Fiber access terminal

• US 20050213921A1
• Filed: 03/08/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Rudenick, Paula, Gronvall, Erik, Tinucci, Thomas C., Smith, Trevor, Nelson, Keith, Ferris, Matthew D., Mertesdorf, Daniel Ray
• Granted Patent: US 7,292,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4442 Cap coupling boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4446 Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44465 Seals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44515 Fibre drop terminals with surplus length without surplus length G02B6/4472
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00

Abstract

A fiber access terminal for mounting to the end of a fiber distribution cable and configured to be extended through a buried conduit. The fiber distribution cable may include a plurality of optical fibers and enters a housing of the terminal through a base. The terminal also includes a plurality of fiber optic connectors or adapters extending through the housing in generally the same direction as the fiber distribution cable for connecting to optical fiber customer drop cables. The terminal includes a cover and the housing defining an interior and the interior includes a cable slack storage arrangement providing bend radius protection for the optical fiber cables within the interior. A method of assembling a fiber access terminal. A fiber access terminal assembly including a pedestal mounting arrangement.

Claims

1. A fiber access terminal assembly comprising:

a fiber optic distribution cable with a first end and a second end;

an enclosure at the second end of the fiber optic distribution cable, the enclosure configured to be inserted through a hollow conduit with a top end positioned in a direction of insertion;

the enclosure including a housing and a removable cover cooperating to define an interior, the top end and a base end;

the base end of the enclosure including a first opening through which the fiber optic distribution cable enters the interior of the fiber enclosure;

the fiber optic distribution cable including a plurality of optical fiber strands, the plurality of optical fiber strands separated from the fiber optic distribution cable within the interior and terminated with fiber optic connectors;

the housing including a plurality of fiber optic connections extending through the housing, each of the connections having a first end within the interior configured to receive one of the connectors of the optical fiber strands within the interior, and a second end outside the housing configured to receive a connector of an optical fiber drop cable extending to an exterior of the enclosure, the second end of each connection extending generally toward the fiber optic distribution cable;

the interior including a cable slack storage arrangement for storing excess cable length of any of the optical fiber strands between the fiber optic distribution cable and the first end of one of the connections, the cable slack storage arrangement providing bend radius protection for the optical fiber strands stored within the cable slack storage arrangement.

2. The fiber access terminal of claim 1, wherein the connections extend through a plurality of second openings in the housing in the base end, and the second openings are positioned in a circle through the first opening through the base end of the housing.

3. The fiber access terminal of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the connections extend through the housing adjacent the base end and the first opening and the remainder of the connections extend through the housing between the base end and the top end opposite the cover.

4. The fiber access terminal of claim 3, wherein the first portion of the connections includes four connections extending through the housing and positioned in a semi-circle about the first opening, and the remainder of the connections includes four connections positioned in a semi-circle about the first opening.

5. The fiber access terminal of claim 3, wherein the first portion of connections includes a first pair of connections positioned adjacent the base of the housing, and the remainder of the adapters includes additional pairs of connections extending through the housing between the top end and the base end.

6. The fiber access terminal of claim 1, wherein the first opening defines a first direction and the connections are generally oriented in the same direction, such that a fiber distribution cable extending into the interior through the first opening and a cable extending to the second end of one of the connections are extending in generally the same direction.

7. The fiber access terminal of claim 1, wherein the first opening defines a first direction and the connections are oriented at an angle to the first direction such that a fiber distribution cable extending into the interior through the first opening and a cable extending to the second end of one of the connections are extending in generally the same direction.

8. The fiber access terminal of claim 1, further comprising a cable clamp within the interior for receiving and holding the fiber distribution cable extending through the first opening into the interior.

9. The fiber access terminal of claim 1, further comprising a cable clamp located outside the interior of the housing adjacent the first opening for receiving and holding the fiber distribution cable extending through the first opening into the interior.

10. The fiber access terminal of claim 1, wherein the first opening includes a fitting for sealing about the fiber distribution cable extending through the first opening into the interior.

11. The fiber access terminal of claim 1, further comprising a fiber splice holder mounted within the interior.

12. The fiber access terminal of claim 1, further comprising a fiber fanout attached to the fiber distribution cable and mounted within the interior of the housing.

13. The fiber access terminal of claim 1, wherein the connections are ruggedized fiber optic connections including a fiber optic adapter.

14. The fiber access terminal of claim 1, further comprising a gasket positioned between the cover and the housing to seal the interior from environmental intrusions.

15. A method of assembling a fiber optic distribution cable comprising:

providing a fiber enclosure including an open-sided housing defining an interior and a cover configured to mount to the enclosure body closing off the open side and the interior;

in an environmentally protected location, extending a fiber optic distribution cable through a first opening in the housing into the interior of the housing and securing the fiber optic distribution cable to a strain relief within the interior;

separating a plurality of optical fiber strands from the fiber optic distribution cable within the interior of the enclosure body;

terminating at least one of the plurality of optical fiber strands within the interior of the enclosure body with a fiber optic connector;

extending at least one of the plurality of optical fiber strands about a cable slack storage arrangement within the interior;

connecting the at least one fiber optic connector to one of a plurality of mating connections, each of the connections extending through the housing from the interior to an exterior of the housing and including a second end outside the housing for connecting with a mating fiber optic connector, each of the second ends of the connections configured to receive a fiber optic drop cable extending from generally the same direction as the fiber optic distribution cable;

positioning the cover closing off the open side of the housing and the interior and form the fiber enclosure; and

wherein the fiber enclosure is configured to pass through a buried conduit.

16. A fiber access terminal assembly comprising:

a fiber optic distribution cable with a first end and a second end;

an enclosure at the second end of the fiber optic distribution cable; and

a pedestal mounting arrangement;

the enclosure including a housing and a removable cover cooperating to define an interior, the top end and a base end;

the base end of the enclosure including a first opening through which the fiber optic distribution cable enters the interior of the enclosure;

the fiber optic distribution cable including a plurality of optical fiber strands, the plurality of optical fiber strands separated from the fiber optic distribution cable within the interior and terminated with fiber optic connectors;

the terminal body including a plurality of fiber optic connections extending through the terminal body, each of the connections having a first end within the interior configured to receive one of the connectors of the optical fiber strands within the interior, and a second end accessible from outside the terminal body configured to receive a connector of an optical fiber drop cable extending to an exterior of the fiber enclosure; and

the interior including a cable slack storage arrangement for storing excess cable length of any of the optical fiber strands between the fiber optic distribution cable and the first end of an adapter, the cable slack storage arrangement providing bend radius protection for the optical fiber strands stored within the cable slack storage arrangement.

17. The fiber access terminal of claim 16, wherein the pedestal mounting arrangement includes a stake connected to the enclosure.

18. The fiber access terminal of claim 17, wherein the pedestal mounting arrangement further includes a pair of access doors mounted beneath the fiber enclosure along a portion of the stake.

19. The fiber access terminal assembly of claim 16, wherein the pedestal mounting arrangement is a frame to which the enclosure is mounted.