Optical fiber distribution cabinet for outdoor use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9274285-B2
Application number	US-201214009539-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2012
Priority date	Apr 4, 2011
Publication date	Mar 1, 2016
Grant date	Mar 1, 2016

Abstract

A fiber distribution cabinet comprises an outer shell having at least one door for accessing an interior thereof. A module support frame is located inside the outer shell. At least one input distribution module, having a plurality of input distribution connector adapters, is attached to the module support frame. The cabinet further includes at least one optical splitter module attached to the support frame. The optical splitter module has a plurality of splitter connector adapters. Also provided is a connector holder support frame carrying a plurality of removable connector holders for maintaining a multiplicity of output connectors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fiber distribution cabinet comprising:
an outer shell having at least one door for accessing an interior thereof;
a module support frame located inside said outer shell;
at least one input distribution module attached to said module support frame, said input distribution module having a plurality of input distribution connector adapters;
at least one optical splitter module attached to said support frame, said optical splitter module having a plurality of splitter connector adapters;
a connector holder support frame; and
a plurality of removable connector holders carried by said connector holder support frame, each of said connector holders configured for maintaining a multiplicity of output connectors such that a selected output connector is inaccessible if an associated one of said connector holders is carried by said connector holder support frame but is accessible if said associated one of said connector holders is removed from said connector holder support frame.

2. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said module support frame is configured to define a plurality of module attachment locations at which a respective one of said at least one input distribution module or said at least one optical splitter may be attached.

3. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said module support frame has a multiple of said module attachment locations.

4. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said module support frame is pivotally mounted inside said outer shell.

5. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said module support frame pivots about a vertical axis.

6. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said module support frame further includes a fiber guide structure defining a plurality of spaced apart slots for receipt of optical fibers passing therethrough.

7. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said input distribution connector adapters of said at least one input distribution module and said splitter connector adapters of said at least one optical splitter are oriented toward the outside of said cabinet to facilitate access thereto by a technician.

8. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said connector holder support frame is pivotally mounted in said outer shell to move between a first position in which said connector holders are inaccessible and a second position in which said connector holders are accessible.

9. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 8 , wherein said connector holder support frame has a panel defining a plurality of connector identification holes, each of said connector identification holes being in register with a respective connector tip location.

10. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 8 , wherein said connector holder support frame is pivotal about a horizontal axis.

11. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said first position is a raised position and said second position is a lowered position.

12. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 8 , wherein said connector holders are removably mounted to said connector holder support frame in parallel with each other.

13. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 12 , wherein each of said connector holders is configured to maintain a plurality of said output connectors such that connector tips thereof are located at respective connector tip locations.

14. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 13 , wherein each of said connector holders has a plurality of ferrules for engagement by a corresponding one of said connector tips.

15. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of cable spools at fixed locations inside said outer shell for storage of excess lengths of optical fiber.

16. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 15 , wherein said plurality of cable spools each may have a semicylindrical structure.

17. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said at least one door of said outer shell comprises first and second doors.

18. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said first and second doors have distal edges that form a corner of said outer shell when said first and second doors are in a closed position.

19. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a removable input bracket mounted at a fixed location inside said outer shell such that removal of said input bracket permits an input feeder cable to remain connected while components of said cabinet are serviced.

20. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a riser skirt on which said outer shell is mounted.

21. A fiber distribution cabinet as set forth in claim 1 , wherein:
said outer shell has a box-like configuration with a front side, a back side, a right side, a left side, and a top; and
said at least one door of said outer shell comprises first and second doors respectively located at said front side and said right side of said outer shell.

22. An optical fiber connector storage arrangement comprising:
a connector holder support frame including a panel and a connector holder receiving structure;
said panel defining a plurality of connector identification holes;
a plurality of removable connector holders located in said connector holder receiving structure;
said connector holders being adapted to maintain a plurality of optical fiber connectors such that connector tips thereof are located at respective connector tip locations; and
said connector tip locations each being in register with a respective one of said connector identification holes, wherein said connector holders are light transmissive at said connector tip locations.

23. An optical fiber connector storage arrangement as set forth in claim 22 , wherein each of said connector holders has a plurality of tip ferrules at respective of said connector tip locations.

24. An optical fiber connector storage arrangement as set forth in claim 23 , wherein said connector holder receiving structure has a length greater than a width thereof.

25. An optical fiber connector storage arrangement as set forth in claim 21 , wherein said removable connector holders are situated in parallel with each other in said connector holder receiving structure.

26. An optical fiber connector storage arrangement as set forth in claim 22 , wherein said connector holders each have at least one deflectable retention arm for engaging said connector holder receiving structure.

27. An optical fiber connector storage arrangement as set forth in claim 26 , wherein said at least one deflectable retention arm comprises first and second deflectable retention arms.

28. An optical fiber connector storage arrangement as set forth in claim 22 , wherein said panel comprises indicia located adjacent respective of connector identification holes are to facilitate locating a corresponding connector being maintained in one of said connector holders.

29. An optical fiber connector storage arrangement as set forth in claim 28 , wherein said indicia is an alphanumeric identifier.

30. An optical fiber connector storage arrangement comprising:
a conne

Assignees

• Courchaine Wilfred J
• Nieves Anthony L
• Hartenburg Alexander
• Afl Telecommunications Llc

Inventors

• Courchaine Wilfred J
• Nieves Anthony L
• Hartenburg Alexander

Classifications

• G02B6/3616 Primary

  Holders, macro size fixtures for mechanically holding or positioning fibres, e.g. on an optical bench (supporting carriers of a microbench type G02B6/3648; micromanipulators B25J7/00; cassettes, bobbins G02B6/4439) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• G02B6/44 Primary

  Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables (cables incorporating electric conductors and optical fibres {where features relating to the optical fibres are not of interest} H01B11/22) · CPC title