Optical fiber distribution frame with outside plant enclosure

• US 9,429,728 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2014
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• 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:
  US14/173,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20140153892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 6/44524 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 6/4454 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 apparatus comprising:

a frame defining a first area and a separate second area;

a plurality of modules that mount at the first area of the frame, each of the modules including a module housing containing at least one splitter, each of the modules including a plurality of fiber optic adapters positioned at fronts of the module housings, the fiber optic adapters each including inner and outer aligned openings for receiving fiber optic connectors, the inner openings being accessible from inside the module housings and the outer openings being accessible from outside the module housings, the modules also including first optical fibers that extend from the splitters and having first connectorized ends positioned within the inner openings of the fiber optic adapters;

a panel positioned at the second area of the frame, the panel being pivotally connected relative to the frame by a hinge, the panel having a major surface; and

second optical fibers having second connectorized ends carried with the major surface of the panel, the second connectorized ends being defined by longitudinal axes that are generally perpendicular to the major surface of the panel.

2. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more doors that pivot relative to the frame, the one or more doors protecting the first and second areas when in a closed position and that allow access to the first and second areas when in an open position.

3. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modules each include a single row of the fiber optic adapters.

4. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second connectorized ends are received within fiber optic adapters mounted on the panel.

5. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 4, wherein patch cords are routed from the fiber optic adapters mounted on the panel to the fiber optic adapters of the modules.

6. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of vertically spaced-apart spool structures positioned between the first and second areas for storing excess optical fiber.

7. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 6, wherein the optical fiber is stored in half-loops.

8. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second optical fibers correspond to at least one outside plant cable.

9. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 1, wherein the module housings include spaced-apart and parallel major side walls and spaced-apart and parallel minor side walls that cooperate to define interior regions of the module housings, wherein the splitters are positioned within the interior regions, and wherein the major and minor side walls extend between the fronts of the module housings and rears of the module housings.

10. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 9, wherein the modules each include a single row of the fiber optic adapters, and wherein the fiber optic adapters have cross-dimensions that extend a majority of a distance defined between the major side walls of the module housings.

11. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of vertically spaced-apart fiber management fingers positioned along one side of the first area.

12. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of vertically spaced-apart fiber management structures positioned between the first and second areas for storing excess optical fiber, the fiber management structures including curved surfaces that provide fiber bend radius protection.

13. The telecommunications apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of vertically spaced-apart fiber management fingers positioned along one side of the first area.

14. An enclosure comprising:

an outside plant housing defining an interior, the outside plant housing having at least one door for accessing the interior of the housing;

a plurality of modules that mount at a first area within the interior of the outside plant housing, each of the modules including a module housing containing at least one splitter, each of the modules including a plurality of fiber optic adapters positioned at fronts of the module housings, the fiber optic adapters each including inner and outer aligned openings for receiving fiber optic connectors, the inner openings being accessible from inside the module housings and the outer openings being accessible from outside the module housings, the modules also including first optical fibers that extend from the splitters and have first connectorized ends positioned within the inner openings of the fiber optic adapters;

a pivotal panel positioned at a second area within the interior of the outside plant housing, the second area being spaced from the first area, the pivotal panel having a major surface defining a reference plane; and

second optical fibers having multiple parallel rows of second connectorized ends carried with the major surface of the pivotal panel, the second connectorized ends being defined by longitudinal axes that intersect the reference plane defined by the major surface of the pivotal panel.

15. The enclosure of claim 14, wherein the modules each include a single row of the fiber optic adapters.

16. The enclosure of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of vertically spaced-apart spool structures positioned between the first and second areas for storing excess optical fiber.

17. The enclosure of claim 16, wherein the optical fiber is stored in half-loops.

18. The enclosure of claim 14, wherein the module housings include spaced-apart and parallel major side walls and spaced-apart and parallel minor side walls that cooperate to define interior regions of the module housings, wherein the splitters are positioned within the interior regions, and wherein the major and minor side walls extend between the fronts of the module housings and rears of the module housings.

19. The enclosure of claim 18, wherein the modules each include a single row of the fiber optic adapters, and wherein the fiber optic adapters have cross-dimensions that extend a majority of a distance defined between the major side walls of the module housings.

20. The enclosure of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of vertically spaced-apart fiber management fingers positioned along one side of the first area.

21. The enclosure of claim 14, further comprising a plurality vertically spaced-apart fiber management structures positioned between the first and second areas for storing excess optical fiber, the fiber management structures including curved surfaces that provide fiber bend radius protection.

22. The enclosure of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of vertically spaced-apart fiber management fingers positioned along one side of the first area.

23. A method for using the enclosure of claim 14, wherein the second optical fibers are optically connected to the first optical fibers.