Interbay fiber optic storage unit

• US 6,181,862 B1
• Filed: 03/12/1999
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Siecor Operations, LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Noble, Jennifer D., Gordon, Carrie Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHERRY, EUNCHA P
• Application Number:
  US09/268,436
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135, 385/136, 385/137, 379/327, 379/328, 379/329
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps

Abstract

An optical fiber storage unit mounts to each side of a fiber optic storage rack. The storage unit has a pair of longitudinally extending parallel rails. Hubs are mounted along the rails and spaced apart from each other. Some of the hubs protrude rearward from the rails and some protrude forward. The rails are laterally spaced apart from each other. This provides openings for the passage of optical fibers from the front to the back of the rack. The rails and the hub assemblies have curved portions to avoid excessive bending of the fibers.

Claims

1. An optical fiber storage unit for storing optical fiber used with storage racks, the storage unit comprising:

a pair of longitudinally extending parallel rails, each of the rails having a front and a back and being mountable to the storage racks;

a plurality of hubs for being wrapped with slack optical fibers, the hubs being spaced longitudinally along the rails, at least one of the plurality of hubs protruding rearward from the rails and at least one of the plurality of hubs protruding forward from the rails; and

wherein the rails are laterally spaced apart from each other, defining openings between the rails for the passage of optical fibers from the front to the back.

2. The optical fiber storage unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of spacers mounted between the rails, the spacers being longitudinally spaced apart from each other; and

wherein the hubs are mounted to the spacers.

3. The optical fiber storage unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the rails comprises opposed connector walls, each of the connector walls defining a corner with the front and the back of each of the rails, and wherein the corners are curved to prevent excessive bending of the optical fibers.

4. The optical fiber storage unit according to claim 3, further comprising;

a plurality of spacers mounted between the rails, the spacers being longitudinally spaced apart from each other and having curved portions at the front and the back of the rails; and

wherein the hubs are mounted to the spacers.

5. The optical fiber storage unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the hubs that protrude forward from the rails has a hub axis that is coaxial with one of the hubs protruding rearward from the rails, the hub axes being perpendicular to the rails.

6. The optical fiber storage unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of spacers mounted between the rails, the spacers being spaced longitudinally apart; and

wherein each of the spacers, comprises;

a pair of guide plates spaced longitudinally apart from each other and extending between opposed side walls of the rails;

a pair of mounting plates, one interconnecting forward portions of the guide plates and the other interconnecting rearward portions of the guide plates; and

wherein the hubs are connected to the mounting plates.

7. The fiber optic storage system according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of hubs is at least as great as the plurality of spacers.

8. The fiber optic storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an end cap mountable to the parallel rails, the end cap and the parallel rail defining a longitudinal opening therebetween;

wherein the end cap is rounded to prevent excessive bending of the optical fibers.

9. The fiber optic storage system according to claim 8, the end cap further including at least one end cap hub mountable thereto, the end cap hub configured for being wrapped with optical fiber without excessive bending.

10. A fiber optic system, comprising:

a longitudinally extending rack having a front, a back, and two lateral sides, the rack configured to hold a plurality of fiber optic connector housings;

a pair of longitudinally extending parallel and laterally spaced apart rails mounted to at least one of the sides of the rack;

a plurality of spacers mounted between the rails, defining openings between the rails for the passage of optical fibers between the front and the back of the rack; and

a plurality of hubs for being wrapped with slack optical fibers, the hubs being mounted to the spacers, at least one of the plurality of hubs protruding rearward from the rails and at least another one of the plurality of hubs protruding forward from the rails.

11. The fiber optic system according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of hubs is at least as great as the plurality of spacers.

12. The fiber optic system according to claim 10, wherein each of the rails comprises a front flange and a back flange joined by and forming corners with a connector wall, the corners being curved to prevent excessive bending of the optical fibers.

13. The fiber optic system according to claim 10, wherein each of the spacers, comprises:

a pair of guide plates spaced longitudinally apart from each other and extending between the rails transverse to the rails;

a pair of mounting plates, one interconnecting forward portions of the guide plates and the other interconnecting rearward portions of the guide plates; and

wherein the hubs are connected to the mounting plates.

14. The fiber optic system according to claim 13, wherein a corner is located at a junction of each of the guide plates with the mounting plates, each of the corners being curved to prevent excessive bending of the optical fibers.

15. The fiber optic system according to claim 10, wherein each of the hubs protruding forward from the rails has a hub axis that is coaxial with one of the hubs protruding rearward from the rails, the hub axes being perpendicular to the rails.

16. The fiber optic system according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of retainer plates, each mounted to one of the hubs and spaced from the rails.

17. The fiber optic system according to claim 10, further comprising:

an end cap mountable to the parallel rails, the end cap and the parallel rail defining a longitudinal opening therebetween;

wherein the end cap is rounded to prevent excessive bending of the optical fibers.

18. The fiber optic system according to claim 17, the end cap further including at least one end cap hub mountable thereto, the end cap hub configured for being wrapped with optical fiber without excessive bending.

19. An optical fiber storage unit for storage racks, the storage unit comprising:

a pair of parallel rails, each of the rails having a front side and a back side joined by a connector wall, defining corners that are curved, each of the rails having a longitudinal axis;

a plurality of spacers mounted between the rails, the spacers being spaced apart along the longitudinal axis and defining openings between the rails for the passage of optical fibers between the front side and the back side of the rails, each of the spacers having guide plates that are located between the rails and are joined by mounting plates, forming corners that are curved; and

a plurality of hubs for being wrapped with slack optical fibers, the hubs being mounted to the mounting plates of the spacers, at least one of the plurality of hubs protruding rearward from the rails and at least one of the plurality of hubs protruding forward from the rails.

20. The storage unit according to claim 19, wherein each of the hubs protruding rearward from the rails has a hub axis that is coaxial with one of the hubs protruding forward from the rails.

21. The storage unit according to claim 19, wherein each of the mounting plates is located in a plane that is substantially flush with a plane containing one of the front side and back side of the rails.

22. The storage unit according to claim 19, further comprising a plurality of retainer plates, each mounted to a free end of one of the hubs and spaced from the rails.

23. The storage unit according to claim 19, further comprising:

an end cap mountable to the parallel rails, the end cap and the parallel rail defining a longitudinal opening therebetween;

wherein the end cap is rounded to prevent excessive bending of the optical fibers.

24. The storage unit according to claim 23, the end cap further including at least one end cap hub mountable thereto, the end cap hub configured for being wrapped with optical fiber without excessive bending.