Abstract:
The invention relates to a bundle core repository ( 7 ) for a distribution device for optical waveguides, comprising a housing having a lateral opening ( 103 ), the bundle core repository ( 7 ) being connected to a lower part ( 109 ) via a pivot bearing ( 108 ).

Description:
This application is a National Stage Application of PCT/EP2008/001156, filed 15 Feb. 2008, which claims benefit of Serial No. 10 2007 010 853.4, filed 1Mar. 2007 in Germany and which application(s) 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 bundle core repository for a distribution device for optical waveguides. 
     In distribution devices for optical waveguides, optical waveguide fibers are connected to other fibers or optical elements such as plugs or couplers. The optical waveguide fibers are in this case generally guided in the form of bundle cores to the distribution device. In this case, a bundle core comprises at least two optical waveguide fibers having a common sheathing. The bundle cores themselves can further be combined in an optical waveguide cable. In this case, the optical waveguide cable comprises a large number of bundled cores, which can be arranged around a common central element, the optical waveguide cable having an outer sheathing surrounding all the bundle cores and the central element. If appropriate, a metal foil, which acts as a moisture diffusion protection, is also arranged between the outer sheathing and the bundle cores, the metal foil preferably being in the form of an aluminum foil. 
     In distribution devices there is often the problem that not all incoming bundle cores or their fibers are intended to spliced, rather that some bundle cores are intended to be guided into the distribution device merely for storage purposes, some then being passed out of the distribution device again unchanged. In this case, it is known that the bundle cores are wound up into a coil and the coil acting as the reserve length is stopped between a carrier system of the distribution device. This saves on separate storage devices, but results in confusion in the distribution device. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention is therefore based on the technical problem of providing a bundle core repository for a distribution device for optical waveguides which makes it possible for bundle cores to be accommodated in structured fashion and which is simple to use. 
     In this regard, the bundle core repository for a distribution device for optical waveguides comprises a housing having a lateral opening, the bundle core repository being connected to a lower part via a pivot bearing. This makes it possible to deposit the bundle cores centrally and in ordered fashion, it being possible for the bundle core repository to be arranged in optimized fashion in terms of physical space in the distribution device owing to its pivotable design and, at the same time it being possible for it to be pivoted into a convenient working position. In this case, the bundle core repository is preferably connected to a carrier system of the distribution device via the lower part, further preferably the arrangement taking place on an upper side of the carrier system. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a supporting strut, which supports the bundle core repository against the lower part in a pivoted-up position (working position), is arranged on the lower part. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the bundle core repository can be pivoted through 90°, it also being possible for the pivoting angle to be slightly less than 90°, for example 85°-89°. This prevents already accommodated bundle cores from falling out of the bundle core repository. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the bundle core repository is sealed by a removable cover. As a result, the bundle core can be inserted into the bundle core repository from above in a very convenient manner. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, a winding cylinder is arranged on a bottom face of the bundle core repository onto which winding cylinder the bundle cores can be wound. In this case, the winding cylinder ensures that the minimum bending radii for the bundle cores are not undershot. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, a latching hook, which is latched with the lower part in an initial position, is arranged on the lower side of the bundle core repository. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the housing of the bundle core repository has a cylindrical shape. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, sprung props, which support the housing of the bundle core repository against a housing of the distribution device, are cut out of the outer face. 
     The distribution device for optical waveguides can in this case be in the form of a sleeve, a cable splitter or a sealing end, for example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred exemplary embodiment. In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective front view of a sleeve for optical waveguide cables without a housing upper part, 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective illustration of a console with a ground plate, 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective front view of a part of the fiber management unit, 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective rear view of the part shown in  FIG. 3 , 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective side view of the fiber management unit, 
         FIG. 6  shows a plan view of the sleeve with the bundle core repository removed, 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective illustration of a bundle core guide, 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective illustration of a bundle core repository, 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective illustration of the bundle core repository without the cover, 
         FIG. 10  shows a perspective view from below of the bundle core repository in the pivoted-up state, and 
         FIG. 11  shows a side view of a housing upper part. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a sleeve  1  for optical waveguide cables  2  without a housing upper part  120  (see  FIG. 11 ). The sleeve comprises a housing lower part  3 , a console  4 , a carrier system  5 , a fiber management unit  6  and a bundle fiber repository  7 . The housing lower part  3  is formed with openings  30  for optical waveguide cables  2 , which are sealed off from moisture via sealing elements  35 . In this case, the housing lower part  3  is designed to have two or more parts, lateral circumferential parts  32  of the housing lower part  3 , including edge parts of the openings  30 , being fixed detachably on a base plate  31 , preferably by means of screws  33 , which are screwed into a thread  34  of the base plate  31 . Preferably, as many circumferential parts  32  are arranged detachably as openings  30  for optical waveguide cables  2  are provided, precisely one opening  30  being exposed laterally or radially by each circumferential part  32 . 
     First, the manner in which the optical waveguide cables  2  are connected will be explained with reference to  FIG. 2 . The console  4  which consists of plastic has a star-shaped cross section and is formed on the lower side  41  with pedestal feet  42 , which have holes  43 . The console  4  can then be screwed to the housing lower part  3  by means of screws, which are not illustrated. The upper side  44  has a round central region, from which seven rests  45  protrude in the form of a star. A ground plate with holes  47 , which are aligned with openings in the rests  45 , is formed on the upper side  44 . In each case one angled sheet-metal part  48 , which has a desired bending point  49  in the form of a tapered portion, is screwed onto the ground plate  46 . A fixing element  50  for fixing a central element  21  of the optical waveguide cable  2  is arranged on the angled sheet-metal part  48 . The fixing element  50  comprises a jaw  51  with an indentation and a plate  52  which can be screwed. In the example illustrated, a connection of the optical waveguide cable  2  to ground is illustrated by a ground strip  53 , which is screwed to the angled sheet-metal part  48  and the console  4 . The ground strip  53  is in this case bent such that it bears against the optical waveguide cable  2  on the side opposite the angled sheet-metal part  48 . A connection to ground in the case of optical waveguide cables  2  is usually used when said optical waveguide cables are formed with a metal foil as diffusion protection against moisture. For this purpose, the outer sheathing of the optical waveguide cable  2  is then partially removed and the metal foil exposed. Then, a scroll spring  54  is wound onto the exposed metal foil and the ground strip  53 , which scroll spring  54  then presses the ground strip  53  in a sprung manner against the metal foil and therefore then connects them electrically to one another (which is not illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). The ground strip  53  is then screwed to the angled sheet-metal part  48  and the ground plate  46 , the ground connection then being guided outwards via a connection (not illustrated) to the screws  33  of the lower part  3 . Furthermore, the angled sheet-metal part  48  and the optical waveguide cable  2  are connected mechanically to one another via a clip  55 , with the result that the optical waveguide cable  2  is fixed mechanically. Furthermore, a plurality of bundle cores  22  are illustrated in  FIG. 2  which are arranged around the central element  21 . Bundle cores  22  comprise a plurality of fibers having a common sheathing. For reasons of clarity, the bundle cores  22  are in this case illustrated such that they are cut away, whereas they are actually guided upwards. Furthermore, a fixing limb  56  is illustrated, to which a central carrier  71  of the carrier system  5  is screwed. A defective housing lower part  3  can be replaced by means of the desired bending point  49  and the detachable circumferential parts  32  of the housing lower part  3  without optical waveguide connections in the sleeve  1  being separated. For this purpose, the circumferential parts  32  of the housing lower part  3  are detached where optical waveguide cables  2  are connected. Then, the optical waveguide cables  2  are bent away at an angle to the side via the desired bending point  49 , and the defective housing lower part  3  is removed. A reverse procedure is correspondingly used for mounting a new housing lower part  3 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a fiber guide  61  of the fiber management unit  6 , which is hidden in  FIG. 1  by a covering  62 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a fiber guide  61  is arranged on the front side V of the carrier system  5  and a fiber guide  61  is arranged on the rear side R of the carrier system  5 . The fiber guide  61  comprises two coil formers  63  and a plurality of retainers  64 . Guide webs  66 , which form guides  67 ,  68 , are arranged on a lower side  65 , which faces the console  4 . If it is now intended for individual fibers of a bundle core  22  to be connected to another optical waveguide cable  2 , the bundle core is cut. The end of the bundle cores is fixed in the region  67  and  68  in a part not illustrated. The fibers, which are intended to be connected to another optical waveguide cable  2 , are supplied via the guide  68  to one or more splicing cassettes  80 , which are arranged above the fiber management unit  6  on the front side V and rear side R of the carrier system  5 . In this case, both the incoming fiber and the outgoing fiber are guided in the guide  68 . The remaining fibers of a bundle core  22 , which are not intended to be connected to another optical waveguide cable  2 , but are intended to be looped through, are guided into the guide  67 . There, the necessary reserve length or splicing reserve is wound onto the coil formers  63 , and then these fibers are guided out of the other guide  67  back to the optical waveguide cable  2 . In the center, the fiber guide  61  has an opening  69 , through which the fiber guide  61  can be screwed to the central carrier  71  of the carrier system  5 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the rear side of the fiber guide  61 , which bears against the carrier system  5 . In this case, the fiber guide  61  has four stop edges  70 , which stop against edges of the carrier system  5  and therefore prevent the fiber guide  61  from tipping. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the fiber management unit  6  in a side view. The two fiber guides  61  for the front side V and the rear side R are screwed to the central carrier  71  of the carrier system  5 , the stop edges  70  stopping against stop edges of two profiled carriers  72 , which are connected to the central carrier  71 , the rear profiled carrier  72  being hidden in the illustration. A lateral fiber guide  74 , which allows for the fibers to jump laterally from the front side V to the rear side R of the sleeve  1  are arranged laterally on the upper side  73  of the fiber guides  61  for the front side V and the rear side R. The lateral fiber guide  74  can in this case be a separate component or else one half can in each case be connected integrally to the fiber guides  61  for the front side V and rear side R. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a plan view of the sleeve  1  with the bundle core repository  7  removed. In this case, coverings  81  for the splicing cassettes  80  are illustrated. The profiled carriers  72  have a central plate-shaped region  82 , which is adjoined by a U-shaped region  83 . The other side is adjoined by a region  84 , which is initially in the form of a V, in this case the limbs  85  running parallel and having inwardly pointing bent-back portions  86 . The splicing cassettes  80  are pushed onto the profiled carriers  72  from above. Then, the covering  81  is pushed over the last, uppermost splicing cassette  80  and fixed via stoppers  87 , which can be screwed. Bundle core guides  90  are inserted into the region  84  of the left-hand profiled carrier. For example, the lateral fiber guide  74  is inserted on the other profiled carrier  72 . 
     The bundle core guide  90  comprises a central web  91 , which splits an outer edge  92  into two guides  93 ,  94  (see  FIG. 7 ). In this case, the outer edge  92  is formed at in each case one of the guides  93 ,  94  with a cut-free portion  99 , with the result that the parts  95 ,  96  of the outer edge  92  are sprung. This makes it possible to insert the bundle cores  22  laterally. The bundle core guide  90  is formed with a shaft  97  as an extension of the central web  91 , an arrow-shaped attachment  98  being arranged at the end of said shaft  97 . If the bundle core guide  90  is then plugged into the profiled carrier  72 , the arrow-shaped attachment  98  latches behind the bent-back portion  86  of the profiled carrier  72 . Owing to the design with two guides  93 ,  94 , a clearly separated split between the bundle core  22  being guided towards the bundle core repository  7  and the bundle core  22  being guided back can be achieved. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the bundle core repository  7 . The bundle core repository  7  has a substantially cylindrical shape, which is closed towards the top by a removable cover  100 . Three sprung props  102  are cut free from the outer face  101 , press in a sprung manner against the turned-over housing upper part  120  and therefore stabilize the bundle core repository  7 . Furthermore, the bundle core repository  7  has an opening  103 , beneath which a rounded-off portion  104  is arranged. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the bundle core repository  7  without the cover  100 . Retainers  105  are arranged on the inner sides of the outer face  101 . Furthermore, a winding cylinder  106  is arranged centrally on a bottom face  107 . The bundle cores  22  are guided by the bundle core guides  90  to the bundle core repository  7  and inserted through the opening  103 , wound around the winding cylinder  106  and then guided out again through the opening  103 . The bundle core repository  7  therefore makes it possible for reserve lengths of uncut bundle cores  22 , which are only looped through the sleeve  1 , to be deposited centrally in ordered fashion. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates the bundle core repository  7  in a pivoted-up state. For this purpose, the bundle core repository  7  can be pivoted through approximately 90° with respect to a lower part  109  via a pivot bearing  108 . The lower part  109  is latched to the carrier system  5 . The bundle core repository is formed with a latching hook  110  on the lower side, which latching hook  110  latches with the lower part  109  in the initial position (see  FIG. 1 ). In the pivoted-up position, the bundle core repository  7  is held by a latched-in consoleing strut  111  and is propped against the lower part  109 . The consoleing strut  111  dips into a reciprocal  112  in the initial position. By means of a plug-type rail  114 , which is arranged on a lower side  113  of the lower part  109 , the lower part  109  with the bundle core repository  7  can then be plugged onto the upper side of the carrier system  5 , the plug-type rail  114  latching in between the two U-shaped regions  83  of the profiled carriers  72 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a side view of a housing upper part  120 , which is consoled on the sleeve  1  from above and is connected to the housing lower part  3 . 
     List of Reference Symbols 
     
         
           1  Sleeve 
           2  Optical waveguide cable 
           3  Housing lower part 
           4  Console 
           5  Carrier system 
           6  Fiber management unit 
           7  Bundle fiber repository 
           21  Central element 
           22  Bundle core 
           30  Opening 
           31  Base plate 
           32  Circumferential part 
           33  Screw 
           34  Thread 
           35  Sealing element 
           41  Lower side 
           42  Pedestal feet 
           43  Holes 
           44  Upper side 
           45  Rests 
           46  Ground plate 
           47  Holes 
           48  Angled sheet-metal part 
           49  Desired bending point 
           50  Fixing element 
           51  Jaw 
           52  Plate 
           53  Ground strip 
           54  Scroll spring 
           55  Clip 
           56  Fixing limb 
           61  Fiber guide front side/rear side 
           62  Covering 
           63  Coil former 
           64  Retainer 
           65  Lower side 
           66  Guide webs 
           67 ,  68  Guides 
           69  Opening 
           70  Stop edges 
           71  Central carrier 
           72  Profiled carrier 
           73  Upper side 
           74  Lateral fiber guide 
           80  Splicing cassette 
           81  Coverings 
           82  Plate-shaped region 
           83  U-shaped region 
           84  V-shaped region 
           85  Limb 
           86  Bent-back portions 
           87  Stopper 
           90  Bundle core guides 
           91  Central web 
           92  Edge 
           93 ,  94  Guides 
           95 ,  96  Parts 
           97  Shaft 
           98  Arrow-shaped attachment 
           99  Cut-free portion 
           100  Cover 
           101  Outer face 
           102  Props 
           103  Opening 
           104  Rounded-off portion 
           105  Retainer 
           106  Winding cylinder 
           107  Bottom face 
           108  Pivot bearing 
           109  Lower part 
           110  Latching hook 
           111  Consoleing strut 
           112  Reciprocal 
           113  Lower side 
           114  Plug-type rail 
           120  Housing upper part 
         V Front side 
         R Rear side