Optical fiber cable distribution frame and support

• US 5,142,606 A
• Filed: 04/19/1991
• Issued: 08/25/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Augat, Inc. (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Porta Systems Corp. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Meyerhoefer, Carl, Carney, William V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm E.
• Application Number:
  US07/688,104
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.10, 350/96.15, 350/96.20-96.22
• US Class Current: 385/134
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• 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 6/4454 with splices
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4459 Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres

Abstract

Adaptive racking and distribution frame systems for handling optical fiber cables and including racking sections with wall portions that can be replaced without removing the section or displacing cables in the section and further including housings with moveable shelves that can be adapted to hold optical fiber splices, optical fiber connectors or optical fiber storage spools.

Claims

1. A racking member for supporting a plurality of optical fiber cables, said racking member comprising a trough-like structure having a flat bottom wall and side walls extending upwardly from along the edges of the bottom wall, at least one of said walls having a portion thereof which is removable from the remainder of said one wall, said trough-like structure being open at its ends and a connector element formed on the outside of said remainder of said one wall near said removable portion for connecting the member to adjacent racking members.

2. A racking member according to claim 1 wherein said one wall is a side wall and wherein said remainder of said one wall includes pillars with attachment formations for releasably connecting said portion to the remainder of said one wall.

3. A racking member according to claim 1 wherein said portion curves away from an axis extending between the ends of said trough-like structure.

4. A racking member according to claim 3 wherein said portion is a side wall portion and wherein a further portion extends from the lower edge of said side wall portion and from the edge of said flat bottom wall.

5. A racking member according to claim 4 wherein a connector element is formed on the outside of at least one of said portions near the end thereof farthest from said axis.

6. A racking member according to claim 3 wherein one end of said curved portion merges with said one wall.

7. A racking member according to claim 6 wherein said one wall is a side wall and said curved portion curves away from the other side wall.

8. A racking member according to claim 7 wherein a further portion extends from one edge of said curved portion and contacts said bottom wall.

9. A racking member according to claim 7 wherein a connector element is formed on the outside of said curved portion near the end thereof opposite its said one end.

10. A racking member according to claim 2 wherein said pillars have vertical holes in the upper surface thereof and wherein said portion has formations on the upper portion thereof with pins extending therefrom which fit into said holes.

11. A racking member according to claim 1 wherein said bottom wall is formed with a rectangular opening and wherein said portion is a flat member which extends across said opening and is removable therefrom.

12. A racking member according to claim 1 wherein said bottom wall is formed with a rectangular opening and wherein said portion curves downwardly from one end of said rectangular opening.

13. A racking member according to claim 12 wherein a flange extends downwardly from along one side of said rectangular opening and a wall extends from one edge of said portion in a direction perpendicular thereto, said wall having an extension connected to said flange.

14. An adaptive racking system for supporting optical fiber cables between outside plant equipment and fiber optic distribution frame systems, said racking system comprising a plurality of trough-like structures each having a flat bottom wall and side walls extending upwardly from along opposite side edges of the bottom wall, each trough-like structure being open at its ends, the cross-section of each trough-like structure matching an adjacent trough-like structure, connectors formed near the ends of each trough-like structure for connecting same end to end to an adjacent trough-like structure to form a continuous support for optical fiber cables positioned therein, at least one of said trough-like structures having a wall with a portion thereof with is removable from the remainder of the wall independently of said connectors.

15. An optical fiber cable distribution system comprising a plurality of optical fiber cable housings arranged in stacked array, first and second vertical cable guides arranged to extend vertically along opposite sides of said stacked array, at least one of said housings containing optical fiber cable inlet and outlet openings on opposite sides thereof, a first optical fiber cable extending from said first vertical cable guide to the inlet opening on one side of said one housing and a second optical fiber cable extending from the outlet opening at the other side of said one housing to the second vertical cable guide.

16. An optical fiber cable distribution system according to claim 15 wherein one vertical cable guide extends along one side of said stacked array near the rear of the housings and the other vertical cable guide extends along the opposite side of said stacked array near the front of said housings.

17. An optical fiber cable distribution system according to claim 16 wherein said one housing contains at least one shelf for holding optical fiber cables, said shelf being connected to said housing so as to pivot about a vertical axis near said other vertical cable guide.

18. An optical fiber cable distribution system comprising a plurality of optical fiber cable housings arranged in stacked array, first and second vertical cable guides arranged to extend vertically along opposite sides of said stacked array, at least one of said housings containing optical fiber cable inlet and outlet openings on opposite sides thereof, a horizontal optical fiber cable guide located above said array of housings, intermediate optical fiber cable guides extending between the upper ends of the vertical cable guides and said horizontal optical fiber cable guide, a first optical fiber cable extending from said horizontal optical fiber cable guide and through an associated intermediate optical fiber cable guide and one of said vertical cable guides to the cable inlet opening in one of said housings and a second optical fiber cable extending from a cable outlet opening in at least one of said housings and through the other vertical cable guide to said horizontal cable guide.

19. An optical fiber cable distribution system comprising a plurality of optical fiber cable housings arranged in two side by side stacked arrays, first and second vertical cable guides arranged to extend vertically along the outer sides of the housings near the fronts thereof, a third vertical cable guide arranged to extend vertically along the mutually adjacent sides of said housing near the rear thereof, at least one of said housings containing optical fiber cable inlet and outlet openings on opposite sides thereof, optical fiber cables extending from said third vertical cable guide to at least one of the housings in each array an further optical fiber cables extending from the said one housing in each array to the first and second vertical cable guides respectively.

20. An optical fiber cable distribution system according to claim 19 wherein said one housing contains at least one half for holding optical fiber cables, said shelf being connected to said housing so as to pivot about a vertical axis near the outer side thereof.