 9). Each offields 96a and 96b includes six rows of eightholes 96. It will be appreciated that the alignment, number of holes and number of rows is illustrative and could vary while retaining the essence of the present invention.

Holes 96 receive any one of a plurality of connector sleeve adaptors (shown only in FIG. 10 received within holes96).In FIG. 10, a sheathedoptic fiber 98 is shown terminating at aconnector 100. There are a wide variety of commercially available designs ofconnectors 100.

Commercial manufacturers ofsuch connectors 100 as well as other suppliers manufacture metal connector sleeves such as sleeves 100a through 100d. In practice, the commercially available metal sleeves 100a-100c would be mounted on flat surfaces with theconnectors 100 presenting an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of the surface to which they would be mounted.

The present invention utilizes a plurality of connector sleeve adaptors such asadaptor 102 to receive the commerciallyavailable connectors 100 and mount them withinconnector panel 92 at an orientation such that the axis ofconnectors 100 are at about a 45° angle with respect to the plane ofconnector panel 92. A separate coupling adaptor is required for each commercially available connector sleeve.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,486 teaches an adaptor for mounting sleeves of different shapes to a panel having holes. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,486, it appears the adaptor mounts the sleeves to the panel in a manner such that connectors will be at 90° to the panel. As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,486, providing adaptors having means for attachment to commercially available connector sleeves is within the scale of the art. Accordingly, the specific attachment member of the individual adaptors 102-102d will not be described in detail to avoid limitation of the present inventions to the specific adaptor shown. However, the reader will note that each of the adaptors 102-102d includes a mountingplate 104 spaced from an opposing mounting clips 106. The mountingclips 106 are spaced from mountingplate 104 to define a mountingslot 108.Slot 108 is sized to snugly receive the thickness ofconnector panel 92. Theclips 106,slots 108 andplate 104 cooperate to defining a mounting structure. The mounting structure is snapped into place withinholes 96 by an operator forcing clips 106-106d throughhole 96 where the resilient clips snap back toposition capturing plate 92 betweendips 106 andplate 104.

Connected to each of the mounting structures is an adaptor structure shown generally at 110-110d. The adaptor structures 110-110d are uniquely configured to receive and retain commercially available connector sleeves and connectors. Each of the adaptor structure 110-110d is connected to the mounting structure such that the access of a connector attached to the adaptor structure 110-110d will be at approximately a 45° angle with the plane of slots 108-108d. Since each of the adaptor structures shown is illustrative and not exhaustive of the possible adaptors which could be provided, a description ofadaptor 102 only will be illustrative. Inadaptor 102, theadaptor structure 110 has opposing retainingsurfaces 112 and 114 which receive and retain aplate 101 ofsleeve 100. Theattachment cylinder 103 is 90° toplate 101 and hence 45° topanel 92. With thecross-connect cabinet 16 of the present invention, a wide variety ofsleeve adaptors 102 can be used. Each ofholes 96 is filled with a desiredadaptor 102 so that a desiredsleeve adaptors 102 can be utilized. The operator inserting thesleeve adaptors 102 can rotate theadaptors 102 so that they angle either to the left or to the right depending on whether they are to be inserted within holes offields 96a or 96b. So inserted, all optical fiber connectors attached to field 96a angle towards the left (when viewed in FIG. 9) and all connectors attached tofield 96b angle to the right.

The optical fibers are carried downwardly fromtroughs 60 throughvertical space 72. The fibers (not shown) are passed throughgaps 90 and 88 through fanningclips 94 and connected at the desired angle to the selectedadaptors 102. The 45° angled connector adaptor 102-102d prevent over bending of fibers passing fromgaps 88, 90 toadaptors 102. The angle also allows the connectors to be placed closer to the front of the module permitting easier access. Also, the angled connectors are easier to grip.

The rear portion of the connector adaptors 100 (not shown) are accessible through the back surface by an operator facing the back wall fiber distribution panel (such as the walls shown in FIG. 7). In such connections, optical fibers fromcables 13 are routed throughgaps 52, 50 and passed and connected to the rear of the couplings. It is anticipated that the rear access connections would be generally permanent while forward access couplings (made by opening forward wall 82) may be changed from time to time to make desired cross-connecting operations.

2. Splice Cabinet

Connector cabinet 16 adequately addresses the cross-connect function necessary for an optical fiber distribution frame. However, commonly, the users of such equipment desire splicing functions to be readily available. To this end, an opticalfiber splice cabinet 18 is provided.

Shown best in FIGS. 21-24, thesplice cabinet 18 includessidewalls 120, 122, top andbottom walls 124, 126 andback wall 128 cooperating to define an enclosed box structure.Sidewalls 120, 122 are provided withplates 121 for attachment to mounting plates 32 (see FIG. 2) withcabinet 18 received withinspace 30. A partially opaqueforward wall 130 is pivotally secured byhinge member 132 to bottom wall 126 and connected through any suitable commerciallyavailable latch member 134 totop wall 124. For purposes of aesthetics, it is preferred thatforward wall 130 be designed to be compatible or nearly identical in appearance to wall 82 ofcross-connect cabinet 16.

FIG. 21 shows the front ofcabinet 18 with a plurality ofsplice trays 140 viewable through the translucentfront wall 130. As shown in FIG. 21, eightidentical trays 140 are shown disposed withincabinet 18 for slidably retraction by an operator through the front ofcabinet 18 whenwall 132 is pivoted to a down position. It will appreciated that the number and arrangement oftrays 140 may be varied while still retaining the essence of the present invention.

FIG. 24 shows atray 140. With combined reference to FIGS. 21, 24 and 28, it can be seen that thetray 140 includes aflat bottom wall 142 and upwardly curved side edges 144, 146. Also,forward edge 148 is upwardly curved.

Thesidewalls 120, 122 ofcabinet 18 are provided with internal slide mechanisms 150 (best shown in FIG. 28). Theslide mechanism 150 includes avertical wall 152 and a plurality of spaced aparthorizontal rails 154. A generallyU-shaped slide channel 156 is received betweenrails 154.Slide channel 156 is preferably formed from nylon and is secured in place between opposing surfaces ofrails 154. U-shaped slide channel is sized to receiveside edge 144.Bottom plate 142 is slidably received against an opposing surface ofU-channel 156 such thattray 140 may be pulled out ofcabinet 18.

Tray 140 carries a retaining strap 160 (see FIGS. 24, 25) which include a firstelastic strap 162 extending betweenrings 168, 169.Ring 169 is received inslots 163 and secured onplate 164.Strap 162 is resiliently stretched betweenplate 164 and clip 166 and retained byring 168 received on clip 166. Thestrap 162 holds in place a splicing tray (or fixture) (schematically shown at 165) may be inserted. It will be appreciated by those skilled it/the art that splicefixtures 165 are well known and commercially available items. Optical fiber splice fixtures are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,702,551 and 4,687,289.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, optical fibers do not entertray 140 orcabinet 18 from theforward wall 130. Instead, theforward wall 130 is simply to provide an operator access to thetrays 140. It is anticipated that optical fiber cables will enter through therear wall 128. To this end, a plurality ofopenings 172, 174 are provided throughrear wall 128. With best reference to FIG. 22, leftopenings 172 and right openings 174 (left and right defined with reference to the view of FIG. 22) are provided disposed in ordered pairs with each pair corresponding to atray 140. As a result, optical fibers passing throughopening 174 are passed into atray 140. Similarly, fibers or cable passing throughopenings 172 are received intray 140. The fibers meet in the center area oftray 140 and are connected by anysuitable splice fixture 165 which is commercially available.

Rear wall 128 is provided with a pair of curvedradius control posts 176 disposed on opposite sides ofholes 172, 174.Posts 176 provide the minimum bending radius of 1.5 inches to ensure that an optical fiber passing from the exterior ofcabinet 18 are bent in a slow curve aroundpost 176 prior to enteringholes 172, 174. Therefore, posts 176 prevent possible damage to the optical fibers from excess bending.

3. Storage Cabinet

In addition to cross-connect functions and splicing functions, it is anticipated that the fiber distribution frame user will need storage functions to store excess optical fiber. This final function is particularly important for the cross-connect function where the distance of required cable varies from time to time.Storage cabinets 14 are provided to take up slack in the optical fiber cables.

Thestorage cabinet 14 anticipated for preferred use with the present invention is shown in FIGS. 29-33. Thepreferred storage cabinet 14 is the subject of copending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/374,008, filed Jun. 29, 1989 and entitled “Optical Fiber Storage Container”. However, the particular storage cabinet is not required and alternative designs could be used. An example of an alternative design is that shown in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,203. U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,432 also teaches an optical fiber storage container.

As described more fully in the aforementioned U.S. patent application (incorporated herein by reference) thestorage cabinet 14 includessidewalls 180, 182,top wall 184,bottom wall 186 andback wall 188. Walls 180-188 cooperate to define an enclosed box structure. A partially translucentforward wall 190 is provided pivotally secured tobottom wall 186 bypivot connection 192. For purposes of design compatibility, it is desired thatforward wall 190 be substantially identical to the forward walls ofcabinets 16 and 18 and include a commerciallyavailable latch 194 for releasably connecting the upper edge offorward wall 190 toupper wall 184. Mountingplates 196 are provided onsidewalls 180, 182 to releasably connect the cabinet to mountingbrackets 32.

Disposed withincabinet 14 are a plurality offiber storage trays 198. As shown in FIG. 29, thetrays 198 are exposed in two vertical columns. However, it will be appreciated that this is a choice of design and any number of trays disposed in any variety of orientations would still be within the scope of the intent of the present invention.

Trays 198 include rails 200 (see FIGS. 32, 33) which are slidably received withinslots 202 ofslide attachments 204 connected to thesidewalls 180, 182. With best reference to FIG. 32, each of the trays is a stationaryrectangular body 198 having a centralcircular hole 206. Aspool 208 is carried withinhole 206 to be rotatable withintray 198.Side passages 210 are formed throughtray 198 and communicate with thespool 208. Thespool 208 includes outerarcuate platforms 212 which define an outer circumferential track 214 in whichoptical fiber 217 may be wound. Inner platforms 214 provide an attachment loop around which theoptical fiber 215 may be looped prior to being wound in the outer track 214. Thumb holes 216 are provided into which an operator may insert a finger to rotate the spool and take up or release cable from the spool.

D. Benefits Of The Invention

With the structure of the present invention, a customer can purchase aframe member 12 and select any combination ofcabinets 14, 16 and 18 as desired to intermix the cabinets and their functions. Accordingly, the present invention adds many benefits and features with respect to prior art designs. Three types of modules are available: cross-connection, splicing and storage. The present invention offers flexible modular design. Also, each frame can be arranged in side-by-side alignment with other frames. Bending radius limiters are used throughout the frame. The frame accommodates future growth in a fiber network. Also, the fiber is protected from damage and snags.

From the foregoing detailed description of the present invention it has been shown of the objects of the invention have been attained in the preferred embodiment. However, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concept such as those which readily occur to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.

Claims (1)

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