Optical waveguides – With splice
Patent
1990-05-31
1992-01-14
Healy, Brian
Optical waveguides
With splice
206558, 2063161, 385135, G02B 626, B65D 8538
Patent
active
050804596
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mounting assembly for optical equipment. In particular it relates to a multiple tray storage system for use in optical communication systems.
It is known in the field of optical communications to mount optical components, such as opto-electronic components, on boards. One or two components may be mounted on a board, with associated circuitry, and there is commonly an associated fibre splice organiser tray. The splice organiser tray accommodates the splices between optical fibre tails attached to individual components, and optical fibres carrying signals to or away from those components. Each fibre splice necessarily has a length of spare fibre associated with it so that the splice can be broken and remade as required. This spare fibre is also stored on the splice organiser tray.
Where several splice organiser trays are required, they may conveniently be hinged together into a stack. This gives a relatively compact storage arrangement, access to particular trays being made possible by the hinges which allow the stack to be opened like a book.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has now been realised, in making the present invention, that it is possible to design a mounting assembly for optical equipment which is particularly versatile and convenient with regard to component access.
It is object of the present invention to provide a mounting assembly for optical equipment which can provide good access to the equipment, for instance for either installation or maintenance.
It has been found that a mounting assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention can also simplify the provision of optical fibre tails to components, and the storage of associated fibre splices.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a mounting assembly for optical equipment comprising a plurality of trays which can be stacked, the trays being provided with means for mounting optical components, wherein the trays are further provided with detachable connecting hinges such that the trays can be hingedly connected together in a selected one of a plurality of different configurations.
By using detachable connecting hinges it is possible to increase greatly the versatility of a mounting assembly. This has major advantages. For instance, if the trays each have effectively two opposing edges and can be stacked so that the edges are aligned, by providing detachable connecting hinges at both edges of the trays it becomes possible to select a configuration in which a stack of trays can be opened either like a book, each tray constituting a page of the "book", or, by reconfiguring the hinges, in a zig-zag fashion. This is useful at installation because the opening the stack zig-zag fashion it is possible to expose a single large surface on which optical components and their associated fibre splices and spare fibre can be optimally arranged. However it is also subsequently useful in maintenance because by reconfiguring the hinges the stack can then be opened like a book to expose any selected component with minimal disturbance to the rest of the stack.
Preferably, instead of there being a splice organiser tray on which a plurality of optical fibre splices are arranged, each component having an associated fibre splice is mounted on a tray with that splice.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a tray for use in a mounting assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention, which tray is provided with means for mounting at least one optical component and for mounting a fibre splice associated with that component.
This has obvious advantages for maintenance purposes in an assembly according to the present invention since where it becomes possible to open a stack of trays selectively at a particular component, it is clearly advantageous that an associated fibre splice is also immediately accessible so that the component can be conveniently replaced if necessary. It also has the advantage that because the c
REFERENCES:
patent: 4266853 (1981-05-01), Hutchins et al.
patent: 4332435 (1982-06-01), Post
patent: 4418982 (1983-12-01), Williams
patent: 4478486 (1984-10-01), Fentress et al.
patent: 4648168 (1987-03-01), Nolf et al.
patent: 4792203 (1988-12-01), Nelson et al.
patent: 4812004 (1989-03-01), Biederstedt et al.
patent: 4818054 (1989-04-01), George et al.
patent: 4832436 (1989-05-01), Goto et al.
patent: 4884863 (1989-12-01), Throckmorton
patent: 4962989 (1990-10-01), Jung et al.
patent: 4971421 (1990-11-01), Ori
Kobayashi et al., "Design and Characteristics of Optical Cable . . . ", Rev. of Elect. Comm. Lab., vol. 32, No. 4, 1984, pp. 665-675.
Takagi et al., "A New Optic Slack Fiber . . . Splices", IECE of Japan, vol. E 69, No. 4, 4/86, pp. 363-364.
Jenkins Peter D.
Wettengel Paul F.
British Telecommunications public limited company
Healy Brian
LandOfFree
Mounting assembly for optical equipment does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Mounting assembly for optical equipment, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mounting assembly for optical equipment will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-536910