Fiber optic enclosure with external cable spool

• US 8,131,126 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Kowalczyk, Scott C., Smith, Trevor D., Kaml, Jonathan R., LeBlanc, Thomas G., Beck, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, Charlie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Radkowski, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/715,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20100247051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4457 Bobbins; Reels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4477 with means for strain-relieving to interior strengths element
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/475 Mechanical aspects of installing cables in ducts or the like for buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A fiber optic telecommunications device includes an enclosure defining an interior. A first fiber optic adapter is provided at the enclosure. A spool is provided at an exterior of the enclosure. A fiber optic cable, which includes a first optical fiber, is wrapped around the spool. A first fiber optic connector is mounted at a first end of the first optical fiber. The first end of the first optical fiber is positioned within the interior of the enclosure. The first fiber optic connector is inserted within the first fiber optic adapter. The enclosure and the spool are configured to rotate in unison about a common axis when the fiber optic cable is unwound from the spool.

Claims

1. A fiber optic enclosure assembly comprising:

an enclosure including;

a housing having a base and a plurality of sidewalls, the housing defining an interior region, the base defining a cable passage;

a cover engaged to the housing;

a plurality of adapters disposed in the interior region of the housing, the plurality of adapters having a first side and an oppositely disposed second side;

a cable spool connected to an exterior of the enclosure, the cable spool including;

a first flange having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the first flange defining an access notch that extends from the inner diameter radially outward toward the outer diameter;

a drum portion engaged to the first flange, the drum portion being adapted to receive a fiber optic cable;

a second flange engaged to the drum portion opposite the first flange; and

a bracket disposed adjacent to the first flange, the bracket being adapted to receive the housing of the enclosure so that the cable passage in the base is aligned with the access notch in the first flange.

2. The fiber optic enclosure assembly of claim 1, further comprising a mounting assembly configured for mounting to a vertical surface, the mounting assembly being rotationally engaged with the cable spool such that the cable spool and the enclosure selectively rotate about an axis of the mounting assembly.

3. The fiber optic enclosure assembly of claim 2, wherein the mounting assembly includes a first plate, a second plate and a bearing assembly disposed between the first and second plates.

4. The fiber optic enclosure assembly of claim 3, wherein the first plate is engaged to the cable spool.

5. The fiber optic enclosure assembly of claim 4, wherein the first plate includes a protrusion that is engaged in a notch defined by the drum portion of the cable spool to prevent relative rotation between the first plate and the cable spool.

6. The fiber optic enclosure assembly of claim 3, wherein the bearing assembly includes a ring member having an inner bore and a puck member disposed within the inner bore of the ring member.

7. The fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the inner bore of the ring member includes a first surface, an oppositely disposed second surface, and a bearing surface with the bearing surface being disposed at an angle from the second surface that is less than or equal to about 90 degrees.

8. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the puck member includes a first end surface, an oppositely disposed second end surface, and a mating bearing surface with the mating bearing surface being disposed at an angle from the second end surface that is less than or equal to about 90 degrees.

9. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 6, wherein silicon grease is disposed between the puck member and the inner bore of the ring member.

10. The fiber optic enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein the first flange of the cable spool includes a first tab that extends inwardly from the inner diameter, the first tab being adapted to engage a first groove in the drum portion to prevent relative rotation between the first flange and the drum portion.

11. The fiber optic enclosure assembly of claim 10, wherein the second flange of the cable spool includes a second tab that extends inwardly from the inner diameter, the second tab being adapted to engage a second groove in the drum portion to prevent relative rotation between the second flange and the drum portion.

12. The fiber optic enclosure assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fanout disposed in the interior region of the enclosure.

13. The fiber optic enclosure assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first cable disposed about the drum portion of the cable spool, the first cable having a first end having a plurality of connectorized ends that is engaged with first sides of the plurality of adapters.

14. A fiber optic enclosure assembly comprising:

an enclosure including;

a housing having a base and a plurality of sidewalls, the housing defining an interior region, the base defining a cable passage;

a cover engaged to the housing;

a fanout disposed in the interior region;

a plurality of adapters disposed in the interior region of the housing, the plurality of adapters having a first side and an oppositely disposed second side;

a cable spool connected to an exterior of the enclosure, the cable spool including;

a first flange having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the first flange defining an access notch that extends from the inner diameter radially outward toward the outer diameter;

a drum portion engaged to the first flange, the drum portion being adapted to receive a fiber optic cable;

a second flange engaged to the drum portion opposite the first flange;

a bracket disposed adjacent to the first flange, the bracket being adapted to receive the housing of the enclosure so that the cable passage in the base is aligned with the access notch in the first flange; and

a mounting assembly configured for mounting to a vertical surface, the mounting assembly being rotationally engaged with the cable spool such that the cable spool and the enclosure selectively rotate about an axis of the mounting assembly.

15. The fiber optic enclosure assembly of claim 14, wherein the mounting assembly includes a first plate, a second plate and a bearing assembly disposed between the first and second plates.

16. The fiber optic enclosure assembly of claim 15, wherein the first plate is engaged to the cable spool.

17. The fiber optic enclosure assembly of claim 16, wherein the first plate includes a protrusion that is engaged in a notch defined by the drum portion of the cable spool to prevent relative rotation between the first plate and the cable spool.

18. The fiber optic enclosure assembly of claim 15, wherein the bearing assembly includes a ring member having an inner bore and a puck member disposed within the inner bore of the ring member.

19. The fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 18, wherein the inner bore of the ring member includes a first surface, an oppositely disposed second surface, and a bearing surface with the bearing surface being disposed at an angle from the second surface that is less than or equal to about 90 degrees.

20. A fiber optic enclosure as claimed in claim 19, wherein the puck member includes a first end surface, an oppositely disposed second end surface, and a mating bearing surface with the mating bearing surface being disposed at an angle from the second end surface that is less than or equal to about 90 degrees.