Splice closure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022196956-A1
Application number	US-202017430276-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 10, 2020
Priority date	Feb 11, 2019
Publication date	Jun 23, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A splice equipment assembly includes two routing paths along opposite sides of a splice region. The two routing paths do not cross. The two routing paths do not extend circumferentially around the splice region. The two routing paths provide adequate slack to allow a splice tray to be removed from the splice region and moved to a workstation outside of the splice equipment assembly. Multiple splice equipment assemblies can be mounted to the same rack (e.g., at a front and rear of the rack).

First claim

1 . A splice equipment assembly comprising:
a housing having a height extending between a top and a bottom, a width extending between a first side and a second side, and a depth extending between a rear and an open front providing access to an interior of the housing; a trunk cable port disposed at the top of the housing to provide access to the interior of the housing; an equipment cable port providing access to the interior of the housing; a splice tray assembly disposed within the housing, the splice tray assembly including a frame holding at least one splice tray; a cable routing arrangement including a first set of guide members and a second set of guide members, the first set of guide members being configured to direct cables along a first cable routing path from the trunk cable port, down the rear of the housing, up the first side of the housing, over a spool, back down the first side of the housing, and over to the splice tray assembly, the second set of guide members being configured to direct cables along a second cable routing path from the equipment cable port, down the rear of the housing, up the second side of the housing, over a spool, back down the second side of the housing, and over to the splice tray assembly.

2 . The splice equipment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the equipment cable port is disposed at the top of the housing.

3 . The splice equipment assembly of claim 1 , wherein neither the first cable routing path nor the second cable routing path extend circumferentially around the splice tray assembly.

4 . The splice equipment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the splice tray assembly includes a plurality of splice trays mounted to the frame, each splice tray being movable between a stowed position and an access position.

5 . The splice equipment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interior of the housing has a first region and a second region, wherein the splice tray assembly is a first splice tray assembly disposed in the first region, and wherein a second splice tray assembly is disposed within the second region, and wherein the first and second cable routing paths service the first region, and wherein additional first and second cable routing paths service the second region.

6 . The splice equipment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second cable routing paths have a common length.

7 . The splice equipment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second cable routing paths are mirror images of each other.

8 . A rack assembly comprising:
a frame having a front and a rear, the frame including at least two posts; and a splice equipment assembly mounted to the front of the frame, the splice equipment assembly extending along a majority of a height of the frame, the splice equipment assembly holding a plurality of splice trays, the splice equipment assembly including a cable port arrangement, the splice equipment assembly having a first cable routing path and a second cable routing path, the first cable routing path extending within the splice equipment assembly from the cable port arrangement above the splice trays, along one side of the splice trays, and towards a bottom of the splice trays, the second cable routing path extending within the splice equipment assembly along an opposite side of the splice trays, and towards the bottom of the splice trays, the first cable routing path being a mirror image of the second cable routing path.

9 . The rack assembly of claim 8 , wherein the second cable routing path extends from the cable port arrangement above the splice trays.

10 . The rack assembly of claim 8 , wherein the cable port arrangement includes a first cable port and a second cable port that is separate from the first cable port.

11 . The rack assembly of claim 8 , further comprising an anchor station disposed within the splice equipment assembly beneath the cable port arrangement.

12 . The rack assembly of claim 8 , wherein the splice equipment assembly has a first region and a second region, wherein each region has a respective first and second cable routing paths.

13 . The rack assembly of claim 12 , wherein each region has a respective cable routing arrangement, each cable routing arrangement having a first set of guide members directing fibers along the first cable routing path and a second set of guide members directing fibers along the second cable routing path.

14 . The rack assembly of claim 8 , wherein the splice equipment assembly is recess mounted to the front of the frame.

15 . The rack assembly of claim 8 , wherein the splice equipment assembly is mounted to protrude forwardly from the front of the frame.

16 . The rack assembly of claim 8 , wherein the splice equipment assembly is a first splice equipment assembly; and wherein the rack assembly further comprises a second splice equipment assembly mounted at the rear of the frame.

17 . The rack assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second splice equipment assembly is recess mounted to the rear of the frame.

18 . The rack assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second splice equipment assembly is mounted to protrude rearwardly from the rear of the frame.

19 . The rack assembly of claim 8 , wherein the frame is a two-post frame.

20 . The rack assembly of claim 8 , wherein the frame is a four-post frame.

21 . The rack assembly of claim 8 , wherein the splice equipment assembly is wall-mountable.

22 . The rack assembly of claim 8 , wherein neither the first cable routing path nor the second cable routing path extend circumferentially around the splice tray assembly.

23 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the splice tray or splice trays are pivotally mounted between a stowed position and an access position.

24 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the splice tray or splice trays are pivotally mounted between an upper stowed position and a lower access position.

25 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the splice tray or splice trays are pivotally mounted between a stowed position and an access position, wherein each splice tray is removably connected to a pivotal mount of the assembly, wherein each splice tray is removable from an interior of the assembly to an exterior area of the assembly, and wherein each removed splice tray is only connected by a cable or cables extending from opposite sides of the assembly once a splice on the splice tray is completed.

26 . A method of using the assembly of claim 1 , comprising:
pivoting one or more splice trays between a stowed position and an access position; selecting a splice tray for removal from a pivotal mount of the assembly; and positioning the selected splice tray outside of the assembly on a work surface.

Assignees

• Commscope Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Schoenfelder Rodney C
• Anderson Scott Jean
• Percival David Patrick
• Solheid James J

Classifications

• G02B6/44526

  Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack · CPC title

• G02B6/44524

  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

• G02B6/4455 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

• G02B6/4459

  Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres · CPC title

• H04Q1/025

  Cabinets · CPC title