HIGH DENSITY FIBER DISTRIBUTION HUB

• US 20100329624A1
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Wang, Ping, Xu, Zhiyong, Zhou, Junsheng, Bonvallat, Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 8,488,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fiber distribution hub. The fiber distribution hub comprises a base case comprising at least one port portion for introducing an optical cable, wherein the optical cable includes a first fiber; a splitter case releasably attached to the base case; a splice tray rotatably hinged to the splitter case; and a cover engagable with the base case to enclose the splitter case and the splice tray. The first fiber is connected to a second fiber in the splice tray, and the second fiber is connected with a splitter in the splitter case to separate the second fiber into a plurality of separate third fibers. Thus, the invention provides a compact and modular fiber distribution hub. In addition, the fiber distribution hub can join optical fibers by mechanical splices, fusion splices and fiber optic connectors in a single unit.

Claims

1. A fiber distribution hub, comprising:

a base case comprising at least one port portion for introducing an optical cable, wherein the optical cable includes a first fiber;

a splitter case releasably attached to the base case;

a splice tray rotatably hinged to the splitter case; and

a cover engagable with the base case to enclose the splitter case and the splice tray,

wherein the first fiber is connected to a second fiber in the splice tray, and the second fiber is connected with a splitter in the splitter case to separate the second fiber into a plurality of separate third fibers.

2. A fiber distribution hub of claim 1, wherein the first fiber is connected to the second fiber in the splice tray with a mechanical splice.

3. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 1, wherein the base case further comprises a fiber storage compartment, the fiber storage compartment having a first fiber winding member formed at the center thereof, the first fiber winding member is formed with projecting portions perpendicular to an circumferential wall of the first fiber winding member to prevent any stored fiber from detaching from the first fiber winding member.

4. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 1, wherein the base case further comprises poles formed near the side where the port portion is provided for rotatably hinging with a bottom side of the splitter case.

5. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 1, wherein the base case further comprises openings at both opposing sides thereof for clipping with the splitter case.

6. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 4, wherein first axles are provided at a side of the splitter case, and wherein the first axles engage with the poles on the base case, so that the splitter case is rotatably connected to the base case.

7. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 6, wherein the splitter case is further provided with slots for mounting optical fiber connector adapters at the side opposite to that provided with the first axles.

8. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 7, wherein a row of fiber guides are provided at the inner side of the slots in the splitter case, for guiding third fibers from the splitter into the optical fiber connectors respectively, the optical fiber connectors being inserted into the optical fiber connector adapters.

9. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 8, wherein each of the fiber guides comprises an upright supporting portion and a suspending portion extending laterally from an end of the supporting portion, and the fiber guides are angled with respect to a side of the splitter case.

10. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 9, wherein two second fiber winding members are provided between the fiber guides and the first axles.

11. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 10, wherein a first retainer for holding at least one fan out part is provided between the fiber guides and the two second fiber winding members.

12. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 11, wherein a first receiving member for receiving a single fiber is provided between a first retainer and the row of fiber guides.

13. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 11, wherein a second receiving member for storing the ribbon fiber is provided between the first retainer and the two second fiber winding members.

14. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 13, wherein a second retainer for holding the splitter is provided between the second receiving member and the two second fiber winding members.

15. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 10, wherein latches for clipping the splice tray are provided inside the two second fiber winding members of the splitter case.

16. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 6, wherein second axles for engaging the splice tray are provided between the first axles respectively.

17. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 16, wherein a third retainer for engaging with the second axles are formed on the bottom of the splice tray at the corresponding positions where the second axles of the splitter case are provided.

18. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 15, wherein latch receiving holes are provided on the back side of the splice tray at a corresponding positions to a position of the splitter case where the clipping members are formed, so that the splice tray can be secured to the splitter case in a closed position.

19. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 17, wherein the splice tray is provided with a communicating portion where the second fiber from the splitter of the splitter case can enter into the splice tray.

20. The fiber distribution hub according to claim 1, wherein a first receiving portion for holding the first fiber from optical fiber in the base case and a second receiving portion for holding the second fiber from the splitter in the splitter case are provided at a side of the splice tray, the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion are parallel to each other, and the second receiving portion is communicated with the communicating portion.