High density fiber optic splitter/connector tray system

• US 20020181922A1
• Filed: 06/01/2001
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Network Solutions, Inc. (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Telect Incorporated (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: Xin, Xin, McAllister, Harley J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,792,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4461 Articulated

Abstract

A fiber optic splitter tray system with a tray framework with a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side; a plurality of fiber optic splitters mounted generally transverse to the tray framework, toward the rear end of the tray framework; a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted generally longitudinally to the framework, the adapters being recessed from the front end of the framework such that fiber optic cables operatively attached to the adapters may be housed within the front end while maintaining a predetermined minimum bend radius in the cables. This may further include a front cable guard movably attached to the tray framework proximate the front end such that the guard is movable vertically downward from a guarding position to a downward position when the tray framework is in an outward position, and further wherein the guard is slidable rearward from the downward position to a downward retracted position.

Claims

1. A fiber optic splitter tray system comprised of:

a tray framework with a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side;

a plurality of fiber optic splitters mounted generally transverse to the tray framework, toward the rear end of the tray framework;

a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted generally longitudinally to the framework, the adapters being recessed from the front end of the framework such that fiber optic cables operatively attached to the adapters may be housed within the front end while maintaining a pre-determined minimum bend radius in the cables.

2. A fiber optic splitter tray system as recited in claim 1, and wherein the framework is a tray chassis configured to slidably mount within a cabinet.

3. A fiber optic splitter tray system as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a front cable guard movably attached to the tray framework proximate the front end.

4. A fiber optic splitter tray system as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a fiber optic cable guard releasably mounted to the tray framework, such that the guard is movable vertically downward from a guarding position to a downward position when the tray framework is in an outward position, and further wherein the guard is slidable rearward from the downward position to a downward retracted position.

5. A fiber optic splitter tray system as recited in claim 1 and further comprised of a plurality of fiber optic monitor adapters mounted on the tray framework such that the monitor adapters may be accessed from through the front end of the tray framework.

6. A fiber optic splitter tray system as recited in claim 5, and further wherein the monitor adapters may be accessed from through the front end of the tray framework without sliding the tray outward.

7. A fiber optic splitter tray system as recited in claim 5, and further wherein the monitor adapters may be accessed from through the front end of the tray framework without movement of a front end fiber optic cable guard.

8. A fiber optic splitter tray system as recited in claim 1 and wherein six splitters are mounted on a tray framework which is sized as an industry-standard nineteen-inch distribution rack unit.

9. A fiber optic splitter tray system as recited in claim 1 and wherein eight splitters are mounted on a tray framework which is sized as an industry-standard nineteen-inch distribution rack unit.

10. A fiber optic splitter tray system as recited in claim 1 and wherein ten splitters are mounted on a tray framework which is sized as an industry-standard nineteen-inch distribution rack unit.

11. A fiber optic splitter tray system as recited in claim 1 and wherein twelve splitters are mounted on a tray framework which is sized as an industry-standard nineteen-inch distribution rack unit.

12. A fiber optic splitter tray system as recited in claim 1 and wherein fourteen splitters are mounted on a tray framework which is sized as an industry-standard twenty-three-inch distribution rack unit.

13. A fiber optic splitter tray system as recited in claim 1 and wherein sixteen splitters are mounted on a tray framework which is sized as an industry-standard twenty-three-inch distribution rack unit.

14. A fiber optic cable routing system for use in combination with fiber optic adapters, comprised of:

a framework with a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side;

a first adapter mounted to the framework recessed from the front end and adjacent the first side and with a first fiber optic cable operatively attached thereto, the first fiber optic cable being generally oriented from the front end to the rear end of the framework;

a second adapter mounted to the framework recessed from the front end and nearer the second side than the first adapter, and with a second fiber optic cable operatively attached thereto, the second fiber optic cable being generally oriented from the front end to the rear end of the framework;

a first and a second fiber optic cable passageway on the tray framework adjacent the first side and generally transverse to the orientation of the first and second fiber optic cables, the first fiber optic cable passageway being further away from the first and the second fiber optic adapters than the second fiber optic cable passageway;

the first fiber optic cable passageway being configured to receive the first fiber optic cable such that a pre-determined bend radius protection is provided for the first fiber optic cable; and

the second fiber optic cable passageway being configured to receive the second fiber optic cable such that the pre-determined bend radius protection is also provided for the second fiber optic cable.

15. A method of routing fiber optic cables which are attached to a plurality of fiber optic cable adapters which are generally aligned, comprising the following steps:

providing a tray framework with a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side;

providing a first adapter mounted to the framework recessed from the front end and adjacent the first side;

providing a second adapter mounted to the framework recessed from the front end and nearer the second side than the first adapter;

providing a first and a second fiber optic cable passageway on the tray framework adjacent the first side and generally transverse to the orientation of the first and second fiber optic cables, the first fiber optic cable passageway being further away from the first and the second fiber optic adapters than the second fiber optic cable passageway;

operatively attaching a first fiber optic cable to the first adapter such that it is generally oriented from the front end to the rear end of the framework, and routing the first fiber optic cable through the first fiber optic cable passageway such that a pre-determined bend radius is provided for the first fiber optic cable; and

operatively attaching a second fiber optic cable to the second adapter such that it is generally oriented from the front end to the rear end of the framework, and routing the second fiber optic cable through the second fiber optic cable passageway such that a pre-determined bend radius is provided for the second fiber optic cable.