Adapter panel with lateral sliding adapter arrays

An adapter panel arrangement including a chassis and a panel of adapters. The adapters defining open rearward cable connections and open forward cable connections of the panel arrangement. The adapters being arranged in arrays that slide independently of other adapter arrays to provide access to the open rearward and open forward cable connections.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to devices for use in the telecommunications industry, and associated methods. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a termination panel for use in the telecommunications industry, and methods associated with termination panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many local area networks and telecommunication systems utilize termination panels to provide cross-connections between telecommunications equipment. Demand for greater telecommunication services has prompted the increase in circuit densities of termination panels. Notwithstanding the advances made in the art, there is a continuous need for further advances to improve upon high-density termination panels and associated methods. Improvements are needed, for example, to enhance termination access and cable management associated with installation, maintenance, repair, upgrade, and cross-connection procedures related to termination panels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to an adapter panel arrangement including a chassis and a panel of adapters. The adapters define open rearward cable connections and open forward cable connections of the panel arrangement. The adapters are arranged in arrays that slide independently of other arrays to provide access to the open rearward and open forward cable connections.

A variety of examples of desirable product features or methods are set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing various aspects of the disclosure. The aspects of the disclosure may relate to individual features as well as combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the claimed invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a distribution frame or adapter panel arrangement10in accordance with the principles disclosed. The adapter panel arrangement10is designed to provide a high density of cable terminations, yet facilitate access to the cable terminations from the rear during installation procedures, and from the front during post-installation procedures.

The adapter panel arrangement10of the present disclosure generally includes a chassis12having an interior14. The interior14is defined by a top wall16, a bottom wall18, a rear wall20, and side walls22,24. The adapter panel arrangement10also includes a sliding drawer34that slides between an open position (FIG. 1) and a closed position (FIG. 2). A front cover26is attached to the sliding drawer34. When the drawer34is in the closed position, the front cover26encloses the interior14of the chassis12when closed (FIG. 3) and provides access to the interior14when open (FIG. 2).

Referring now toFIGS. 1 and 2, the adapter panel arrangement10includes a framework structure30(FIG. 1) that is attached or mounted to the drawer34. A panel of adapters32is mounted to the framework structure30. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the drawer34is designed to slide outward from the chassis12primarily for installation purposes. That is, the drawer34can be slid to the open position during installation or assembly of the adapter panel arrangement, but is position in the closed position (FIG. 2) during operative use of the arrangement10. During operative use, the framework structure30and the panel of adapters32are located within the interior14of the chassis12and the drawer34is in the closed position (FIG. 2). A user accesses the panel of adapters32from a front opening28of the chassis12without sliding the drawer34forward.

Referring again toFIG. 1, the panel of adapters32includes a face panel42that defines a number of openings44(only one shown). Adapters46are mounted within the openings44. In the illustrated embodiment, the adapters are LC type adapters; however, other types of adapters, such as SC, ST, FC and MPO type adapters can also be used in accordance with the principles disclosed. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the adapters46are blocked or grouped; each adapter block58including eight adapters46(four adapter pairs). Other number of adapters can be provided in an adapter block, such as four adapters (two adapter pairs), for example; the openings in the face panel42being correspondingly sized to receive the four-adapter blocks. Alternative, single adapters can be used and mounted with openings sized to receive the single adapters.

The openings44of the face panel42are arranged in rows; each row of mounted adapter blocks58defines an adapter array48. What is meant by a row is that the openings44are arranged in a generally horizontal alignment, as opposed to being arranged in a column or in a vertical alignment; accordingly, the adapter arrays48are generally horizontal adapter arrays.

Referring now toFIGS. 1 and 4, the adapters46of the adapter blocks58each includes a front connection end50(FIG. 1) and a rear connection end52(FIG. 4). When mounted within the openings44, the front connection ends50of the adapters46are located toward the front opening28of the chassis12, and the rear connection ends52of the adapters46are located toward the rear wall20of the chassis12. The front connection ends50of the adapters46define open frontward cable connection locations54(FIG. 2) of the face panel42. The rear connection ends52of the adapters46define open rearward cable connection locations56(FIG. 4) of the face panel42.

What is meant by “open cable connection locations” are locations that are provided in an open region in the chassis12, as opposed to a connection location that is enclosed within a housing or module, the housing or modules in turn being mounted within the chassis. That is, the panel of adapters32is a panel of unenclosed adapters46that are not enclosed relative to the other adapters46on the face panel42. While the panel of adapters itself is enclosed within the chassis12, the plurality of adapters46, and each of the adapter arrays48are not enclosed separately from the other adapters46or the other adapter arrays48.

Referring now toFIGS. 1,5and6, the adapter arrays48of the face panel42are designed to slide in a lateral direction independent of other adapter arrays. In particular, the face panel42is defined by a number of separate panel sections60. In the illustrated embodiment, each separate panel section defines one row of openings in which the blocks58of unenclosed adapters46are mounted, i.e., each panel section60contains one adapter array48. In other embodiments, the panel sections can include, for example, two rows of openings that receive four-adapter blocks, for example; this panel section embodiment containing two adapter arrays.

The face panel42of the adapter panel arrangement10illustrated includes six panel sections60—two panel sections60positioned side-by-side, and stacked three panel sections high (seeFIG. 1). Each panel section60contains six blocks58having eight adapters46for a total of 288 frontward connection locations and rearward connection locations. Each separate panel section60is designed to selectively slide in a forward, lateral direction (A) independent of the other panel sections. The forward, lateral direction (A) is a direction extending between the front opening28and the rear wall20, as opposed to a direction which is transverse to the bottom wall18of the chassis12, for example.

Referring toFIGS. 7-9, each separate panel section60of the panel of adapters32is attached to a sliding frame piece62. The sliding frame piece62includes a pair of elongated rail members64. In the illustrated embodiment, the elongated rail members64include a forward rail portion84that extends forwardly from the panel section60, and a rearward rail portion86that extends rearwardly from the panel section60. The sliding frame piece62can include a cross-support88to maintain the structural relationship of the rail members64.

The pairs of elongated rail members64are arranged to engage and slide within pairs of guides66(one shown inFIGS. 10-12) that are mounted to the framework structure30(FIG. 1) of the arrangement10. The rail members64and the guides66include a stop arrangement68that limits the sliding motion of the panel sections60between a rearward position (see the top panel section60inFIG. 5) and a forward position (see the bottom panel section60inFIG. 5).

Referring toFIGS. 9-12, the stop arrangement68(FIG. 12) is defined by at least one projection70(FIGS. 10 and 11) located on each guide66of the pair of guides, and first and second pockets or detents72,74(FIG. 9) formed in the rail members64. In the illustrated embodiment, two projections70(upper and lower projections) are provided on each of the guides66. Correspondingly, upper and lower detents72,74(seeFIG. 8) are formed in the rearward rail portions86of the rail members64. While the illustrated embodiment depicts the detents72,74formed in the rail members64and the projections70provided on the guides66, it is contemplated that the detents can be formed in the guides66and the projection correspondingly provided on the rail members64.

Referring still toFIGS. 9-12, when the panel section60is positioned in the rearward position, the projections70of the guides66seat within the first detents72of the rail members64to retain the panel section60in the rearward position. The guides66are flexibly constructed so that when the panel section60is pulled forward, the projections70un-seat and slide along top and bottom surfaces76,77(FIG. 8) of the rail members64. Referring toFIG. 12, when the panel section60reaches the forward position, the projections70seat within the second detents74of the rail members64. This stop arrangement68indicates to a user when the panel section60has reached the predetermined forward position, and similarly, the rearward position.

Referring back toFIG. 5, in general, the stop arrangement68provides an indication of when the panel section60has moved a lateral distance D forward from the rearward position to the forward position. In one embodiment, the lateral distance D is no more than about 4.0 inches forward from the rearward position. In the illustrated embodiment, the lateral distance D is about 1.7 inches. Providing such an indication to the user prevents the user from moving the panel section60a distance beyond that which cables interconnected to the panel section60will allow.

In particular, as previously described, the present panel arrangement10is designed such that the drawer34is intended to slide only during installation procedures, as opposed to post-installation or during operative use. Referring toFIG. 4, during installation, cables36, such as fiber optic cables, are routed into the chassis12through rear openings38and terminated to the open rearward connection locations56of the face panel42(i.e., the rear connector ends52of the adapters46).

The fiber optic cables36have a predetermined length that can be routed about cable storage spools or structures (see e.g.,78,80inFIG. 1). The predetermined lengths of the cables, however, do not have enough slack to accommodate drawer34movement during operative use, and the arrangement10does not have devices such as sliding radius limiters that take up or manage excessive movement of such cable slack.

In present panel arrangement10, the predetermined lengths of the cables generally accommodate only the limited sliding movement of the panel sections60. That is, while the drawer34may be slid out for purposes of installation, or for repairs requiring access to the region behind the panel of adapters32, the drawer34is not intended to slide for purposes of accessing the panel of adapters32during operative use of the adapter panel arrangement10. Operative use and access to the panel of adapters32is instead provided by the sliding movement of the panel sections60relative to the sliding movement of the drawer34.

In general, the lateral sliding movement of the panel sections60provides access to the open cable connections (e.g.,54,56) defined by the adapter arrays48. Access to the open connection locations (e.g.,54,56) of the face panel42is important in two primary instances: the first instance being during installation (e.g., during initial install or assembly, or during repair, replacement, or upgrade of the cable terminations at the rearward connection locations56of the panel32); the second instance being after installation during operative use of the arrangement10.

Referring back toFIGS. 1 and 4, during installation, the drawer34is pulled out to the open position. As previously described, a technician routes the fiber optic cables36through the rear openings38of the chassis12and terminates the cables to the open rearward connection locations56of the panel of adapters32. To provide better access to the rear connection ends52of the adapters46defining the rearward connection locations56, one of the adapter arrays48is positioned in the rearward position (e.g., the top array), while the remaining adapter arrays (e.g., the arrays located beneath the top array (see alsoFIGS. 5 and 6)) are positioned in the forward position. In this configuration, the technician has better access to the open rearward connection locations56of the one panel section60positioned in the rearward position. Once cable terminations to that particular adapter array48are complete, that adapter array can be slid forward and the next array to which cables are to be terminated slid rearward.

Referring toFIG. 4, to provide even further access to the open rearward connection locations56, the top wall16of the chassis12includes removable access panels92. Referring toFIG. 2, each of the panels92slides outward in a direction B from the top wall16of the chassis12. InFIG. 2, the panels92are shown engaged with the top wall16. In particular, each panel92is locked in place by a flexible tab94that engages a hem or roll98formed in a top wall portion100of the top wall16. The flexible tab94is defined by slots96formed in the panel92. The hem or roll98is formed by bending or rolling a section of the top wall16over on itself, although structure can be attached to the top wall as an alternative to providing a hem.

To slide one of the panels92out, the flexible tab94is flexed downward beyond the hem or roll98formed in the top wall portion100. The panel is then slid out in the direction shown inFIG. 2and removed to define a top wall opening104(see e.g.,FIG. 15) located adjacent to the front opening28of the chassis12. The top wall opening104provides further access to the open rear connection locations56. To re-attach the panel92, the panel92is place in relation to the top wall opening104, the flexible tab94is flexed downward, and the panel92is then slid back into place. As shown inFIG. 15, retaining flanges102are formed in the top wall16at the top wall openings104. The retaining flanges102support the panels92when attached to the top wall16of the chassis12.

The open rearward connection locations56are typically access only during installation procedures, with the exception of repairs or upgrades, for example. The open frontward connection locations54, however, are accessed on a more regular basis to provide cross-connections between telecommunications equipment. Such use is referred to as operative use, or use that is post-installation and primarily involves maintaining or establishing cable terminations at the front connection ends50of the adapters46.

Referring now toFIGS. 13-15, the adapter panel arrangement10is shown in operative use. During operative use, the panel of adapters32is accessed through the front opening28of the chassis12, with the drawer34positioned in the closed position.

As previously described, the cables36that enter the interior14of the chassis12through rear openings38are terminated to the open rear connection locations56of the panel of adapters32. Referring toFIG. 13, jumper cables or patching cables40are also terminated to the panel of adapters32; and in particular, to the open frontward connection locations54of the panel32. The patching cables40provide the cross-connections between the adapter panel arrangement10and other telecommunications equipment (not shown). The patching cables40are routed from the front opening28and through side openings90(FIG. 3) of the chassis12to cable routing structure (e.g., channels, not shown) of the telecommunications system.

Because of the high-density arrangement of the adapters46, each panel section60of the panel of adapters32slides forward to separate the associated adapter array48from the other arrays. By separately positioning the panel section60and the associated adapter array48forward, a technician can more easily grasp a particular connector of a patching cable40, and/or more easily terminate a patching cable to a particular adapter46of the forwardly-positioned array. In addition, and as previously described, the access panels92(FIG. 13) of the top wall16can be removed (as shown inFIG. 15) to provide even further access to the open frontward connection locations54of the panel sections.

Referring again toFIG. 13, the forward rail portion84of the rail member64can be used as a handle to pull the panel section60forward. Alternatively, the user can slide the panel section60forward by grasping a retaining ring82attached to the rail member64of the sliding frame piece62. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining rings82are attached to the ends of outer rail members64of the sliding frame piece62to protect the patching cables40from exceeding a minimum bend radius.

While the present disclosure is described with respect to use in a fiber optic application, the disclosed panel arrangement can be adapted for use in other applications. For example, in some applications, copper cables may be used exclusively from fiber optic cables; and accordingly various types of wire terminations or wire connectors can be provided on the face panel of the arrangement. Still, in other applications having hybrid cabling, or applications having both types of fiber optic and copper cabling, the face panel of the arrangement can be provided with a-combination of fiber optic and copper connectors and/or adapters.

In general, the present adapter panel arrangement10provides a high-density adapter panel arrangement while facilitating access to otherwise crowded front and rear connection locations. Because of the access design of the present arrangement, the amount of space utilized on racks and cabinets is minimized; or, in the alternative, allows for expansion and upgrade of systems having spatial constraints, as more densely packed connection locations are provided without sacrificing effective access to the connection locations.

The above specification provides a complete description of the present invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, certain aspects of the invention reside in the claims hereinafter appended.