Slidable fiber optic connection module with cable slack management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11340417-B2
Application number	US-202117187314-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2021
Priority date	Oct 7, 2011
Publication date	May 24, 2022
Grant date	May 24, 2022

Abstract

A fiber optic telecommunications device includes a frame and a fiber optic module. The fiber optic module includes a main housing portion defining fiber optic connection locations for connecting cables to be routed through the frame and a cable management portion for guiding cables between the main housing portion and the frame. The main housing portion of the fiber optic module is slidably mounted to the frame, the main housing portion slidable between a retracted position and an extended position in a sliding direction. The cable management portion of the fiber optic module includes a radius limiter slidably coupled to both the main housing portion and the frame, wherein movement of the main housing portion with respect to the frame slidably moves the radius limiter with respect to the main housing portion along the sliding direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fiber optic telecommunications device comprising:
a telecommunications frame; and
a fiber optic module mounted to the telecommunications frame, the fiber optic module movable between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the frame along a sliding direction, the fiber optic module comprising:
a main frame member defining a right side, a left side, and fiber optic connection locations for connecting cables to be routed through the telecommunications frame;
a rack mount member coupled to each of the right side and the left side of the main frame member, each rack mount member configured for mounting the main frame member to the telecommunications frame;
a center member positioned between the main frame member and the rack mount member at each of the right side and the left side of the main frame member, wherein each center member includes a radius limiter defining a curved surface for routing cables with bend radius protection from each of the right and left sides of the main frame member toward each rack mount member; and
a slide assembly provided at each of the right side and the left side of the main frame member for slidably coupling the main frame member to each rack mount member between the extended position and the retracted position along the sliding direction;

wherein each center member is slidable with respect to both the main frame members and the rack mount members and wherein each slide assembly is configured such that movement of the main frame member with respect to the rack mount members simultaneously moves the center members with respect to the rack mount members along the sliding direction, wherein each slide assembly at the right and left sides is configured such that the center members move at half the linear speed of the main frame member with respect to the rack mount members, each slide assembly including a rotational member that causes the simultaneous movement of the rack mount members, the center members, and the main frame member, the rotational member having an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the sliding direction of the fiber optic module, the rotational member being generally vertically aligned with the curved surface of the radius limiter of each of the center members;
wherein each slide assembly includes a rack and pinion arrangement and wherein the rotational members are defined by at least one gear of the rack and pinion arrangement of each slide assembly, the at least one gear being disposed on the center members and meshing with both a rack provided on each of the right and left sides of the main frame member and a rack provided on each of the rack mount members, wherein the racks provided on the main frame member, the racks provided on the rack mount members, and the at least one gear disposed on the center members are all generally vertically aligned with the curved surface of the radius limiters of the center members.

2. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 1 , wherein the fiber optic connection locations are defined by fiber optic adapters.

3. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 2 , wherein the fiber optic adapters are SC format adapters.

4. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications frame is mounted on a telecommunications rack.

5. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the fiber optic modules are mounted to the telecommunications frame.

6. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the main frame member, the rack mount members, and the center members of the module includes portions with dovetail profiles for slidable coupling to each other.

7. A fiber optic telecommunications device according to claim 6 , wherein the portions with dovetail profiles are generally vertically aligned with the curved surface of the radius limiter of each of the center members.

8. A fiber optic telecommunications module comprising:
a main frame member configured to be movably mounted to a piece of telecommunications equipment to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position along a sliding direction, the main frame member defining a right side, a left side, and fiber optic connection locations for connecting cables;
a rack mount member coupled to each of the right side and the left side of the main frame member, each rack mount member configured for mounting the main frame member to the piece of telecommunications equipment;
a center member positioned between the main frame member and the rack mount member at each of the right side and the left side of the main frame member, wherein each center member includes a radius limiter defining a curved surface for routing cables with bend radius protection from each of the right and left sides of the main frame member toward each rack mount member; and
a slide assembly provided at each of the right side and the left side of the main frame member for slidably coupling the main frame member to each rack mount member between the extended position and the retracted position along the sliding direction;
wherein each center member is slidable with respect to both the main frame members and the rack mount members and wherein each slide assembly is configured such that movement of the main frame member with respect to the rack mount members simultaneously moves the center members with respect to the rack mount members along the sliding direction, wherein each slide assembly at the right and left sides is configured such that the center members move at half the linear speed of the main frame member with respect to the rack mount members, each slide assembly including a rotational member that causes the simultaneous movement of the rack mount members, the center members, and the main frame member, the rotational member having an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the sliding direction of the module, the rotational member being generally vertically aligned with the curved surface of the radius limiter of each of the center members;
wherein each slide assembly includes a rack and pinion arrangement and wherein each rotational member is defined by at least one gear of the rack and pinion arrangement of each slide assembly, the at least one gear being disposed on the center members and meshing with both a rack provided on each of the right and left sides of the main frame member and a rack provided on each of the rack mount members, wherein the racks provided on the main frame member, the racks provided on the rack mount members, and the at least one gear disposed on the center members are all generally vertically aligned with the curved surface of the radius limiters of the center members.

9. A fiber optic telecommunications module according to claim 8 , wherein the fiber optic connection locations are defined by fiber optic adapters.

10. A fiber optic telecommunications module according to claim 9 , wherein the fiber optic adapters are SC format adapters.

11. A fiber optic telecommunications module according to claim 9 , wherein the fiber optic adapters are LC format adapters.

12. A fiber optic telecommunications module according to claim 8 , wherein each of the main frame member, the rack mount members, and the center members of the module includes portions with dovetail profiles for slidable coupling to each other.

13. A fiber optic telecommunications module according to claim 12 , wherein the portions with dovetail profiles are generally vertically aligned with the curved surface of the radius limiter of each of the center members.

Assignees

• Commscope Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Holmberg Matthew
• Solheid James J

Classifications

• G02B6/4455 Primary

  characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding · CPC title

• G02B6/44528

  Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box (routing arrangements H04Q1/00) · CPC title

• G02B6/44524 Primary

  with frame parts or auxiliary devices mounted on the frame and collectively not covering a whole width of the frame or rack (cassettes G02B6/4453) · CPC title

• G02B6/444

  Systems or boxes with surplus lengths · CPC title

• G02B6/3897

  Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence) · CPC title