Optical fiber distribution frame with outside plant enclosure

• US 8,768,134 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2011
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• 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: Puetz, Curtis Lee, Dusterhoft, Gary E., Rapp, David E., Veitenheimer, Troy Anthony, Tinucci, Thomas C., Holmberg, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEACE, RHONDA S
• Application Number:
  US13/198,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20110286712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 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 telecommunications equipment assembly having a front and a back, the telecommunications assembly comprising:

at least one front door positioned at the front of the telecommunications equipment assembly, the front door being pivotally moveable between an open position and a closed position;

a termination arrangement positioned behind the at least one front door when the front door is in the closed position, the termination arrangement including a moveable component that is pivotally moveable between a first position and a second position, the moveable component including a panel having a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of the panel being accessible from the front of the telecommunications equipment assembly when the moveable component is in the first position and the at least one front door is in the open position, the second side of the panel not being accessible from the front of the telecommunications equipment assembly when the moveable component is in the first position and the at least one front door is in the open position, and the second side of the panel being accessible from the front of the telecommunications equipment assembly when the moveable component is in the second position and the at least one front door is in the open position;

the termination arrangement including a termination field carried by the panel, the termination field including a plurality of fiber optic adapters each including a first port positioned at the first side of the panel and a second port positioned at the second side of the panel;

a splitter module accessible from the front of the telecommunications equipment assembly when the front door is in the open position, the splitter module including a housing containing an optical splitter;

a plurality of first optical fibers for carrying signals split at the optical splitter from the splitter module to the termination field, the first optical fibers having connectorized ends that plug into the first ports of the fiber optic adapters; and

a plurality of second optical fibers routed to the termination field, the second optical fibers having connectorized ends that plug into the second ports of the fiber optic adapters.

2. The telecommunications equipment assembly of claim 1, further comprising a splitter mounting location including a plurality of splitter module receiving locations accessible from the front of the telecommunications equipment assembly.

3. The telecommunications equipment assembly of claim 2, wherein the splitter module mounting location is spaced apart from the moveable component.

4. The telecommunications equipment assembly of claim 1, wherein the moveable component pivots about a vertical pivot axis when moving between the first and second positions.

5. The telecommunications equipment assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fiber management structures carried by the moveable component.

6. The telecommunications equipment assembly of claim 5, wherein the fiber management structures include fiber bend radius protectors.

7. The telecommunications equipment assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic adapters are arranged in a plurality of rows, and wherein the telecommunications equipment assembly includes fiber management structures corresponding to at least some of the rows, the fiber management structures being carried by the moveable component.

8. The telecommunications equipment assembly of claim 7, wherein the fiber management structures are provided at the first side of the panel for managing the first optical fibers as the first optical fibers are routed to the first ports of the fiber optic adapters.

9. The telecommunications equipment assembly of claim 8, wherein the fiber management structures include fiber bend radius protectors.

10. The telecommunications equipment assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic adapters are arranged in a plurality of rows, and wherein the telecommunications equipment assembly includes fiber management structures aligned with the rows, the fiber management structures being carried by the moveable component.

11. The telecommunications equipment assembly of claim 10, wherein the fiber management structures include fiber bend radius protectors.

12. The telecommunications equipment assembly of claim 1, wherein increased slack is provided in the first optical fibers when the moveable component is moved from the first position to the second position.

13. A telecommunications equipment assembly having a front and a back, the telecommunications assembly comprising:

a termination arrangement including a moveable component that is pivotally moveable between a first position and a second position, the moveable component including a panel having a first side and an opposite second side, the termination arrangement including a termination field carried by the panel, the termination field including a plurality of fiber optic adapters each including a first port positioned at the first side of the panel and a second port positioned at the second side of the panel;

a splitter module including a housing containing an optical splitter;

a plurality of first optical fibers for carrying signals split at the optical splitter from the splitter module to the termination field, the first optical fibers having connectorized ends that plug into the first ports of the fiber optic adapters;

a plurality of second optical fibers routed to the termination field, the second optical fibers having connectorized ends that plug into the second ports of the fiber optic adapters; and

wherein the first side of the panel faces at least partially in a forward direction when the panel is in the first position, wherein the second side of the panel faces at least partially in a rearward direction when the panel is in the first position; and

wherein the second side of the panel faces at least partially in the forward direction when the panel is in the second position.

14. The telecommunications equipment assembly of claim 13, further comprising a splitter mounting location including a plurality of splitter module receiving locations accessible from the front of the telecommunications equipment assembly.