Optical waveguides – Accessories – Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
Patent
1995-08-01
1997-04-08
Healy, Brian
Optical waveguides
Accessories
Splice box and surplus fiber storage/trays/organizers/ carriers
385137, 206557, 206558, 206564, 206565, G02B 626, B65D 134
Patent
active
056196083
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to optical fibre splice enclosures.
It is often desirable for optical fibre splice enclosures to occupy minimum space, yet the fibres entering and leaving the enclosure must not be bent to radii smaller than a predetermined minimum.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention as seen from one aspect, there is provided an enclosure assembly for optical fibre splices or other optical fibre components, the assembly comprising a plurality of trays disposed in a stack with the trays inclined at a common angle to a longitudinal axis of the stack, each tray being of generally elliptical shape in plan and being pivotally mounted, adjacent one end of its major axis, to an upright support.
Because the elliptical trays are longer in one dimension than if they were circular, they can accommodate splices or other components of relatively long length, as becomes necessary if the overall size of the enclosure and its trays has to be reduced. However, the elliptical trays still project a generally circular "footprint", so that the stack of trays fits closely within a cylindrical cover when applied over the stack.
Preferably each tray has at least one opening formed in its floor and open to its periphery, enabling fibres to pass from one tray to the next tray along a circumferential path. Preferably this opening in each tray is adjacent its point of pivotal mounting to the upright support: then the adjacent trays can be pivoted away from each other, or they can be pivoted together, without stressing the fibres passing between the trays.
Preferably each tray has at least one fibre entry adjacent its point of pivotal mounting to the upright support, and also at least one fibre entry adjacent its opposite end. Preferably the enclosure enables the trays to rest in a downwardly inclined orientation, but enables the trays to be held, alternatively, in an upwardly inclined orientation: in the first case fibres may enter the trays from their outer or front ends, and in the second case the fibres may instead enter the trays from their pivoted or rear ends.
The enclosure assembly may be used for fibre splitting or combining. Presently, passive optical fibre splitters are available in various split level, typically 1.times.2 and 1.times.6. Often higher split levels are required and are achieved by cascading several 1.times.2 and 1.times.6 splitters. These splitters are normally housed in several splice trays, together with their associated protected splices (which are required to link each splitter to the next splitter). It will be appreciated that the splitters can be used, in the opposite sense, as combiners (i.e. feeding the signals from several fibres into single fibre). Owing to the large number of components needed for high split or combining levels, several splice trays have to be used. The interconnection of optical fibres between these several trays presents considerable problems in managing the fibres, including routing them between trays whilst maintaining a safe minimum bend radius for the fibres.
In accordance with this invention, there is provided an enclosure assembly for optical fibre splices and splitter or combiner components, comprising a plurality of trays disposed in a stack, alternate trays retaining optical fibre splices and optical fibre splitters or combiners, with the optical fibres following a circumferential path from each tray to the next tray in the stack.
Preferably each tray has at least one opening formed in its floor through which a fibre runs in passing from one tray to the next. The assembly may be formed as a module which comprises a tubular housing which contains the stack of trays.
Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an enclosure shown with its tubular cover removed;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the trays used in the assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a di
REFERENCES:
patent: 4886336 (1989-12-01), Duesser et al.
Cammack Andrew S.
Foss Raymond C.
Bowthorpe plc
Gordon David P.
Healy Brian
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