Fiber management system

• US 7,460,758 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2005
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Network Solutions, Inc. (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Telect Incorporated (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: Xin, Xin
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanghavi; Hemang
• Application Number:
  US11/230,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20060275008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-137
• US Class Current: 385/135
• 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
• 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 management apparatus includes a module for managing fibers. In one implementation, the module includes at least two trays. An upper one of the trays is slidable and pivotable relative to a base tray to allow access to fibers managed by the base tray. In another implementation, the module is coupled to a chassis and is pivotable through an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to the chassis. A kit for mounting a chassis includes at least two different sized sets of brackets for mounting the chassis to racks of various different widths. A method of managing fibers includes pulling a module having multiple trays out of a chassis, pulling a first exposed one of the trays outward from the chassis, and lifting the first tray to expose a second one of the trays.

Claims

1. A fiber management apparatus comprising:

a module adapted to manage fibers, the module comprising a plurality of trays, the plurality of trays including a first tray and a second tray, the first tray being coupled to the second tray at a tray axis,

wherein the first tray is pivotable about the tray axis relative to the second tray,

wherein the first tray is slidable relative to the second tray in a direction substantially parallel to the tray axis; and

wherein each of the first and second trays comprises a fiber mount configured to hold at least one of (i) a plurality of fiber patch connections, or (ii) a splice cassette.

2. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a chassis, to which the module is coupled, the module being supported by the chassis.

3. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the module is coupled to the chassis at a hinge defining a module axis, such that the module is pivotable about the module axis between a first position in which the module is at least partially enclosed by the chassis, and a second position in which the module is substantially extended from the chassis.

4. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 2, the module being coupled to the chassis at a hinge defining a module axis, such that the module is pivotable about the module axis through an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to the chassis.

5. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a rack, to which the chassis is coupled, the chassis being supported by the rack.

6. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the chassis includes adjustable mounting features, such that the chassis can be coupled to the rack in at least two different front-to-back positions.

7. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second tray is a fixed tray, which is not pivotable about the tray axis.

8. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a chassis to which the module is coupled, wherein the chassis has a maximum thickness (t) of at most two inches, and wherein the module is configured to hold at least forty-eight patch connections, each patch connection comprising an input fiber and an output fiber.

9. A fiber management apparatus comprising:

a chassis; and

a module adapted to manage fibers, the module being coupled to the chassis at a hinge defining a module axis, such that the module is pivotable about the module axis through an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to the chassis,

wherein the module comprises a plurality of trays, the plurality of trays including a first tray and a second tray,

wherein the first tray is coupled to the second tray, and

wherein the plurality of trays is constrained to pivot together about the module axis, and

wherein the first tray of the plurality of trays is pivotable about a tray axis relative to the second tray of the plurality of trays, the tray axis being non-parallel with the module axis.

10. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the module is pivotable about the module axis through an angle of between about 90 degrees and about 110 degrees.

11. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the module is pivotable about the module axis through an angle of between about 100 degrees and about 110 degrees.

12. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first tray is slidable relative to the second tray in a direction substantially parallel to the tray axis.

13. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the chassis includes adjustable mounting features, such that the chassis can be coupled to a rack in at least two different front-to-back positions.

19. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the chassis has a maximum thickness (t) of at most two inches, and wherein the module is configured to hold at least forty-eight fiber connections, each fiber connection comprising an input fiber and an output fiber.

14. A method of managing fibers, comprising:

pulling a module out of a chassis, the module having a first tray and a second tray, the first tray being coupled to the second tray at a tray axis;

sliding the first tray relative to the second tray in a direction substantially parallel to the tray axis;

lifting the first tray to expose the second tray; and

repeating the sliding and lifting steps at least once on the second tray, to expose at least a third one of the trays.

15. A method of managing fibers according to claim 14, further comprising, after the pulling step and prior to the sliding step, pivoting the module greater than 90 degrees relative to the chassis.

16. A method of managing fibers according to claim 15, further comprising, prior to the pulling step, releasing a module latch to allow the module to be pulled out of the chassis.

17. A fiber management apparatus comprising:

a module adapted to manage fibers, the module comprising a plurality of trays, the plurality of trays including a first tray and a second tray,

wherein the first tray is pivotably coupled to the second tray at a tray axis,

wherein the plurality of trays is constrained to pivot together about the module axis,

wherein the tray axis is non-parallel with the module axis, and

wherein the first and second trays each contain at least one fiber connector.

18. A fiber management apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a chassis, to which the module is coupled, the module being supported by the chassis.