Abstract:
A spool system for a telecommunications cable. The spool system winds-up and pays-out the cable without accumulating twist in the cable. The spool system can also pay out a distal end of the cable and mount a proximal end of the cable. Because no twist is accumulated in the cable, the first end and/or the second end of the cable can remain connected while the spool system is winding-up or paying-out. The spool system includes a base, a cable unwrapper, and a hub. The cable unwrapper and the hub rotate in opposite directions from each other. A first cable wrapping area is provided on the base and a second cable wrapping area is provided on the hub.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Spools or reels can be used to store telecommunications cable (e.g., electrical cable and/or fiber optic cable). The spools include a hub or a drum about which the cable is wound. The hub of the spools is often cylindrical, and the cable is often wrapped around the cylindrical hub in a predominantly circumferential manner. By winding up the cable on the spool, the cable can be compactly stored and transported, protected from tangling and kinking, and kept ready for easy deployment. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    Features of the present disclosure relate to a spool system for a telecommunications cable. The spool system includes the telecommunications cable, a base, a cable unwrapper, and a hub. The telecommunications cable extends between a first end and a second end and can be connectorized at one or both ends. The telecommunications cable can be a fiber optic cable, an electrical cable, or a hybrid cable including both optical and electrical conductors. 
         [0003]    The base includes a first mount, a second mount, that is spaced from the first mount, and a first cable wrapping area about which a first portion of the telecommunications cable is wrapped. The base can be secured to a cabinet, a wall, or other object. The first mount of the base includes a first central passage for routing the telecommunications cable from the first end to the first cable wrapping area. The second mount of the base includes a second central passage. 
         [0004]    The cable unwrapper includes a rotating cable guide that guides the first portion of the telecommunications cable off of the first cable wrapping area. The cable unwrapper rotatably mounts to the first mount with the rotating cable guide orbiting about the first cable wrapping area when the cable unwrapper is rotated. 
         [0005]    The hub includes a central opening and a second cable wrapping area about which a second portion of the telecommunications cable is wrapped. The hub rotatably mounts to the second mount of the base. In a preferred embodiment, the hub is rotationally coupled to the cable unwrapper in such a way that the hub and the cable unwrapper rotate in opposite rotational directions from each other. In a depicted embodiment, a pair of gears rotationally couples the hub to the cable unwrapper. 
         [0006]    The telecommunications cable is routed between the first cable wrapping area and the second cable wrapping area via the second central passage of the second mount of the base and via the central opening of the hub. A transferred portion of the telecommunications cable is transferred from the first cable wrapping area to the second cable wrapping area via the rotating cable guide when a paid-out portion of the telecommunications cable is paid out of the spool system from the second cable wrapping area. The transferred portion of the telecommunications cable is transferred from the second cable wrapping area to the first cable wrapping area via the rotating cable guide when the paid-out portion of the telecommunications cable is retracted into the spool system and onto the second cable wrapping area. 
         [0007]    The spool of the present disclosure is able to pay-out the telecommunications cable without causing the accumulation of twist in the cable. The spool can also pay out the second end of the telecommunication cable and mount the first end of the telecommunication cable. Because no twist is accumulated in the telecommunication cable, the first end and/or the second end of the telecommunication cable can remain connected while the spool is paying-out. 
         [0008]    In preferred embodiments, the spool system and method allows for winding up of the cable, such as for winding up excess unneeded cable slack, or full retraction when the cable is no longer in use or not in use. 
         [0009]    These and other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad aspects of the disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a spool system for a telecommunications cable in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional elevation view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional elevation view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional elevation view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the spool system of  FIG. 1  with a half of a base of the spool system cut away; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  but with only the base and the telecommunications cable shown; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is another perspective view of the spool system of  FIG. 1  with the half of the base of the spool system cut away; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7  but with only the base and the telecommunications cable shown; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a cable unwrapper and a hub of the spool system of  FIG. 1  with the telecommunications cable shown whole and a half of the cable unwrapper and the hub cut away; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is another perspective view of the cable unwrapper and the hub of  FIG. 9  with the telecommunications cable shown whole and the half of the cable unwrapper and the hub cut away; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is still another perspective view of the cable unwrapper and the hub of  FIG. 9  with the telecommunications cable shown whole and the half of the cable unwrapper and the hub cut away; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a bottom plan view of the spool system of  FIG. 1  with certain hidden lines shown; 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is an elevation view of the base of  FIG. 5  with certain hidden lines shown; 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the cable unwrapper of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a portion of the hub of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  is another perspective view of another portion of the hub of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective view of the spool system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the base of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the base of  FIG. 5  taken at  FIG. 18 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the cable unwrapper and the hub of  FIG. 9  at a first position with the telecommunications cable; 
           [0030]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the cable unwrapper and the hub of  FIG. 9  at a second position with the telecommunications cable; 
           [0031]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the cable unwrapper and the hub of  FIG. 9  at a third position with the telecommunications cable; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the cable unwrapper and the hub of  FIG. 9  at a fourth position with the telecommunications cable. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    It is often desirable to deploy a telecommunications cable with a length of the telecommunications cable varying for various purposes. For example, it may be desired to connect the telecommunications cable to various ports that vary in location and/or distance from each other. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 1-8  illustrate a spool system  10  for a telecommunications cable  12  in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The spool system  10  includes a base  14 , a cable unwrapper  16 , a hub  18 , and a cover  20 . The preferred spool system  10  allows for one end of the telecommunications cable  12  to be extended and retracted from and to the spool system  10  while the opposite end of the telecommunications cable  12  remains stationary. The extension and retraction can be done without causing twists in the telecommunications cable  12 . Refraction is useful for retracting extra cable pulled from the spool system  10 . It is also desirable to retract a telecommunications cable when the telecommunications cable is not connected and thereby keep the telecommunications cable from cluttering a cabinet and/or a work area, etc. 
         [0035]    As depicted, the base  14  of the spool system  10  is adapted for stationary mounting and includes mounting holes  22  or other features to mount the spool system  10 . The base  14  includes a mount  24  and thereby defines an axis A 1  and also includes a mount  25  thereby defines an axis A 2  (see  FIG. 2 ). As depicted at  FIG. 2 , the mount  24  and the mount  25  are held by the base  14  on opposite sides (i.e, the mount  24  is held at a top side and the mount  25  is held at a bottom side). This mounting arrangement facilitates a cable routing of the telecommunications cable  12 , further described below. The base  14  can include a connector mount (not shown) for mounting a connector  28 , such as an LC, SC, MPO, that terminates the telecommunications cable  12  (see  FIG. 7 ). The connector mount can mount an adapter, such as an LC, SC, MPO, that, in turn, can connect with the connector  28 . The base  14  can include cable guide features  34  (see  FIGS. 5 and 7 ) to guide the telecommunications cable  12  between a cable wrapping area  36  of the base  14  and a cable wrapping area  37  of the hub  18  (see  FIG. 2 ). In applications where the telecommunications cable  12  is a fiber optic cable, the cable guide features  34  are adapted to prevent the fiber optic cable from bending sharply (e.g., bending that would cause an optical fiber within the fiber optic cable  40  to be bent sharper than a minimum bend radius. The cable wrapping areas  36 ,  37  can be predominantly cylindrical surfaces. In applications where the telecommunications cable  12  is the fiber optic cable, the radii of the cable wrapping areas  36 ,  37  can be greater than the minimum bend radius. 
         [0036]    The base  14  rotatably mounts the cable unwrapper  16  about the axis A 1 . The cable unwrapper  16  can include bearings adapted to mount on the mount  24  of the base  14 . The cable unwrapper  16  includes a cable guide  46  (see  FIG. 14 ). In applications where the telecommunications cable  12  is the fiber optic cable, the radius defined by the cable unwrapper  16  can be greater than the minimum bend radius. As depicted, the cable guide  46  includes a hole with a radial configuration with respect to the axis A 1 . In other embodiments, the cable guide  46  can be other shapes and/or have other orientations. 
         [0037]    As depicted, the base  14  rotatably mounts the hub  18  about the axis A 2 . The hub  18  can include bearings adapted to mount on the mount  25  of the base  14 . The hub  18  includes the cable wrapping area  37 . The hub  18  can include a flange  54  adjacent the cable wrapping area  37  (see  FIGS. 4 and 16 ). The flange  54  can serve to keep the telecommunications cable  12  from slipping off of the hub  18 . 
         [0038]    The base  14  of the spool system  10  can hold a first end  60  of the telecommunications cable  12  (see  FIG. 7 ). Alternatively, the first end  60  of the telecommunications cable  12  can be free of the base  14 , and the telecommunications cable  12  can pass through the base  14 . The first end  60  can be any desired length, for example 6 inches to 2 feet. A second end  62  of the telecommunications cable  12  can be extended from the spool system  10 . The second end  62  of the telecommunications cable  12  can be terminated by a connector  64 , such as an LC, SC, MPO, (see  FIG. 21 ). The second end  62  of the telecommunications cable  12  can be extended (i.e., paid out) from the spool system  10  by pulling on the second end  62  in a direction away from the spool system  10 . The second end  62  can be any desired length, such as 5-20 feet. 
         [0039]    The spool system  10  can include a spring  70  connected between the cable unwrapper  16  and the base  14  (see  FIG. 2 ). The spool system  10  can include a spring  72  connected between the hub  18  and the base  14  (see  FIG. 2 ). The spring  70  can urge the cable unwrapper  16  to rotate about the rotation axis A 1  when the spring  70  is wound. The cable guide  46  of the cable unwrapper  16  is adapted to wrap the telecommunications cable  12  about the cable wrapping area  36  when the cable unwrapper  16  is rotated by the spring  70 . The cable wrapping area  37  of the hub  18  is adapted to feed the telecommunications cable  12  from the cable wrapping area  37  to the cable guide  46  of the cable unwrapper  16  when the cable unwrapper  16  is rotated by the spring  70 . The cable wrapping area  37  is adapted to wrap the telecommunications cable  12  adjacent the second end  62  when the cable unwrapper  16  is rotated by the spring  70 . 
         [0040]    The spool system  10  can include a ratchet connected between the cable unwrapper  16  and the base  14 . The ratchet is adapted to allow the telecommunications cable  12  to be paid-out from the spool system  10  and hold the spring  70 ,  72  from urging the cable unwrapper  16  from rotating about the rotation axis A 1  when the spring  70 ,  72  is wound. The ratchet can be releasable by various methods known in the art. 
         [0041]    The spool system  10  can include a ratchet  86  connected between the hub  18  and the base  14  and/or the cable unwrapper  16  and the base (see  FIG. 2 ). The ratchet  86  is adapted to allow the telecommunications cable  12  to be paid-out from the spool system  10  and hold the spring  70 ,  72  from urging the hub  18  from rotating about the rotation axis A 2  when the spring  70 ,  72  is wound. The ratchet  86  can be releasable by various methods known in the art. 
         [0042]    Certain hubs of certain spools and cable wrapping areas of certain spools can be non-cylindrical (e.g., hexagonal, square, rectangular, etc.). 
         [0043]    The mount  24  of the base  14  includes a passage  24   p  for the telecommunications cable  12 . The mount  25  of the base  14  includes a passage  25   p  for the telecommunications cable  12 . The passage  24   p  continues from the mount  24  to the cable wrapping area  36 . The passage  25   p  continues from the mount  25  and opens toward the cable wrapping area  36  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0044]    The hub  18  includes the cable wrapping area  37 . The hub  18  is rotatably mounted to the mount  25  about the axis A 2 . The hub  18  is rotationally coupled to the cable unwrapper  16  such that the hub  18  and the cable unwrapper  16  rotate in opposite rotational directions from each other. The cable guide  34  guides the telecommunications cable  12  between the passage  25   p  of the mount  25  and the cable wrapping area  37  of the hub  18 . 
         [0045]    A cable support  27  can be mounted to or integrated with the base  14  and is adapted to hold the first end portion  60  of the telecommunications cable  12  (see  FIG. 7 ). A cable exit  26  for the telecommunications cable  12  can be mounted to or integrated with the base  14 . The cable wrapping area  37  of the hub  18  is adapted to pay-out the telecommunications cable  12  through the cable exit  26  when the second end portion  62  of the telecommunications cable  12  is pulled away from the spool system  10  at the cable exit  26 . 
         [0046]    A route  12   r  for the telecommunications cable  12  through the spool system  10  includes (see  FIG. 9 ): a first segment S 1  between the cable support  27  of the base  14  and the passage  24   p  of the mount  24 ; a second segment S 2  through the passage  24   p  of the mount  24  and to the cable wrapping area  36 ; a third segment S 3  about the cable wrapping area  36 ; a fourth segment S 4  between the cable wrapping area  36  and the rotating cable guide  46 ; a fifth segment S 5  between the rotating cable guide  46  and the passage  25   p  of the mount  25 ; a sixth segment through the passage  25   p  of the mount  25 ; a seventh segment S 7  between the passage  25   p  of the mount  25  and the cable guide  34 ; an eighth segment S 8  about the cable guide  34 ; a ninth segment S 9  between the cable guide  34  and the cable wrapping area  37 ; a tenth segment S 10  about the cable wrapping area  37 ; and an eleventh segment S 11  between the cable wrapping area  37  and the cable exit  26 . Another segment SO may be before the first segment S 1 . The segment S 0  may be a pigtail, etc. The segment S 0  may be stored within the base  14 . Yet another segment S 12  is the paid-out portion of the telecommunications cable  12 . 
         [0047]    The third and the tenth segments, S 3  and S 10 , are reduced in length and the segment S 12  is increased in length when the cable unwrapper  16  rotates in a first rotational direction R 1  (see  FIG. 9 ). The third and the tenth segments, S 3  and S 10 , are increased in length and the segment S 12  is reduced in length when the cable unwrapper  16  rotates in a second rotational direction R 2  (see  FIG. 9 ). Length is transferred from the segment S 3  to S 10  and from S 10  to S 12  when the cable unwrapper  16  rotates in the first rotational direction R 1 . Length is transferred from the segment S 10  to S 3  and from S 12  to S 10  when the cable unwrapper  16  rotates in the second rotational direction R 2 . 
         [0048]    The fourth segment S 4  of the route  12   r  can occasionally pass through a gap G between the base  14  and the cable unwrapper  16  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0049]    In certain embodiments, the spool system  10  may only pay-out the telecommunications cable  12 . In these embodiments, the cable unwrapper  16  may only unwrap the telecommunications cable  12 . In other embodiments, the spool system  10  may pay-out and retract the telecommunications cable  12 . In these embodiments, the cable unwrapper  16  may wrap and unwrap the telecommunications cable  12 . In certain embodiments where the spool system  10  only pays-out the telecommunications cable  12 , the telecommunications cable  12  may be manually wound and/or reset. In certain embodiments where the spool system  10  only pays-out the telecommunications cable  12 , the telecommunications cable  12  may be wound and/or reset by special tooling and/or accessories (e.g., production tooling at a factory). In certain embodiments where the spool system  10  both retracts and pays-out the telecommunications cable  12 , the telecommunications cable  12  may be manually wound and/or reset (e.g., if tangled). In certain embodiments where the spool system  10  both retracts and pays-out the telecommunications cable  12 , the telecommunications cable  12  may be wound and/or reset by special tooling and/or accessories (e.g., production tooling at a factory). 
         [0050]    The principles of the present disclosure also include a method of wrapping the telecommunications cable  12  about the spool system  10 . The method includes: 1) wrapping a first portion of the segment S 3  of the telecommunications cable  12  onto the cable wrapping area  36  by orbiting the rotating cable guide  46  about the cable wrapping area  36 ; 2) simultaneously wrapping a second portion of the segment S 10  of the telecommunications cable  12  onto the cable wrapping area  37  of the hub  18  by retracting a paid-out portion of the segment S 12  of the telecommunications cable  12  into the spool system  10  and thereby subtracting the second wrapped portion of the segment S 10  from the segment S 12 ; and 3) simultaneously transferring the first portion of the segment S 3  of the telecommunications cable  12  from the cable wrapping area  37  to the cable wrapping area  36  via the rotating cable guide  46  and via a central passage  18   p  of the hub  18 . 
         [0051]    The principles of the present disclosure also include a method of unwrapping the telecommunications cable  12  from the spool system  10 . The method includes: 1) unwrapping a first portion of the segment S 3  of the telecommunications cable  12  from the cable wrapping area  36  by orbiting the rotating cable guide  46  about the cable wrapping area  36 ; 2) simultaneously unwrapping a second portion of the segment S 10  of the telecommunications cable  12  from the cable wrapping area  37  of the hub  18  by pulling a paid-out portion of the segment S 12  of the telecommunications cable  12  from the spool system  10  and thereby adding the second unwrapped portion of the segment S 10  to the segment S 12 ; and 3) simultaneously transferring the first portion of the segment S 3  of the telecommunications cable  12  from the cable wrapping area  37  to the cable wrapping area  36  via the rotating cable guide  46  and via the central passage  18   p  of the hub  18 . The spool system  10  can be powered by the pulling of the telecommunications cable  12 , the spring  70 ,  72  of the spool, a hand crank, a motor, and various other means. 
         [0052]    The cable unwrapper  16  and the hub  18  of the spool system  10  are depicted as geared to one another by a gear set  88  (see  FIG. 10 ) including gears  89  (see  FIG. 15 ). The gear set  88  causes the hub  18  to turn oppositely from the cable unwrapper  16 . The telecommunications cable  12 , in combination with its above described routing, can also rotationally constrain the cable unwrapper  16  and the hub  18  of the spool system  10  to one another. 
         [0053]    The telecommunications cable  12  is wound/unwound without causing twists in the telecommunications cable  12 , even though one end of the telecommunications cable  12  remains stationary. 
         [0054]    The telecommunications cable  12  can be the fiber optic cable, an electrical cable, or other cables such as a hybrid fiber optic/electrical cable. The telecommunications cable  12  can be a multi-fiber fiber optic telecommunications cable and the connector  28  can be a multi-fiber fiber optic connector. In other embodiments, the telecommunications cable  12  can be a single-fiber fiber optic telecommunications cable and the connector  28  can be a single-fiber fiber optic connector. The connector  28  terminates the telecommunications cable  12  and can be connected with the adapter  30 . 
         [0055]    From the forgoing detailed description, it will be evident that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.