Cable management rack for telecommunication cross-connect systems

• US 7,391,625 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Mendoza, Jose-Filonel Tawag
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Tuan T
• Application Number:
  US10/952,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20050092505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 361/735, 361/692, 361/732, 439/735, 439/131, 439/516, 439/676, 439/941, 220/23.6, 220/4.02, 206/511, 211/26
• US Class Current: 361/826
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/021 using pivoting mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/062 vertical management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/064 horizontal management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/068 arranged on the rear side
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/09 Frames or mounting racks not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/08 Pivotable parts

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a rack for telecommunications equipment. The rack includes a frame defining a bay opening sized and shaped for receiving a plurality of jack modules. The rack also includes a first set of cable management brackets that define a first vertical channel arranged and configured for receiving and vertically managing a plurality of cross-connect cables. Each of the cable management brackets includes a pivot portion that is pivotally movable relative to the frame. The pivot portions are pivotally movable between first positions in which the pivot portions extend partially across a front of the bay opening, and second positions in which the pivot portions are generally offset from the front of the bay opening. The present disclosure also relates to a rack for telecommunications equipment that includes rear cable management structure that defines a plurality of vertical channels along a back side of the rack. The present disclosure further relates to a telecommunications jack module including an array of jacks arranged in top and bottom horizontal rows. The jack module also includes an array of cross-connect locations positioned beneath the bottom horizontal row of jacks. The array of cross-connect locations is electrically connected to both the top and bottom rows of jacks.

Claims

1. A jack module for a telecommunications system, the jack module comprising:

an array of jacks forming a front face defining a plurality of ports that receive tip-and-ring plugs, the array of jacks including ring springs and tip springs that contact tip-and-ring plugs inserted into the ports, the array of jacks including a first horizontal row of jacks and a second horizontal row of jacks, the first horizontal row of jacks being positioned above the second horizontal row of jacks;

an array of wire termination pins defining cross-connect locations to which cross-connect cables connect, the wire termination pins being positioned beneath the second horizontal row of jacks, the array of wire termination pins defining first sets of cross-connect locations that are electrically connected to corresponding ones of the first row of jacks, and the array of wire termination pins also defining second sets of cross-connect locations that are electrically connected to corresponding ones of the second row of jacks; and

front cover panel portions positioned on opposite sides of the array of jacks, the front cover panel portions being generally parallel to the front face formed by the array of jacks, the front cover panel portions also being recessed relative to the front face formed by the array of jacks, and the front cover panel portions being interconnected by an intermediate panel portion on which the array of cross-connect locations is mounted.

2. The jack module of claim 1, further comprising a jumper tray positioned directly below the array of wire termination pins.

3. The jack module of claim 1, wherein the array of jacks is generally rectangular and has a horizontal width W₁, and the array of wire termination pins is generally rectangular and has a horizontal width W₂ that is greater than the width W₁.

4. The jack module of claim 1, wherein the wire termination pins defining the first sets of cross-connect locations and the second sets of cross-connect locations include:

a) tip cross-connect pins that are electrically connected to the tip springs of the array of jacks; and

b) ring cross-connect pins that are electrically connected to the ring springs of the array of jacks.

5. The jack module of claim 2, wherein the jumper tray includes a front door that pivots about a generally horizontal pivot axis.

6. A jack module for a telecommunications system, the jack module comprising:

an array of jacks forming a front face defining a plurality of ports that receive tip-and-ring plugs, the array of jacks including ring springs and tip springs that contact tip-and-ring plugs inserted into the ports, the array of jacks including a first horizontal row of jacks and a second horizontal row of jacks, the first horizontal row of jacks being positioned above the second horizontal row of jacks;

an array of cross-connect wire-wrap termination pins positioned beneath the second horizontal row of jacks, the array of cross-connect wire-wrap termination pins including first sets of cross-connect wire-wrap termination pins that are electrically connected to corresponding jacks of the first row of jacks, and the array of cross-connect wire-wrap termination pins also including second sets of cross-connect wire-wrap termination pins that are electrically connected to corresponding jacks of the second row of jacks; and

front cover panel portions positioned on opposite sides of the array of jacks, the front cover panel portions being generally parallel to the front face formed by the array of jacks, the front cover panel portions also being recessed relative to the front face formed by the array of jacks, and the front cover panel portions being interconnected by an intermediate panel portion on which the array of cross-connect elements is mounted.

7. The jack module of claim 6, further comprising a jumper tray positioned directly below the array of cross-connect wire-wrap termination pins.

8. The jack module of claim 6, wherein the array of jacks is generally rectangular and has a horizontal width W₁, and the array of cross-connect wire-wrap termination pins is generally rectangular and has a horizontal width W₂ that is greater than the width W₁.

9. The jack module of claim 6, wherein the cross-connect wire-wrap termination pins of the first sets of cross-connect wire-wrap termination pins and the second sets of cross-connect wire-wrap termination pins include:

a) tip cross-connect pins that are electrically connected to the tip springs of the array of jacks; and

b) ring cross-connect pins that are electrically connected to the ring springs of the array of jacks.

10. The jack module of claim 7, wherein the jumper tray includes a front door that pivots about a generally horizontal pivot axis.

11. A jack module for a telecommunications system, the jack module comprising:

an array of jacks forming a front face defining a plurality of ports, the array of jacks including a first horizontal row of jacks and a second horizontal row of jacks, the first horizontal row of jacks being positioned above the second horizontal row of jacks, each of the jacks of the array of jacks including a spring arrangement located adjacent to a corresponding port, the spring arrangement including;

a tip spring and a first normal spring that normally engages the tip spring; and

a ring spring and a second normal spring that normally engages the ring spring;

wherein the first and second normal springs disengage from the respective tip and ring springs when a tip-and-ring plug is inserted into a corresponding port of the plurality of ports defining the front face;

an array of cross-connect elements positioned beneath the second horizontal row of jacks, the array of cross-connect elements including first sets of cross-connect elements that are electrically connected to corresponding jacks of the first row of jacks, and the array of cross-connect elements also including second sets of cross-connect elements that are electrically connected to corresponding jacks of the second row of jacks, the first and second sets of cross-connect elements including;

tip cross-connect elements electrically connected to the first normal springs of the array of jacks; and

ring cross-connect elements electrically connected to the second normal springs of the array of jacks; and

front cover panel portions positioned on opposite sides of the array of jacks, the front cover panel portions being generally parallel to the front face formed by the array of jacks, the front cover panel portions also being recessed relative to the front face formed by the array of jacks, and the front cover panel portions being interconnected by an intermediate panel portion on which the array of cross-connect elements is mounted.

12. The jack module of claim 11, further comprising a jumper tray positioned directly below the array of cross-connect elements.

13. The jack module of claim 11, wherein the array of jacks is generally rectangular and has a horizontal width W₁, and the array of cross-connect elements is generally rectangular and has a horizontal width W₂ that is greater than the width W₁.

14. The jack module of claim 11, wherein the array of cross-connect elements are wire termination pins.

15. The jack module of claim 12, wherein the jumper tray includes a front door that pivots about a generally horizontal pivot axis.

16. A jack module for a telecommunications system, the jack module comprising:

an array of jacks forming a front face defining a plurality of ports that receive tip-and-ring plugs, the array of jacks including ring springs and tip springs that contact tip-and-ring plugs inserted into the ports, the array of jacks including a first horizontal row of jacks and a second horizontal row of jacks, the first horizontal row of jacks being positioned above the second horizontal row of jacks;

an array of cross-connect locations positioned beneath the second horizontal row of jacks, the array of cross-connect locations including first sets of cross-connect locations that are electrically connected to corresponding ones of the first row of jacks, and the array of cross-connect locations also including second sets of cross-connect locations that are electrically connected to corresponding ones of the second row of jacks; and

front cover panel portions positioned on opposite sides of the array of jacks, the front cover panel portions being generally parallel to the front face formed by the array of jacks, the front cover panel portions also being recessed relative to the front face formed by the array of jacks, and the front cover panel portions being interconnected by an intermediate panel portion on which the array of cross-connect locations is mounted.

17. A jack module for a telecommunications system, the jack module comprising:

an array of jacks forming a front face defining a plurality of ports that receive tip-and-ring plugs, the array of jacks including ring springs and tip springs that contact tip-and-ring plugs inserted into the ports, the array of jacks including a first horizontal row of jacks and a second horizontal row of jacks, the first horizontal row of jacks being positioned above the second horizontal row of jacks;

an array of cross-connect elements positioned beneath the second horizontal row of jacks, the array of cross-connect elements including first sets of cross-connect elements that are electrically connected to corresponding jacks of the first row of jacks, and the array of cross-connect elements also including second sets of cross-connect elements that are electrically connected to corresponding jacks of the second row of jacks; and

front cover panel portions positioned on opposite sides of the array of jacks, the front cover panel portions being generally parallel to the front face formed by the array of jacks, the front cover panel portions also being recessed relative to the front face formed by the array of jacks, and the front cover panel portions being interconnected by an intermediate panel portion on which the array of cross-connect elements is mounted.