Optical fiber enclosure system

• US 20020150372A1
• Filed: 02/12/2002
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fiber Optic Network Solutions Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Schray, Steve John
• Granted Patent: US 6,845,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/385 Accessories for testing or observation of connectors means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule with auxiliary facilities for movably aligning or adjusting the fibre within its ferrule, measuring position, eccentricity G02B6/3843; mechanical features associated with the optical testing of optical fibres G01M11/088
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3898 Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames

Abstract

An optical fiber enclosure system includes a plurality of optical fiber cassettes and a splice module. The enclosure provides improved access and control of optical fiber management. The optical fiber cassette includes adapters, fiber optic connectors, front face, side wall, rear face, fanout devices and ribbon pigtails. The adapters are mounted to the front face of the cassette. The side wall is attached between the front face and the rear face to provide space for optical fiber management. The fanout devices are mounted to the rear face of the cassette and provide fanout of the ribbon pigtails to individual optical fibers that terminate at the fiber optic connectors. The fiber optic connectors are coupled to the adapters at the front face of the cassette. The splice module includes a management plate and a hingedly joined splice door. The splice door can include a removable splice tray for mounting optical fiber splices and for managing associated slack fiber loops around the splices.

Claims

1. An optical fiber enclosure, comprising:

a housing having a front compartment, a rear compartment, a first and a second side and a bulkhead;

a plurality of optical fiber cassettes mounted to the bulkhead; and

at least one splice module.

2. The optical fiber enclosure of claim 1 wherein the optical fiber cassette includes adapters, fiber optic connectors, a front face, a side wall, a rear face, at least one fanout device and at least one ribbon pigtail.

3. The optical fiber enclosure of claim 2 wherein the adapters are mounted to the front face of the cassette, the side wall is attached between the front face and the rear face to provide space for optical fiber management, the fanout devices are mounted to the rear face of the cassette to provide fanout of the ribbon pigtails to individual optical fibers that terminate at the fiber optic connectors, and the fiber optic connectors are coupled to the adapters at the front face of the cassette.

4. The optical fiber enclosure of claim 1 wherein the splice module includes an optical fiber management plate and a hingedly joined splice door.

5. The optical fiber enclosure of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of optical fiber splices mounted to the splice door.

6. The optical fiber enclosure of claim 4 wherein the splice door includes a removable splice tray for mounting optical fiber splices and for managing associated slack fiber loops around the splices.

7. The optical fiber enclosure of claim 1 further comprising at least one fiber radius guide mounted to the housing.

8. The optical fiber enclosure of claim 1 further comprising at least one removable panel mounted to the bulkhead.

9. The optical fiber enclosure of claim 1 further comprising at least one port on a top surface and a bottom surface of the first and second side for fiber management.

10. An optical fiber cassette, comprising:

a plurality of adapters;

a plurality of fiber optic connectors;

a front face;

a side wall;

a rear face;

at least one fanout device; and

at least one ribbon pigtail.

11. The optical fiber cassette of claim 10 wherein the adapters are mounted to the front face of the cassette, the side wall is attached between the front face and the rear face to provide space for optical fiber management;

the fanout devices are mounted to the rear face of the cassette to provide fanout of the ribbon pigtails to individual optical fibers that terminate at the fiber optic connectors, and the fiber optic connectors are coupled to the adapters at the front face of the cassette.

13. The splice module of claim 12 wherein the splice door includes a removable splice tray for mounting optical fiber splices and for managing associated slack fiber loops around the splices.

14. The splice module of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of optical fiber splices mounted to the splice door.

15. The splice module of claim 12 integrated in an optical fiber enclosure.

19. The optical fiber enclosure of claim 18 wherein at least one of the front and rear management plates is mounted on the top surface of the housing.

20. The optical fiber enclosure of claim 18 wherein at least one splice module is located in the rear compartment.

12. A splice module, comprising:

a management plate; and

a hingedly joined splice door.

16. A fiber radius guide, comprising:

a body having a first end and a second end, the first end having a pair of first supports extending therefrom, the second end having a second support member extending therefrom; and

a hood, wherein the fiber radius guide is adapted for reversible mounting to an enclosure.

17. A removable fiber optic adapter, comprising:

a body; and

at least one engagement member.

18. An optical fiber enclosure, comprising:

a housing having a front compartment, a rear compartment, a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side, a second side and a bulkhead;

a plurality of optical fiber cassettes;

the front compartment having a first optical management system, the first optical management system having a front management plate, at least one fiber radius guide; and

the rear compartment having a second optical management system, the second optical management system having a rear management plate, and a plurality of ribbon fanout devices for routing management.