Rack and chassis for fiber optic sliding adapter modules

• US 9,146,376 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2012
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Haataja, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Pak, Sung
• Application Number:
  US13/645,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20130094827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44526 Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack
• 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 6/4457 Bobbins; Reels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4478 Bending relief means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/46 Processes or apparatus adapted for installing or repairing optical fibres or optical cables installation of cables containing electric conductors and optical fibres H02G

Abstract

A rack includes a first termination block disposed at the first side of the rack. The termination block houses a termination arrangement including a plurality of sliding adapter modules. The adapter modules are configured to slide between a non-extended position and an extended position. The adapter modules move away from the rack when slid to the extended position. The adapter modules have first ports facing towards the top of the rack and second ports facing towards the bottom of the rack. Certain types of racks also have a cable storage arrangement disposed at the front of the rack.

Claims

1. A termination block comprising:

a housing having a top, a bottom, a front, and a rear, the housing defining an interior;

a plurality of adapter modules disposed within the interior of the housing, the adapter modules having first ports facing towards the top of the housing and second ports facing towards the bottom of the housing;

a front routing trough provided at the front of the housing, the front routing trough including a radius limiter at a top of the front routing trough that extends beneath a radius limiter that extends from the top of the housing to define an entrance into the interior of the housing, the front routing trough also including sidewalls from which at least one retention finger extends inwardly;

a plurality of upper bend radius limiters disposed within the interior of the housing between the top of the housing and the adapter modules, the upper bend radius limiters being oriented to route optical fibers towards the first ports of the adapter modules; and

a plurality of lower bend radius limiters disposed within the interior of the housing between the bottom of the housing and the adapter modules, the lower bend radius limiters being oriented to route optical fibers from the second ports of the adapter modules towards the bottom of the housing.

2. The termination block of claim 1, wherein each of the adapter modules is configured to slide between a non-extended position and an extended position separate from the other adapter modules, wherein the adapter modules move away from the housing when slid to the extended position.

3. The termination block of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises:

a main panel;

a rear panel extending outwardly from the main panel to define a rear of the termination block;

a top panel extending outwardly from the main panel to define the top of the termination block;

a front panel extending outwardly from the main panel to define a front of the termination block, wherein the front routing trough is disposed at the front panel; and

a bottom panel extending outwardly from the main panel to define the bottom of the termination block,

the main panel, rear panel, top panel, front panel, and bottom panel cooperating to define the interior of the housing.

4. The termination block of claim 3, wherein the panels are integrally formed with each other.

5. The termination block of claim 1, wherein the termination block also includes a bend radius limiter that extends downwardly and rearwardly from the front routing trough.

6. The termination block of claim 1, wherein each of the adapter modules aligns with one of the upper bend radius limiters and one of the lower bend radius limiters.

7. The termination block of claim 1, wherein the termination block defines an exit port at the bottom, rear of the termination block.

8. The termination block of claim 1, wherein each adapter module defines twelve first ports and twelve second ports.

9. The termination block of claim 1, wherein the termination block is disposed at a first side of a rack, and wherein the rack includes a cable storage arrangement disposed at a front of the rack, the cable storage arrangement including cable routing channels extending between a top and a bottom of the rack, the cable storage arrangement also including a plurality of cable storage spools extending forwardly of the rack.

10. The termination block of claim 9, wherein the adapter modules have first ports facing towards the top of the rack and second ports facing towards the bottom of the rack.

11. The termination block of claim 9, wherein a guide trough is disposed at the termination block, the guide trough extending between the front and rear of the rack between the cable storage arrangement and a horizontal trough extending across the rear of the rack.

12. The termination block of claim 9, wherein the guide trough includes a generally planar base that extends horizontally extending between the front and rear of the rack.

13. The termination block of claim 12, wherein side walls extend upwardly from the base of the guide trough to retain fibers or cables routed therethrough in the guide trough.

14. The termination block of claim 13, wherein retention fingers extend inwardly from the side walls.

15. The termination block of claim 9, wherein the cable storage arrangement includes inner channel members and outer channel members that define the cable routing channels, wherein a first port of the guide trough is located at a slot extending through one of the outer channel members.

16. The termination block of claim 15, wherein the cable storage spools are disposed between the inner channel members.

17. The termination block of claim 15, wherein a radius limiter extends between a guide trough base and the slot defined in the outer channel member to form the first port.

18. The termination block of claim 16, wherein a second port of the guide trough is provided at the respective horizontal trough and additional radius limiters are provided at the second port to facilitate transitioning fibers or cables onto the respective horizontal trough.

19. The termination block of claim 9, wherein a forward radius limiter curves upwardly from a base at a front of the guide trough.