Abstract:
The present invention relates to the management of cross-connect cables extending from fiber termination blocks with sliding fiber adaptor modules within a fiber distribution frame. A cable management divider is mounted onto a set of arcuate cable guides to direct the cables extending across the cable guides into cable channels. The purpose for providing these channels is to reduce the interference to movement and access of cables from fiber optic adaptor modules in different areas of the fiber termination block. Depending on the density and configuration of the fiber adaptors and sliding modules within the fiber termination block, multiple sets of arcuate cable guides may be provided and multiple cable management dividers may be mounted to the arcuate cable guides. The fiber distribution frame also incorporates a cable trough system to direct cables after the cables extend through the arcuate cable guides and through the channels defined by the cable management dividers. The cable trough interior surface resists the sliding movement of cables laid in the trough is also provided. This resistance to sliding of cables is desirable since some degree of slack in the cables within the fiber termination block is necessary for proper sliding of the adaptor modules. If the cables are permitted to slide within the trough leading away from the fiber termination blocks, this necessary cable slack might be removed from the blocks.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to cable management for optical fiber termination systems. Specifically, the invention relates to cable guides and troughs for managing the fiber optic cables extending to the terminations in frames, modules, blocks, and other fixtures.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In telecommunications industry, the demand for added capacity is growing rapidly. This demand is being met in part by the increasing use and density of fiber optic transmission equipment. Even though fiber optic equipment permits higher level of transmission is the same or smaller footprint than traditional copper transmission equipment, the demand requires even higher levels of fiber density. This has led to the development of high-density fiber handling equipment.  
           [0003]    Examples of this type of equipment are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,497,444, 5,717,810 and 5,758,003. These patents disclose systems of high-density fiber distribution frames and high-density fiber termination blocks (FTBs) which are mounted to the frames. Because of the large number of optical fibers passing into and out of the FTBs, the frame and blocks have a variety of structures to organize and manage the fibers. While some structures are used to aid the fibers entering the back of the frame and FTBs, an area of concern for this invention has to do with the cross-connect cables attached to the front of the FTBs. These cross-connect cables tend to be used in a much more dynamic fashion, whereas the rear cables tend to be much more static once initial installation is complete.  
           [0004]    In an example fiber optic termination and cross-connection usage, there is often a pairing of FTBs, one connected to the outside plant fiber cable, and the other connected to the array of fibers linked to telecommunications devices throughout a facility. These FTBs would typically be mounted adjacent to one another in a fiber distribution frame, or mounted in neighboring distribution frames, in a facility switching area. Cross-connect cables are used to optically link the termination of an outside plant fiber in the outside plant FTB to the termination of a facility device fiber in the facility FTB. The cross-connect cable would be lead from the termination at one FTB through a series of cable guides, troughs and/or rings in the frame holding that FTB, through known structures for securing the slack in the cross connect cables, into the cable guides, troughs and/or rings in the frame holding the second FTB and end at the termination in the second FTB.  
           [0005]    As new termination blocks and frames have been developed allowing ever higher levels of density of fiber, a need for better cross-connect cable management has been recognized. Concerns have arisen with respect to cables from terminations higher in the FTB hanging on top of and interfering with the movement of cables from terminations lower in the FTB. Also, cross-connect cables from FTBs mounted higher in the frame have longer lengths of cross-connect cables hanging in the vertical cable channels leading the cable out of the frame. The weight of these vertical lengths can exacerbate the interference problems caused by overhanging cables. These concerns can become magnified when coupled with the sliding modules incorporated into a high-density fiber distribution frame such as shown in the above-referenced patents.  
           [0006]    The sliding of the modules to permit better access to the high density of fiber terminations inside a FTB requires that the cables attached to the terminations have some combination of slack and movement. When a cross-connect cable is attached to an FTB in a frame and the cable is led out of the FTB, through the cable guides, troughs and/or rings and into the vertical cable channel, much of the slack is pulled out of the cable by the weight of the cable hanging vertically in the channel. Therefore, some movement of the cables is necessary. But the cables attached to lower mounted modules in the FTB tend to be overlaid by the cables attached to higher mounted modules in the same FTB. The movement of the lower cables necessary to allow the modules to slide is hindered by the interference of the higher cables, making sliding of the modules difficult.  
           [0007]    Further development in fiber termination systems is desired.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    An aspect of this invention relates to a cable management divider for managing cross-connect cables attached to optical fiber termination blocks with sliding cable adaptor modules, where a plurality of fiber termination blocks are mounted to a fiber distribution frame. Cable guides are mounted in corresponding relationship with the sliding adaptor modules. The cable management divider is positioned relative to one or more cable guides on the fiber termination block to define cable channels for cables to be grouped. The cable divider can have a curved upper end and clips allowing the divider to be attached to the cable guides. More than one divider may be mounted on a block.  
           [0009]    A further aspect of this invention relates to a fiber distribution frame with a plurality of fiber termination blocks with sliding cable adaptor modules mounted on the frame where cable management dividers are mounted to the blocks to manage cross-connect cables extending from the blocks. The modules may be configured in two sets which slide in opposite directions, with each set of modules having a set of cable guides mounted in corresponding relation to it. Each of these sets of cable guides has a cable management divider positioned on the cable guides. Two or more cable management dividers may be positioned on each set of cable guides.  
           [0010]    A further aspect of this invention is a cable management divider sized and shaped to be mounted on a set of arcuate cable guides so that the cable management divider defines channels for organizing and managing the cables passing through the arcuate cable guides.  
           [0011]    A further aspect of this invention relates to providing resistance to cable sliding movement within cable troughs in a fiber distribution frame through the addition of a non-skid coating or other material.  
           [0012]    A variety of advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description that follows and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. It is understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a high-density fiber distribution frame with fiber termination blocks in accordance with the concepts of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a fiber termination block from FIG. 1 with the cross-connect cable cover in place.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a side view of the fiber termination block of FIG. 2 with the front fanning guides and other interior structure shown as dashed lines.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a high-density fiber distribution frame with two fiber termination blocks in accordance with the concepts of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a fiber termination block shown in FIG. 4 with one of the cross-connect cable covers open and one of the adapter modules shown extended, and with dashed lines showing representative cable routing from the upper and lower adapter modules.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fiber termination block of FIG. 5 with adapter modules and cross-connect cable covers removed.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a side view of the fiber termination block of FIG. 6.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a front view of the fiber termination block of FIG. 6.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the long fiber management guide shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is a front view of fiber management guide of FIG. 9.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 is a side view of fiber management guide of FIG. 9.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the short fiber management guide shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 13 is a front view of fiber management guide of FIG. 12.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 14 is a side view of fiber management guide of FIG. 12.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the fiber distribution frame of FIG. 4 with the fiber termination blocks removed to show the cable troughs.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0029]    Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a fiber distribution frame  10  is shown. A similar fiber distribution frame is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,003, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Attached to fiber distribution frame  10  are twelve fiber termination blocks or fixtures, mounted in two vertical rows of six blocks  100  on the left side of frame  10  and six blocks  100   a  on the right side of frame  10 . Located intermediately between these two rows of fiber termination blocks is a jumper storage trough  20  defined by sidewalls  22  and  24  and fiber distribution frame back  12 . Within jumper storage trough  20  are a series of spools  30  for organizing and storing excess slack in cross-connect cables used to link between optical fiber terminations inside fiber termination blocks  100 . These cross-connect cables are well known in the art and are not shown in most of the FIGS. in the interest of clarity. However, representative cables are shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Below each fiber termination block  100  or  100   A  is a trough  210  for leading cross connect cables extending from a block  100  or  100   a . Troughs  210  will be discussed in more detail below. At the lower end of trough  20  are radius limiters  26  and end caps  28  for assisting in the routing and management of the cross-connect cables and ensuring that minimum bend radius rules are not violated. Lower horizontal cable trough  32  allows cross-connect cables to pass from one row of fiber termination blocks  100 , into jumper trough  20  if necessary and to the other row of fiber termination blocks, or from frame  10  to an adjacently mounted but not shown fiber distribution frame of similar nature and construction. Rear cable troughs  34  are shown on the back of frame  10  for managing and directing cables entering and exiting the rear of blocks  100  and  100   a.    
         [0031]    Note that fiber termination blocks  100  and  100   a  are essentially the same device, but mirror images of one another for mounting on the left and right side of a fiber distribution frame, respectively. Items specifically called out and identified for either block  100  or  100   a  should be understood to also apply to the other block unless otherwise specifically mentioned.  
         [0032]    Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a fiber termination block  100  for mounting on the left hand side of a fiber distribution frame  10  is shown with rear cable management area  120  partially uncovered. Cross-connect cable covers  102  and  104  are mounted with hinges  106  and  108 , respectively, at the front of block  100 . Cable guide  110  extends down and toward the rear from the front of block  100  and includes radius limiter surface  111 , side guides  112 , slots  113  and rear guide  114 . Radius limiter surface  111  ensures that cables transitioning from vertical to horizontal through cable guide  110  are not bent in a tighter radius than bend radius rules require. Slots  113  receive lower extension tabs  186  and  188  of cable management dividers  138  and  136 , described in more detail below. Individual sliding adaptor modules  116  are mounted within block  100  and slide horizontally as shown. This horizontal sliding arrangement of adaptor modules  116  can be seen in the &#39;003 patent. Alternatively, as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,497,444 and 5,717,810, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference, the block and modules can be configured to slide vertically. The rear cable management area  120  is shown without cables for clarity. Rear area  120  includes a series of cable managers with rear guides  122  having cable retention and bend radius protection features and a cable fanning strip holder  124 . In case the cable entering the rear of block  100  is in the form of ribbon cable composed of 12 fibers, these ribbons will need to be fanned so that the individual fibers in the ribbon are broken into separate strands that can be connected to an adapter and terminated at the back of a module  116 . Fanning strip holder  124  is sized and shaped to hold such fanning strips.  
         [0033]    Referring now to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of a fiber distribution frame  11  is shown with two alternative embodiment fiber termination blocks  101  in place. Frame  11  is adapted for use where access is desired only from the front of the frame. No rear cable troughs are present and front trough  33  is deeper and wider. Frame  11  includes provisions for mounting a plurality of fiber termination blocks in two vertical rows in the same fashion as described above with regard to frame  10 . These mounts are shown in more detail in FIG. 15, below. Located in the center of frame  11  is a jumper storage trough  21  defined by sidewalls  23  and  25  and fiber distribution frame back  13 . Within jumper storage trough  21  are a series of spools  31  for organizing and storing excess slack in cross-connect cables used to link between optical fiber terminations inside fiber termination blocks  101 . These cross-connect cables are well known in the art and are not shown in FIG. 4 in the interest of clarity. At the lower end of trough  21  are radius limiters  27  and end caps  29  for assisting in the routing and management of the cross-connect cables and ensuring that minimum bend radius rules are not violated. Lower horizontal cable trough  33  allows cross-connect cables to pass from one row of fiber termination blocks  101 , into jumper storage trough  21  if necessary and to the other row of fiber termination blocks, or from frame  11  to an adjacently mounted but not shown fiber distribution frame of similar nature and construction.  
         [0034]    Referring now to FIGS.  5  though  8 , fiber termination block  101  is shown with the rear cover  118  in place over the rear cable management area  120 . Fiber termination block  101  differs from fiber termination block  100   a  slightly but both perform the same function. The two blocks  101  and  100   a  have different housings designs and are designed to have different numbers of adapters mounted on each module  116 . In FIG. 5, modules  116  are shown with one module  117  shown extended to the limit of its movement along its line of travel. In FIGS.  6  though  8 , modules  116  have been removed from for clarity, as have the cross-connect cable covers  102  and  104 . Seen on the front of block  101  are front fanning devices  125 . Each device  125  is composed of fanning guides  126  including side shields  128 , upper edges  130  and rounded surfaces  132 . Each of these front fanning devices  125  is mounted to block  101  so that each upper edge  130  of each fanning guide  126  is approximately level with and parallel to a module  116 . Cross-connect cables are connected to adaptors mounted on module  116 , passed over side shield  128  so that the cable drapes across upper edge  130  and down surface  132 . The cable is then directed between side guides  112  and through rear cable guide  114 . At this point, the cross-connect cable is passed into the cable trough which is integral to the fiber distribution frame  10  and which will be discussed in more detail below.  
         [0035]    Mounted to front fanning guides  126 , on the side opposite from modules  116  are cable management dividers  134 ,  136  and  138 . These dividers organize the cross-connect cables extending from modules  116  across front fanning guides  126  into distinct vertical paths. As shown in the FIGS., the upper surface of divider  138  defines an essentially vertical channel  150  for cables from the upper group of modules  116 . The lower surface of divider  138  and the upper surface of divider  136  define an essentially vertical channel  152  for cross-connect cables from the middle group modules  116 . And the lower surface of divider  136  defines an essentially vertical channel  154  for cross-connect cables from the lower group of modules  116 . Divider  134  defines two essentially vertical channels on the on the right side of block  101 , channel  156  for cables from the higher mounted modules and channel  158  for cables from the lower mounted modules. Dividers  134  and  136  are the same basic size and shape except that they are mirror images of each other. As shown, both dividers  134  and  136  are mounted to the front fanning guides  126  which are located in front of the fourth modules from the bottom of block  101 , so that cables from the lower three modules pass into the channels  158  and  154 , respectively. Divider  138  is mounted to the front fanning guide  126  in front of the eighth module from the bottom, so that cables from the upper five modules are directed into channel  150 . The cables from the fourth to the seventh modules from the bottom are directed into channel  152 . A divider  140 , not shown, is a mirror image version of divider  138  and would be used where cable densities are high enough on the right side of a block  100  or  101  to require a pair of dividers be used. As shown in FIGS. 5 through 8, block  101  has a higher number of adapters and therefore cross-connect cables on the left side than on the right side. For these illustrated fiber termination blocks, the side with the higher density of cables will have a greater need to keep cables from the upper modules from interfering with the cables from the lower modules. Thus, two dividers are provided. The side with the lower density of cables will not have as great a problem with cable interference and thus only a single divider is shown. The number of dividers provided for a particular fiber termination block will depend on the density of cables extending from modules  116  through front fanning device  125  and into cable guide  110 .  
         [0036]    As illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 8, the higher density side of each block provides for twelve modules  116  each having six adapters mounted thereon. The lower density side of each block in these FIGS. provides for twelve modules  116  each mounting four adapters. Other configurations are contemplated, including six, twelve or eighteen rows of modules  116 . The lowest density contemplated for a fiber termination block according to this design consists of four adapters mounted to single side of a block  100 ,  100   a  or  101 . It is anticipated that this alternative would only require a single divider  134  or  136  on that side, as shown on the right side of FIGS. 4 through 6. Alternatively, a higher density of six adapters on each side is anticipated for a block  100 ,  100   a  or  101 . It is anticipated that this alternative would require a pair of dividers  134  and  140  on the right side, and a pair of dividers  136  and  138  on the left side. Higher levels of density, including eight or more adapters per side of a fiber termination block are also anticipated and these higher densities in conjunction with up to eighteen rows of modules  116  might make a third cable divider in accordance with the principles of this invention to be mounted on the front fanning device  125  desirable.  
         [0037]    Also shown in FIG. 5 are two representative cable routes, shown as dashed lines. Route  2  extends from module  117  and illustrates the path a cable connected to an upper module would follow: through front fanning device  125  and into a channel defined by divider  138 , into cable guide  110 , between side guides  112 , and through rear guide  114  into a trough attached to frame  11 , which is described in more detail below. Route  4  extends from the lowest module  116 , through the front fanning device  125  and into a channel defined by divider  136 , into cable guide  110 , between side guides  112 , and through rear guide  114  into a trough attached to frame  11 , which is described in more detail below.  
         [0038]    Referring now to FIGS. 9 through 11, further details of divider  138  are shown. Note that axes designations are included in each FIG. and that these axes designations are consistent among the FIGS. As described above, divider  138  is sized and shaped to provide separate channels for the cross-connect cables from the higher mounted modules to be routed down through once these cables pass through front fanning devices  125 . Divider  138  extends from a first end  140 , to a second end  184 , and with the exception of the mounting structures  144  and  146 , is generally planar along the z-axis. This first end  140  is curved as shown to promote the smooth transition of cables from the left side of modules  116  into channel  150  which is defined on the right side of the front of block  101 . First major surface  142  defines the left limit of channel  150  and second major surface  143  defines the right limit of channel  152 . These two major surfaces  142  and  143  are generally planar along the z-axis. First major surface  142  may be divided into sections  242  and  244 , where section  244  is lies generally parallel to the y-axis and section  242  is angled from the y-axis to cooperate with the curve of first end  140  to promote the smooth transition of cables from the left side of modules  116  into channel  150 .  
         [0039]    Mounting structures or clips  144  and  146  are sized and shaped to permit divider  138  to be mounted to the front of front fanning guides  126 . Clips  144  and  146  extend along the x-axis and are essentially perpendicular with first major surface  142 . Clip  146  includes a lip  160  and a curved surface  164 . Curved surface  164  is arced about the z-axis and is shaped to coincide with the shape of curved surface  132  of a front fanning guide  126 . Lip  160  runs parallel to the x-axis and is sized and shaped to engage upper edge  130  of front fanning guide  126 . Lower clips  144  include a lip  162 , parallel with lip  160 , for engaging the lower edge of a front fanning guide  126 . When divider  138  is mounted to a block  101 , extension  148  at second end  184  extends into cable guide  110  at the bottom of the front of block  101 . Tab  186  of extension  148  is sized and shaped to engage a tab  113  on radious limiter surface  111  when divider  138  is mounted on front fanning guides  126 . Outer edge  190  is the edge opposite the mounting clips  144  and  146  and extends generally along the y-axis. On this edge are defined two tabs  191  and  192 . These tabs  191  and  192  cooperate with cross-connect cable cover  102  to more fully enclose channel  150  when cable cover  102  is closed, while allowing easy access to the cables within channel  150  when cable cover  102  is open.  
         [0040]    Referring now to FIGS.  12  though  14 , the details of divider  136  are shown. Note that axes designations are included in each FIG. and that these axes designations are consistent among the FIGS. As described above, divider  136  is sized and shaped to provide separate channels for the cross-connect cables from the lower mounted modules to be routed down through once these cables pass over the front fanning dividers. Divider  136  extends a first end  166  to a second end  182 , and with the exception of the mounting structures  170  and  172 , is generally planar along the z-axis. First end  166  is curved as shown to promote the smooth transition of cables from the left side of modules  116  into channel  152  which is defined on the right side of the front of block  101 . First major surface  168  defines the left limit of channel  152  and second major surface  167  defines the right limit of channel  154 . These two major surfaces  168  and  167  are generally planar along the z-axis.  
         [0041]    Mounting structures or clips  170  and  172  are sized and shaped to permit divider  136  to be mounted to the front of front fanning guides  126 . Clips  170  and  172  extend along the x-axis and are essentially perpendicular with first major surface  168  and second major surface  167 . Clip  172  includes a lip  176  and a curved surface  178 . Curved surface  178  is arced about the z-axis and is shaped to coincide with the shape of curved surface  132  of a front fanning guide  126 . Lip  176  runs parallel to the x-axis and is sized and shaped to engage upper edge  130  of front fanning guide  126 . Lower clip  170  includes a lip  174 , parallel with lip  176 , for engaging the lower edge of a front fanning guide  126 . When divider  136  is mounted to a block  101 , extension  180  at second end  182  extends into cable guide  110  at the bottom of the front of block  101 . Tab  188  of extension  180  is sized and shaped to engage a tab  113  on radious limiter surface  111  when divider  136  is mounted on front fanning guides  126 . Outer edge  193  is the edge opposite the mounting clips  170  and  172  and extends generally along the y-axis. On this edge are defined two tabs  194  and  195 . These tabs  194  and  195  cooperate with cross-connect cable cover  102  to more fully enclose channel  152  when cable cover  102  is closed, while allowing easy access to the cables within channel  152  when cable cover  102  is open.  
         [0042]    Referring now to FIG. 15, the upper portion of frame  11  from FIG. 4 is shown in more detail. Fiber termination blocks  100  and  101  have been removed from this frame for clarity. Fiber termination block mounts  200  and  202  are attached to the frame on opposite sides and allow blocks  100  and  101  to be mounted to the frame. Horizontal cable troughs  210  are mounted to frame  10  so that when a block  100  or  101  is mounted to frame  10 , the cross-connect cables passing through rear cable guide  114  are directed into horizontal trough  210 . Horizontal trough  210  extends from front to back within frame  10  and is designed to direct cross-connect cables exiting from a block  100  or  101  into cable down trough  212 , which in turn directs the cross-connect cables into vertical cable guide  216  for routing to lower trough  32  at the base of the frame. Trough floor  214  and opposed vertical trough sides  218  define horizontal trough  210 . The top of horizontal trough  210  is left open for ease of cable management. Curved sidewalls  220  permit the cross-connect cables to transition from horizontal trough  210  into down trough  212  without violating bend radius rules.  
         [0043]    Often, when a cross-connect cable is routed through the series of troughs in a frame  10 , the weight of the vertical run of the cable within vertical cable guides  216  serves to draw all slack out of the cable inside fiber termination block  100  or  101 . This is undesirable, since some cable slack is necessary to permit easy handling of cables within the fiber termination block  100  or  101 . The interior surfaces of trough bottoms  214 , trough sides  218 , and down trough bottom  222  are therefore coated with a high friction coating or otherwise provided with a high friction producing surface when in contact with cable jackets. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, this coating is in the form of nonskid paint applied to the parts during production. Other options for providing such a high friction surface include adhesive rubber panels sized and shaped to fit within pre-existing frames to permit retrofitting of the older frames with this invention, as well as to enable new frames to be built in accordance with this invention. Other surface treatment techniques appropriate for the manufacturing process used to produce the components of the troughs are also anticipated.  
         [0044]    With regard to the foregoing description, it is to be understood that changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of the construction materials employed and the shape, size and arrangement of the parts without changing the scope of the present invention. It is intended that the specification and depicted aspects be considered exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the broad meaning of the following claims.