An open fiber optic patch panel

Abstract

This utility model belongs to the field of optical fiber communication technology, and particularly relates to an open optical fiber distribution frame. An open optical fiber distribution frame includes a frame body and an adapter panel assembly; the frame body has an open structure for supporting the adapter panel assembly in an open manner; at least one adapter panel assembly is provided and detachably mounted on the frame body; the adapter panel assembly includes an adapter panel and a plurality of adapters mounted on the adapter panel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of optical fiber communication technology, and in particular relates to an open optical fiber distribution frame. Background Technology

[0002] Fiber optic communication, as a crucial pillar of modern information technology, is widely used in telecommunications, broadcasting, internet data centers, and other fields. In fiber optic communication networks, the fiber optic distribution frame is an indispensable key passive component. It is primarily used for the introduction and fixing of optical cables, the termination of optical fibers, and the connection, distribution, and management of fiber cores. Through the fiber optic distribution frame, cross-connections between different optical cables or interconnections with optical communication equipment can be easily achieved, providing a fundamental guarantee for the normal operation of the network, troubleshooting, and future upgrades and expansions.

[0003] Currently, most mainstream fiber optic patch panels on the market adopt a closed cabinet structure, with the adapter panels and fusion splice units typically mounted on pull-out drawer trays. The original intention of this design was to house the delicate internal fiber optic connectors, fusion splice trays, and other components within the cabinet, providing protection against dust and accidental contact. When fiber optic patching, adding new services, or routine maintenance is required, operators must first pull the entire drawer unit out of the patch panel cabinet. Only after it is fully unfolded can the corresponding operations be performed on the adapter ports and internal fibers. After the operation is completed, the drawer unit is pushed back and locked.

[0004] However, as modern communication equipment rooms and data centers develop towards high density and ease of maintenance, the aforementioned traditional pull-out fiber optic patch panels have revealed a series of technical problems in practical applications. First, the pull-out operation requires sufficient clearance in front of the cabinet, which wastes valuable space in high-density equipment rooms, contradicting the trend of high-density cabling. Second, frequent pull-out and push-back operations are not only cumbersome and time-consuming, reducing cabling and maintenance efficiency, but the dragging action can also cause stress damage to the numerous fiber optic patch cords connected later, or exceed the minimum bending radius, affecting communication quality and even causing fiber breakage. Furthermore, the interface types and capacities of traditional patch panels are usually fixed at the factory, making it difficult to flexibly adjust or expand according to changes in on-site business needs, resulting in poor overall flexibility and maintainability. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to address the above-mentioned shortcomings by providing an open-type fiber optic distribution frame.

[0006] An open-type fiber optic patch panel includes a frame and an adapter panel assembly;

[0007] The frame is an open structure, used to support the adapter panel assembly in an open manner;

[0008] At least one adapter panel assembly is provided and is detachably mounted on the frame;

[0009] The adapter panel assembly includes an adapter panel and a plurality of adapters mounted on the adapter panel.

[0010] Furthermore, the adapter panel assembly also includes:

[0011] tray, the adapter panel is fixed to the tray; and

[0012] Several vertically mounted coils are installed on the support plate to house the optical fiber and protect its bending radius.

[0013] Furthermore, the adapter is mounted on the adapter panel by a first fastener; the adapter panel and the tray are connected and assembled into the adapter panel assembly by a second fastener.

[0014] Furthermore, several of the vertically mounted coils are arranged at intervals along the length of the tray, and the vertically mounted coils include U-shaped winding fingers arranged in the horizontal direction, the U-shaped winding fingers being used for reciprocating winding of optical fibers thereon.

[0015] Furthermore, the adapter panel has several mounting holes, and the number and type of the adapter can be configured according to usage requirements.

[0016] Furthermore, the adapter is a type SC, LC, FC, or ST adapter, or any combination thereof, that can be detachably installed on the frame.

[0017] Furthermore, the frame includes:

[0018] Bottom shell; and

[0019] At least two mounting ears are provided, which are fixed to both sides of the bottom shell for mounting the frame to a cabinet or wall.

[0020] Furthermore, the open fiber optic patch panel also includes several adjustable mounting clamps, which are fixedly installed on the bottom shell of the frame and used to centrally fix multiple fiber optic patch cords that are introduced or led out.

[0021] Furthermore, at least one guide coil is fixedly installed on the bottom shell of the frame, the guide coil being used to guide the wiring path of the optical fiber.

[0022] Furthermore, the frame is formed by bending a metal sheet and includes a horizontally arranged base plate, as well as a front wall and a rear wall formed by vertically extending upward from the front and rear edges of the base plate, to form a U-shaped groove structure.

[0023] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0024] This invention provides an open fiber optic patch panel. By employing a fixed, open frame with detachable adapter panel assemblies, it fundamentally changes the traditional closed patch panel's reliance on pull-out operations. Since all adapter ports are directly facing the operator and are open and visible, fiber optic splicing and maintenance can be performed without pulling out the panels. Therefore, it eliminates the need for additional operating space in front of the cabinet, significantly saving valuable physical space in the server room and perfectly adapting to the high-density deployment trend of modern data centers. Secondly, this structure eliminates the cumbersome and time-consuming pull-out and push-back steps, significantly improving installation and maintenance efficiency, while also eliminating the risk of stress damage or excessive bending of numerous back-end optical fibers due to drawer movement, thus affecting communication quality. The detachable design of the adapter panel assemblies gives the patch panel high modularity and flexibility, allowing users to quickly replace or configure adapters with different interface types according to actual needs, effectively solving the technical pain points of limited space, low operating efficiency, and inconvenient expansion in existing technologies. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is an isometric drawing of an open-type fiber optic distribution frame.

[0026] Figure 2 This is the front view of an open-type fiber optic patch panel.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a side view of an open-type fiber optic patch panel.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a top view of an open-type fiber optic distribution frame.

[0029] Reference numerals: 100, Open fiber optic patch panel; 110, Frame; 111, Base shell; 112, Mounting lug; 120, Adapter panel assembly; 121, Adapter panel; 122, Adapter; 123, Support plate; 124, Vertical mounting coil; 130, Adjustable mounting clamp; 140, Through coil. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The following detailed description of an open fiber optic distribution frame according to the present invention, in conjunction with embodiments, is provided. For the sake of simplicity, this document cannot exhaustively list all alternative technical features and implementation schemes included in the present invention. Therefore, those skilled in the art should understand that any technical feature and implementation scheme within this embodiment does not limit the scope of protection of the present invention, which includes all alternative technical features and implementation schemes adopted by those skilled in the art without inventive effort. Specifically, any implementation scheme obtained by replacing any technical feature in the present invention or by combining any two or more technical features provided by the present invention should be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] This embodiment provides an open fiber optic distribution frame 100, including a frame 110 and an adapter panel assembly 120;

[0032] The frame 110 is an open structure, used to support the adapter panel assembly 120 in an open manner;

[0033] At least one adapter panel assembly 120 is provided and is detachably mounted on the frame 110;

[0034] The adapter panel assembly 120 includes an adapter panel 121 and a plurality of adapters 122 mounted on the adapter panel 121.

[0035] Please see Figures 1-4 This embodiment provides an open fiber optic patch panel 100. Its core structure includes a frame 110 and one or more adapter panel assemblies 120.

[0036] The frame 110 is the load-bearing foundation of the entire patch panel, and it adopts an open structure. Specifically, as shown... Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the front and top of the rack 110 are open, and the internal adapter 122 mounting area is completely exposed without any obstructing doors or covers. This open structure allows operators to directly access the adapter panel assemblies 120 and their ports mounted on them. Therefore, when performing any splicing and maintenance operations such as plugging, unplugging, cleaning, testing, or replacing fiber optic patch cords, operators do not need to pull or move any part of the rack 110 as with traditional patch panels, greatly simplifying operations and improving efficiency.

[0037] The adapter panel assembly 120 is the core module for realizing fiber optic connectivity and is detachably mounted on the rack 110. The rack 110 has standardized locations and fixing points for mounting the adapter panel assembly 120. The adapter panel assembly 120 itself includes an adapter panel 121 and several adapters 122 fixed to this panel. By mounting the entire assembly onto the rack 110, the required fiber optic ports can be quickly deployed. When it is necessary to adjust the port type or capacity, simply disassemble and replace the corresponding adapter panel assembly 120, achieving a high degree of modularity.

[0038] In some embodiments, the adapter panel assembly 120 further includes:

[0039] The tray 123 and the adapter panel 121 are fixed to the tray 123; and

[0040] Several vertically mounted coils 124 are mounted on a support plate 123 for storing optical fibers and protecting their bending radius.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the adapter panel assembly 120 is further optimized in structure to enhance functionality and protection of the optical fiber. In addition to the adapter panel 121 and adapter 122, the adapter panel assembly 120 also includes a tray 123 and several vertically mounted coils 124.

[0042] The tray 123 serves as the base plate of the adapter panel assembly 120, to which the adapter panel 121 is fixed by screws or other means. The tray 123 provides stronger mechanical support and serves as a platform for mounting other accessories.

[0043] Multiple vertical mounting coils 124 are mounted on the tray 123. Their primary function is to provide a dedicated coiling space for the optical fiber. After the optical fiber is connected to the rear of the adapter 122, any excess length can be orderly coiled onto the vertical mounting coils 124. The curvature of the vertical mounting coils 124 ensures that the bending radius of the optical fiber after coiling is greater than its minimum allowable value, thereby effectively avoiding signal attenuation or physical damage caused by excessive bending.

[0044] In some embodiments, the adapter 122 is mounted on the adapter panel 121 by a first fastener; the adapter panel 121 and the tray 123 are connected by a second fastener to form an adapter panel assembly 120.

[0045] This embodiment details the internal assembly method of the adapter panel assembly 120. First, several adapters 122 are installed onto the adapter panel 121, secured using a first fastener, specifically a Phillips head pan head screw. Next, the support plate 123, pre-installed with the vertical mounting coil 124, is assembled with the adapter panel 121 to which the adapters 122 are installed. This connection is achieved using a second fastener, specifically a pan head combination screw, thus forming a complete and structurally robust adapter panel assembly 120. This assembly method using standard fasteners facilitates production and on-site maintenance.

[0046] In some embodiments, a plurality of vertically mounted coils 124 are arranged at intervals along the length of the tray 123. Each vertically mounted coil 124 includes a U-shaped winding finger arranged in the horizontal direction, which is used for reciprocating winding of optical fiber thereon.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, the optical fiber storage and protection structure is specially designed. A plurality of vertical mounting coils 124 can be mounted on the tray 123 of the adapter panel assembly 120. The vertical mounting coils 124 are spaced apart along the length of the tray 123 (i.e., the direction in which the adapters are arranged), with each coil corresponding to serve the back-end optical fiber of one or more adapters.

[0048] Specifically, the structure of the vertically mounted coil 124 is not a traditional cylindrical spool, but rather consists of multiple U-shaped winding fingers arranged in a comb-like pattern along the horizontal direction. This U-shaped finger design provides a series of parallel, open slots for the optical fiber. After the fiber optic pigtail is connected from the back of the adapter, the operator can easily wind the pigtail back and forth on it, neatly and flattening any excess length on the tray 123. The advantage of this structure is that the arc-shaped bottom of the U-shaped winding fingers naturally limits the minimum bending radius during fiber winding, effectively avoiding signal attenuation or physical damage caused by excessive bending, thus achieving precise and reliable management and protection of the optical fiber.

[0049] In some embodiments, the adapter panel 121 has a plurality of mounting holes, and the number and type of the adapters 122 can be configured according to usage requirements.

[0050] To achieve high flexibility and compatibility, the adapter panel 121 has several standardized mounting holes pre-drilled. The size and spacing of these mounting holes are standardized, ensuring compatibility with various mainstream fiber optic adapters 122. Therefore, users can configure the number and type of adapters 122 entirely according to their actual needs. For example, in a 1U patch panel, a panel assembly with a full complement of 48-port LC duplex adapters 122 or a panel assembly with 24-port SC simplex adapters 122 can be installed as needed, achieving on-demand customization.

[0051] In some embodiments, the adapter 122 is detachably mounted on the frame 110 in one or any combination of SC, LC, FC or ST type adapters 122.

[0052] As a concrete manifestation of the aforementioned modular configuration, this embodiment supports a wide range of adapter types 122. It can be any combination of one or more common types found in current networks, such as high-density LC type, widely used SC type, FC type commonly used at the device end, or ST type adapter 122 used in traditional networks. Users can flexibly select one or more adapters 122 for mixed deployment on the same adapter panel 121, depending on the type of connected device or existing network standards.

[0053] In some embodiments, the frame 110 includes:

[0054] Bottom shell 111; and

[0055] At least two mounting ears 112 are fixed to both sides of the bottom shell 111, and are used to install the frame 110 on the rack or wall.

[0056] For ease of installation and securing, the rack 110 comprises a base shell 111 and at least two mounting lugs 112 fixed to its sides. The base shell 111 is the main load-bearing part of the rack 110, formed by bending sheet metal to create an open basic profile. The mounting lugs 112 are secured to the sides of the base shell 111 using fasteners such as Phillips head countersunk screws. The mounting lugs 112 have standard-sized mounting holes, allowing them to be easily installed on the uprights of a standard 19-inch server rack, or used to secure patch panels to a wall.

[0057] In some embodiments, the open fiber optic patch panel 100 further includes a plurality of adjustable mounting clamps 130, which are fixedly mounted on the bottom shell 111 of the frame 110 and are used to centrally fix multiple fiber optic patch cords that are introduced or led out.

[0058] To effectively manage and secure a large number of input and output fiber optic patch cords, several adjustable mounting clips 130 can be fixedly installed on the frame 110 in this embodiment. The adjustable mounting clips 130 are mounted on the bottom shell 111, located at the lower front of the adapter panel assembly 120. When multiple fiber optic patch cords are connected from the adapter 122 ports, they can be gathered together and secured with these clips. The adjustable mounting clips 130 are adjustable in tightness to accommodate different numbers of patch cords, ensuring the patch cords are neat and orderly and preventing ports from becoming loose due to accidental pulling.

[0059] In some embodiments, at least one guide coil 140 is also fixedly installed on the bottom shell 111 of the frame 110, the guide coil 140 being used to guide the wiring path of the optical fiber.

[0060] To further standardize the fiber optic cabling path, at least one guide coil 140 can be fixedly installed on the bottom shell 111 of the rack 110. These guide coils 140 are typically installed at the rear or side of the bottom shell 111, serving as path guides for optical cables or fiber optic patch cords after they enter the patch panel. Optical fibers can pass through the coils 140, thus being constrained to a predetermined path, preventing them from becoming messy or tangled with other cables within the rack 110, resulting in a clearer, more aesthetically pleasing, and safer overall cabling.

[0061] In some embodiments, the frame 110 is formed by bending a metal sheet and includes a horizontally arranged base plate 111, and a front wall and a rear wall formed by the front and rear edges of the base plate 111 extending vertically upward to form a U-shaped groove structure.

[0062] In one specific embodiment, the manufacturing process and form of the frame 110 were optimized to achieve structural stability and production economy. The entire frame 110 preferably adopts an integrated molding design, that is, it is directly processed from a single piece of metal sheet (such as steel plate or aluminum plate) through one or more bending processes, without the need for welding or splicing.

[0063] Specifically, after processing, the metal sheet forms a horizontally positioned base plate 111, which serves as the mounting surface for the patch panel, supporting components such as the adapter panel assembly 120 and the adjustable mounting clamp 130. Simultaneously, the front and rear edges of the base plate 111 are bent vertically upwards, forming an integral front and rear wall. Thus, the base plate 111, together with the integrally formed front and rear walls, constitutes an open, U-shaped channel structure. This U-shaped channel structure possesses high mechanical strength and rigidity, effectively resisting deformation during installation and use, while its open shape ensures ease of operation.

[0064] For those skilled in the art, other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations, but obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the scope of protection of the claims of this invention.

Claims

1. An open optical fiber distribution frame characterized by, Includes frame and adapter panel components; The frame is an open structure, used to support the adapter panel assembly in an open manner; At least one adapter panel assembly is provided and is detachably mounted on the frame; The adapter panel assembly includes an adapter panel and a plurality of adapters mounted on the adapter panel.

2. The open optical fiber distribution frame of claim 1, wherein, The adapter panel assembly also includes: tray, the adapter panel is fixed to the tray; and Several vertically mounted coils are installed on the support plate to house the optical fiber and protect its bending radius.

3. The open optical fiber distribution frame of claim 2, wherein, The adapter is mounted on the adapter panel by a first fastener; the adapter panel and the tray are connected by a second fastener to form the adapter panel assembly.

4. The open optical fiber distribution frame of claim 3, wherein, Several vertically mounted coils are arranged at intervals along the length of the tray. Each vertically mounted coil includes a U-shaped winding finger arranged in the horizontal direction, which is used for reciprocating winding of optical fibers.

5. The open optical fiber distribution frame of claim 1, wherein, The adapter panel has several mounting holes, and the number and type of the adapter can be configured according to usage requirements.

6. The open optical fiber distribution frame of claim 1, wherein, The adapter is one or any combination of SC, LC, FC or ST type adapters and can be detachably installed on the frame.

7. The open optical fiber distribution frame of claim 1, wherein, The frame includes: Bottom shell; and At least two mounting ears are provided, which are fixed to both sides of the bottom shell for mounting the frame to a cabinet or wall.

8. The open optical fiber distribution frame of claim 7, wherein, The open fiber optic patch panel also includes several adjustable mounting clamps, which are fixedly installed on the bottom shell of the frame and used to centrally fix multiple fiber optic patch cords that are introduced or led out.

9. The open optical fiber distribution frame of claim 7, wherein, At least one guide coil is also fixedly installed on the bottom shell of the frame, the guide coil being used to guide the wiring path of the optical fiber.

10. The open optical fiber distribution frame of claim 7, wherein, The frame is formed by bending a metal sheet and includes a horizontally arranged base plate, as well as a front wall and a rear wall formed by vertically extending upward from the front and rear edges of the base plate, to form a U-shaped groove structure.

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