Patent Publication Number: US-11656413-B2

Title: Fiber optic cable slack management module

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/352,267, filed on Mar. 13, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,830,959, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/533,837, filed on Jun. 7, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,247,886, which is a National Stage Application of PCT/US2015/064345, filed on Dec. 7, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/090,203, filed on Dec. 10, 2014, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to each of the above disclosed applications. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for termination and storage of optical fiber cables, such as distribution cables. 
     BACKGROUND 
     With respect to termination and storage of optical fibers including distribution fibers, various concerns exist. One concern is providing high density to minimize needed space. In the case of outside plant enclosures, a reduced size for the enclosures and the internal structures is preferred. 
     A further concern related to termination and storage of optical fiber cables is the ease of access to the cables and the terminations. Such ease of use is desired during assembly, during installation in the field, and later when changes or modifications to the system are desired requiring adding or removing terminations, or when cleaning and checking the terminations. 
     A further concern in the area of termination and storage of optical fiber cables includes protecting the optical fiber from damage from excess bending below the minimum bend radius of the cable. Such protection of the fibers is desired during assembly and installation, and later when individual terminations and cables are accessed for cleaning or modification. 
     Further improvements in these areas are desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic cable slack storage/management module for managing slack associated with fiber terminations in a distribution chassis or frame. The cable slack module includes a base defining a first cable management spool, an outer face of which is configured to contact cables when cables are pulled away from the base, and a second cable management spool, within which the first cable management spool is located. An inner face of the second cable management spool is configured to contact cables when cables are in a relaxed, non-pulled state. The fiber optic cable slack management module defines a cable exit adjacent the first cable management spool and defined at least partially by the inner face of the second cable management spool, the cable exit defined by a channel positioned between the first and second cable management spools. 
     A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fiber optic telecommunications system comprising a telecommunications chassis including at least one movable adapter module mounted to the chassis and at least one cable slack management module mounted to the chassis adjacent the at least one adapter module, the cable slack management module configured to manage cables extending from fiber optic connectors coupled to adapters of the adapter module. The at least one cable slack management module includes a base defining a first cable management spool, an outer face of which is configured to contact cables when cables are pulled away from the base, and a second cable management spool, within which the first cable management spool is located. An inner face of the second cable management spool is configured to contact cables when cables are in a relaxed, non-pulled state. The fiber optic cable slack management module defines a cable exit adjacent the first cable management spool and defined at least partially by the inner face of the second cable management spool, the cable exit defined by a channel positioned between the first and second cable management spools. 
     A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing 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 
         FIG.  1    is a front perspective view of a telecommunications chassis including a plurality of cable slack management modules having inventive aspects in accordance with the present disclosure mounted thereon; 
         FIG.  2    is a rear perspective view of the chassis of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates the chassis of  FIG.  1    with one of the cable slack management modules and a sliding adapter module of the chassis exploded off the chassis; 
         FIG.  4    is a side view of the chassis of  FIGS.  1 - 3    illustrating the cable slack management modules mounted in a stacked configuration; 
         FIG.  5    is a front perspective view of one of the cable slack management modules shown in isolation; 
         FIG.  6    is a rear perspective view of the cable slack management module of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a top view of the cable slack management module of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  8    is a bottom view of the cable slack management module of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  9    is a side view of the cable slack management module of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  10    illustrates the cable slack management module of  FIG.  5    with the upper cover removed to show the internal features; 
         FIG.  11    illustrates the cable slack management module of  FIG.  10    from a top view; 
         FIG.  12    illustrates the cable slack management module of  FIG.  5    in an exploded configuration; 
         FIG.  13    illustrates the cable slack management module being used as a direct pass-through distribution module without the storage of extra cable slack; 
         FIG.  14    illustrates the cable slack management module with only one of the trays of the module being used to store extra cable slack; 
         FIG.  15    illustrates the cable slack management module with both of the trays of the module being used to store extra cable slack; 
         FIG.  16    illustrates the cable slack management module of  FIG.  15    in a fully assembled configuration with the upper cover mounted thereon, wherein the output fibers are shown as being directed to sliding adapter modules; and 
         FIG.  17    illustrates the cable slack management module of  FIG.  16    from a top view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  1 - 17   , a fiber optic cable slack management/storage module  10  having inventive aspects in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated. In  FIGS.  1 - 4   , a plurality of the cable slack management modules  10  is illustrated as mounted on a telecommunications fixture  12  (i.e., frame, chassis) in a stacked arrangement. The cable slack management modules  10  are mounted adjacent sliding adapter modules  14 . The cable slack management modules  10  are configured to manage the cabling  16  (or cable slack) extending from connectors  18  coupled to the adapter modules  14 . 
     As will be described in further detail, the cabled fibers  16  terminated by the connectors  18  coupled to the sliding adapter modules  14  are input into the cable slack management module  10  via an optical device  20  (e.g., a fan-out in the depicted embodiment). The configuration of the cable slack management module  10  allows extra cable slack  16  to be stored therewithin such that the extra cable slack  16  can be used when the sliding adapter modules  14  are moved outwardly from the telecommunications fixture  12 , without violating minimum bending requirements. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  5 - 17   , where one of the cable slack management modules  10  is illustrated in isolation, each cable slack management module  10  includes a base  22  with a bottom wall  24  and vertically extending peripheral walls  26 . The base  22  defines a fan-out pocket  25  for receiving the fan-out  20  with a snap-fit interlock. The fan-out pocket  25  is defined partially by the bottom wall  24 . The fan-out pocket  25  and the fan-out  20  define the fiber input portion  28  of the cable slack management module  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  7 ,  8 ,  11 , and  17   , portions of the front and rear peripheral walls  26  of the base  22  define flexible cantilever arms  30  for providing a snap-fit interlock with the telecommunications fixture  12 . 
     The base  22  defines a first spool  32  extending upwardly from the bottom wall  24  of the base  22 . As will be described in further detail hereafter, the first spool  32  is one of the structures that provide the minimum bend radius protection for the cables  16  within the cable slack management module  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  5 - 17   , each cable slack management module  10  also defines a pair of cable storage trays  34 . The trays  34  are mounted in a stacked arrangement onto the base  22  and define a lower tray  34   a  and an upper tray  34   b . Cables  16  enter the individual trays  34  via a ramp  36  defined by each tray  34 . After the fibers  16  are input into the cable slack management module  10  via the fan-out  20 , half of the separated and cabled fibers  16  enter the lower tray  34   a  via the ramp  36  of the lower tray  34   a  and half of the separated and cabled fibers  16  enter the upper tray  34   b  via the ramp  36  of the upper tray  34   b.    
     In the given embodiment of the cable slack management module  10 , the upper tray  34   b  (the floor  38  thereof) forms the cover  40  of the lower tray  34   a . The upper tray  34   b  defines a separate removable cover  42 . The trays  34  are mounted via a snap-fit interlock to the base  22 . As shown in  FIGS.  5 ,  6 ,  10 ,  12 , and  13 - 16   , a flexible portion  44  of both the front peripheral wall  26  and the rear peripheral wall  26  of the base  22  defines notches  46  for receiving tabs  48  extending outwardly from the trays  34  for keeping the trays  34  mounted within the base  22 . 
     The removable cover  42  of the upper tray  34   b  is also held in place by an inwardly extending tab  50  of the flexible portion  44  of the rear peripheral wall  26  and flexible cantilever arms  52  defined by the first spool  32 . In certain embodiments, the cover  42  used with the upper tray  34   b  may be provided with a handle  54  to facilitate mounting and removal (see  FIGS.  5 - 7   ). 
     Each of the upper and lower trays  34  defines an opening  56  through which the first spool  32  extends. Thus, the first spool  32  extends all the way from the bottom wall  24  to the cover  42  of the upper tray  34   b.    
     Each tray  34  also includes a curved peripheral wall  58 , the inner face  60  of which defines a second spool  62 . The second spool  62  defined by each tray  34  cooperates with the first spool  32  in keeping the cable slack  16  stored and managed without violating minimum bend radius requirements. 
     The second spool  62  (i.e., the inner face  60  of the curved peripheral wall  58  of each tray  34 ) is configured to contact the cables  16  within the tray  34  when the cables  16  are in a relaxed state (when the sliding adapter modules  14  are in a non-extended position). An outer face  64  of the first spool  32  is configured to contact the cables  16  within the tray  34  when the cables  16  are pulled (when the sliding adapter modules  14  are moved to an extended position). 
     The combination of the first spool  32  and the second spool  62  provides the cables  16  with bend radius protection both in a relaxed state and in a pulled, tensioned state. 
     Each tray  34  also defines a plurality of cable retention fingers  66  extending inwardly from the peripheral wall  58 . The cable retention fingers  66  facilitate initial assembly of the cable slack management module  10  as the cables  16  are being lead from the fan-out  20 , up the ramps  36  and into the trays  34 . In order to provide unobstructed movement of the cables  16  within the trays  34 , however, the cable retention fingers  66  fit within notches  68  defined by the cover  42  for the upper tray  34   b  and notches  70  defined by the floor  38  of the upper tray  34   b  for the lower tray  34   a . In this manner, a smooth, flush ceiling is created for each of the trays  34  and the cables  16  can move without any obstruction. 
     The cable exit portion  72  of the cable slack management module  10  is defined adjacent the first spool  32  and at least partially by the inner face  60  of the peripheral wall  58  of each tray  34  (i.e., the second spool  62 ), where the cable exit  72  is generally defined by a channel  74  positioned between the first and second spools  32 ,  62  as can be seen in  FIGS.  10 ,  11 , and  14 - 16   . The cable exit portion  72  is generally aligned with the fiber input portion  28  of the cable slack management module  10  when viewing the module  10  in a front to back direction. 
     Thus, the optical fibers  16  enter the cable slack management module  10  via the fan-out  20  at a first common plane  76 . The separated and cabled fibers  16  are then directed to multiple levels defined by the trays  34  via the ramps  36 . The cables  16  are looped once around the trays  34  and exit the cable slack management module  10  via the cable exit channel  74 . It should be noted that in the depicted embodiment, half of the cabled fibers  16  coming from the fan-out  20  are directed into the lower tray  34   a  and half are directed into the upper tray  34   b.    
     The cables  16  exiting the cable slack management module  10  are terminated with fiber optic connectors  18  that are coupled to the adapters  17  of the sliding adapter modules  14 . 
     Although shown with LC format connectors  18 , in other embodiments, the cables  16  output from the cable slack management module  10  may be terminated with other types or footprints of connectors  18  such as SC or LX.5, such connectors  18  leading to adapter modules  14  having adapters  17  with matching footprints. 
     Examples of sliding adapter modules  14  that are usable with the cable slack management module  10  of the present disclosure are shown and described in further detail in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/040,314, filed Aug. 21, 2014, now PCT Application No. PCT/US2015/046392, filed Aug. 21, 2015, both titled “High Density Adapter Carrier Pack;” and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,591,051 and 9,075,203, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Now referring to  FIGS.  13 - 17   , even though the cable slack management module  10  has been described as being used as a cable slack storage/management device, the cable management module  10  can be set up to be used as a simple distribution or a fan-out module where fibers  16  entering the module  10  are output in a pass-through configuration, wherein one or more of the trays  34  are not used for carrying coiled cables  16 . 
     For example,  FIG.  13    illustrates the cable management module  10  set up to output the cabled fibers  16  directly from the module  10  without storing any extra slack  16 . Fibers  16  are input via the fan-out  20  and are output via an opening  78  at a front side of the base  22  that is at the same plane  76  as the fan-out  20 . 
       FIG.  14    illustrates a set-up where only one of the trays  34  (e.g., the lower tray  34   a ) is used for storing cable slack  16 . As shown in the depicted example, one of the sliding adapter modules  14  receives connectorized cables  16  that account for slack and the other of the sliding adapter modules  14  receives connectorized cables  16  directly from the module  10  without any cable slack. 
       FIG.  15    illustrates the version of the cable slack management module  10  discussed previously, where both of the trays  34  are being used for storing/managing cable slack  16 , where one of the sliding adapter modules  14  receives connectorized cables  16  output from the lower tray  34   a  at a first level and the other sliding adapter module  14  receives connectorized cables  16  output from the upper tray  34   b  at a second level, wherein both of the levels are above the input plane  76  defined by the fan-out  20 . 
       FIGS.  16 - 17    illustrate the module set-up of  FIG.  15    with the upper cover  42  applied. 
     In the depicted embodiment, the cable slack management module  10  is designed to manage twenty-four 900 μm fibers that are input into the module  10  through a twenty-four fiber fan-out  20 . As illustrated, the twenty-four fibers may be split into two groups of twelve fibers before exiting the module  10 , wherein each group of twelve fibers may be lead to oppositely moving sliding adapter modules  14  (as shown in  FIGS.  13 - 17   ) or adjacent stacked adapter modules  14  that move in the same direction. The cable slack management module  10  provides multiple set-up options. 
     The chassis  12  depicted in  FIGS.  1 - 4    is a 288-fiber chassis, with twenty-four sliding adapter modules  14  (i.e., two sets of twelve oppositely moving adapter modules  14 ), each adapter module  14  including twelve adapter ports. The fiber counts can be varied depending upon the desired density at both the input side (different fan-out devices) or at the output side. 
     Although in the foregoing description, terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “right,” “left,” “upper,” and “lower” may have been used for ease of description and illustration, no restriction is intended by such use of the terms. The devices described herein can be used in any orientation, depending upon the desired application. 
     Having described the preferred aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts may readily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended that such modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.