Optical waveguides – Accessories – Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
Patent
1996-03-06
1997-08-26
Palmer, Phan T. H.
Optical waveguides
Accessories
Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
385137, G02B 600
Patent
active
056618417
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an organizer for controlling the bend radius of optical fibres or of an optical fibre cable.
It is frequently necessary in optical fibre networks to alter the direction of an optical fibre or cable, and due to the delicate nature of optical fibres this must be done in a carefully controlled way. Such a change of direction may be required where a cable passes through a wall or other bulkhead and must be properly aligned before being directed to a routing, splicing or splitting organizer. At this point of change of direction it may be desirable to store a short length of cable or fibre to aid subsequent splitting, splicing or routing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
We have found that an improved organizer can be produced in block form, which may be hollow, having a surface that undergoes the requisite change of direction.
Thus, the present invention provides an optical fibre organizer for receiving an optical fibre from one direction and storing loops thereof in a plane substantially perpendicular to that direction which comprises; cylinder where it is substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder to a side of the cylinder such that a fibre within it is directed around the circumference of the cylinder.
The port itself need only bring the fibre to the circumference in an appropriate direction, and further means may be provided to ensure that the fibre maintains a generally circumferential path.
The organizer may organize one or more fibres, one or more tubes each carrying one or more fibres, or one or more optical fibre cables.
The organizer may be mounted on a wall etc. for which purpose it may be provided with one or more screw holes or other fixing means. The organizer will generally be provided within a housing, which may also incorporate other organizers whose function is to route individually or in groups various fibres broken out of an optical fibre cable or to accommodate fibre splices or fibre splitters.
The organizer is preferably of unitary construction, and may be moulded from any suitable plastics material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is further illustrated with respect to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an organizer from above;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below;
FIGS. 3 and 4 show two see-through perspective views;
FIGS. 5 A-C show plan views from above and below and a side elevation;
FIG. 6 shows an enclosure housing the organizer;
FIG. 7 shows a route organizer for use with the organizer of the invention; and
FIG. 8 shows fibre organizer trays for use with the organizer of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The organizer shown in FIG. 1 receives an optical fibre cable 1 from one direction and stores loops 2 thereof in a plane substantially perpendicular to that direction. The organizer comprises a block having a substantially cylindrical surface 3 and having a port 4 running from an end of the cylinder (hidden from view) where it is substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder to a side of the cylinder 5 where the port may be regarding as meeting or breaking into the side of the cylinder. As a result the cable is directed around the circumference of the cylinder, and this can be seen to occur from the point marked 5 vertically upwards. The port 4 can be seen to curve in two planes between the points marked 4 and 5 in FIG. 1. In order for the port to merge gently with the circumferential wall, it preferably breaks that wall at an angle to the radius vector of the wall at that portion, i.e. not radially and preferably substantially tangentially.
The port between these two points can also be seen to be open in cross-section. This can be of advantage since it allows the cable 1 to be pushed through the port (or more precisely that part of it that is closed in cross-section) without the cable bending. When the cable has been pushed through a sufficient distance it can then be bent around the curved surface of the open part of the port and s
REFERENCES:
patent: 5323480 (1994-06-01), Mullaney et al.
Bertram Bruce M.
Burkard Herbert G.
Palmer Phan T. H.
Raychem Limited
Zahrt II William D.
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