U.S. patent application number 14/946018 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-25 for fiber optic drawer tray having rotatable spool for deployment of fiber optic cable, and related components, systems, and methods.
The applicant listed for this patent is CORNING OPTICAL COMMUNICATION LLC. Invention is credited to Cesar Alberto Galvan Mijangos, Arturo Parra Morales, Guadalupe Rodriguez Sanchez.
Application Number | 20170146763 14/946018 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58721739 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170146763 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Galvan Mijangos; Cesar Alberto ;
et al. |
May 25, 2017 |
FIBER OPTIC DRAWER TRAY HAVING ROTATABLE SPOOL FOR DEPLOYMENT OF
FIBER OPTIC CABLE, AND RELATED COMPONENTS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS
Abstract
A fiber optic drawer tray for fiber optic equipment having a
rotatable spool for deployment of fiber optic cable comprises a
horizontal base and a pair of housing engagement features on
opposite sides of the horizontal base, for movably engaging with at
least one tray engagement feature of a drawer housing. The fiber
optic drawer tray also comprises a rotatable spool disposed on the
base, and a fiber optic adapter sub-assembly configured to receive
and retain a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted to the
rotatable spool. The spool is further configured to store a length
of fiber optic cable wound around the spool. The fiber optic cable
can be terminated by a plurality of connectors and can be connected
to the plurality of adapters. The spool is continuously rotatable
to spool or unspool the fiber optic cable without disconnecting the
plurality of connectors.
Inventors: |
Galvan Mijangos; Cesar Alberto;
(Reynosa, MX) ; Parra Morales; Arturo; (Reynosa,
MX) ; Rodriguez Sanchez; Guadalupe; (Reynosa,
MX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CORNING OPTICAL COMMUNICATION LLC |
Hickory |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
58721739 |
Appl. No.: |
14/946018 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 6/4452 20130101;
G02B 6/4457 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G02B 6/44 20060101
G02B006/44; G02B 6/38 20060101 G02B006/38 |
Claims
1. A fiber optic drawer tray for fiber optic equipment, the fiber
optic drawer tray comprising: A substantially horizontal base; a
pair of housing engagement features disposed on opposite sides of
the horizontal base, each housing engagement feature of the pair of
housing engagement features configured to movably engage with at
least one tray engagement feature of a drawer housing; a rotatable
spool disposed on the base; and a fiber optic adapter sub-assembly
mounted to the rotatable spool, the fiber optic adapter
sub-assembly configured to receive and retain a plurality of fiber
optic adapters, the fiber optic adapter sub-assembly and the
rotatable spool configured to rotate together with respect to the
base of the fiber optic drawer tray; wherein the rotatable spool is
configured to store a length of a fiber optic cable wound around
the rotatable spool, the fiber optic cable comprising a plurality
of optical fibers terminated by a plurality of connectors
configured to be disposed in the plurality of fiber optic adapters
in the fiber optic adapter sub-assembly, and wherein the rotatable
spool is continuously rotatable for a plurality of revolutions with
respect to the base to spool or unspool the fiber optic cable
without removing the plurality of connectors from the plurality of
adapters in the fiber optic adapter sub-assembly.
2. The fiber optic drawer tray of claim 1, wherein the rotatable
spool further comprises: a spindle member having a bottom end
proximate to the base and a top end; a bottom flange member
attached to the bottom end of the spindle member; and a top tray
member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top tray
member attached to a top end of a spool member; wherein the bottom
flange member and the top tray member define a storage volume for
retaining the fiber optic cable when the fiber optic cable is wound
around the spindle member of the rotatable spool.
3. The fiber optic drawer tray of claim 2, wherein the fiber optic
adapter sub-assembly is configured to receive and retain the
plurality of fiber optic adapters in a horizontal array on the top
surface of the top tray member.
4. The fiber optic drawer tray of claim 2, wherein the top tray has
an opening configured to guide the fiber optic cable between the
fiber optic adapter sub-assembly and the storage volume.
5. The fiber optic drawer tray of claim 1, further comprising at
least one spool stop configured to selectively inhibit rotation of
the rotatable spool with respect to the base.
6. The fiber optic drawer tray of claim 1, wherein each of the pair
of housing engagement features comprises at least one horizontal
rail configured to movably engage with the at least one tray
engagement feature of the drawer housing.
7. The fiber optic drawer tray of claim 1, wherein each of the at
least one tray engagement features comprises at least one
complementary horizontal rail configured to slidably engage at
least one of the horiztonal rail of the housing engagement
features.
8. The fiber optic drawer tray of claim 1, further comprising at
least one drawer stop configured to selectively inhibit horizontal
movement of the fiber optic drawer tray with respect to the drawer
housing.
9. A fiber optic chassis comprising: a drawer housing defining an
interior volume, the drawer housing comprising: a pair of side
walls on opposite sides of the interior volume, each side wall
having at least one tray engagement feature; at least one fiber
optic drawer tray for fiber optic equipment, each fiber optic
drawer tray comprising: a substantially horizontal base; a pair of
housing engagement features disposed on opposite sides of the
horizontal base, each housing engagement feature of the pair of
housing engagement features configured to movably engage with one
of at least one tray engagement feature of the drawer housing, such
that fiber optic drawer tray is horizontally movable into and out
of the interior volume of the drawer housing; a rotatable spool
disposed on the base; and a fiber optic adapter sub-assembly
mounted to the rotatable spool, the fiber optic adapter
sub-assembly configured to receive and retain a plurality of fiber
optic adapters, the fiber optic adapter sub-assembly and the
rotatable spool configured to rotate together with respect to the
base of the fiber optic drawer tray; wherein the rotatable spool is
configured to store a length of fiber optic cable wound around the
rotatable spool, the fiber optic cable comprising a plurality of
optical fibers terminated by a plurality of connectors configured
to be disposed in the plurality of fiber optic adapters in the
fiber optic adapter sub-assembly; and wherein the rotatable spool
is continuously rotatable for a plurality of revolutions with
respect to the base to spool or unspool the fiber optic cable
without removing the plurality of connectors from the plurality of
adapters in the fiber optic adapter sub-assembly.
10. The fiber optic chassis of claim 9, wherein each rotatable
spool further comprises: a spindle member having a bottom end
proximate to the respective base and a top end; a bottom flange
member attached to the bottom end of the spindle member; and a top
tray member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top tray
attached to the top end of the spool member, wherein the bottom
flange member and the top tray member define a storage volume for
retaining the fiber optic cable when the fiber optic cable is wound
around the spindle member of the rotatable spool.
11. The fiber optic chassis of claim 10, wherein the fiber optic
adapter sub-assembly is configured to receive and retain the
plurality of fiber optic adapters in a horizontal array on the top
surface of the top tray member.
12. The fiber optic chassis of claim 10, wherein the top tray of
each rotatable spool has an opening configured to guide the
respective fiber optic cable between the respective fiber optic
adapter sub-assembly and the respective storage volume.
13. The fiber optic chassis of claim 9, each fiber optic drawer
tray comprising at least one spool stop configured to selectively
inhibit rotation of the rotatable spool with respect to the
base.
14. The fiber optic chassis of claim 9, wherein each housing
engagement feature of each pair of housing engagement features
comprises at least one horizontal rail configured to movably engage
with the at least one tray engagement feature of the drawer
housing.
15. The fiber optic chassis of claim 9, wherein each of the at
least one tray engagement features comprises at least one
complementary horizontal rail configured to slidably engage at
least one of the horiztonal rail of the housing engagement
features.
16. The fiber optic chassis of claim 9, wherein the housing
comprises at least one first drawer stop, and wherein each fiber
optic drawer tray further comprises at least one second drawer stop
configured to engage with the at least one first drawer stop to
selectively inhibit a horizontal movement of the fiber optic drawer
tray with respect to the drawer housing.
17. A method of storing fiber optic cable, the method comprising:
providing a fiber optic cable having a first end and a second end,
the fiber optic cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers,
each of the plurality of optical fibers terminated with fiber optic
connectors at the first end of the fiber optic cable; connecting
each of the plurality of fiber optic connectors to a plurality of
fiber optic adapters in a fiber optic adapter sub-assembly, the
fiber optic adapter sub-assembly connected to a rotatable spool
rotatably mounted to a base of a fiber optic drawer tray; and
continuously rotating the rotatable spool in a first direction for
a plurality of revolutions with respect to the base of the fiber
optic drawer tray such that the fiber optic cable winds around the
rotatable spool without removing the plurality of fiber optic
connectors from the plurality of fiber optic adapters.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: continuously
rotating the rotatable spool in a second direction opposite the
first direction for a plurality of revolutions to unwind a
predetermined length of the fiber optic cable between the second
end of the fiber optic cable and the rotatable spool without
removing the plurality of fiber optic connectors from the plurality
of fiber optic adapters; and horizontally moving the fiber optic
drawer tray into an interior volume of a drawer housing such that
the predetermined length of the fiber optic cable extends out of
the interior volume of the drawer housing.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising: horizontally moving
the fiber optic drawer tray out of an interior volume of a drawer
housing; continuously rotating the rotatable spool in a second
direction opposite the first direction for a plurality of
revolutions to unwind the fiber optic cable from the rotatable
spool without removing the plurality of fiber optic connectors from
the plurality of fiber optic adapters; disconnecting the plurality
of fiber optic connectors from the plurality of fiber optic
adapters after continuously rotating the rotatable spool in the
second direction for the plurality of revolutions; and removing the
fiber optic cable from the rotatable spool.
20. A method of distributing fiber optic cable, the method
comprising: horizontally moving a fiber optic drawer tray out of an
interior volume of a drawer housing, continuously rotating a
rotatable spool rotatably mounted to the fiber optic drawer tray
for a plurality of revolutions with respect to a base of the fiber
optic drawer tray to unwind a predetermined length of the fiber
optic cable between the second end of the fiber optic cable and the
rotatable spool without removing the plurality of fiber optic
connectors from the plurality of fiber optic adapters.
21. The method of claim 20, further comprising horizontally moving
the fiber optic drawer tray into an interior volume of a drawer
housing such that the predetermined length of the fiber optic cable
extends out of the interior volume of the drawer housing.
22. The method of claim 20, further comprising: horizontally moving
the fiber optic drawer tray out of an interior volume of a drawer
housing prior to continuously rotating the rotatable spool for the
plurality of revolutions; disconnecting the plurality of fiber
optic connectors from the plurality of fiber optic adapters after
continuously rotating the rotatable spool in the second direction
for the plurality of revolutions; and removing the fiber optic
cable from the rotatable spool.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The disclosure relates generally to a fiber optic drawer
tray for a fiber optic housing, and more particularly to a fiber
optic drawer tray having a rotatable spool which may be used in
deployment of fiber optic cable, and related components, systems,
and methods.
[0002] Benefits of optical fiber include extremely wide bandwidth
and low noise operation. Because of these advantages, optical fiber
is increasingly being used for a variety of applications, including
but not limited to broadband voice, video, and data transmission.
Fiber optic networks employing optical fiber are being developed
and used to deliver voice, video, and data transmissions to
subscribers over both private and public networks. These fiber
optic networks often include separated connection points linking
optical fibers to provide "live fiber" from one connection point to
another connection point. In this regard, fiber optic equipment is
located in data distribution centers or central offices to support
interconnections. For example, the fiber optic equipment can
support interconnections between servers, storage area networks
(SANs), and other equipment at data centers. Interconnections may
be supported by fiber optic patch panels or modules.
[0003] The fiber optic equipment is typically included in housings
that are mounted in equipment racks to optimize use of space. One
challenge with fiber optic housing installations relates to
interconnections between fiber optic components in different
housings within an installation. One common solution is the use of
jumper cables or other types of fiber optic cable interconnects to
connect components in one housing to components in another housing
within the fiber optic rack or in another fiber optic rack.
However, different jumper cables have varying lengths, which may
not correspond to a desired length for a particular interconnect
between components in different housings within a fiber optic
installation. Accordingly, there is a need for an efficient and
cost-effective system for distributing cable within a fiber optic
installation.
[0004] No admission is made that any reference cited herein
constitutes prior art. Applicant expressly reserves the right to
challenge the accuracy and pertinency of any cited documents.
SUMMARY
[0005] Embodiments include a fiber optic drawer tray for fiber
optic equipment having a rotatable spool for deployment of fiber
optic cable, and related components, systems, and methods. In this
regard, in one aspect, the fiber optic drawer tray comprises a
horizontal base and a pair of housing engagement features on
opposite sides of the horizontal base. The fiber optic drawer tray
is configured to movably engage with at least one tray engagement
feature of a drawer housing. The fiber optic drawer tray also
comprises a rotatable spool disposed on the base, and a fiber optic
adapter sub-assembly mounted to the rotatable spool. The fiber
optic adapter sub-assembly is configured to receive and retain a
plurality of fiber optic adapters. The fiber optic adapter
sub-assembly and the rotatable spool are configured to rotate
together with respect to the base of the fiber optic drawer tray.
The spool is further configured to store a length of fiber optic
cable wound around the spool. The fiber optic cable can be
terminated by a plurality of connectors and can be connected to the
plurality of adapters. The spool is continuously rotatable for a
plurality of revolutions with respect to the base to spool or
unspool the fiber optic cable without removing the plurality of
connectors from the plurality of adapters. One non-limiting
advantage of this fiber optic drawer tray is that fiber can be
distributed from the fiber optic drawer tray without disconnecting
the fiber optic cable from the plurality of fiber optic adapters,
and without the need for additional jumper cables having different
lengths.
[0006] One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a fiber optic
drawer tray for fiber optic equipment. The fiber optic drawer tray
comprises a horizontal base and a pair of housing engagement
features disposed on opposite sides of the horizontal base. Each of
the pair of housing engagement features is configured to movably
engage with at least one tray engagement feature of a drawer
housing. The fiber optic drawer tray further comprises a rotatable
spool disposed on the base. The fiber optic drawer tray further
comprises a fiber optic adapter sub-assembly mounted to rotatable
spool. The fiber optic adapter sub-assembly is configured to
receive and retain a plurality of fiber optic adapters, the fiber
optic adapter sub-assembly and the rotatable spool configured to
rotate together with respect to the base of the fiber optic drawer
tray. The rotatable spool is configured to store a length of a
fiber optic cable wound around the rotatable spool. The fiber optic
cable comprises a plurality of optical fibers terminated by a
plurality of connectors configured to be disposed in the plurality
of fiber optic adapters in the fiber optic adapter sub-assembly.
The rotatable spool is continuously rotatable for a plurality of
revolutions with respect to the base to spool or unspool the fiber
optic cable without removing the plurality of connectors from the
plurality of adapters in the fiber optic adapter sub-assembly.
[0007] An additional embodiment of the disclosure relates to a
fiber optic chassis. The fiber optic chassis comprises a drawer
housing defining an interior volume. The drawer housing comprises a
pair of side walls on opposite sides of the interior volume. Each
side wall has at least one tray engagement feature. The chassis
further comprises at least one fiber optic drawer tray for fiber
optic equipment. Each fiber optic drawer tray comprises a
horizontal base and a pair of housing engagement features disposed
on opposite sides of the horizontal base. Each of the pair of
housing engagement features is configured to movably engage with at
least one tray engagement feature of the drawer housing. The fiber
optic drawer tray further comprises a rotatable spool disposed on
the base. The fiber optic drawer tray further comprises a fiber
optic adapter sub-assembly mounted to rotatable spool. The fiber
optic adapter sub-assembly is configured to receive and retain a
plurality of fiber optic adapters, the fiber optic adapter
sub-assembly and the rotatable spool configured to rotate together
with respect to the base of the fiber optic drawer tray. The
rotatable spool is configured to store a length of a fiber optic
cable wound around the rotatable spool. The fiber optic cable
comprises a plurality of optical fibers terminated by a plurality
of connectors configured to be disposed in the plurality of fiber
optic adapters in the fiber optic adapter sub-assembly. The
rotatable spool is continuously rotatable for a plurality of
revolutions with respect to the base to spool or unspool the fiber
optic cable without removing the plurality of connectors from the
plurality of adapters in the fiber optic adapter sub-assembly.
[0008] An additional embodiment of the disclosure relates to a
method of storing fiber optic cable. The method comprises providing
a fiber optic cable having a first end and a second end, the fiber
optic cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers. Each optical
fiber is terminated with fiber optic connectors at the first end of
the fiber optic cable. The method further comprises connecting each
of the plurality of fiber optic connectors to a plurality of fiber
optic adapters. The plurality of fiber optic adapters are connected
to a rotatable spool rotatably mounted to a base of a fiber optic
drawer tray. The method further comprises continuously rotating the
spool in a first direction for a plurality of revolutions with
respect to the base of the fiber optic drawer tray such that the
fiber optic cable winds around the spool without removing the
plurality of connectors from the plurality of adapters.
[0009] An additional embodiment of the disclosure relates to a
method of distributing fiber optic cable. The method comprises
horizontally moving a fiber optic drawer tray out of an interior
volume of a drawer housing. The method further comprises
continuously rotating a rotatable spool rotatably mounted to the
fiber optic drawer tray for a plurality of revolutions with respect
to a base of the fiber optic drawer tray to unwind a predetermined
length of the fiber optic cable between the second end of the fiber
optic cable and the rotatable spool without removing the plurality
of fiber optic connectors from the plurality of fiber optic
adapters.
[0010] Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the
detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily
apparent to those skilled in the art from the description or
recognized by practicing the embodiments as described in the
written description and claims hereof, as well as the appended
drawings.
[0011] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are merely
exemplary, and are intended to provide an overview or framework to
understand the nature and character of the claims.
[0012] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of
this specification. The drawings illustrate one or more
embodiment(s), and together with the description serve to explain
principles and operation of the various embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1A is an isometric view of a fiber optic chassis having
a fiber optic drawer tray with a rotatable spool for distributing
fiber optic cable, according to an embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 1B is an isometric view of the fiber optic chassis of
FIG. 1A showing the rotation of the spool within the fiber optic
chassis;
[0015] FIG. 1C is an isometric partially-exploded view of the fiber
optic chassis of FIGS. 1A and 1B showing the external components of
the fiber optic chassis;
[0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the fiber optic
drawer tray of FIGS. 1A-1C, illustrating the components and
assembly of the fiber optic drawer tray;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the spindle
sub-assembly of the spool of the fiber optic drawer tray of FIGS.
1A-2;
[0018] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a fiber optic chassis similar
to the fiber optic chassis of FIGS. 1A-2 installed in a fiber optic
equipment rack, according to an embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a fiber optic chassis
configured to occupy a 2-U space according to an alternative
embodiment; and
[0020] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a fiber optic chassis
configured to occupy a 4-U space according to an alternative
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Embodiments include a fiber optic drawer tray for fiber
optic equipment having a rotatable spool for deployment of fiber
optic cable, and related components, systems, and methods. In this
regard, in one aspect, the fiber optic drawer tray comprises a
horizontal base and a pair of housing engagement features on
opposite sides of the horizontal base. The fiber optic drawer tray
is configured to movably engage with at least one tray engagement
feature of a drawer housing. The fiber optic drawer tray also
comprises a rotatable spool disposed on the base, and a fiber optic
adapter sub-assembly mounted to the rotatable spool. The fiber
optic adapter sub-assembly is configured to receive and retain a
plurality of fiber optic adapters. The fiber optic adapter
sub-assembly and the rotatable spool are configured to rotate
together with respect to the base of the fiber optic drawer tray.
The spool is further configured to store a length of fiber optic
cable wound around the spool. The fiber optic cable can be
terminated by a plurality of connectors and can be connected to the
plurality of adapters. The spool is continuously rotatable for a
plurality of revolutions with respect to the base to spool or
unspool the fiber optic cable without removing the plurality of
connectors from the plurality of adapters. One non-limiting
advantage of this fiber optic drawer tray is that fiber can be
distributed from the fiber optic drawer tray without disconnecting
the fiber optic cable from the plurality of fiber optic adapters,
and without the need for additional jumper cables having different
lengths.
[0022] Various embodiments will be further clarified by the
following examples. In this regard, FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate a fiber
optic drawer tray 10 for fiber optic equipment as part of a fiber
optic chassis 12. FIG. 1A is an isometric view of the fiber optic
chassis 12 and a fiber optic drawer tray 10. FIG. 1B is an
isometric view of the fiber optic chassis 12 showing the additional
details and functionality of the fiber optic drawer tray 10. FIG.
1C is an isometric partially-exploded view of the external
components of the fiber optic chassis 12. Referring now to FIG. 1A,
the fiber optic drawer tray 10 has a horizontal base 14 and a pair
of housing engagement features 16 on opposite sides of the
horizontal base 14. The fiber optic drawer tray 10 is horizontally
movable into and out of a drawer housing 18, with each housing
engagement feature 16 movably engaging with a complementary tray
engagement feature 20 of the drawer housing 18. The fiber optic
drawer tray 10 also includes a rotatable spool 22 disposed on the
base 14, and a plurality of fiber optic adapters 24 (See FIG. 1B)
mounted to rotatable spool 22. The plurality of fiber optic
adapters 24 and the rotatable spool 22 are configured to rotate
together with respect to the base 14 of the fiber optic drawer tray
10.
[0023] As shown by FIG. 1B, the spool 22 is further configured to
store a length of fiber optic cable 26 wound around the spool 22.
The fiber optic cable 26 is terminated by a plurality of fiber
optic connectors 28 connected to the plurality of fiber optic
adapters 24, and the spool 22 is configured to continuously rotate
for a plurality of revolutions with respect to the base 14 to spool
or unspool the fiber optic cable 26 without removing the plurality
of fiber optic connectors 28 from the plurality of fiber optic
adapters 24. One advantage of this arrangement is that the fiber
optic cable 26 can be distributed from the fiber optic drawer tray
10 to any predetermined length without disconnecting the fiber
optic cable 26 from the plurality of fiber optic adapters 24, and
without the need for additional jumper cables.
[0024] In this embodiment, the fiber optic cable 26 has a plurality
of optical fibers 30 terminated by the plurality of fiber optic
connectors 28 at a first end 32. The fiber optic cable 26 passes
through an opening 36 and is wound around the spool 22. A second
end 34 of the fiber optic cable 26 is able to be unwound from the
spool 22 to provide a predetermined length 38 of fiber optic cable
26 between the second end 34 of the fiber optic cable 26 and the
spool 22. To unwind the fiber optic cable 26, the spool 22 is
rotated with respect to the base 14 of the fiber optic drawer tray
10.
[0025] The fiber optic drawer tray 10 is configured to be
horizontally movable with respect an interior volume 40 to the
drawer housing 18. In this embodiment, the drawer housing 18
comprises a pair of side walls 42, a bottom panel 44, and a top
panel 46 (see FIG. 1C), defining the interior volume 40. A pair of
mounting brackets 47 are attached to the side walls 42 to
facilitate mounting the drawer housing 18, for example, to a fiber
optic equipment rack (not shown). In this embodiment, the drawer
housing 18 has a front opening 48, with a movable front door 50,
and a rear opening 52, with a movable rear door 54. The fiber optic
drawer tray 10 in this embodiment is configured to be horizontally
movable into and out of either of the front opening 48 and the rear
opening 52.
[0026] Each side wall 42 includes a tray engagement feature 20
configured to engage with a complementary housing engagement
feature 16 of the fiber optic drawer tray 10. In this embodiment,
each housing engagement feature 16 may include a housing engagement
rail 56 configured to engage with one or more complementary tray
engagement rails 58 of the tray engagement feature 20 (see FIG.
1A). In this embodiment, the housing engagement feature 16 also
includes at least one housing engagement stop 60 configured to
engage with at least one tray engagement stop 61 of the tray
engagement feature 20, in order to inhibit and/or prevent
horizontal movement of the fiber optic drawer tray 10 with respect
to the drawer housing 18 in one or more predetermined stop
positions. The fiber optic drawer tray 10 may also include a spool
stop 62 configured to allow or inhibit rotation of the spool 22.
The spool stop 62 in this embodiment includes a retention pin 63
for selectively engaging with a complementary recess 64 in the base
14 of the fiber optic drawer tray 10, and a flange 66 for
selectively engaging with the spool 22 to permit or inhibit
rotation of the spool 22.
[0027] The spool 22 has a number of components that facilitate
deployment of the fiber optic cable 26. In this regard, FIG. 2
illustrates an exploded isometric view of individual components of
the spool 22 and fiber optic drawer tray 10. The spool 22 includes
a central spindle member 68 disposed between a bottom flange member
70 and a top tray member 72 having a top surface 74 and a bottom
surface 76. The top tray member 72, the bottom flange member 70 and
the central spindle member 68 define an interior storage volume 78
for retaining the fiber optic cable 26 when the fiber optic cable
26 is wound around the central spindle member 68. As the spool 22
is rotated to wind and/or unwind the fiber optic cable 26 around
the central spindle member 68, the bottom flange member 70 and the
top tray member 72 guide and retain the fiber optic cable 26 within
the interior storage volume 78 of the spool 22.
[0028] In this embodiment, the fiber optic adapters 24 are arranged
in an array on the top surface 74 of the top tray member 72. The
top tray member 72 in this embodiment has a generally rectangular
profile configured to rotate freely within the interior volume 40
of the drawer housing 18 without contacting any part of the drawer
housing 18. In this embodiment, the top tray member 72 may have
clipped or smoothed corners 80 to facilitate free rotation of the
top tray member 72 within the interior volume 40 of the drawer
housing 18. The top tray member 72 in this embodiment also includes
a plurality of cable guides 82 extending vertically with respect to
the top surface 74 of the top tray member 72. The cable guides 82
and the top surface 74 define a slack storage volume 84 for storing
and retaining an excess length of the fiber optic cable 26.
[0029] In some embodiments, the array of fiber optic adapters 24 is
disposed in a removable fiber optic adapter sub-assembly 86. The
fiber optic adapter sub-assembly 86 includes an adapter mounting
member 87 for accommodating the plurality of fiber optic adapters
24. The adapter mounting member 87 of the fiber optic adapter
sub-assembly 86 is selectively removable from the top surface 74 of
the top tray member 72, for example, to access the fiber optic
adapters 24, the connected fiber optic connectors 28, the
individual optical fibers 30, or other portions of the fiber optic
cable 26 at the first end 32 of the fiber optic cable 26. Another
benefit of the fiber optic adapter sub-assembly 86 being removable
from the top surface 74 of the top tray member 72 is that the fiber
optic adapter sub-assembly 86 can be removed from the fiber optic
drawer tray 10 and the fiber optic chassis 12 without disconnecting
the fiber optic connectors 28 of the fiber optic cable 26 from the
fiber optic adapters 24 disposed in the fiber optic adapter
sub-assembly 86. In addition, the spool 22 remains freely rotatable
about the base 14 of the fiber optic drawer tray 10 regardless of
whether the fiber optic adapter sub-assembly 86 is connected or
disconnected to the top tray member 72 of the spool 22. Thus, the
second end 34 of the fiber optic cable 26 can still be wound or
unwound around the central spindle member 68 of the spool 22 by
rotating the spool 22 when the fiber optic adapter sub-assembly 86
is disconnected from the top surface 74 of the top tray member 72,
without disconnecting the fiber optic connectors 28 of the fiber
optic cable 26 from the fiber optic adapters 24 disposed in the
fiber optic adapter sub-assembly 86.
[0030] In this embodiment, the spool 22 is rotatably attached to
the base 14 of the fiber optic drawer tray 10 using a spindle
sub-assembly 88. As shown by FIG. 2, an attachment bracket 90 is
connected between the central spindle member 68 and the bottom
flange member 70. The bottom flange member 70 has a circular flange
member opening 94 having a first diameter and the attachment
bracket 90 has an attachment bracket opening 96 having a second
diameter larger than the first diameter (not shown). A flange
sub-assembly 98 is attached to the base 14 of the fiber optic
drawer tray 10 to retain the bottom flange member 70. The flange
sub-assembly 90 includes at least one central circular member 100
disposed in the flange member opening 94 and having a diameter
equal to or less than the first diameter, so that the bottom flange
member 70 can freely rotate about the central circular member 100.
The flange sub-assembly 98 also includes a retention flange 102
disposed above the central circular member 100 and having a
diameter larger than the first diameter and equal to or less than
the second diameter, to vertically retain the bottom flange member
70 while allowing the attachment bracket 90 to rotate freely around
the retention flange 102. The flange sub-assembly 98 is attached to
a plurality of mounting pins 104 in the base 14 of the fiber optic
drawer tray 10. The spool 22 is also supported by a plurality of
bearings 106 contacting the base 14 of the fiber optic drawer tray
10. These bearings 106 allow the spool 22 to be supported by the
base 14 of the fiber optic drawer tray 10 and also allow the spool
22 to rotate about the flange sub-assembly 98 with minimal friction
between the bearings 106 and the base 14 of the fiber optic drawer
tray 10. In this regard, FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view
of the spindle sub-assembly 88 of the spool 22 of the fiber optic
drawer tray 10. As shown by FIG. 3, the spool 22 is retained
against the base 14 of the fiber optic drawer tray 10 by the
spindle sub-assembly 88, with the spindle sub-assembly 88
permitting free rotation of the spool 22 with respect to the base
14.
[0031] In some embodiments, the fiber optic chassis 12 may comprise
a chassis defining one or more U space fiber optic equipment units,
wherein at least one of the one or more U space fiber optic
equipment units is configured to support a given fiber optic
connection density or bandwidth in a 1-U space, and for a given
fiber optic component type. In this regard, FIG. 4 illustrates a
fiber optic equipment chassis 108 similar to the fiber optic
chassis 12 of FIGS. 1A-2. The chassis 108 is shown as being
installed in a fiber optic equipment rack 110. The fiber optic
equipment rack 110 contains two vertical rails 112A, 112B that
extend vertically and include a series of apertures 114 for
facilitating attachment of the chassis 108 inside the fiber optic
equipment rack 110. The chassis 108 is attached and supported by
the fiber optic equipment rack 110 in the form of shelves that are
stacked on top of each other within the vertical rails 112A, 112B.
As illustrated, the chassis 108 is attached to the vertical rails
112A, 112B. The fiber optic equipment rack 110 may support
1-U-sized shelves, with "U" equal to a standard 1.75 inches in
height and nineteen (19) inches in width. In certain applications,
the width of "U" may be twenty-three (23) inches. Also, the term
fiber optic equipment rack 110 should be understood to include
structures that are cabinets as well.
[0032] The chassis 108 and fiber optic drawer trays 10 support
high-density fiber optic equipment and a fiber optic connection
density and bandwidth connections in a given space, including in a
1-U space. In this regard, the fiber optic adapters 24 (see FIGS.
1A-2) in this embodiment can be provided such that at least
twenty-four (24) simplex or twelve (12) duplex fiber optic
connectors 28 can be disposed across of the width of the front side
or face of the drawer housing 18, as an example, without
interfering with the rotation of the spool 22 within the interior
volume 40 of the drawer housing 18.
[0033] In another embodiment, if multi-fiber fiber optic components
were installed in the fiber optic adapter sub-assembly 86, such as
MPO components for example, higher fiber optic connection density
and bandwidths would be possible using a drawer housing 18 of
similar dimensions. For example, if up to ten (10) twelve (12)
fiber MPO fiber optic components were disposed in fiber optic
adapter sub-assembly 86, and one (1) fiber optic drawer tray 10
were included in a drawer housing 18 occupying a 1-U space, the
drawer housing 18 would support up to one hundred-twenty (120)
fiber optic connections in a 1-U space. If up to ten (10)
twenty-four (24) fiber MPO fiber optic components were disposed in
fiber optic adapter sub-assembly 86, and one (1) fiber optic drawer
tray 10 were included in a drawer housing 18 occupying a 1-U space,
the drawer housing 18 would support up to two hundred forty (240)
fiber optic connections in a 1-U space.
[0034] The fiber optic equipment rack 110 may also include one or
more guide rail portions 116, having a plurality of cable guides
118. The cable guides 118 may guide the fiber optic cable 26
between the chassis 108 and other fiber optic equipment, and may
also function as slack storage for excess fiber optic cable 26 and
to prevent excess strain or tension on the fiber optic cable
26.
[0035] In this embodiment, the chassis 108 is 1-U in size; however,
the chassis 108 could be provided in a size greater than 1-U as
well. In this regard, FIG. 5 illustrates a fiber optic chassis 120
having a drawer housing 122 configured to occupy a 2-U space. The
drawer housing 122 is configured to accommodate two (2) vertically
stacked fiber optic drawer trays 10 within a single interior volume
124. In another embodiment, FIG. 6 illustrates a fiber optic
chassis 126 having a drawer housing 128 configured to occupy a 4-U
space. The drawer housing 128 is configured to accommodate four (4)
vertically stacked fiber optic drawer trays 10 within a single
interior volume 130.
[0036] Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended
that any method set forth herein be construed as requiring that its
steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method
claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps
or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or
descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order,
it is no way intended that any particular order be inferred.
[0037] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made without departing from the
spirit or scope of the invention. Since modifications combinations,
sub-combinations and variations of the disclosed embodiments
incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur
to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to
include everything within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.
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