Fiber optic cabinet and tray

• US 6,215,938 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1998
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Knudsen, Clinton M., Reitmeier, Wade P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US09/158,182
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137, 385/147
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4441 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44526 Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack
• 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

Abstract

A fiber optic cabinet has internal aligned guides on opposite sides of an axis opening. A splice tray has a planar tray base with a tray axis orthogonal to the base. The base has a peripheral edge sized for opposite portions of the peripheral edge to be slidably engaged with opposing ones of the aligned cabinet guides. The tray base is slidably received within the aligned guides regardless of a rotational position of the tray base about the tray axis. A fiber pathway guide is carried on the tray base for receiving a wound amount of optical fiber on the guide as the tray base is rotated about the tray axis.

Claims

1. An optical fiber tray for a cabinet having walls defining an interior and an opening providing access to the interior, the cabinet further having aligned cabinet guides disposed within the interior on opposite sides of the opening, the tray comprising:

a generally planar tray base having a tray axis orthogonal to the base;

the base having a peripheral edge sized for opposite portions of the peripheral edge to be slidably engaged with opposing ones of the aligned cabinet guides when the tray base is in any one of multiple rotational positions about the tray axis and with the tray slidable through the opening into the cabinet interior;

a first fiber pathway guide carried on the tray base for receiving a wound amount of optical fiber on the guide as the tray base is rotated about the tray axis;

an optical fiber tie location configured and arranged for receiving a tie mechanism for tying the optical fiber to the tray.

2. An optical fiber tray according to claim 1 wherein the tray base is rotatable about the tray axis when the tray base is slidably received within the cabinet guides.

3. An optical fiber tray according to claim 1 wherein the tray base is slidably engaged with the aligned cabinet guides only when the tray base is in any one of a plurality of discrete rotational positions about said tray axis and relative to the cabinet guides.

4. An optical fiber tray according to claim 1 wherein the tray base includes portions cooperating with the cabinet guides to prevent rotation of the tray base about the tray axis when the tray base is slidably engaged with the cabinet guides.

5. An optical fiber tray according to claim 4 wherein the portions include a plurality of pairs of parallel flat portions of the peripheral edge with ones of each pair on diametrically opposite sides of the tray base and spaced apart by a distance approximate to a spacing between the aligned cabinet guides.

6. An optical fiber tray according to claim 1 wherein the first fiber pathway guide is a spool carried on the tray base and dimensioned to be recessed from the peripheral edge and having a spool axis colinear with the tray axis.

7. An optical fiber tray according to claim 6 wherein the spool includes at least portions of a cylindrical wall having a cylindrical axis colinear with the tray axis and with the portions of the cylindrical wall secured to the tray base and spaced inwardly from the tray peripheral edge.

8. An optical fiber tray according to claim 7 further comprising retaining clips on a side of the portions of the cylindrical wall opposite the tray base.

9. An optical fiber tray according to claim 1 further comprising a fiber optic splice holder secured to the tray base and positioned radially inwardly from the first fiber pathway guide and the first fiber pathway guide defining a fiber pathway for passage of a fiber from the first fiber pathway guide toward the fiber optic splice holder.

10. An optical fiber tray according to claim 9 wherein the fiber optic splice holder is secured to a first side of a platform secured to the tray base;

an opposite second side of the platform having cable routing members and openings formed through the platform to pass a cable from the first side to the second side of the platform.

11. An optical fiber tray according to claim 10 wherein the cable routing members are adapted to reverse a direction of winding of a cable.

12. An optical fiber tray according to claim 11 wherein the cable routing members include two spaced-apart secondary spools on the second side of the platform.

13. An optical fiber tray according to claim 9 further comprising a second fiber pathway guide for guiding a fiber from the first fiber pathway guide to the fiber optic splice holder.

14. An optical fiber tray according to claim 7 further comprising:

a first fiber optic splice holder secured to the tray base and positioned radially inwardly from the spool;

and opposing ones of the portions of the cylindrical wall defining a fiber pathway for passage of a fiber from the spool toward the first fiber optic splice holder.

15. An optical fiber tray according to claim 14 further comprising a second fiber pathway guide for guiding a fiber from the spool to the first fiber optic splice holder.

16. An optical fiber tray according to claim 15 further comprising:

a second first fiber optic splice holder secured to the tray base and positioned radially inwardly from the spool and with the first and second fiber optic splice holders disposed on opposite sides of the tray axis;

the second fiber pathway guide adapted to guide a fiber from the spool to either of the first and second fiber optic splice holders.

17. An optical fiber tray according to claim 15 further comprising a bracket for securing to a fiber passing from the spool to the second fiber pathway guide.

18. An optical fiber tray according to claim 14 further comprising a cover for removable connection to the spool for covering the first fiber optic splice holder.

19. An optical fiber tray for a cabinet having walls defining an interior and an opening providing access to the interior, the cabinet further having aligned guides disposed within the interior on opposite sides of the opening, the splice tray comprising:

a generally planar tray base having a tray axis orthogonal to the base;

the base having a peripheral edge sized for opposite portions of the peripheral edge to be slidably engaged with opposing ones of the aligned guides regardless of a rotational position of the tray base about the tray axis and with the tray slidable through the opening into the cabinet interior;

a first fiber splice holder carried on the tray base for providing a site for splicing optical fibers;

a first fiber pathway guide carried on the tray base for receiving a wound amount of optical fiber on the guide as the tray base is rotated about the tray axis;

an optical fiber tie location configured and arranged for receiving a tie mechanism for tying the optical fiber to the tray.

20. An optical fiber tray according to claim 19 further comprising:

a spool carried on the tray base and dimension to be recessed from the peripheral edge and having a spool axis colinear with the tray axis;

the spool having openings to pass a fiber from the exterior of the spool into an interior of the spool;

the first fiber splice holder positioned in the interior of the spool.

21. An optical fiber tray according to claim 20 further comprising a second first fiber optic splice holder secured to the tray base and positioned radially inwardly from the spool and with the first and second fiber optic splice holders disposed on opposite sides of the tray axis.

22. A combination fiber optic cabinet and tray comprising:

a cabinet having;

walls defining an interior and an opening providing access to the interior;

aligned guides disposed within the interior on opposite sides of the opening;

a splice tray having;

a generally planar tray base having a tray axis orthogonal to the base;

the base having a peripheral edge sized for opposite portions of the peripheral edge to be slidably engaged with opposing ones of the aligned guides regardless of a rotational position of the tray base about the tray axis and with the tray slidable through the opening into the cabinet interior;

a first fiber pathway guide carried on the tray base for receiving a wound amount of optical fiber on the guide as the tray base is rotated about the tray axis;

an optical fiber tie location configured and arranged for receiving a tie mechanism for tying the optical fiber to the tray.

23. A combination according to claim 22 wherein the cabinet includes a side compartment for passage of fiber optic cables.

24. A combination according to claim 23 wherein said cabinet includes internal passages from the side compartment to the interior for passage of cables from the side compartment into the interior.

25. A combination according to claim 24 wherein the cabinet includes multiple ones of the aligned guides and the internal passages are formed between contiguous ones of the aligned guides.

26. An optical fiber splice tray comprising:

a generally planar tray base having a tray axis orthogonal to the base, the base having a generally circular peripheral edge;

a first fiber pathway guide carried on the tray base for receiving a wound amount of optical fiber on the guide as the tray base is rotated about the tray axis, wherein the first fiber pathway guide is a spool carried on the tray base and dimensioned to be recessed from the peripheral edge and having a spool axis colinear with the tray axis, wherein the spool includes at least portions of a cylindrical wall having a cylindrical axis colinear with the tray axis and with the portions of the cylindrical wall secured to the tray base and spaced inwardly from the tray peripheral edge, and a first plurality of retaining clips on a side of the portions of the cylindrical wall opposite the tray base and extending radially outwardly;

a fiber optic splice holder secured to the tray base and positioned radially inwardly from the first fiber pathway guide, and the first fiber pathway guide defining a fiber pathway for passage of a fiber from the first fiber pathway guide toward the fiber optic splice holder, wherein the fiber optic splice holder is secured to a first side of the tray base;

an opposite second side of the tray base having fiber routing members and openings formed through the tray base to pass a fiber from the first side to the second side of the tray base, wherein the fiber routing members are adapted to reverse a direction of winding of a fiber.

27. An optical fiber tray according to claim 26 wherein the fiber routing members include two spaced-apart secondary spools on the second side of the tray base.

28. An optical fiber tray according to claim 26 further comprising a second plurality of retaining clips on the side of the portions of the cylindrical wall opposite the tray base and extending radially inwardly.

29. An optical fiber tray according to claim 26, wherein the peripheral edge defines a plurality of pairs of parallel flat portions defining the generally circular peripheral edge.

30. An optical fiber tray according to claim 26, further comprising an optical fiber tie location configured and arranged for receiving a tie mechanism for tying the optical fiber to the tray.

31. An optical fiber tray according to claim 30, further comprising a releasable cover disposed to cover an area radially inwardly from the first fiber pathway guide, the area including the fiber optic splice holder.

32. An optical fiber tray according to claim 31 wherein the first plurality of retaining clips each includes a lip extending toward the tray base.

33. An optical fiber tray according to claim 32, further comprising a second plurality of retaining clips extending from the tray base in an opposite direction to the lips of the first plurality of retaining clips.

34. An optical fiber tray according to claim 26, further comprising a releasable cover disposed to cover an area radially inwardly from the first fiber pathway guide, the area including the fiber optic splice holder.

35. An optical fiber tray according to claim 26 wherein the first plurality of retaining clips each includes a lip extending toward the tray base.

36. An optical fiber tray according to claim 35, further comprising a second plurality of retaining clips extending from the tray base in an opposite direction to the lips of the first plurality of retaining clips.

37. An optical fiber splice tray comprising:

a generally planar tray base having a tray axis orthogonal to the base, the base having a generally circular peripheral edge;

a first fiber pathway guide carried on the tray base for receiving a wound amount of optical fiber on the guide as the tray base is rotated about the tray axis, wherein the first fiber pathway guide is a spool carried on the tray base and dimensioned to be recessed from the peripheral edge and having a spool axis colinear with the tray axis, wherein the spool includes at least portions of a cylindrical wall having a cylindrical axis colinear with the tray axis and with the portions of the cylindrical wall secured to the tray base and spaced inwardly from the tray peripheral edge;

a first plurality of retaining members on a side of the portions of the cylindrical wall opposite the tray base and extending radially outwardly, at least one of the retaining members including a lip extending toward the tray base;

a fiber optic splice holder secured to the tray base and positioned radially inwardly from the first fiber pathway guide, and the first fiber pathway guide defining a fiber pathway for passage of a fiber from the first fiber pathway guide toward the fiber optic splice holder, wherein the fiber optic splice holder is secured to a first side of the tray base;

the tray base having fiber routing members, wherein the fiber routing members are adapted to reverse a direction of winding of a fiber.

38. The optical fiber tray according to claim 37, wherein the fiber routing members are on an opposite second side of the tray base to the fiber optic splice holder, and wherein the tray base includes an opening therethrough to pass a fiber from the first side to the second side.

39. An optical fiber tray according to claim 38, further comprising an optical fiber tie location configured and arranged for receiving a tie mechanism for tying the optical fiber to the tray.

40. An optical fiber tray according to claim 38 wherein the fiber routing members include two spaced-apart secondary spools on the second side of the tray base.

41. An optical fiber tray according to claim 37 wherein the fiber routing members are on the first side of the tray base centered over the tray axis.

42. An optical fiber tray according to claim 41, further comprising an optical fiber tie location configured and arranged for receiving a tie mechanism for tying the optical fiber to the tray.

43. An optical fiber tray according to claim 41, wherein the fiber optic splice holder is a first fiber optic splice holder, and further comprising a second fiber optic splice holder secured to the tray base on a first portion of the first side of the tray base opposite to a location of the first fiber optic splice holder on a second portion of the first side of the tray base.

44. An optical fiber tray according to claim 37 further comprising a second plurality of retaining members on the side of the portions of the cylindrical wall opposite the tray base and extending radially inwardly.

45. An optical fiber tray according to claim 37, wherein the peripheral edge defines a plurality of pairs of parallel flat portions defining the generally circular peripheral edge.

46. An optical fiber splice tray comprising:

a generally planar tray base having a tray axis orthogonal to the base, the base having a generally circular peripheral edge;

a first fiber pathway guide carried on the tray base for receiving a wound amount of optical fiber on the guide as the tray base is rotated about the tray axis, wherein the first fiber pathway guide is a spool carried on the tray base and dimensioned to be recessed from the peripheral edge and having a spool axis colinear with the tray axis, wherein the spool includes at least portions of a cylindrical wall having a cylindrical axis colinear with the tray axis and with the portions of the cylindrical wall secured to the tray base and spaced inwardly from the tray peripheral edge;

a first plurality of retaining members on a side of the portions of the cylindrical wall opposite the tray base and extending radially outwardly;

a fiber optic splice holder secured to the tray base and positioned radially inwardly from the first fiber pathway guide, and the first fiber pathway guide defining a fiber pathway for passage of a fiber from the first fiber pathway guide toward the fiber optic splice holder, wherein the fiber optic splice holder is secured to a first side of the tray base;

the tray base having fiber routing members, wherein the fiber routing members are adapted to reverse a direction of winding of a fiber;

an optical fiber tie location on the spool configured and arranged for receiving a tie mechanism for tying the optical fiber to the tray.

47. An optical fiber tray according to claim 46, wherein the fiber routing members are on an opposite second side of the tray base to the fiber optic splice holder, and wherein the tray base includes an opening therethrough to pass a fiber from the first side to the second side.

48. An optical fiber tray according to claim 47 wherein the fiber routing members include two spaced-apart secondary spools on the second side of the tray base.

49. An optical fiber tray according to claim 46 wherein the fiber routing members are on the first side of the tray base centered over the tray axis.

50. An optical fiber tray according to claim 49, wherein the fiber optic splice holder is a first fiber optic splice holder, and further comprising a second fiber optic splice holder secured to the tray base on a first portion of the first side of the tray base opposite to a location of the first fiber optic splice holder on a second portion of the first side of the tray base.

51. An optical fiber tray according to claim 46 further comprising a second plurality of retaining members on the side of the portions of the cylindrical wall opposite the tray base and extending radially inwardly.

52. An optical fiber tray according to claim 46, wherein the peripheral edge defines a plurality of pairs of parallel flat portions defining the generally circular peripheral edge.