High density optical fiber distribution frame with modules

• US 6,920,274 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Rapp, David E., Miller, Heidi L., Bolster, Kristofer J., Haataja, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad, Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US10/745,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135, 385/136, 385/137
• US Class Current: 385/135
• 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 6/44526 Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes

Abstract

A fiber optic telecommunications frame is provided including termination modules positioned on left and right sides of the frame. The frame further includes left and right vertical cable guides. The frame includes a horizontal passage linking the left and right panels and the cable guides. The termination modules bold fiber optic modules with front termination locations. The fiber optic modules can house couplers, such as splitters, combiners, and wave length division multiplexers. A retention mechanism retains each fiber optic module in a partially removed position from the termination module.

Claims

1. A modular fiber optic system comprising:

(a) a plurality of fiber optic modules including;

(1) a module housing including two spaced-apart major sides extending parallel to one another, the major sides interconnected by two spaced-apart minor sides, extending parallel to one another, the major and minor sides extending between front and rear ends of the housing, the front end being open and defined by edges of the two major sides, each of the major sides including a plurality of apertures at the front end;

(2) a front flange on one end of the front end;

(3) two side flanges extending in opposite directions from one of the major sides;

(4) a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted to the front end, each adapter including two projections, each projection received in one of the apertures in each of the major sides;

(5) a fiber optic coupler mounted within the module housing;

(6) cables connecting the fiber optic adapters and the fiber optic couplers;

(b) a chassis housing including;

(1) first and second spaced apart ends, and first and second spaced apart sides extending between the ends to define an interior, the chassis housing defining an open front, the first and second ends extending generally horizontally, the first and second sides extending generally vertically;

(2) a plurality of longitudinal guides positioned in the interior of the housing for slideably receiving the side flanges of the fiber optic modules through the open front;

(c) a retention mechanism for retaining each fiber optic module with the chassis housing when each fiber optic module is partially removed from the interior of the chassis housing through the open front;

(d) a lock for locking the front flange of each of the fiber optic modules to the chassis housing when the fiber optic modules are in the fully inserted positions.

2. The modular fiber optic system of claim 1, wherein the first side of the chassis housing includes a vertical array of extensions for supporting cables extending toward the open front.

3. The modular fiber optic system of claim 1, wherein the retention mechanism includes a spring biased ball plunger.

4. The modular fiber optic system of claim 1, further comprising an opening in the chassis housing for each fiber optic module for receiving the lock for locking each fiber optic module to the chassis housing.

5. The modular fiber optic system of claim 1, wherein a first one of the major sides of each of the module housings includes a cover portion defining the two side flanges, wherein the first major side further includes a front extension separate from the cover portion which defines the plurality of apertures at the front end, wherein a second one of the major sides and the two minor sides are formed of a single housing construction, and further comprising fasteners for connecting the front extension and the cover portion to the single housing construction.

6. The modular fiber optic module system of claim 5, wherein the front extension is adjustably mounted by the fasteners to the single housing construction, wherein a spacing between the front extension and the second major side is variable.

7. A modular fiber optic system comprising:

(a) a plurality of fiber optic modules including;

(1) a module housing including two spaced-apart major sides extending parallel to one another, and two spaced-apart minor sides extending parallel to one another, the major and minor sides extending between front and rear ends of the housing;

(2) two longitudial guides extending on opposite sides of the module housing in a direction parallel to the major and minor sides;

(3) a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted to the front end;

(4) fiber optic circuitry within the module housing connecting the fiber optic adapters;

(b) a chassis housing including;

(1) first and second spaced apart ends, and first and second spaced apart sides extending between the ends to define an interior, the chassis housing defining an open front, the first and second ends extending generally horizontally, the first and second sides extending generally vertically;

(2) a plurality of mating longitudinal guides positioned in the interior of the housing for slideably receiving the longitudial guides of the fiber optic modules through the open front;

(c) a retention mechanism for retaining each fiber optic module with the chassis housing when each fiber optic module is partially removed from the interior of the chassis housing through the open front.

8. The modular fiber optic system of claim 7, further comprising:

(a) a front flange on one end of the front end of the module housing of each of the fiber optic modules;

(b) a lock for locking the front flange of each of the fiber optic modules to the chassis housing when the fiber optic modules are in the fully inserted positions.

9. The modular fiber optic system of claim 7, wherein the first side of the chassis housing includes a vertical array of extensions for supporting cables extending toward the open front.

10. The modular fiber optic system of claim 7, wherein the retension mechanism includes a spring biased ball plunger.

11. The modular fiber optic system of claim 10, wherein one of the minor sides of each of the fiber optic modules includes first and second round openings, the first opening positioned further from the rear end than the second opening, each of the first and second openings sized to receive a ball end of the spring loaded ball plunger.

12. The modular fiber optic system of claim 11, wherein the first opening is smaller than the second opening.