Optical fiber distribution frame with outside plant enclosure

• US 7,805,043 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2008
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Rapp, David E., Veitenheimer, Troy Anthony, Holmberg, Matthew J., Tinucci, Thomas C., Dusterhoft, Gary E., Puetz, Curtis Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Peace; Rhonda S
• Application Number:
  US12/070,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20090022467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/445 with lateral pivoting cover
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4457 Bobbins; Reels
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/021 using pivoting mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/062 vertical management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/064 horizontal management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/13 Patch panels for monitoring, interconnecting or testing circuits, e.g. patch bay, patch field or jack field; Patching modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/14 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/08 Pivotable parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/804 in optical transmission systems

Abstract

A fiber optic telecommunications frame is provided including panels having front and rear termination locations, the panels positioned on left and right sides of the frame. The frame includes vertical access for the rear cables. The frame further includes left and right vertical cable guides for the front patch cables. The frame further includes cable storage spools for the patch cables. The frame includes a horizontal passage linking the left and right panels and the cable guides. A portion of the frame defines splice tray holders and a central passage from the splice tray holders to the rear sides of the left and right panels. From a front of each panel, access to a rear of the panel is provided by the hinged panels. Alternatively, the panels can form connector modules with front termination locations and rear connection locations for connecting to the rear cables. The modules can house couplers, such as splitters, combiners, and wave division multiplexers. The termination locations can be located on the same side of the frame as the splice tray holders, or on an opposite side. An enclosure of the frame included hinged or otherwise moveable panels to allow access to the terminations or the splice trays.

Claims

1. A fiber distribution frame, comprising:

a) a rack extending vertically from a bottom to a top, the rack defining a left side, a right side, a front, and a rear;

b) a cable termination area positioned on the front of the rack, the cable termination area including at least two termination modules each having rows and columns of termination locations, the termination modules each including a housing, the housings of the termination modules each including a front panel, and defining an interior, an exterior, and a side opening that provides side access to the interior, the front panel having a panel construction that defines the rows and columns of the termination locations, the panel construction facing in a direction non-perpendicular to a vertical plane defined by the front of the rack, each termination location of the termination modules including a front termination connection at the exterior of the housing and a rear termination connection within the interior of the housing;

c) a cable splice area positioned on the front of the rack, the cable splice area including a plurality of angling splice holders that hold splice trays in a non-horizontal orientation;

d) a first cable pathway in which patch cords are routed for linking the front termination connections of one of the termination modules with the front termination connections of the other of the termination modules, the first cable pathway being defined by;

i) vertical cable guides located at the left and right sides of the rack; and

ii) a horizontal passageway that extends between the left and right vertical cable guides; and

e) a second cable pathway in which cables are routed for linking the rear termination connections of the termination modules with the splice trays, the second cable pathway being defined by;

i) a central cable passageway located centrally within the rack and adjacent to the termination modules; and

ii) a cable passageway from the cable splice area to the central cable passageway;

iii) wherein the central cable passageway provides communication to the side openings of the housings of the termination modules.

2. The frame of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure at least partially surrounding the rack, the enclosure including first and second hingedly mounted access panels allowing selective access to an interior of the enclosure.

3. The frame of claim 1, wherein the front panel of one termination module is angled toward the left side of the rack and the front panel of the other termination module is angled toward the right side of the rack.

4. The frame of claim 1, wherein each of the front panels is mounted for rotational movement relative to the remainder of the housing.

5. The frame of claim 1, wherein the front panels define openings sized to receive adapters, the adapters of the front panels defining the termination locations of the termination modules.

6. The frame of claim 1, further including vertical arrays of extensions positioned adjacent to at least one of the left and right vertical cable guides, an extension in each of the vertical arrays of extensions being provided for each row of termination locations of the termination modules.

7. The frame of claim 1, further comprising a cable storage device extending vertically and mounted to the rack, the cable storage device including at least two cable storage spools extending in the direction faced by the front of the rack, wherein the cable storage device can communicate with the horizontal passageway for passage of a cable.

8. The frame of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a plurality of spaced-apart interior shelves and wherein the front panel of the housing is defined by a plurality of sub-panels supported at least in part by the interior shelves, each of the sub-panels including a plurality of front adapters and a rear housing, each rear housing including a side panel including a plurality of side adapters, a fiber optic coupler mounted within the rear housing, and cables connecting the front adapters to the side adapters.

9. The frame of claim 1, wherein the plurality of angling splice holders hold the splice trays in a non-vertical orientation.

10. A fiber distribution frame, comprising:

a) a rack extending vertically from a bottom to a top, the rack defining a left side, a right side, a front, and a rear;

b) a cable termination area positioned on the front of the rack, the cable termination area including at least two termination modules each having rows and columns of termination locations, the termination modules each including a module housing that defines an interior, an exterior, and a side opening providing side access to the interior, the module housing including;

i) a front panel facing in a direction non-perpendicular to a vertical plane defined by the front of the rack; and

ii) a plurality of spaced-apart interior supports;

iii) wherein the front panel of the module housing is defined by a plurality of sub-panels supported at least in part by the interior supports, each of the sub-panels including a plurality of front adapters that define in part the termination locations of the termination module, each of the sub-panels further including a rear housing, the rear housing including;

1) a plurality of side adapters accessible through the side opening of the module housing;

2) a fiber optic coupler mounted within the rear housing; and

3) at least one cable connecting the front adapters to the side adapters;

c) a cable splice area positioned on the front of the rack, the cable splice area including a plurality of angling splice holders that hold splice trays in a non-horizontal orientation;

d) a first cable pathway in which patch cords are routed for linking the front adapters of one of the termination modules with the front adapters of the other of the termination modules, the first cable pathway being defined by;

i) vertical cable guides located at the left and right sides of the rack; and

ii) a horizontal passageway that extends between the left and right vertical cable guides; and

e) a second cable pathway in which cables are routed for linking the side adapters of the termination modules with the splice trays, the second cable pathway being defined by;

i) a central cable passageway located centrally within the rack and adjacent to the termination modules; and

ii) a cable passageway from the cable splice area to the central cable passageway;

iii) wherein the central cable passageway provides communication to the side openings of the module housings of the termination modules.

11. The frame of claim 10, further comprising an enclosure at least partially surrounding the rack, the enclosure including first and second hingedly mounted access panels allowing selective access to an interior of the enclosure.

12. The frame of claim 10, further including vertical arrays of extensions positioned adjacent to at least one of the left and right vertical cable guides, an extension in each of the vertical arrays of extensions being provided for each row of termination locations of the termination modules.

13. The frame of claim 10, further comprising a cable storage device extending vertically and mounted to the rack, the cable storage device including at least two cable storage spools extending in the direction faced by the front of the rack, wherein the cable storage device can communicate with the horizontal passageway for passage of a cable.

14. The frame of claim 10, wherein the front panel of one termination module is angled toward the left side of the rack and the front panel of the other termination module is angled toward the right side of the rack.