Abstract:
The invention relates to a support system ( 5 ) for fixing telecommunication and data systems technology resources, comprising at least one profiled support ( 72 ), wherein the at least one profiled support ( 72 ) is constructed with fixing means on at least one side and with further fixing means ( 135 ) by means of which resources can be fixed to the front and/or rear (V, R) of the support system ( 5 ).

Description:
This application is a National Stage Application of PCT/EP2008/001157, filed 15 Feb. 2008, which claims benefit of Serial No. 20 2007 008 151.0, filed 1 Mar. 2007 in Germany and Serial No. 10 2007 032 186.6, filed 11 Jul. 2007 in Germany and which applications are incorporated herein by reference. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to each of the above disclosed applications. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates to a support system for fixing telecommunication and data systems technology resources, particularly for use in a cable closure for optical fiber cables. 
     Closures for optical fiber cables are generally used for connecting individual fibers of one or more units of a cable with another cable, wherein applications are also possible where all units or fibers of the cable are only looped through the closure. The closures usually have a case top and a case bottom, the case bottom also being called endplate. The case bottom has openings through which optical fiber cables can be guided into the closure. The optical fiber cables have a multiplicity of units. The units, in turn, consist of at least two optical fibers having common cladding. 
     When a cable is looped through, two cases are conceivable. In one case, a cable is stripped at one place and guided into the closure. For this purpose, the units are again guided downward in the closure to another opening and brought out of the closure again as cable with insulation. Physically, the incoming and outgoing cable is one and the same cable. In the other case, the cable ends at the closure and is connected with another cable which also ends at the closure. For this purpose, the individual fibers are spliced in splice cassettes which are arranged at a support system. 
     Apart from the looping-through, individual fibers of a cable are also detached in the closure and connected with a fiber of another cable, the other fibers being continued in the original cable. One problem in the known closures is guiding looped-through units since these must remain in the closure with a certain spare length if they are to be spliced at a later time. For this reason, the units are coiled and these coils are stuffed into spaces in the support system. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention is based on the technical problem of creating a support system for fixing telecommunication and data systems technology resources which enables various resources to be fixed in a more structured manner. 
     For this purpose, the support system for fixing telecommunication and data systems technology resources comprises at least one profiled support, wherein the at least one profiled support is constructed with fixing means on at least one side and with further fixing means, wherein the further fixing means can be used for fixing resources to the front and/or rear of the support system. This makes it possible to implement structured fixing so that functionally different resources can also be arranged separately from one another. When the support system is used in a cable closure for optical fiber cables, for example, splice cassettes can be fastened at the front and rear, whereas unit guides and/or fiber guides can be arranged on a side. The support system preferably has fixing means on both sides since this makes it possible to improve the structuring further. This can be achieved by a profiled support or by two parallel profiled supports. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the support system comprises two profiled supports, wherein the profiled supports in each case have a center plate-shaped area which is adjoined on one side by a U-shaped area and on the other side by an area which is initially constructed to be V-shaped, the arms then extending in parallel in the direction of the outside and having inward-pointing bends, wherein the two profiled supports are aligned in such a manner that the arms of the U-shaped areas are opposite one another. The advantage of this embodiment is that arbitrary widths of the support system can be adjusted depending on the spacing of the two profiled supports. The two U-shaped areas form a further fixing means between them. Thus, for example, a unit repository can be inserted from the top onto the support system into the receptacle forming between the two U-shaped areas. A further advantage of the embodiment with two spaced profiled supports compared with a one-piece solution is a saving in weight. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the fixing means for the front and/or rear are constructed to be T-shaped. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, a center support, which is preferably constructed as plate, is arranged on the underside of the support system. The support system can then be connected, for example, to a bracket via this center support. 
     The center support is preferably arranged between the U-shaped areas and is further preferably screwed to the profiled supports. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the center support is constructed with holes. Apart from the possible screwing to the profiled supports, already described, for example, a fiber management system can also be screwed to the front and/or rear of the center support. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, stiffening plates are arranged between the profiled supports, which are preferably screwed on and are preferably arranged between the U-shaped areas. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the text which follows, the invention will be explained in greater detail with reference to a preferred exemplary embodiment. The figures show in: 
         FIG. 1  a perspective front view of a closure for optical fiber cables without case top, 
         FIG. 2  a perspective representation of a bracket with ground plate, 
         FIG. 3  a perspective front view of a part of the fiber management system, 
         FIG. 4  a perspective rear view of the part according to  FIG. 3 , 
         FIG. 5  a perspective side view of the fiber management system, 
         FIG. 6  a top view of the closure with the unit repository removed, 
         FIG. 7  a perspective representation of a unit guide, 
         FIG. 8  a perspective representation of a unit repository, 
         FIG. 9  a perspective representation of the unit repository without lid, 
         FIG. 10  a perspective bottom view of the unit repository in the raised state, 
         FIG. 11  a side view of a case top, 
         FIG. 12  a top view of a profiled support of a support system, 
         FIG. 13  a side view of the profiled support, 
         FIG. 14  a perspective representation of a profiled support, and 
         FIG. 15  a perspective part-representation of the support system with a center support. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a closure  1  for optical fiber cables  2  without case top  120  (see  FIG. 11 ). The closure  1  comprises a case bottom  3 , a bracket  4 , a support system  5 , a fiber management system  6  and a unit repository  7 . The case bottom  3  is constructed with openings  30  for optical fiber cables  2  which are sealed against humidity by sealing elements  35 . In this arrangement, the case bottom  3  is constructed of several parts, lateral circumferential parts  32  of the case bottom  3  being attached detachably to a baseplate  31 , including edging parts of the openings  30 , preferably by means of screws  33  which are screwed into threads  34  of the baseplate  31 . Preferably, as many circumferential parts  32  as there are openings  30  for optical fiber cables  2  are detachably arranged, each circumferential part  32  exposing exactly one opening  30  laterally or radially. 
     Initially,  FIG. 2  will be used for explaining the connecting of the optical fiber cables  2 . The bracket  4 , consisting of plastic, has a star-shaped cross section and is constructed at its underside  41  with base feet  42  which have holes  43 . The bracket  4  can then be screwed to the case bottom  3  by means of screws, not shown. The top side  44  has a round center area from which seven seats  45  project in the form of a star. On the top side  44 , a ground plate with holes  47  is constructed which are flush with openings in the seats  45 . In each case, a metal angle  48  is screwed to the ground plate  46 , which has a designed bending point  49  in the form of a diminution. At the metal angle  48 , a fixing element  50  for fixing a central element  21  of the optical fiber cable  2  is arranged. The fixing element  50  comprises a cheek  51  with an indentation and a screwable plate  52 . In the example shown, a ground connection of the optical fiber cable  2  by means of a ground strap  53  is shown which is screwed to the metal angle  48  and the bracket  4 . The ground strap  53  is bent in such a manner that it rests against the optical fiber cable  2  at the side opposite to the metal angle  48 . A ground connection in optical fiber cables  2  is used in most cases when they are constructed with a metal foil as diffusion protection against humidity. For this purpose, the outer cladding of the optical fiber cable  2  is then partially removed and the metal foil is exposed. Onto the exposed metal foil and the ground strap  53 , a scroll spring  54  is then wound which then elastically presses the ground strap  53  against the metal foil and thus electrically connects these to one another (which is not shown in  FIG. 2 ). The ground strap  53  is then screwed to the metal angle  48  and the ground plate  46 , the ground connection then being conducted to the outside via a connection, not shown, to the screws  33  of the bottom  3 . Furthermore, the metal angle  48 , the optical fiber cable  2  are mechanically connected to one another via a clamp  55  so that the optical fiber cable  2  is mechanically fixed. Furthermore,  FIG. 2  shows a number of units  22  which are arranged around the central element  21 . Units  22  comprise a number of fibers having common cladding. For reasons of clarity, the units  22  are shown here cut-off, whereas they are actually conducted towards the top. Furthermore, a mounting arm  56  is shown to which a center support  71  of the support system  5  is screwed. Due to the designed bending point  49  and the detachable circumferential parts  32  of the case bottom  3 , a defective case bottom  3  can be replaced without separating optical fiber connections in the closure  1 . For this purpose, the circumferential parts  32  of the case bottom  3  are detached where optical fiber cables  2  are connected. Following that, the optical fiber cables  2  are bent away obliquely to the side via the designed bending point  49  and the defective case bottom  3  is removed. A new case bottom  3  is correspondingly assembled in the reverse order. 
       FIG. 3  shows a fiber guide  61  of the fiber management system  6  which is covered by a cover  62  in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , a fiber guide  61  is arranged at the front V of the support system  5  and a fiber guide  61  is arranged at the rear R of the support system  5 . The fiber guide  61  comprises two coil formers  63  and a number of retainers  64 . At an underside  65  which faces the bracket  4 , guide webs  66  are arranged which form guides  67 ,  68 . If then individual fibers of a unit  22  are to be connected to another optical fiber cable  2 , the unit is cut. The end of the units is fixed in the lower area of the guides  67  and  68  in a part, not shown. The fibers which are to be connected to another optical fiber cable  2  are supplied via the guide  68  to one or more splice cassettes  80  which are arranged at the front and rear V, R of the support system  5  above the fiber management system  6 . Both the forward-going and the returning fibers are carried in the guide  68 . The remaining fibers of a unit  22  which are not to be connected to another optical fiber cable  2  but are looped through are conducted into the guide  67  where the necessary spare length or splicing margin is wound onto the coil former  63  and these fibers are then carried back to the optical fiber cable  2  from the other guide  67 . In this arrangement, it is also possible to conduct fibers which are to be connected to another optical fiber cable  2 , first into the guide  67  and from there into the guide  68 . The fiber guide  61  has centrally an opening  69  through which the fiber guide  61  can be screwed to the center support  71  of the support system  5 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , the rear of the fiber guide  61  is shown which rests against the support system  5 . The fiber guide  61  has four stop edges  70  which stop against edges of the support system  5  and thus prevent the fiber guide  61  from tilting. 
       FIG. 5  shows the fiber management system  6  in a side view. At the center support  71  of the support system  5 , the two fiber guides  61  for the front and rear V, R are screwed on, the stop edges  70  stopping against stop edges of two profiled supports  72  which are connected to the center support  71 , the rear profiled support  72  being covered in the illustration. On the side on the top side  73  of the fiber guides  61  for the front and rear V, R, a fiber side guide  74  is arranged which allows patching of the fibers on the side from the front V to the rear R of the closure  1 . The fiber side guide  74  can be a separate component or in each case connected in halves in one piece with the fiber guides  61  for the front and rear V, R. 
       FIG. 6  shows a top view of the closure  1  with the unit repository  7  removed. It shows covers  81  for the splice cassettes  80 . The profiled supports  72  have a center plate-shaped area  82  which is adjoined by a U-shaped area  83 . On the other side, an area  84  follows which is initially constructed to be V-shaped, the arms  85  then extending in parallel and having inward-pointing bends  86 . The splice cassettes  80  are pushed from the top onto the profiled supports  72 . The cover  81  is then pushed over the last topmost splice cassette  80  and fixed via screwable stoppers  87 . Unit guides  90  are inserted into the area  84  of the left-hand profiled support. On the other profiled support  72 , the fiber side guide  74  is inserted, for example. 
     The unit guide  90  comprises a center web  91  which subdivides an outer edging  92  into two guides  93 ,  94  (see  FIG. 7 ). In this arrangement, the outer edging  92  on in each case one of the guides  93 ,  94  is constructed with a free cut  99  so that the parts  95 ,  96  of the outer edging  92  are resilient. This allows the units  22  to be introduced from the side. In the extension of the center web  91 , the unit guide  90  is constructed with a trunk  97 , at the end of which an arrow-shaped projection  98  is arranged. If the unit guide  90  is then inserted into the profiled support  72 , the arrow-shaped projection  98  latches behind the bend  86  of the profiled support  72 . The construction with two guides  93 ,  94  makes it possible to achieve a clearly separated division of the units  22  leading to the unit repository  7  and the units  22  leading back. 
       FIG. 8  shows the unit repository  7 . The unit repository  7  has an essentially cylindrical shape which is closed towards the top by a removable lid  100 . Out of the surface area  101 , three elastic stays  102  are cut away which resiliently press against the case top  120  slipped over and thus stabilize the unit repository  7 . Furthermore, the unit repository  7  has an opening  103  below which a rounding  104  is arranged. 
     In  FIG. 9 , the unit repository  7  is shown without lid  100 . On the insides of the surface area  101 , retainers  105  are arranged. Furthermore, a winding cylinder  106  is arranged centrally on a bottom area  107 . The units  22  are conducted through the unit guides  90  to the unit repository  7  and inserted through the opening  103 , wound around the winding cylinder  106  and then brought out again through the opening  103 . The unit repository  7  thus allows a central, orderly deposition of spare lengths of uncut units  22  which are only looped through the closure  1 . 
       FIG. 10  shows the unit repository  7  in an opened state. For this purpose, the unit repository  7  can be swiveled by approximately 90° with respect to a lower part  109  via a swivel bearing  108 . The lower part  109  is latched and/or screwed to the support system  5 . On the under side, the unit repository is constructed with a latching hook  110  which latches to the lower part  109  in the base position (see  FIG. 1 ). In the open position, the unit repository  7  is held by a support strut  111 , which is latched in, and supported against the lower part  109 . In the base position, the support strut  111  plunges into a receptacle  112 . Using a plug-in rail  114  arranged on an underside  113  of the lower part  109 , the lower part  109  can then be plugged with the unit repository  7  onto the top side of the support system  5 , the plug-in rail  114  latching in between the two U-shaped areas  83  of the profiled supports  72 . 
       FIG. 11  shows a side view of a case top  120  which is supported on the closure  1  from the top and is connected to the case bottom  3 . 
       FIGS. 12 to 14  show the profiled support  72  in a top view, side view and a perspective. As described for  FIG. 6 , the profiled support  72  has a plate-shaped area  82  which is adjoined on one side by the U-shaped area  83  and on the other side by the V-shaped area  84 . The U-shaped area  83  comprises a base  130  and two arms  131 ,  132 , the arms  131 ,  132  being perpendicular to the base  130  which, in turn, is perpendicular to the plate-shaped area  82 . The arms  131 ,  132  therefore extend in parallel with the plate-shaped area  82 . The V-shaped area  84  also has two arms  133 ,  134  which initially run apart and which are then adjoined by the parallel arms  85  which are then also parallel to the plate-shaped area  82 . From these arms  85 , the inward-pointing bends  86  then extend which then form a latching lock. Pointing outwards, T-shaped fixing means  135  in each case project from the arms  85 , over which, for example, the splice cassettes  80  are pushed. 
       FIG. 15  shows the connection of the two supports  72  to the center support  71 . In this arrangement, the center support  71  is screwed to the arms  131 ,  132  of the U-shaped areas  83  by means of screws  136 . The two profiled supports  72  are of completely identical construction but rotated with respect to one another by 180° so that the arm  131  is at the front in the case of the left-hand profiled support  72  and the arm  132  is at the front in the case of the right-hand profiled support  72 . Furthermore, the center support  71  has holes  137  by means of which a fiber management system  6  can be attached to the center support  71  or, respectively, the center support  71  can be joined to the bracket  4 . 
     LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS 
     
         
           1  Closure 
           2  Optical fiber cable 
           3  Case bottom 
           4  Bracket 
           5  Support system 
           6  Fiber management system 
           7  Unit repository 
           21  Central element 
           22  Unit 
           30  Opening 
           31  Baseplate 
           32  Circumferential part 
           33  Screw 
           34  Thread 
           35  Sealing element 
           41  Underside 
           42  Base feet 
           43  Holes 
           44  Top side 
           45  Seats 
           46  Ground plate 
           47  Holes 
           48  Metal angle 
           49  Designed bending point 
           50  Fixing element 
           51  Cheek 
           52  Plate 
           53  Ground strap 
           54  Scroll spring 
           55  Clamp 
           56  Mounting arm 
           61  Fiber guide front/rear 
           62  Cover 
           63  Coil former 
           64  Retainer 
           65  Underside 
           66  Guide webs 
           67 ,  68  Guides 
           69  Opening 
           70  Stop edges 
           71  Center support 
           72  Profiled support 
           73  Top side 
           74  Fiber side guide 
           80  Splice cassette 
           81  Covers 
           82  Plate-shaped area 
           83  U-shaped area 
           84  V-shaped area 
           85  Arm 
           86  Bends 
           87  Stopper 
           90  Unit guides 
           91  Center web 
           92  Edging 
           93 ,  94  Guides 
           95 ,  96  Parts 
           97  Trunk 
           98  Arrow-shaped projection 
           99  Free cut 
           100  Lid 
           101  Surface area 
           102  Stays 
           103  Opening 
           104  Rounding 
           105  Retainer 
           106  Winding cylinder 
           107  Bottom area 
           108  Swivel bearing 
           109  Lower part 
           110  Latching hook 
           111  Support strut 
           112  Receptacle 
           113  Underside 
           114  Plug-in rail 
           120  Case top 
           130  Base 
           131  Arm 
           132  Arm 
           133  Arm 
           134  Arm 
           135  T-shaped fixing means 
           136  Screw 
           137  Hole 
         V Front 
         R Rear