Cable guide for fiber termination block

• US 6,532,332 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2001
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Solheid, James J., Thompson, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US09/784,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20020118943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134-139
• US Class Current: 385/134
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to the management of cross-connect cables extending from fiber termination blocks with sliding fiber adaptor modules within a fiber distribution frame. A cable management divider is mounted onto a set of arcuate cable guides to direct the cables extending across the cable guides into cable channels. The purpose for providing these channels is to reduce the interference to movement and access of cables from fiber optic adaptor modules in different areas of the fiber termination block. Depending on the density and configuration of the fiber adaptors and sliding modules within the fiber termination block, multiple sets of arcuate cable guides may be provided and multiple cable management dividers may be mounted to the arcuate cable guides. The fiber distribution frame also incorporates a cable trough system to direct cables after the cables extend through the arcuate cable guides and through the channels defined by the cable management dividers. The cable trough interior surface resists the sliding movement of cables laid in the trough is also provided. This resistance to sliding of cables is desirable since some degree of slack in the cables within the fiber termination block is necessary for proper sliding of the adaptor modules. If the cables are permitted to slide within the trough leading away from the fiber termination blocks, this necessary cable slack might be removed from the blocks.

Claims

1. A cable management device for use with a fiber optic connector assembly, the fiber optic connector assembly including:

a fixture having a first end and a second end;

a plurality of signal transmission modules mounted on the fixture with each of the modules movably mounted on the fixture for movement along a line of travel, each one of the modules including a plurality of adapters for holding a fiber optic connector, each one of the adapters movable with one of the modules along the line of travel, each adapter defining a longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the line of travel of the respective module, the longitudinal axes extending parallel to one another between the front end and the back end of the fixture;

a cable fanning device including a series of spaced arcuate cable guides, each arcuate cable guide having a linear body extending transversely to the longitudinal axes and parallel to the lines of travel, the linear body having a curved outer surface, the arcuate cable guides positioned such that each of the cables connected to a first side of the modules extends from the adapters in the modules to the curved body of one of the arcuate cable guides and passes into a cable channel on the first end of the fixture, the cable management device comprising;

a cable management divider mounted to the arcuate cable guides for organizing the cables extending from the modules across the cable guides and into the cable channel such that a plurality of the cable guides are divided into cable guiding sections, wherein cables extending from higher located modules are directed so as not to overlay upon and interfere with the movement of cables extending lower located modules when the fixture is mounted so that the longitudinal axes and the line of travel are horizontal.

2. The cable management device of claim 1, wherein the number of modules and arcuate cable guides in each assembly is twelve.

3. The cable management device of claim 2, wherein the cable management divider has a curved end and two clips sized and shaped to allow the cable management divider to be removably mounted to the arcuate cable guides.

4. The cable management device of claim 3, wherein the cable management divider is mounted so that the curved end of the cable management divider is aligned with the 4th arcuate cable guide from the bottom of the assembly.

5. The cable management device of claim 3, wherein a second cable management divider is mounted on the arcuate cable guides.

6. The cable management device of claim 5, wherein the second cable management divider has a curved end and a series of clips sized and shaped to allow the second cable management divider to be removably mounted to the arcuate cable guides.

7. The cable management device of claim 6, wherein the cable management divider is mounted so that the curved end of the cable management divider is aligned with the 4th arcuate cable guide from the bottom of the assembly and the curved end of the second cable management divider is aligned with the 8th arcuate cable guide from the bottom of the assembly.

8. A fiber optic connector assembly comprising:

a fixture having a first end and a second end;

a plurality of signal transmission modules mounted on the fixture with each of the modules movably mounted on the fixture for movement along a line of travel, each one of the modules including a plurality of adapters for holding a fiber optic connector, each one of the adapters movable with one of the modules along the line of travel, each adapter defining a longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the line of travel of the respective module, the longitudinal axes extending parallel to one another between the front end and the back end of the fixture;

a cable fanning device including a series of spaced arcuate cable guides, each arcuate cable guide having a linear body extending transversely to the longitudinal axes and parallel to the lines of travel, the linear body having a curved outer surface, the arcuate cable guides positioned such that each of the cables connected to a first side of the modules extends from the adapters in the modules to the curved body of one of the arcuate cable guides and passes into a cable channel on the first end of the fixture; and

a cable management divider mounted to the arcuate cable guides for organizing the cables extending from the modules across the cable guides and into the cable channel such that a plurality of the cable guides are divided into cable guiding sections, wherein cables extending from higher located modules are directed so as not to overlay upon and interfere with the movement of cables extending lower located modules when the fixture is mounted so that the longitudinal axes and the line of travel are horizontal.

9. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 8, wherein a first and a second group of signal transmission modules are movably mounted adjacent to one another on the fixture and are configured so that the line of travel of the first group of signal transmission modules is parallel to the line of travel of the other group of signal transmission modules, and further that the first group and the second group of signal transmission modules are configured to move in opposite directions.

10. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the cable fanning device includes a first group and a second group of arcuate cable guides mounted on either side of a central mounting support member, the mounting member situated perpendicular to the line of travel of the signal transmission modules, the cables extending from the first group of signal transmission modules extend across the across the first group of arcuate cable guides and the cables from the second group of signal transmission modules extend across the across the second group of arcuate cable guides, and further that a cable management divider is mounted to each group of arcuate cable guides.

11. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 10, wherein two cable management dividers are mounted on each group of arcuate cable guides.

12. An optical fiber distribution frame comprising:

a support structure defining a vertical support;

a plurality of fiber optic connector assemblies mounted on the vertical support in a single row, each fiber optic assembly including;

a fixture having a first end and a second end;

a plurality of signal transmission modules mounted on the fixture with each of the modules movably mounted on the fixture for movement along a line of travel, each one of the modules including a plurality of adapters for holding a fiber optic connector, each one of the adapters movable with one of the modules along the line of travel, each adapter defining a longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the line of travel of the respective module, the longitudinal axes extending parallel to one another between the front end and the back end of the fixture;

a cable fanning device including a series of spaced arcuate cable guides, each arcuate cable guide having a linear body extending transversely to the longitudinal axes and parallel to the lines of travel, the linear body having a curved outer surface, the arcuate cable guides positioned such that each of the cables connected to a first side of the modules extends from the adapters in the modules to the curved body of one of the arcuate cable guides and passes into a cable channel on the first end of the fixture; and

a cable management divider mounted to the arcuate cable guides for organizing the cables extending from the modules across the cable guides and into the cable channel such that a plurality of the cable guides are divided into cable guiding sections, wherein cables extending from higher located modules are directed so as not to overlay upon and interfere with the movement of cables extending lower located modules when the fixture is mounted so that the longitudinal axes and the line of travel are horizontal.

13. The optical fiber distribution frame of claim 12, wherein a first and a second group of signal transmission modules are movably mounted adjacent to one another on the fixture and are configured so that the line of travel of the first group of signal transmission modules is parallel to the line of travel of the other group of signal transmission modules, and further that the first group and the second group of signal transmission modules are configured to move in opposite directions.

14. The optical fiber distribution frame of claim 13, wherein the cable fanning device includes a first group and a second group of arcuate cable guides mounted on either side of a central mounting support member, the mounting member situated perpendicular to the line of travel of the signal transmission modules, the cables extending from the first group of signal transmission modules extend across the across the first group of arcuate cable guides and the cables from the second group of signal transmission modules extend across the across the second group of arcuate cable guides, and further that a cable management divider is mounted to each group of arcuate cable guides.

15. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 14, wherein two cable management dividers are mounted on each group of arcuate cable guides.

16. A cable management divider for mounting on a fiber optic connection assembly, the divider comprising:

a body including a first curved end and a second end oppositely positioned from the first end, the body including a first major surface and an opposite second major surface, the major surfaces extending between the first and second ends, at least one of the major surfaces being shaped to direct cables located adjacent to the divider into a further cable management device;

a first mounting clip attached to the cable management divider proximate the first curved end, the first mounting clip sized and shaped to engage a curved surface of an arcuate cable guide; and

a second mounting clip attached to the cable management divider body, the second mounting clip sized and shaped to engage an edge of an arcuate cable guide.

17. The cable management divider of claim 16, wherein an upper tab and a lower tab extend from the body of the divider in a direction opposite the first and second mounting clips.

18. A cable management device for use with a fiber optic connector assembly, the fiber optic connector assembly including:

a fixture having a first end and a second end;

a plurality of signal transmission modules mounted on the fixture with each of the modules movably mounted on the fixture for movement along a line of travel, each one of the modules including a plurality of adapters for holding a fiber optic connector, each one of the adapters movable with one of the modules along the line of travel, a plurality of the lines of travel extending parallel to one another, each adapter defining a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes extending parallel to one another between the front end and the back end of the fixture;

a cable fanning device including a series of spaced arcuate cable guides, each arcuate cable guide having a linear body extending transversely to the longitudinal axes and parallel to the lines of travel, the linear body having a curved outer surface, the arcuate cable guides positioned such that each of the cables connected to a first side of the modules extends from the adapters in the modules to the curved body of one of the arcuate cable guides and passes into a cable channel on the first end of the fixture, the cable management device comprising;

a cable management divider mounted to the arcuate cable guides for organizing the cables extending from the modules across the cable guides and into the cable channel such that a plurality of the cable guides are divided into cable guiding sections, wherein cables extending from higher located modules are directed so as not to overlay upon and interfere with the movement of cables extending lower located modules when the fixture is mounted so that the longitudinal axes and the line of travel are horizontal.

19. The cable management device of claim 18, wherein the number of modules and arcuate cable guides in each assembly is twelve.

20. The cable management device of claim 19, wherein the cable management divider has a curved end and two clips sized and shaped to allow the cable management divider to be removably mounted to the arcuate cable guides.

21. The cable management device of claim 20, wherein the cable management divider is mounted so that the curved end of the cable management divider is aligned with the 4th arcuate cable guide from the bottom of the assembly.

22. The cable management device of claim 20, wherein a second cable management divider is mounted on the arcuate cable guides.

23. The cable management device of claim 22, wherein the second cable management divider has a curved end and a series of clips sized and shaped to allow the second cable management divider to be removably mounted to the arcuate cable guides.

24. The cable management device of claim 23, wherein the cable management divider is mounted so that the curved end of the cable management divider is aligned with the 4th arcuate cable guide from the bottom of the assembly and the curved end of the second cable management divider is aligned with the 8th arcuate cable guide from the bottom of the assembly.

25. A fiber optic connector assembly comprising:

a fixture having a first end and a second end;

a plurality of signal transmission modules mounted on the fixture with each of the modules movably mounted on the fixture for movement along a line of travel, each one of the modules including a plurality of adapters for holding a fiber optic connector, each one of the adapters movable with one of the modules along the line of travel, a plurality of the lines of travel extending parallel to one another, each adapter defining a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes extending parallel to one another between the front end and the back end of the fixture;

a cable fanning device including a series of spaced arcuate cable guides, each arcuate cable guide having a linear body extending transversely to the longitudinal axes and parallel to the lines of travel, the linear body having a curved outer surface, the arcuate cable guides positioned such that each of the cables connected to a first side of the modules extends from the adapters in the modules to the curved body of one of the arcuate cable guides and passes into a cable channel on the first end of the fixture; and

a cable management divider mounted to the arcuate cable guides for organizing the cables extending from the modules across the cable guides and into the cable channel such that a plurality of the cable guides are divided into cable guiding sections, wherein cables extending from higher located modules are directed so as not to overlay upon and interfere with the movement of cables extending lower located modules when the fixture is mounted so that the longitudinal axes and the line of travel are horizontal.

26. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 25, wherein a first and a second group of signal transmission modules are movably mounted adjacent to one another on the fixture and are configured so that the line of travel of the first group of signal transmission modules is parallel to the line of travel of the other group of signal transmission modules, and further that the first group and the second group of signal transmission modules are configured to move in opposite directions.

27. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 26, wherein the cable fanning device includes a first group and a second group of arcuate cable guides mounted on either side of a central mounting support member, the mounting member situated perpendicular to the line of travel of the signal transmission modules, the cables extending from the first group of signal transmission modules extend across the across the first group of arcuate cable guides and the cables from the second group of signal transmission modules extend across the across the second group of arcuate cable guides, and further that a cable management divider is mounted to each group of arcuate cable guides.

28. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 27, wherein two cable management dividers are mounted on each group of arcuate cable guides.

29. An optical fiber distribution frame comprising:

a support structure defining a vertical support;

a plurality of fiber optic connector assemblies mounted on the vertical support in a single row, each fiber optic assembly including;

a fixture having a first end and a second end;

a plurality of signal transmission modules mounted on the fixture with each of the modules movably mounted on the fixture for movement along a line of travel, each one of the modules including a plurality of adapters for holding a fiber optic connector, each one of the adapters movable with one of the modules along the line of travel, a plurality of the lines of travel extending parallel to one another, each adapter defining a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes extending parallel to one another between the front end and the back end of the fixture;

a cable fanning device including a series of spaced arcuate cable guides, each arcuate cable guide having a linear body extending transversely to the longitudinal axes and parallel to the lines of travel, the linear body having a curved outer surface, the arcuate cable guides positioned such that each of the cables connected to a first side of the modules extends from the adapters in the modules to the curved body of one of the arcuate cable guides and passes into a cable channel on the first end of the fixture; and

a cable management divider mounted to the arcuate cable guides for organizing the cables extending from the modules across the cable guides and into the cable channel such that a plurality of the cable guides are divided into cable guiding sections, wherein cables extending from higher located modules are directed so as not to overlay upon and interfere with the movement of cables extending lower located modules when the fixture is mounted so that the longitudinal axes and the line of travel are horizontal.

30. The optical fiber distribution frame of claim 29, wherein a first and a second group of signal transmission modules are movably mounted adjacent to one another on the fixture and are configured so that the line of travel of the first group of signal transmission modules is parallel to the line of travel of the other group of signal transmission modules, and further that the first group and the second group of signal transmission modules are configured to move in opposite directions.

31. The optical fiber distribution frame of claim 30, wherein the cable fanning device includes a first group and a second group of arcuate cable guides mounted on either side of a central mounting support member, the mounting member situated perpendicular to the line of travel of the signal transmission modules, the cables extending from the first group of signal transmission modules extend across the across the first group of arcuate cable guides and the cables from the second group of signal transmission modules extend across the across the second group of arcuate cable guides, and further that a cable management divider is mounted to each group of arcuate cable guides.

32. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 31, wherein two cable management dividers are mounted on each group of arcuate cable guides.

33. A cable trough system for an optical fiber distribution frame, the optical fiber distribution frame comprising:

a support structure defining a vertical support;

a plurality of fiber optic connector assemblies each having a rear end adjacent the support structure and extending generally perpendicular from the support structure to a front end, the assemblies having sides between the rear and front ends with fiber optic connection locations positioned within the sides and the front and rear ends;

the assemblies secured to the support structure with a first plurality of assemblies mounted in a generally vertical array on a first side of said support structure and a second plurality of assemblies mounted in a generally vertical array on a second side of the support structure;

a plurality of cable management troughs mounted to the support structure adjacent to a lower end of each of the assemblies, the cable management troughs having an open front end and a rear end and extending beneath of the assemblies, the troughs having an open top and configured to have an interior surface defined by a bottom wall and opposed vertical side walls;

the front ends of the troughs adjacent to the assemblies to permit cables from the assemblies to pass into the troughs, an opening in a side wall of the trough to permit cables from the trough to pass out of the trough and extend down a vertical cableway defined within the support structure, with each of the side openings having a curved lower surface extending from the bottom of the trough downward to prevent the cables extending downward from violating bend radius requirements, and each of the side and front openings having curved side walls to prevent cables extending through the openings from violating bend radius requirements; and

the interior surface of the troughs having a surface resistant to sliding movement of the cables within each of the troughs.

34. The cable trough system of claim 33, wherein the curved lower surfaces of the side openings have a surface resistant to sliding movement of the cables extending through the openings.

35. The cable trough system of claim 33, wherein the interior surface of each of the troughs includes a non-skid coating.

36. The cable trough system of claim 35, wherein the non-skid coating is paint.

37.The cable trough system of claim 33, wherein the interior surface of each of the troughs is made of a high friction material.