Fiber management system

• US 20060275008A1
• Filed: 09/20/2005
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Network Solutions, Inc. (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Telect Incorporated (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: Xin, Xin
• Granted Patent: US 7,460,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44524 with frame parts or auxiliary devices mounted on the frame and collectively not covering a whole width of the frame or rack cassettes G02B6/4453
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44526 Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding

Abstract

A fiber management apparatus includes a module for managing fibers. In one implementation, the module includes at least two trays. An upper one of the trays is slidable and pivotable relative to a base tray to allow access to fibers managed by the base tray. In another implementation, the module is coupled to a chassis and is pivotable through an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to the chassis. A kit for mounting a chassis includes at least two different sized sets of brackets for mounting the chassis to racks of various different widths. A method of managing fibers includes pulling a module having multiple trays out of a chassis, pulling a first exposed one of the trays outward from the chassis, and lifting the first tray to expose a second one of the trays.

Claims

1. A fiber management apparatus comprising:

a module adapted to manage fibers, the module comprising a plurality of trays, the plurality of trays including a first tray and a second tray,

wherein the first tray is pivotable about a tray axis relative to the second tray, and

wherein the first tray is slidable relative to the second tray.

2. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first tray is slidable relative to the second tray in a direction substantially parallel to the tray axis.

3. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a chassis, to which the module is coupled, the module being supported by the chassis.

4. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the module is coupled to the chassis at a hinge defining a module axis, such that the module is pivotable about the module axis between a first position in which the module is at least partially enclosed by the chassis, and a second position in which the module is substantially extended from the chassis.

5. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 3, the module being coupled to the chassis at a hinge defining a module axis, such that the module is pivotable about the module axis through an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to the chassis.

6. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a rack, to which the chassis is coupled, the chassis being supported by the rack.

7. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the chassis includes adjustable mounting features, such that the chassis can be coupled to the rack in at least two different front-to-back positions.

8. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second tray is a fixed tray, which is not pivotable about the tray axis.

9. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second trays comprises a fiber mount configured to hold at least one of (i) a plurality of fiber patch connections, and (ii) a splice cassette.

10. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a chassis to which the module is coupled, wherein the chassis has a maximum thickness (t) of at most two inches, and wherein the module is configured to hold at least forty-eight patch connections, each patch connection comprising an input fiber and an output fiber.

11. A fiber management apparatus comprising:

a chassis; and

a module adapted to manage fibers, the module being coupled to the chassis at a hinge defining a module axis, such that the module is pivotable about the module axis through an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to the chassis.

12. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the module is pivotable about the module axis through an angle of between about 90 degrees and about 110 degrees.

13. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the module is pivotable about the module axis through an angle of between about 100 degrees and about 110 degrees.

14. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the module comprises a plurality of trays, a first tray of the plurality of trays being pivotable about a tray axis relative to a second tray of the plurality of trays, the tray axis being non-parallel with the module axis.

15. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first tray is slidable relative to the second tray in a direction substantially parallel to the tray axis.

16. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the chassis includes adjustable mounting features, such that the chassis can be coupled to a rack in at least two different front-to-back positions.

17. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the chassis has a maximum thickness (t) of at most two inches, and wherein the module is configured to hold at least forty-eight fiber connections, each fiber connection comprising an input fiber and an output fiber.

18. A kit for mounting a chassis to a rack of a fiber management apparatus, the kit comprising:

a chassis;

a module coupled to the chassis and adapted to manage fibers;

a first set of brackets of a first size for mounting the chassis to a rack having a first width; and

a second set of brackets different than the first set of brackets, for mounting the chassis to a rack having a second width, which is different than the first width.

19. A kit according to claim 18, wherein the chassis includes adjustable mounting features, such that the chassis can be coupled to a rack in at least two different front-to-back positions.

20. A kit according to claim 18, further comprising a third set of brackets different than the first and second sets of brackets, for mounting the chassis to a rack having a third width, which is different than the first and second widths,

wherein the chassis includes four sets of mounting holes formed in side panels of the chassis, such that at least one set of brackets can be coupled to the chassis at any of the four sets of mounting holes to allow the chassis to be coupled to a rack in four different front-to-back positions.

21. A method of managing fibers, comprising:

pulling a module having multiple trays out of a chassis;

sliding a first exposed one of the trays outward away from a front surface of the chassis; and

lifting the first tray to expose a second one of the trays.

22. A method of managing fibers according to claim 21, further comprising repeating the sliding and lifting steps at least once, to expose at least a third one of the trays.

23. A method of managing fibers according to claim 21, further comprising, after the pulling step and prior to the sliding step, pivoting the module greater than 90 degrees relative to the chassis.

24. A method of managing fibers according to claim 23, further comprising, prior to the pulling step, releasing a module latch to allow the module to be pulled out of the chassis.