U.S. patent application number 11/728785 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-17 for wall-mountable optical fiber and cable management apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Furukawa Electric North America, Inc.. Invention is credited to Daniel Hendrickson, Hongbo Zhang.
Application Number | 20080170831 11/728785 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39110481 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080170831 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hendrickson; Daniel ; et
al. |
July 17, 2008 |
WALL-MOUNTABLE OPTICAL FIBER AND CABLE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS
Abstract
Optical fiber and cable management apparatus includes a base for
mounting on a wall or other surface at a subscriber premises, and a
drum region extending axially upward from the base. The drum region
includes an outer cylindrical wall for supporting a length of a
first fiber optic cable wound about the outer wall, an inner
cylindrical wall disposed radially inward of the outer wall to
define an annular fiber routing region between the two walls, and a
cable entry port in the outer wall for receiving an end portion of
the first fiber optic cable so that fibers of the cable may be
routed through the fiber routing region. An interface compartment
disposed atop the drum is constructed to interface a first set of
fibers routed within the compartment, with a second set of fibers
associated with a second fiber optic cable that is routed to the
apparatus.
Inventors: |
Hendrickson; Daniel;
(Roswell, GA) ; Zhang; Hongbo; (Duluth,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICE OF LEO ZUCKER
2591 Duning Drive, PO BOX 1177
Yorktown Heights
NY
10598
US
|
Assignee: |
Furukawa Electric North America,
Inc.,
|
Family ID: |
39110481 |
Appl. No.: |
11/728785 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60880169 |
Jan 13, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
385/135 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 6/4466 20130101;
G02B 6/4441 20130101; G02B 6/4471 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
385/135 |
International
Class: |
G02B 6/46 20060101
G02B006/46 |
Claims
1. Optical fiber and cable management apparatus, comprising: a base
constructed and arranged for mounting on a wall or other surface at
a subscriber premises; a drum region extending a certain height
axially from the base and including; (a) an outer cylindrical wall
dimensioned and formed to support a length of a first fiber optic
cable when wound about said wall, (b) an inner cylindrical wall
formed radially inward of the outer wall, wherein an annular fiber
routing region is defined between the inner and the outer walls,
and (c) a first cable entry port formed in the outer cylindrical
wall for receiving an inside end portion of the first fiber optic
cable so that optical fibers of the cable can be routed through the
fiber routing region; and an interface compartment disposed atop
the drum, wherein said compartment is constructed and arranged for
interfacing a first set of fibers that are routed within the
compartment, with a second set of fibers associated with a second
fiber optic cable that is routed to the apparatus.
2. Optical fiber and cable management apparatus according to claim
1, including a strain relief device fixed at the first cable entry
port, wherein the device is constructed and arranged to guide the
inside end portion of the first fiber optic cable through the outer
cylindrical wall and into the fiber routing region over a path that
is tangential to the circumference of the outer cylindrical wall at
the location of the device.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the strain relief device
is constructed and arranged to transfer a pull force applied
externally to the first fiber optic cable, to the outer cylindrical
wall of the drum region when the cable is wound on or off the drum
region.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the strain relief device
includes one or more guides for securing a strength material
beneath an outer jacket of the cable.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a tube having an axial
passage that is sufficiently wide to receive an elongated tool so
that the apparatus can turn freely about the tool when the first
fiber optic cable is paid out from the drum region of the
apparatus.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the tube is supported to
extend between a bottom end whereat the tube passage opens beneath
said base, and a top end whereat the passage opens on a top surface
of the interface compartment.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the tube is supported so
that the axis of said passage coincides with the axis of the outer
cylindrical wall of the drum region.
8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface
compartment includes a connector panel, and a number of connector
adapters mounted in the panel for coupling fiber optic connectors
at an externally facing side of the panel, with corresponding fiber
optic connectors at an internally facing side of the panel.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the interface
compartment is constructed and arranged to support the connector
panel so that a first connector panel can be removed and exchanged
with a second connector panel having connector adapters of a type
different from the type of adapters mounted in the first connector
panel.
10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface
compartment has a side wall, and a number of fingers or tabs that
project outward from the side wall so that the fingers or tabs and
the base confine a length of the first fiber optic cable wound on
the outer drum wall, in the region between the base and the
interface compartment.
11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface
compartment has a side wall, and a disk flange that extends
radially outward and parallel to said base so that the flange and
the base confine a length of the first fiber optic cable wound on
the outer drum wall, in the region between the base and the
interface compartment.
12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface
compartment has a side wall, and the side wall has a second cable
entry port for receiving a fiber optic cable or cable assembly
having a third set of fibers to be coupled via the connector panel
with the second set of fibers of the second fiber optic cable
routed to the apparatus.
13. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein one or more of the
adapters mounted in the connector panel of the interface
compartment are constructed and arranged to couple multi-fiber type
connectors with one another.
14. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a length of the first
fiber optic cable wound about the outer cylindrical wall of the
drum region, and a fiber optic connector for terminating an outside
end of the cable.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the fiber optic
connector at the outside end of the cable is a multi-fiber type of
connector.
16. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a splice chamber
arranged within the base, and a splice tray mounted inside the
chamber.
17. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a connector parking
block fixed to the base, for securing one of a number of different
connector parking strips.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/880,169,
filed inventors on Jan. 13, 2007, and entitled "Multidwelling Unit
(MDU) Drop Box for Fiber Optic Cables".
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to drop boxes or enclosures
for managing fiber optic cables in the deployment of fiber optic
networks at subscriber premises.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Known Art
[0005] The deployment of fiber optic networks at multi-dwelling
units (MDUs) and other subscriber premises, requires the use of
so-called cable drop boxes which are designed for mounting on walls
or other structures at the premises. Current industry practice
calls for the boxes to have a cable entry port at the left side of
the box for receiving a fiber optic cable originating from the
network provider, and one or more ports at the right side of the
box through which a number of fibers associated with individual
subscribers at the premises are routed to connect with fibers in
the provider cable. See, for example, Corning Cable Systems,
Wall-Mountable Connector Housings, at
<www.corningcablesystems.com>, and ADC Telecommunications,
Indoor Fiber Distribution Terminals--Customer Premises Equipment
(CPE), at <www.adc.com/productsandservices/>. See also, 2007
Multilink Catalog, vol. 24, at pages 87-94, disclosing a family of
wall mountable fiber optic cable enclosures available from
Multilink, Inc., of Elyria, Ohio, USA.
[0006] Installation of the known cable drop boxes by a single
worker at a subscriber premises can be difficult and time
consuming, however. Further, the known boxes are dimensioned to
accommodate older types of fiber optic cables which can not
tolerate bend diameters of less than three inches (76.2 mm) without
impairing cable performance. Accordingly, the currently available
drop boxes are relatively large, and are not well-suited for
widespread deployment of fiber optic networks at multi-dwelling
units or other kinds of premises without significant expenditures
of time and labor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to the invention, optical fiber and cable
management apparatus includes a base arranged for mounting on a
wall or other surface at a subscriber premises, and a drum region
extending a certain height axially from the base. The drum region
has an outer cylindrical wall dimensioned to support a length of a
first fiber optic cable when wound about the outer wall, an inner
cylindrical wall formed radially inward of the outer wall wherein
an annular fiber routing region is defined between the two walls,
and a cable entry port in the outer wall for receiving an end
portion of the first fiber optic cable so that fibers of the cable
can be routed through the fiber routing region. An interface
compartment is disposed atop the drum region and is arranged to
interface a first set of fibers that are routed within the
compartment, with a second set of fibers associated with a second
fiber optic cable that is routed to the apparatus.
[0008] In one embodiment, a tube having a passage whose axis
coincides with that of the outer cylindrical wall, extends through
the apparatus for enabling a single installer to use one hand for
paying out a cable wound about the wall, while using the other hand
to hold a screwdriver whose shaft is inserted in the tube passage
so that the apparatus can turn freely about the shaft as the cable
is being paid out. This feature can significantly reduce the time
and effort required of the installer when deploying a fiber optic
network at a given premises.
[0009] For a better understanding of the invention, reference is
made to the following description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawing and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0010] In the drawing:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of
optical fiber and cable management apparatus in the form of a wall
mountable cable drop box, according to the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the drop box
of FIG. 1, showing a cable drum region and other internal
components of the box;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a view of the drop box of FIG. 1 as seen from the
top with a cover lid removed;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a view of the drop box of FIG. 1 as seen from
below;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a
wall mountable cable drop box, according to the invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the drop box
of FIG. 5;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a side view of the drop box of FIG. 5, showing the
location of a cable strain relief device according to the
invention;
[0018] FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the cable strain
relief device;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a view of the strain relief device in FIG. 8 with
a top cover removed;
[0020] FIG. 9A is also a view of the strain relief device without
the top cover, and shows a fiber optic cable entering one end of
the device and individual fibers of the cable exiting from an
opposite end of the device;
[0021] FIG. 9B shows the strain relief device in place in the drum
region of the drop box;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a
wall mountable cable drop box, according to the invention;
[0023] FIG. 11 is a view of the drop box of FIG. 10 as seen from
below;
[0024] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a connector parking area on
a base of the drop box of FIG. 10; and
[0025] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a number of the
inventive cable drop boxes deployed throughout a multidwelling unit
(MDU) premises, according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of optical fiber and cable
management apparatus in the form of a cable drop box 10, according
to the invention. The box 10 may be constructed of sheet metal,
and/or plastics materials such as, without limitation, ABS or
polycarbonate. Moisture proof seals, gaskets and the like may also
be provided on or within the box 10 in a known manner if the box
will be mounted outdoors at a subscriber premises. The box 10 has a
base 12 which, in the disclosed embodiment, is generally square and
measures, e.g., about 6.25 inches (158.75 mm) long on each side
with mounting holes 14 formed at each corner of the base.
[0027] The box 10 also has a drum region 20 that extends axially
upward from a central portion of the base 12. The drum region 20
includes an outer cylindrical wall 22 the outside periphery of
which is partially visible in FIG. 1. The outside diameter of the
wall 22 is sufficient to allow a length of a fiber optic cable (not
shown) to be wound on the drum wall 22 for storage or retention,
with at least the minimum bend diameter specified for the cable.
For example, when using cables of Allwave.RTM. Flex.TM. fiber
available from OFS Fitel, the outside diameter of the drum wall 22
can be about 3.0 inches (76.2 mm) or less. An inside end portion of
the cable enters a cable entry port in the drum wall while being
supported over a substantially straight path by a strain relief
device 24 fitted within the entry port. The device 24 is described
further below in connection with FIGS. 7 to 9B, and it guides the
end portion of the cable through the cylindrical wall 22 along a
line tangential to the circumference of the wall at the location of
the device 24.
[0028] The cable drop box 10 also has an interface compartment 30
that is disposed atop the drum region 20, and which has a
peripheral side wall 31. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the
compartment 30 has a removable cover lid 32 constructed and
arranged to permit an installer to access the interior of the
compartment 30 from outside, and a connector guard or cover 34 that
is hinged to the lid at 35. As explained below, the interface
compartment 30 is dimensioned and formed to allow a first set of
optical fibers that enter the compartment 30 and originate either
from a cable wound over the drum region 20, or from a cable that
enters a port in the compartment wall 31 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), to
connect with a second set of optical fibers from another cable
which fibers terminate in connectors 36 seen beneath the cover 34
in FIG. 1. A number of flat fingers or tabs 38 are formed to
project outward from lower side edges of the compartment wall 31,
and are parallel to the base 12. The tabs 38 and the base 12
together serve to confine a length of cable wound about the drum
wall 22, in the region between the base and the interface
compartment 30.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view in elevation of the drop
box 10 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a view of the box 10 as seen from
the top with the cover lid 32 removed. The interface compartment 30
features a connector panel 40 that is supported to occupy a cut out
region 41 in the compartment sidewall 31. A number of optical
connector adapters 42 are mounted to extend through corresponding
openings in the panel 40, and the adapters 42 operate to couple the
fiber optic connectors 36 at the external side of the panel 40,
with corresponding connectors 44 at the internal side of the panel.
Preferably, the panel 40 is mounted in the sidewall 31 so that it
can be easily removed and exchanged with another panel of the same
dimensions but in which adapters of a different type are mounted.
For example, the panel 40 may be slid in or out of vertical
channels 43 formed at both ends of the sidewall cut out region 41.
A desired panel 40 may then be selected from among a number of
different panels having adapters 42 which accommodate, for example,
type LC, SC, FC, ST, MPO, or type MPX connectors, depending on the
type of cable connectors used at a given deployment.
[0030] As mentioned, optical fibers routed into the interface
compartment 30 may originate from the inside end portion of a cable
wound over the drum region 20 and which passes through the drum
wall 22 via the strain relief device 24. In such an application,
the fibers are routed through an annular fiber routing region 46
that extends between the outer cylindrical wall 22, and an inner
cylindrical wall 48 of the drum region which wall 48 is formed
radially inward of the outer wall 22. The strain relief device 24
and the dimensions of the annular fiber routing region 46, are such
that individual optical fibers will not be subject to a bend
diameter less than that specified for the fibers before entering
the interface compartment 30 and terminating in the connectors 44.
For example, when using cables of Allwave.RTM. Flex.TM. fiber
available from OFS Fitel, the inner wall 48 may have an outside
diameter as small as 0.7874 inches (20 mm), and the mean diameter
of the fiber routing region 46 may only be about 2.0 inches (50.8
mm).
[0031] The sidewall 31 of the interface compartment 30 also has a
cable entry or pass through port 50 (FIGS. 2 & 3) in a rear
section of the wall 31 for receiving an outside fiber optic cable
or cable assembly (not shown) whose fibers are to be coupled with
those fibers terminated by the connectors 36. Alternatively, the
cable entry port 50 may be provided in the form of a large opening
through a portion of an alternate connector panel 40 (not shown).
In such applications, the fibers of the cable entering the rear
port 50 may be routed directly to corresponding ones of the
connectors 44 with little, if any, bending whatsoever. Moreover,
the use of multifiber connectors such as type MPO in the connector
panel 40 enables the box 10 to act as an aggregation box. That is,
multiple cables originating from other like boxes at different
levels of a multi-dwelling unit (MDU) may enter the rear port 50 of
the interface compartment 30, to connect via the MPO connectors
with a single cable routed to the box from an alternate location,
e.g., the basement of the MDU. See FIG. 13 and related text below.
If not used, the rear cable entry port 50 is preferably kept closed
by a plug 52.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the fiber optic cable drop box of
FIG. 1. A cylindrical tube 60 is formed with a central axial
passage 62. The tube 60 extends axially between a top end of the
tube 60 that fits through a clearance opening in the cover lid 32
to lie flush with the lid's top surface as shown in FIG. 1, and a
bottom end of the tube where the tube passage 62 opens beneath the
base 12 as seen in FIG. 4. The axis of the tube passage 62
coincides with the axis of the outer cylindrical wall 22 of the
drum region 20. In the disclosed embodiment, the tube 60 extends
above and below the center of a wall 63 that closes an upper axial
end of the inner cylindrical wall 48, as seen in FIG. 2.
[0033] The diameter of the central passage 62 in the tube 60 is
preferably sufficient to allow a long narrow tool such as a
screwdriver shaft, bolt or other payoff mandrel, to be inserted
through the passage from above or below the box 10 so that the tool
will act as a spindle about which the box 10 can turn freely. This
construction allows a single worker easily to pay out a cable wound
on the drum region 20, as may be necessary for a network deployment
at a MDU. For example, while holding the handle of an inserted
screwdriver in one hand, the worker can use his or her other hand
to pull and unwind a desired length of the cable from the drum
region 20 while the box 10 is free to turn about the screwdriver
shaft.
[0034] FIGS. 5 to 7 show a second embodiment of a fiber-optic cable
drop box 200 according to the invention. Components of the box 200
that are identical or similar to those of the box 10 of FIGS. 1 to
4, have corresponding reference numerals increased by 200.
[0035] The box 200 has a single piece cover lid 232 with an
integrated hinge 235 for a connector guard or cover 234. Further, a
side wall 231 of an interface compartment 230 has a continuous
circular disk flange 204 that extends radially outward beneath the
compartment 230, parallel to a base 212 of the box. The flange 204
and the base 212 together serve to confine a length of fiber optic
cable wound on the outer cylindrical wall 222, within the region
between the flange 204 and the base 212. As with the box 10 of
FIGS. 1 to 4, an inside end portion of the cable is guided by a
strain relief device 224 to enter an annular fiber routing region
246 inside the box 200, over a substantially straight path
tangential to the circumference of the wall 222 at the location of
the device 224.
[0036] Also, as seen in FIG. 6, the base 212 of the drop box 200
may be formed as a separate piece that is fastened to the bottom of
the drum region 220 by, e.g., screws or other fasteners that are
formed to engage collars 206 fixed at the bottom of the annular
fiber routing region 246.
[0037] FIG. 8 is an enlarged, perspective view of the strain relief
device 224 which corresponds to the strain relief device 24
provided in the drop box 10 in FIG. 1. As seen in FIG. 9, the
strain relief device 224 is comprised of an arcuately shaped device
body 208 with a generally U-shaped cross section having an outer
side wall 224a, an inner side wall 224b, a base wall 224c, and a
cover 209 that fits atop and extends between the side walls 224a,
224b of the device.
[0038] Further, as shown in FIG. 9A, the outer side wall 224a has
an opening 226 at one end of the device 224 for receiving the inner
end portion of, e.g., a flat ribbon fiber optic cable 260 wound on
the outer cylindrical wall 222 of the drum region 220. An opening
228 at the opposite end of the device 224 allows individual fibers
of the cable to exit from the device and to enter the fiber routing
region 246 of the box 200, preferably after each fiber is protected
with, for example, a commercially available 900 .mu.m sleeve.
[0039] The cable 260 and its individual fibers are guided over a
substantially straight path between the device openings 226, 228,
with the aid of a pair of parallel fingers or guides 211 that
project upward from the base wall 224c of the device 224 as seen in
FIGS. 9 and 9A. After outer jacketing is stripped away from the end
portion of the cable 260, lengths of an arimid or Kevlar.RTM. yarn
that surrounds the cable fibers and serves as a reinforcing or
strength material for the cable, are wrapped about and secured to
the guides 211 with an epoxy or other suitable adhesive.
Commercially available protective sleeves (e.g., 900 .mu.m) are
placed over each of the individual cable fibers, and the sleeved
fibers are guided out of the device opening 228. The device cover
209 is fixed to the body 208 via a suitable adhesive, and the
assembled cable strain relief device 224 is fixed securely within a
cable entry port 225 defined between the outer cylindrical wall 222
and the inner cylindrical wall 248 of the drum region 220, as shown
in FIG. 9B.
[0040] Accordingly, the inside end portion of the cable 260 and its
individual fibers pass tangentially with respect to the outer
cylindrical wall 222 through the cable entry port 225 in the wall,
and into the annular fiber routing region 246 of the box 200.
Because the yarn surrounding the fibers is anchored to the guides
211 of the strain relief device 224, any force applied externally
to the cable 260 when the cable is being wound on or off the outer
cylindrical wall 222 of the drum region, will be transferred to the
wall 222 in which the device 224 is fixed rather than to the fibers
themselves.
[0041] FIGS. 10 to 12 show a third embodiment of a fiber optic
cable drop box 300 according to the invention. Components of the
box 300 that are identical or similar to those of the box 10 of
FIGS. 1 to 4, have corresponding reference numerals increased by
300. The box 300 features an integral splice compartment 308 in its
base 312, a connector parking area 313, and a number of security
latch holes 315.
Splice Compartment 308
[0042] Typical MDU drop box installations have single fiber
breakouts that egress from the box, wherein each breakout is
associated with a corresponding living unit of the premises where
the box is installed. Single fiber cables from each living unit are
often routed to a drop box without a terminating connector. The
bare ends of these cables can be terminated at the drop box in
various ways. For example, single ended fiber pigtails can be
spliced within the drop box so that splice sleeves are housed in a
common space. This requires a chamber or compartment to house the
splice in order to prevent damage and to manage fiber slack.
Alternatives may include mechanical splicing of the pigtails, which
would require a similar chamber or housing. The individual single
fiber cables may also be terminated directly with a field
installable connector, thus obviating the need for a splice
chamber.
[0043] The drop box 300 has an integrated splice chamber or
compartment 308 attached or formed underneath the base 312,
including a splice tray 309 mounted inside the base. The splice
tray 309 may be fixed within the box 300, or affixed directly to a
wall. In either case, the box 300 may be installed over the splice
compartment 308. Pigtails or terminated ends can then enter or exit
a lower section of the compartment through corresponding clearance
notches 311 that are cut in a side wall of the base 312.
Connector Parking Area 313
[0044] The connector parking area or block 313 allows terminated
fiber ends to be stored while not in use. The block 313 is
constructed and dimensioned to receive and secure a selected one of
a number of different commercially available connector parking
strips 307 (e.g., type SC) in the block 313. This feature enables
the future use of alternate connector types without having to
replace the box 300, but at the same time allows installers to
forego parking
Latch Holes 315
[0045] Several latch or security holes 315 may be formed through
corresponding feet on the hinged cover lid 332. The latch holes 315
allow the end user to utilize a number of safety lockout methods.
For example, one hole 315 can be used with a standard plunger type
latching mechanism simply to keep the lid closed. Other holes 315
can be used to receive wire ties, lockout tags, or other security
locks.
[0046] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a fiber optic network
deployment at a multi-dwelling unit 400. A number of the inventive
drop boxes, for example, the box 10 of FIGS. 1 to 4, are mounted at
corresponding locations in the MDU 400, for example, above a drop
ceiling on each floor 414 of the MDU. Optical fibers 416
corresponding to network subscribers on a given floor 414 are
terminated in the connectors 36 which, in turn, are connected to
the adapters 42 on the external side of the box panel 40.
[0047] Each of the subscriber fibers 416 is connected with a
corresponding fiber in a cable 418 associated with the drop box 10
in the ceiling of the subscriber's floor. The cable 418 may be
wound initially about the drum region 20 of the box 10, to be
partially or fully unwound later for routing to another drop box 10
that serves as an "aggregation"box which is located, e.g, between a
basement 420 and a roof 422 of the MDU 400. The fibers of the cable
418 are terminated in the connectors 44 which, in turn, are
connected to the adapters 42 on the internal side of the box
connector panel 40.
[0048] At the aggregation box 10, each one of the cables 418
containing subscriber fibers from each floor of the MDU 400, enters
the aggregation box through its rear pass through port 50 or a
faceplate port. As mentioned earlier, the fibers of each cable 418
may be routed inside the box with little if any bending to connect
via a multi-fiber connector 44 with a corresponding adapter 42 on
the internal side of the box panel 40. A main fiber optic cable 424
serving all subscribers in the MDU 400, is routed between a cable
entry box 426 in the basement 420, and the aggregation box 10 in
which the main cable fibers connect to the adapters 42 on the
external side of the box panel 40 via multifiber connectors 36. A
network provider cable 430 is routed to the entry box 426 from
outside the MDU 400, and fibers of the cable 430 are connected to
corresponding subscriber fibers of the cable 424 inside the entry
box 426.
[0049] The various embodiments disclosed herein incorporate the
following important features in optical fiber and cable management
apparatus.
[0050] 1. Reduced physical dimensions for use with newer types of
fiber optic cable such as Allwave.RTM. Flex.TM. available from OFS
Fitel and which have superior bending performance.
[0051] 2. An axial drum region that provides for external cable
storage and keeps internal fiber routing within safe bending
limits.
[0052] 3. A central through tube that facilitates pay-off of cable
wound externally on the drum region, with the use of a common tool
such as a screwdriver.
[0053] While the foregoing represents preferred embodiments of the
invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
various modifications and changes may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the invention
includes all such modifications and changes as come within the
scope of the following claims.
* * * * *