FIBER TERMINATION ENCLOSURE WITH MODULAR PLATE ASSEMBLIES

• US 20140219622A1
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Coan, Jonathan Walter, Krampotich, Dennis, Kaml, Jonathan R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,223,106 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 6/4441 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/445 with lateral pivoting cover
• 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 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4457 Bobbins; Reels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4479 Manufacturing methods of optical cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/08 Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Certain types of fiber termination enclosures include an enclosure and at least one of a plurality of plate module mounting assemblies. Example plate module mounting assemblies include a termination panel plate assembly; a splice tray plate assembly; a cable spool plate assembly; and a drop-in plate assembly. Example cable spool plate assemblies include a cable spool arrangement rotationally coupled to a mounting plate, which fixedly mounts within the enclosure housing. A stand-off mount element may be disposed on the front of the cable spool arrangement to rotate in unison with the cable spool arrangement. The stand-off mount element may include one or more termination adapters.

Claims

1. A fiber termination enclosure system comprising:

an enclosure housing including a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a rear wall defining an interior having an open front, the enclosure including a door for selectively covering the open front; and

a plurality of modular plate assemblies that are each configured to be selectively mounted within the interior of the enclosure housing, each modular plate assembly including a mounting plate that is configured to be coupled to the rear wall of the enclosure housing;

the plurality of modular plate assemblies including;

a termination panel plate assembly including a plurality of termination adapters coupled to the respective mounting plate;

a splice tray plate assembly including at least one splice tray disposed on the respective mounting plate;

a cable spool plate assembly including a cable spool disposed on the respective mounting plate, the cable spool being configured to rotate relative to the enclosure housing; and

a drop-in plate assembly including at least one termination adapter disposed on a horizontally extending drop-in plate disposed on the respective mounting plate.

2. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 1, further comprising a fanout arrangement coupled to a forward side of the cable spool.

3. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 1, wherein a stand-off mount element is coupled to the cable spool of the cable spool plate assembly, the stand-off mount element being configured to rotate with the cable spool relative to the enclosure housing, the stand-off mount element including a plurality of termination adapters.

4. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 3, wherein the stand-off mount element including a mounting surface spaced forwardly of the cable spool arrangement, wherein the termination adapters are located at the mount surface.

5. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 3, wherein the termination adapters of the stand-off mount element are disposed on sliding adapter modules.

6. The fiber termination enclosure of claim 5, wherein the sliding adapter modules are oriented so that the termination adapters have insertion axes extending parallel with the mounting surface of the stand-off mount element.

7. The fiber termination enclosure of claim 1, wherein the cable spool defines a locking opening that is configured to align with a flange extending forwardly of the mounting plate when the cable spool is oriented in a first rotational position relative to the mounting plate, wherein insertion of a fastener through both a fastening opening defined in the flange and the locking opening defined in the cable spool releasably fixes the cable spool arrangement in the first rotational position.

8. The fiber termination enclosure of claim 1, wherein the cable spool arrangement is mounted on a bearing that is mounted to the panel.

9. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 1, wherein at least one splice tray is mounted to the cable spool of the cable spool plate assembly, the splice tray being configured to rotate with the cable spool relative to the enclosure housing.

10. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 9, wherein a plurality of splice trays are stacked on the cable spool, wherein a bottom of the stack faces the cable spool and a top of the stack faces the open front of the enclosure housing.

11. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the termination plate panel assembly includes a vertically extending termination plate on which the termination adapters are disposed.

12. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the termination adapters are disposed on at least one sliding adapter module that is disposed on the mounting plate of the termination panel plate assembly.

13. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the termination adapter disposed on the drop-in plate is configured to receive two multi-fiber connectors.

14. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the modular plate assembly has a height that extends over a majority of a height of the rear wall and a width that extends over less than half of a width of the rear wall when the modular plate assembly is mounted to the rear wall of the enclosure housing.

15. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 1, further comprising a cover that is configured to mount within the interior of the enclosure housing to cover and inhibit access to at least a portion of the modular plate assembly disposed within the enclosure housing.

16. The fiber termination enclosure of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall of the enclosure defines at least one opening at which at least one cable port can be mounted.

17. The fiber termination enclosure of claim 16, further comprising a port arrangement including a port panel through which at least one cable port extends, the port panel being coupled to the bottom wall of the enclosure at the opening defined in the bottom wall.

18. The fiber termination enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of brackets coupled to the top and bottom walls of the enclosure, the brackets being configured to secure the enclosure to a surface.

19. The fiber termination enclosure of claim 1, wherein the cable spool has first and second spaced, parallel support walls located at forward and rearward ends, respectively, of a drum, the cable spool being configured to receive the optical fiber around the drum between the support walls.

20. The fiber termination enclosure of claim 19, further comprising at least one bend radius limiter coupled to a forward side of the first support wall of the cable spool arrangement.

21. The fiber termination enclosure of claim 19, wherein the cable spool has a generally annular circumference.

22. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the modular plate assemblies are sized to extend over a majority of an area of the rear wall, wherein the enclosure housing is configured to receive only one of the these modular plate assemblies at any given time.

23. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 2, wherein the cable spool plate assembly has a height that is sized to extend over a majority of a height of the rear wall and a width that is sized to extend over a majority of a width of the rear wall when the mounting plate of the cable spool plate assembly is coupled to the rear wall of the enclosure housing.

24. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the termination panel plate assembly has a height that is sized to extend over a majority of a height of the rear wall and a width that is sized to extend over a majority of a width of the rear wall when the mounting plate of the termination panel plate assembly is coupled to the rear wall of the enclosure housing.

25. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the termination plate is formed from a bent portion of the mounting plate.

26. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the drop-in plate assembly includes bend radius limiters disposed below the drop-in plate.

27. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the termination adapter is configured to receive hardened multi-fiber connectors.

28. The fiber termination enclosure system of claim 15, wherein the cover inhibits access to one of the modular plate assemblies disposed within the enclosure housing.

29. A method of assembling a fiber termination enclosure comprising:

providing an enclosure housing including a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a rear wall defining an interior having an open front, the enclosure including a door for selectively covering the open front;

selecting at least one of a plurality of modular plate assemblies that are each adapted and configured to be mounted within the interior of the enclosure housing, each modular plate assembly including a mounting plate that is configured to be coupled to the rear wall of the enclosure housing;

the plurality of modular plate assemblies including;

a termination panel plate assembly including a plurality of termination adapters coupled to the respective mounting plate;

a splice tray plate assembly including at least one splice tray disposed on the respective mounting plate;

a cable spool plate assembly including a cable spool disposed on the respective mounting plate, the cable spool being configured to rotate relative to the enclosure housing; and

a drop-in plate assembly including at least one termination adapter disposed on a horizontally extending drop-in plate disposed on the respective mounting plate; and

disposing the selected modular plate assembly within the interior of the enclosure housing and coupling the mounting plate of the selected modular plate assembly to the rear wall of the enclosure housing.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising precabling the selected modular plate assembly before disposing the selected modular plate assembly in the enclosure housing.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

selecting at least one of a plurality of cable port modules, each cable port module of the plurality of having at least one gasket disposed on a mounting plate; and

mounting the selected cable port module to the enclosure housing by coupling the mounting plate of the selected cable port module to the bottom wall of the enclosure housing.