Abstract:
A method for deploying a telecommunications cable includes obtaining a payout arrangement including a length of cable, selecting one of the first end and the second end of the length of cable to access; accessing the selected end of the length of cable; and pulling the selected end to unwind the length of cable from the payout arrangement. In some embodiments, the cable is arranged around adjacent spools. In other embodiments, the cable is arranged within a container with access opening on the top and bottom. In still other embodiments, the cable is wound around a spool and at least one spacer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/502,595, filed Aug. 9, 2006, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The principles disclosed herein relate to cable systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to storage and deployment of cables. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Passive optical networks are becoming prevalent in part because service providers want to deliver high bandwidth communication capabilities to customers. Passive optical networks are a desirable choice for delivering high speed communication data because they may not employ active electronic devices, such as amplifiers and repeaters, between a central office and a subscriber termination. The absence of active electronic devices may decrease network complexity and/or cost and may increase network reliability. 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates a network  100  deploying passive fiber optic lines. As shown, the network  100  can include a central office  110  that connects a number of end subscribers  115  (also called end users  115  herein) in a network. The central office  110  can additionally connect to a larger network such as the Internet (not shown) and a public switched telephone network (PSTN). The network  100  can also include fiber distribution hubs (FDHs)  130  having one or more optical splitters (e.g., 1-to-8 splitters, 1-to-16 splitters, or 1-to-32 splitters) that generate a number of individual fibers that may lead to the premises of an end user  115 . The various lines of the network can be aerial or housed within underground conduits. 
         [0005]    The portion of network  100  that is closest to central office  110  is generally referred to as the F 1  region, where F 1  is the “feeder fiber” from the central office. The F 1  portion of the network may include a distribution cable having on the order of 12 to 48 fibers; however, alternative implementations can include fewer or more fibers. The portion of network  100  that includes an FDH  130  and a number of end users  115  can be referred to as an F 2  portion of network  100 . The network  100  includes a plurality of break-out locations  125  at which branch cables are separated out from main cable lines. Branch cables are often connected to drop terminals  104  that include connector interfaces for facilitating coupling the fibers of the branch cables to a plurality of different subscriber locations. 
         [0006]    Deployment, otherwise known as payout, of telecommunications cable lines can be performed in a variety of ways. One prior method includes winding the telecommunications cable around a cylindrical spool, placing a rod through the center of the spool, transporting the spool to a deployment site, and unwinding the telecommunications cable by pulling the cable end located on the outside of the spool. Typically, the inside (radially inward) end of the wound cable is fixed in relation to spool rotation and cannot be accessed until the cable has been unwound. 
         [0007]    One disadvantage to such a method is that only one end of the telecommunications cable is accessible when the spool is wound. In some cases, the cables are connectorized at one end and unconnectorized at the opposite end. For example, with reference to fiber optic cables, the connectorized end is useful for optically coupling the fibers of the cable to other connectorized fibers and the unconnectorized end is useful for splicing the fibers of the cable to another cable, such as a stub cable. Using the method described above, a technician cannot choose which end of the cable would be most beneficial to access first. 
         [0008]    There exists a need in the art for better telecommunications cable storage and deployment systems and methods. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    Certain aspects of the disclosure relate to the storage and deployment of telecommunications cables. 
         [0010]    A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a prior art passive fiber optic network; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an example first payout arrangement having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a length of telecommunications cable arranged in a first cable arrangement on the payout arrangement of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a length of telecommunications cable wrapped in the first cable arrangement on the first payout arrangement of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 5-7  are schematic diagrams illustrating how to wind a length of telecommunications cable in a second cable arrangement on the payout arrangement of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a length of telecommunications cable wrapped in the second cable arrangement on the first payout arrangement of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of a second payout arrangement having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of the second payout arrangement of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram illustrating one example cable arrangement for a length of telecommunications cable arranged within the second payout arrangement of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of the second payout arrangement of  FIG. 9  arranged in a deployment position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of a length of telecommunications cable being unwound from the second payout arrangement of  FIG. 9  along a pull direction; 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a front perspective view of a third payout arrangement having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a front view of the third payout arrangement of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view taken along the  16 - 16  line of  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view taken along the  17 - 17  line of  FIG. 16 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view that would result if the payout arrangement of  FIG. 17  had only one spacer instead of four; 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the third payout arrangement of  FIG. 14  and a housing; 
           [0028]      FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view taken along the  20 - 20  line of  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the third payout arrangement and housing of  FIG. 19  showing the housing in an open position; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 22  is a partial view of a cable drop terminal being position within the housing of the third payout arrangement of  FIG. 21 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    Aspects of the present disclosure relate to the storage and deployment of telecommunications cables, such as fiber optic cables and copper cables. Referring to the figures in general, a telecommunications cable  210  extends from a first end  212  to a second end  214 . The cable  210  can range in length from about 300 feet to about 3000 feet or more. The payout arrangements disclosed herein enable either end  212 ,  214  of the telecommunications cable  210  to be accessed at the option of the user. 
         [0032]    In some embodiments, one end  212 ,  214  of the cable  210  can be terminated at a connector, such as a fiber optic connector, or at telecommunications equipment, such as a drop terminal. Details regarding an example drop terminal can be found in copending application Ser. No. 11/075,847, filed Mar. 8, 2005, and titled “FIBER ACCESS TERMINAL,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The opposite end  212 ,  214  can be connectorized or unconnectorized. In other embodiments, either both ends can be connectorized or both ends can be unconnectorized. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-8 , a length of telecommunications cable  210  ( FIG. 3 ) can be arranged on a first payout arrangement  300  ( FIG. 2 ) to enable access to both a first end  212  ( FIG. 3 ) and a second end  214  ( FIG. 3 ) of the cable  210 . In certain embodiments, about half of the cable  210  is wrapped around a first spool  320  and the other half of the cable  210  is wrapped around a second spool  330  of the payout arrangement  300  (e.g., see  FIG. 4 ). In such embodiments, each end  212 ,  214  of the cable  210  is accessible from a separate spool  320 ,  330 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  illustrates the example payout arrangement  300  including a base  310  having a front surface  302  and a back surface  304 . In the example shown, the base  310  is circular. In other embodiments, however, the base  310  can be any desired shape. In general, the base  310  is configured to enable the payout arrangement  300  to mount for transport from a factory to a deployment site. 
         [0035]    In certain embodiments, the base  310  defines a through opening  315  configured to receive a rod (not shown) to enable the base  310  to rotate about an axis RB. Typically, the through opening  315  is located in the center of the base  310 . In other embodiments, however, the base  310  is not configured to rotate. In such embodiments, the back surface  304  of the base  310  can be laid on a surface during deployment. In one such embodiment, the base  310  can be anchored to a surface by a fastener inserted through the opening  315 . 
         [0036]    A first spool member  320  and a second spool member  330  are rotatably mounted on the front surface  302  of the base  310 . In certain embodiments, the spools  320 ,  330  are mounted on opposite sides of the opening  315 . Each spool member  320 ,  330  is configured to rotate about a central axis C 1 , C 2 , respectively. In the example shown, the spool members  320 ,  330  are generally cylindrical. However, spool members of different shapes can also be used. 
         [0037]    In certain embodiments, each spool member  320 ,  330  includes a middle portion  326 ,  336 , respectively, extending between a first end portion  322 ,  332 , respectively, and a second end portion  324 ,  334 , respectively. In other embodiments, however, the middle portions  326 ,  336  may extend directly from the base  310 . Generally, the middle sections  326 ,  336  have diameters D 1 , D 2 , respectively, ranging from about 1.5 feet to about 6 feet. The second ends  324 ,  334  are generally sized to retain the telecommunications cable  210  wound onto the middle portions  326 ,  336 . 
         [0038]      FIGS. 3-4  illustrate one cable arrangement  250  in which the cable  210  can be wrapped around the first spool member  320  and the second member  330 . An intermediate section  216  of the cable  210  extends straight between the first and second members  220 ,  230  (e.g., see  FIG. 3 ) and the first and second ends  212 ,  214  are wrapped around the first and second spool members  320 ,  330 , respectively (e.g., see  FIG. 4 ). Such a configuration resembles the winding pattern of tape on a cassette deck. One end  212 ,  214  of the cable  210  is accessible from each spool  320 ,  330 . 
         [0039]      FIGS. 5-8  illustrate another cable arrangement  260  in which the cable  210  can be wrapped around the first spool member  320  and the second member  330  of the first payout arrangement  300 . The intermediate section  216  of the cable  210  wraps around the first and second members  220 ,  230  once in a “FIG.  8 ” pattern (e.g., see  FIGS. 5-7 ) and the first and second ends  212 ,  214  are then coiled around the first and second members  320 ,  330 , respectively to take up the remaining cable  210  (e.g., see  FIG. 8 ). One end  212 ,  214  of the cable  210  is accessible from each spool  320 ,  330 . 
         [0040]    In use, a user grasps one of the ends  212 ,  214  of the cable  210  and pulls in a direction away from the payout arrangement  300  to deploy the cable  220  at an installation site. Because both ends  212 ,  214  are accessible to the user (i.e., one end  212 ,  214  extends from each spool  320 ,  330 ), the user can choose which end  212 ,  214  to pull based on where and how the cable  210  is being installed. In either cable arrangement  250  or cable arrangement  260 , pulling on one of the ends  212 ,  214  entrains the spools  320 ,  330  to spin, enabling the length of telecommunications cable  210  to unwind from the payout arrangement  300 . 
         [0041]    When a sufficient amount of cable  210  has been unwound, the cable  210  can be connected (e.g., optically, electrically, etc.) to a telecommunications network (e.g., see  FIG. 1 ). In one embodiment, a fiber optic cable  210  can be spliced to another fiber optic cable (not shown). In another embodiment, one end of a copper cable  210  can be electrically coupled to another copper cable (not shown). In other embodiments, the cable  210  is optically coupled to telecommunications equipment. 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9-13 , a length of telecommunications cable  210  can be arranged on a second payout arrangement  400  to enable access to both the first end  212  and the second end  214  of the cable  210 . The second payout arrangement  400  includes a container  410  having a top side  401  ( FIG. 9 ) and a bottom side  403  ( FIG. 10 ). In one embodiment, the container  410  is formed from cardboard or paperboard. In other embodiments, however, the container  410  can be formed from any desired material. 
         [0043]    The container  410  includes opposing side panels  402 ,  404  and opposing ends panels  406 ,  408  extending between the side panels  402 ,  404 . The side panels  402 ,  404  and end panels  406 ,  408  define an interior  415  ( FIG. 9 ). The top side  401  of the container  410  includes cover panels  411  hingedly coupled to the side panels  402 ,  404  of the container  410 . Tab panels  413  are hingedly coupled to the end panels  406 ,  408  of the container  410 . The cover panels  411  and tab panels  413  can pivot between an open position ( FIG. 9 ) in which the interior  415  can be accessed through the top side  401  of the container  410  and a closed position (not shown). 
         [0044]    The bottom side  403  of the container  410  is generally a mirror-image of the top side  401 . The bottom side  403  includes cover panels  417  hingedly coupled to the side panels  402 ,  404  and tab panels (not shown) hingedly coupled to the end panels  406 ,  408  of the container  410 . By first flipping the container  410  upside-down, the cover panels  417  and tab panels can be pivoted between an open position (not shown) in which the interior  415  can be accessed through the bottom side  403  of the container  410  and a closed position ( FIG. 10 ). Typically, when the cover panels  417  and tab panels on the bottom side  403  are open, the cover panels  411 ,  413  on the top side  401  are closed and vice versa. 
         [0045]    In general, the interior  415  is configured to retain a telecommunications cable  210  wound in one of multiple cable arrangements. In the example shown in  FIG. 11 , the cable  210  can be arranged in a “continuous FIG.  8 ” arrangement  270 . This arrangement  270  lays the first end  212  of the cable  210  along the top side  401  of the container  410  and continuously wraps the cable  210  in a “FIG.  8 ” pattern. The second end  214  of the cable  210  finishes at the bottom side  403  of the container  410 . The first end  212 , therefore, is accessible from the top side  401  of the container  410  and the second end  214  is accessible from the bottom side  403 . 
         [0046]    This arrangement  270  differs from the cable arrangement  260  shown in  FIG. 8 . In cable arrangement  260 , only the intermediate section  216  forms a “FIG.  8 ” pattern. The first end  212  of the cable  210  is wrapped in a coil around the first spool member  320  and the second end  224  of the cable  210  is wrapped in a coil around the second spool member  330  (e.g., see  FIG. 8 ). In contrast, in cable arrangement  270 , the entire cable is wound in the “FIG.  8 ” pattern. In one embodiment, a zip-tie or other fastener can secure the cable  210  in the desired arrangement. 
         [0047]    In certain embodiments, the interior  415  is configured to hold first and second guides  420 ,  430  ( FIG. 9 ) to aid in creating and maintaining the cable  210  in the cable arrangements, such as cable arrangement  270 . The first and second guides  420 ,  430  extend from the top side  401  to the bottom side  403  of the interior  415  of the container  410 . The first and second guides  420 ,  430  are generally aligned and spaced from one another along a longitudinal axis A L  ( FIG. 11 ) of the container  410 . 
         [0048]    In some embodiments, the first and second guides  420 ,  430  are generally cylindrical. In other embodiments, however, the guides  420 ,  430  can be any desired shape. The guides  420 ,  430  can be fixedly mounted within the container  410 . For example, in one embodiment, adhesive can be applied to either side of the guides  420 ,  430  to affix the guides  420 ,  430  to the tab panels  413  on either side  401 ,  403  of the container  410 . Typically, the adhesive has sufficient strength to enable a user to pull the tab panels  413  on one side  401 ,  403  away from the guides  420 ,  430  and into an open position ( FIG. 9 ) without damaging the tab panels  413  or the guides  420 ,  430 . In other embodiments, the guides  420 ,  430  are not secured to the container or the container  410  does not include guides  420 ,  430 . 
         [0049]    In some embodiments, the container  410  also includes one or more outer guides  440 . In a preferred embodiment, the container  410  holds an outer guide  442 ,  444 ,  446 ,  448  in each corner, respectively, of the container  410 . The outer guides  440  facilitate routing and inhibit tangling of the cable  210 . The outer guides  440  can also aid in maintaining the shape of the cable arrangement into which the cable  210  is arranged. In some embodiments, the outer guides  440  include foam inserts. In other embodiments, however, the outer guides  440  can be formed from any desired material or monolithically formed with the container  410 . 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIGS. 12-13 , in use, the cable  210  can be accessed from either the top side  401  or the bottom side  403  of the container  410 , depending on which end  212 ,  214  of the cable  210  a user desires to access in a given application. First, the container  410  is oriented so the appropriate side  401 ,  403  is accessible and then the appropriate side  401 ,  403  is arranged in a deployment position (e.g., see  FIG. 12 ). If a fastener, such as a zip-tie, is coupled to the cable  210  to maintain the cable  210  in a cable arrangement, such as cable arrangement  270 , then the fastener can be removed either before or after arranging the container  410  in the deployment position. 
         [0051]    In the deployment position, the tab panels are positioned at an angle between the cover panels and the rest of the container  410 . The cover panels and the tab panels are coupled together to form a generally funnel-shaped opening through which the cable  210  can pass. In some embodiments, the cover panels and the tab panels can be interlocked together. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , tabs  414  on tab panels  413  can be bent towards cover panels  411  and slid into slots  412  defined in the cover panels  411 . The tabs  414  are configured to remain in the slots  412  even against the force of the cable  210  being unwound and being pulled out from the container  410 . In other embodiments, the cover panels can be otherwise affixed or fastened to the tab panels. 
         [0052]    When configured in the deployment position, the cover panels are angled between the open position and the closed position to form a slit through which the interior  415  of the container  410  can be accessed (e.g., see  FIGS. 12 and 13 ). Typically, the slit has a width extending between the two cover panels  411  of about two to about seven inches. In a preferred embodiment, the slit has a width of about four to about five inches. Configuring the container  410  into the deployment position helps to control the egress of the cable  210  from the container  410  and to inhibit tangling of the cable  210 . For example, the cover panels  411  and tab panels  413  define a limited space or slot through which the cable  210  can exit the container  410  (see  FIG. 12 ). 
         [0053]    The desired end  212 ,  214  of the cable  210  can be pulled out of the container  410  through the slot along a pull direction P 1  after the container  410  has been arranged in the deployment position (e.g., see  FIG. 13 ). The pull direction P 1  extends generally away from the container  410 . As the cable  210  is pulled, the cable  210  unwinds from the container  410 . In some embodiments, the cable  210  also unwinds from the guides  420 ,  430 . 
         [0054]    Referring now to  FIGS. 14-22 , a third example of a payout arrangement  500 , which has features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, is shown. As shown in  FIG. 14 , the third payout arrangement  500  includes a spool  510  having a middle section  516  extending longitudinally from a first end  512  to a second end  514 . The spool  510  defines a passage  515  extending longitudinally through the spool  510  along a central axis C 3 . The spool  510  can be rotatably mounted on a rod  550  (see  FIG. 20 ) by sliding a rod  550  through the passage  515 . 
         [0055]    In certain embodiments, at least one spacer  520  is removably coupled to the spool  510 . In the example shown, four spacers  520  are coupled to the spool  510  at equidistant points. Each spacer  520  has an extension member  522  and a coupling member  524 . Typically, the coupling member  524  mounts to the end  514  of the spool  510 . For example, the coupling member  524  can mount to the end  514  using fasteners, such as screws. In other embodiments, however, the coupling member  524  can be secured to the spool  510  by any desired attachment techniques or by the telecommunications cable  210  itself. 
         [0056]    The extension member  522  protrudes longitudinally along the spool  510  from the coupling member  524  (e.g., see  FIG. 17 ). In general, the spacers  520  are configured to enable a length of telecommunications cable  210  to be wrapped in a coil  225  around the middle section  516  of the spool  510  and/or the extension members  522 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 17 , the coil  225  wraps around four spacers  520  and does not contact the spool  510 . In other embodiments, however, the coil  225  can wrap around the middle section  516  of the spool  510  and one or more spacers  520  (e.g., see  FIG. 18 ). 
         [0057]    The middle section  516  of the spool  510  has a diameter D 1  ( FIG. 16 ). Each spacer  520  has a height H ( FIG. 17 ). The coil  225 , therefore, has an inner diameter D 2  greater than the spool diameter D 1  at least by the value of H (e.g., see  FIG. 18 ). In general, the height H of the spacers  520  ranges from about an ⅛ th  of an inch to about two inches. In a preferred embodiment, the height of the spacers are about ½ of an inch. In certain embodiments, the extension members  522  of the spacers  520  can be spaced a distance D 3  from the middle section  516  (e.g., see  FIG. 16 ). Spacing the extension members  522  further increases the inner diameter D 2  of the coil  225 . 
         [0058]    In use, the spacers  520  can be removed from the spool  510  to enable the cable  210  to be unwound from either end  212 ,  214 . After the spacers  520  have been removed, the coil  225  retains the inner diameter D 2  that is greater than the diameter D 1  of the spool  510 . The inner end  212 ,  214  of the cable  210  is accessible by reaching into the center of the coil  225 , and grabbing and pulling the end  212 ,  214  out from the coil  225 . The outer end  212 ,  214  is accessible from the outside of the coil  225 . In certain embodiments, the spool  510  spins when either of the two ends  212 ,  214  of the cable  210  is pulled. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIGS. 19-22 , the payout arrangement  500  can include a housing  540 . The housing includes a front panel  542  spaced from a rear panel  544 . A side panel  546  extends between the front and rear panels  542 ,  544 . In some embodiments, the front and rear panel  542 ,  544  are generally circular and the side panel  546  forms a continuous curve. In other embodiments, however, the housing  540  can be any desired shape. 
         [0060]    In certain embodiments, the housing  540  is configured to pivot from a closed position ( FIG. 19 ) to an open position ( FIG. 21 ). For example, as shown in  FIG. 21 , a hinge  548  can be coupled to the side wall  546  to enable a portion of the front, rear, and side panels  542 ,  544 ,  546  to pivot about the hinge  548 . Pivoting the housing  540  into an open position facilitates access to the interior  545  of the housing  540 . 
         [0061]    In general, the interior  545  includes a ring of space in which the cable  210  can be located when coiled around the spool  510  and/or spacers  520 . In some embodiments, the interior  545  is sufficiently large to accommodate one or more connectors or connector terminals at one of the ends  212 ,  214  of the cable  210  (e.g., see  FIG. 22 ). 
         [0062]    In some embodiments, the front panel  542  of the housing  540  defines one or more openings  541  through which one end  212 ,  214  of the cable  210  can be inserted. In a preferred embodiment, at least two openings  541  are spaced approximately equidistant apart along the front panel  542 . Sliding one end  212 ,  214  of the cable  210  through the hole  541  facilitates locating the end  212 ,  214  during deployment and inhibits unwinding of the coil  225  during storage or shipping of the payout arrangement  500  to the installation site. 
         [0063]    From the forgoing detailed description, it will be evident that modifications and variations can be made in the devices of the disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. For example, while some of the embodiments described above have been discussed in terms of fiber optic cable systems, persons having skill in the art will note the teachings of this disclosure are equally applicable to copper or other types of telecommunications cable systems.