Fiber Access Terminal

• US 20080131068A1
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Published: 06/05/2008
• 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 7,400,815 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

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 terminal assembly comprising:

an enclosure including a front piece and a rear piece that are connected together to define an interior volume;

a fiber optic cable that enters the enclosure, the fiber optic cable including a plurality of optical fibers, the optical fibers separated from one another within the interior volume of the enclosure, the optical fibers terminated by interior fiber optic connectors that are located within the interior volume of the enclosure;

the enclosure including a cable connection region at which the enclosure defines a plurality of adapter mounting openings;

a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted at the adapter mounting openings, each of the fiber optic adapters including a first end accessible from within the interior volume of the enclosure and a second end accessible from outside the enclosure, the interior fiber optic connectors of the optical fibers being received within the first ends of the fiber optic adapters;

a cable management insert positioned within the interior volume of the enclosure for managing the optical fibers separated from one another within the interior volume of the enclosure, the cable management insert being a separate piece from the front and rear pieces of the enclosure;

the cable management insert including a first side and an opposite second side, the first side facing toward one of the front piece and the rear piece, the second side facing toward the other of the front and the rear piece, the first side defining a plurality of fiber routing and storage paths for managing the optical fibers separated from one another within the interior volume of the enclosure; and

the cable management insert defining a plurality of insert openings that extend through the cable management insert from the first side of the cable management insert to the second side of the cable management insert, the insert openings corresponding in position to at least some of the fiber optic adapters, at least some of the optical fibers extending through the insert openings so that the interior fiber optic connectors terminating the optical fibers can be inserted into the fiber optic adapters.

2. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is elongated along a central longitudinal axis, and wherein the cable management insert is also elongated along the central longitudinal axis.

3. The terminal assembly of claim 2, wherein the cable management insert defines a length that extends along the central longitudinal axis between first and second ends of the cable management insert, and wherein the cable management insert includes side walls that extend generally along the length of the cable management insert on opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis.

4. The terminal assembly of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second ends of the cable management insert has a rounded configuration for guiding at least some of the optical fibers along a curved path.

5. The terminal assembly of claim 4, wherein the cable management insert defines an outer boundary that generally matches a corresponding shape defined by the interior volume of the enclosure.

6. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable management insert includes retention tabs for aiding retention of at least some of the optical fibers along the fiber routing and storage paths.

9. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable management insert includes at least one curved fiber guide structure for guiding the optical fibers along a curved path.

10. The terminal assembly of claim 9, further comprising one or more fiber retention tabs provided on the curved fiber guide structure.

11. The terminal assembly of claim 9, wherein at least some of the optical fibers are routed in at least a partial loop around the curved fiber guide structure.

12. The terminal assembly of claim 9, wherein the at least one curved fiber guide structure includes at least a first curved fiber guide structure provided at the first side of the cable management insert and a second curved fiber guide structure provided at the second side of the cable management insert.

13. The terminal assembly of claim 12, wherein at least some of the optical fibers are routed in at least a partial loop around the first curved fiber guide structure located at the first side of the cable management insert, and wherein at least some of the optical fibers are routed in at least a partial loop around the second curved fiber guide structure located at the second side of the cable management insert.

15. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable management insert includes one or more brackets for holding a fiber fanout.

16. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the first side of the cable management insert faces toward the rear piece of the enclosure and the second side of the cable management insert faces toward the front piece of the enclosure, wherein the front piece of the enclosure includes the adapter mounting openings of the cable connection region, and wherein portions of one or more of the optical fibers are stored in a looped configuration at the first side of the cable management insert.

18. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable management insert includes straight side walls and curved fiber guide walls that cooperate to define at least some of the fiber routing and storage paths on the cable management insert.

19. The terminal assembly of claim 18, further comprising fiber retention tabs provided on the straight side walls and the curved fiber guide walls.

20. The terminal assembly of claim 18, wherein the cable management insert is elongated along a central longitudinal axis, wherein the straight side walls are positioned on opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis and are parallel to the central longitudinal axis, and wherein at least some of the curved fiber guide walls define curved fiber paths that extend between the straight side walls.

21. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical fibers within the enclosure do not include optical splices.

22. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable management insert is elongated along a central longitudinal axis, and wherein at least a portion of the fiber optic cable is secured to the cable management insert at an attachment location positioned generally at the central longitudinal axis.

23. The terminal assembly of claim 22, wherein the plurality of optical fibers are separated apart adjacent the attachment location.

24. The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable management insert is elongated along a central longitudinal axis, wherein the cable management insert defines a length that extends along the central longitudinal axis between first and second ends of the cable management insert, wherein the cable management insert includes side walls that extend generally along the length of the cable management insert on opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis, wherein the cable management insert defines a width that extends between the side walls, wherein the cable management insert includes a first partial spool structure positioned adjacent the first end of the cable management insert that defines a first curved fiber path that extends generally across the width of the cable management insert, wherein the cable management insert includes a second partial spool structure that is positioned between the first partial spool structure and the second end of the cable management insert and that defines a second curved fiber path that extends generally across the width of the cable management insert, wherein the cable management insert includes a third partial spool structure that is positioned between the second partial spool structure and the second end of the cable management insert and that defines a third curved fiber path that extends generally across the width of the cable management insert, wherein the first and second curved fiber paths curve in a first direction, and wherein the third curved fiber path curves in a second direction that is opposite from the first direction.

25. The terminal assembly of claim 24, further comprising a fourth partial spool structure that is positioned between the third partial spool structure and the second end of the cable management insert and that defines a fourth curved fiber path that extends generally across the width of the cable management insert, the fourth curved fiber path curving in the second direction.

26. The terminal assembly of claim 25, further comprising a fifth partial spool structure that is positioned adjacent the second end of the cable management insert and that defines a fifth curved fiber path that extends generally across the width of the cable management insert, the fifth curved fiber path curving in the second direction.

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

27. A terminal assembly comprising:

an enclosure including a front piece and a rear piece that are connected together to define an interior volume, the enclosure being elongated along a central longitudinal axis;

a fiber optic cable that enters the enclosure through a first end of the enclosure, the fiber optic cable including a plurality of optical fibers, the optical fibers separated from one another within the interior volume of the enclosure, the optical fibers terminated by interior fiber optic connectors that are located within the interior volume of the enclosure;

the front piece including first and second mounting faces that are angled to face generally toward the first end of the enclosure, the first and second mounting faces being separated from one another along the central longitudinal axis of the enclosure, the front piece including a waisted area provided between the first and second mounting faces, each of the first and second mounting faces defining at least one adapter mounting opening;

a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted at the adapter mounting openings, each of the fiber optic adapters including a first end accessible from within the interior volume of the enclosure and a second end accessible from outside the enclosure, the interior fiber optic connectors of the optical fibers being received within the first ends of the fiber optic adapters;

a cable management insert positioned within the interior volume of the enclosure for managing the optical fibers separated from one another within the interior volume of the enclosure, the cable management insert being a separate piece from the front and rear pieces of the enclosure, the cable management insert including at least a portion positioned between the rear piece and the waisted area of the front piece;

the cable management insert including a first side and an opposite second side, at least the first side defining a plurality of fiber routing paths for managing the optical fibers separated from one another within the interior volume of the enclosure; and

the cable management insert defining a plurality of insert openings that extend through the cable management insert from the first side of the cable management insert to the second side of the cable management insert, the insert openings corresponding in position to at least some of the fiber optic adapters.

28. The terminal assembly of claim 27, wherein at least some of the optical fibers extend through the insert openings so that the interior fiber optic connectors terminating the optical fibers can be inserted into the fiber optic adapters.

29. The terminal assembly of claim 27, wherein the optical fibers within the enclosure do not include optical splices.

30. The terminal assembly of claim 27, wherein the cable management insert is elongated along the central longitudinal axis, and wherein at least a portion of the fiber optic cable is secured to the cable management insert at an attachment location positioned generally at the central longitudinal axis.

31. The terminal assembly of claim 30 wherein the plurality of optical fibers are separated apart adjacent the attachment location.

32. The terminal assembly of claim 27, wherein the cable management insert is elongated along the central longitudinal axis, wherein the cable management insert defines a length that extends along the central longitudinal axis between first and second ends of the cable management insert, wherein the cable management insert includes side walls that extend generally along the length of the cable management insert on opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis, wherein the cable management insert defines a width that extends between the side walls, wherein the cable management insert includes a first partial spool structure positioned adjacent the first end of the cable management insert that defines a first curved fiber path that extends generally across the width of the cable management insert, wherein the cable management insert includes a second partial spool structure that is positioned between the first partial spool structure and the second end of the cable management insert and that defines a second curved fiber path that extends generally across the width of the cable management insert, wherein the cable management insert includes a third partial spool structure that is positioned between the second partial spool structure and the second end of the cable management insert and that defines a third curved fiber path that extends generally across the width of the cable management insert, wherein the first and second curved fiber paths curve in a first direction, and wherein the third curved fiber path curves in a second direction that is opposite from the first direction.

33. The terminal assembly of claim 32, further comprising a fourth partial spool structure that is positioned between the third partial spool structure and the second end of the cable management insert and that defines a fourth curved fiber path that extends generally across the width of the cable management insert, the fourth curved fiber path curving in the second direction.

34. The terminal assembly of claim 33, further comprising a fifth partial spool structure that is positioned adjacent the second end of the cable management insert and that defines a fifth curved fiber path that extends generally across the width of the cable management insert, the fifth curved fiber path curving in the second direction.

35. The terminal assembly of claim 27, wherein at least two of the adapter mounting openings are defined at each of the first and second mounting faces.

36. The terminal assembly of claim 27, wherein a first group of the fiber optic adapters is located at a first side of the central longitudinal axis of the enclosure and a second group of the fiber optic adapters is located at a second side of the central longitudinal axis, wherein a first group of the optical fibers is looped in a clockwise direction on the cable management insert and are routed to the first group of the fiber optic adapters and wherein a second group of the optical fibers is looped in a counterclockwise direction on the cable management insert and are routed to the second group of the fiber optic adapters.

37. The terminal assembly of claim 36, wherein the first group of the optical fibers are looped around at least some of the interior fiber optic connectors.

38. The terminal assembly of claim 36, wherein the second group of the optical fibers are looped around at least some of the interior fiber optic connectors.