Cable spool assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9555999-B2
Application number	US-201514720091-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2015
Priority date	Aug 2, 2010
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

A spool assembly includes a drum having a first axial end and an oppositely disposed second axial end. The drum includes an inner surface that defines a bore that extends through the first and second axial ends. A drum support is disposed in the bore of the drum. The drum support includes a first end and an oppositely disposed second end. The drum support has an exterior surface. The exterior surface of the drum support and the inner surface of the drum define a plurality of channels. A first flange is engaged to the first end of the drum support. A second flange is engaged to the second end of the drum support.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A spool assembly comprising:
a drum having a first axial end and an oppositely disposed second axial end, the drum having an inner surface that defines a bore that extends through the first and second axial ends;
a drum support disposed in the bore of the drum, the drum support having a first end and an oppositely disposed second end, the drum support having an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface of the drum support and the inner surface of the drum define a plurality of channels;
a first flange engaged to the first end of the drum support;
a second flange engaged to the second end of the drum support, wherein the drum is configured to rotate relative to the drum support, the first flange, and the second flange; and
a second drum fixed to the second flange.

2. The spool assembly of claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the drum support includes a plurality of flats.

3. The spool assembly of claim 1 , wherein the drum support includes a first plurality of tabs that extends outwardly from the first end.

4. The spool assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first flange defines a first plurality of slots that receive the first plurality of tabs.

5. The spool assembly of claim 4 , wherein the drum support includes a second plurality of tabs that extends outwardly from the second end.

6. The spool assembly of claim 5 , wherein the second flange defines a plurality of slots that receive the second plurality of tabs.

7. The spool assembly of claim 1 , wherein the
second drum has a first end and an oppositely disposed second end, the first end being engaged to the second flange;
a third flange engaged to the second end of the drum.

8. The spool assembly of claim 7 , wherein the second flange defines a groove that extends inward from an outer edge of the second flange.

9. The spool assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second flanges include a plurality of layers.

10. A cable spool assembly comprising: a spool assembly including:
a first spooling portion having:
a drum having a first axial end and an oppositely disposed second axial end, the drum having an inner surface that defines a bore that extends through the first and second axial ends;
a drum support disposed in the bore of the drum, the drum support having a first end and an oppositely disposed second end, the drum support having an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface of the drum support and the inner surface of the drum define a plurality of gaps, thus enabling rotation of the drum relative to the drum support;
a first flange engaged to the first end of the drum support; and
a second flange engaged to the second end of the drum support; and
a second spooling portion having:
a second drum having a first end and an oppositely disposed second end, the first end being engaged to the second flange; and
a third flange engaged to the second end of the second drum; a cable disposed about the first and second spooling portions of the spool assembly.

11. The cable spool assembly of claim 10 , wherein the second flange defines a groove that extends inwardly from an outer edge of the second flange.

12. The cable spool assembly of claim 11 , wherein the cable is routed through the groove from the first spooling portion to the second spooling portions.

13. The cable spool assembly of claim 10 , wherein the exterior surface of the drum support includes a plurality of flats.

14. The cable spool assembly of claim 10 , wherein the drum support includes a first plurality of tabs that extends outwardly from the first end.

15. The cable spool assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first flange defines a first plurality of slots that receive the first plurality of tabs.

16. The cable spool assembly of claim 15 , wherein the drum support includes a second plurality of tabs that extends outwardly from the second end.

17. The cable spool assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second flange defines a plurality of slots that receive the second plurality of tabs.

18. A spool assembly comprising:
a first flange and a second flange, the first and second flanges having interior sides that face towards each other and exterior sides that face away from each other;
a third flange having an interior side facing towards the exterior side of the second flange;
a core connected to the first and second flanges that separates the first flange from the second flange such that a first spooling region is defined between the interior sides of the first and second flanges, the core including tabs that extend through the first flange from the interior side to the exterior side of the first flange, the tabs being secured to the exterior side of the first flange;
a rotatable collar positioned around the core at a location between the core and the telecommunications cable coiled within the first spooling region;
a fixed drum connecting the second flange to the third flange so as to form a second spooling region therebetweeen; and
a telecommunications cable coiled around the core within the first spooling region and the second spooling region.

19. The spool assembly of claim 18 , wherein the first flange is disconnected from the core by cutting the tabs.

20. The spool assembly of claim 18 , wherein the first flange is disconnected from the core by disconnecting the tabs from the exterior surface of the first flange.

21. The spool assembly of claim 18 , wherein a plurality of channels are defined between the collar and the core, the channels extending in a direction parallel to a central axis of rotation of the spool assembly.

22. The spool assembly of claim 18 , wherein a drop terminal is secured to the exterior side of the first flange.

23. The spool assembly of claim 22 , wherein the drop terminal is secured to the exterior surface of the first flange by first fastening elements that extend through first openings defined through the first flange from the exterior surface of the first flange to the interior surface of the first flange.

24. The spool assembly of claim 23 , wherein the telecommunications cable has a coiled end portion secured to the exterior side of the first flange.

25. The spool assembly of claim 24 , wherein the coiled end portion is secured to the exterior surface of the first flange by second fastening elements that extend through second openings defined through the first flange from the exterior surface of the first flange to the interior surface of the first flange.

26. The spool assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second spooling portion defined between the second flange and a third flange, wherein the telecommunications cable is coiled about the second spooling portions, and wherein the second flange defines a radial slot for transitioning the telecommunications cable from the first spooling portion to a core of the second spooling portion.

27. The spool assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spool assembly defines a central axial opening for receiving a post of a carousel that facilitates rotating the spooling assembly about a central axis of the spooling assembly as the telecommunications cable is paid off from the spooling assembly.

Assignees

• Adc Telecommunications Inc
• Commscope Emea Ltd

Inventors

• Smith Trevor D
• Leblanc Thomas G
• Marcouiller Thomas
• Torman Nicholas
• Kidman Jeffrey Thomas

Classifications

• G02B6/4457 Primary

  Bobbins; Reels · CPC title

• B65H2701/32

  Optical fibres or optical cables · CPC title

• B65H49/04

  Package-supporting devices · CPC title

• B65H75/185 Primary

  End caps, plugs or adapters · CPC title

• B65H2701/5112

  Paper or plastic sheet material · CPC title