A modular patch panel suitable for high-density cabling

Abstract

This application relates to the field of communication equipment technology, and in particular to a modular patch panel suitable for high-density cabling, comprising a cabinet, a modular frame, several patch modules, and a cable guide assembly. The modular frame utilizes a mesh structure and slots to enable rapid installation and expansion of patch modules; the cable guide assembly optimizes fiber optic patch cord routing and controls bending radii, reducing signal loss; a sliding base and a rotating door enhance maintenance convenience and protection; and identification and heat dissipation components improve management efficiency and operational stability. This application significantly improves cabling efficiency, expansion flexibility, and maintenance convenience, meeting the demands of high-performance scenarios such as 5G and cloud computing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of communication equipment and network cabling technology, specifically a modular patch panel suitable for high-density cabling. Background Technology

[0002] Fiber optic patch panels are critical equipment in data centers and communication equipment rooms, and their cabling density and management efficiency are crucial to network performance. However, with the widespread application of fiber optic networks in high-density scenarios, existing patch panels face numerous challenges in terms of modular expansion and cable management. Among related technologies, patent CN111239941B proposes a structure including a cabinet, a frame, and optical splitter modules, supporting overall extraction for maintenance and individual module repair, thus improving some maintenance convenience. However, this solution still has limitations, such as insufficient modularity, lack of slots and quick-connect interfaces, leading to complex expansion operations; unoptimized cable routing design, lack of independent management channels and bending radius control, potentially causing patch cord confusion and signal loss; furthermore, fixed optical splitter modules limit layout flexibility and make it difficult to adapt to dynamic networking requirements. These issues indicate that existing technologies still have room for improvement in achieving high-density cabling and flexible management, especially in high-performance application scenarios such as 5G and cloud computing, where better solutions are urgently needed. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This utility model relates to the field of communication equipment technology, and in particular to a modular patch panel suitable for high-density cabling. As core equipment in data centers and communication equipment rooms, the fiber optic patch panel's cabling density, expansion flexibility, and ease of maintenance directly affect network performance. However, existing patch panels have shortcomings in modular expansion, cable management, and layout flexibility, making it difficult to meet the needs of high-performance scenarios such as 5G and cloud computing. For example, the lack of slots and quick-connect interfaces in existing technologies leads to complex module expansion operations; unoptimized cable routing design, lack of independent management channels and bending radius control, may cause patch cord chaos and signal loss; furthermore, fixed optical splitter modules limit adaptability to dynamic networking requirements. To solve these problems, this utility model proposes a modular patch panel suitable for high-density cabling, aiming to improve cabling efficiency, expansion flexibility, and ease of maintenance by introducing a slot structure, integrated cable guide components, and a reconfigurable modular layout design.

[0004] This invention provides a modular patch panel suitable for high-density cabling, comprising a cabinet, a modular frame, several patch modules, and cable guide components. The modular frame is installed inside the cabinet and is used to support the patch modules; the patch modules are connected to the modular frame via slots for plug-and-play installation; the cable guide components are located on both sides and the top of the modular frame and are used to guide the fiber optic patch cords and control their bending radius.

[0005] In some embodiments, the module frame includes multiple horizontal support bars and vertical support bars, which are fixedly connected by bolts to form a grid structure. Each grid cell has a slot, the inner wall of which has an elastic buckle, and the bottom of the wiring module has a protrusion structure that matches the elastic buckle. The wiring module can be quickly installed and removed by the cooperation of the elastic buckle and the protrusion structure.

[0006] In some embodiments, the wiring module includes a housing, a fiber optic adapter array, and an internal patch cord channel. The fiber optic adapter array is located on the front of the housing and is used to connect external fiber optic patch cords; the internal patch cord channel extends through the back of the housing and communicates with a cable guide assembly within the module frame. Slide rails are provided on both sides of the housing, which slide against the edges of the grid cells of the module frame to ensure the wiring module remains stable during insertion and removal.

[0007] In some embodiments, the cable guiding assembly includes a horizontal guide plate, a vertical guide plate, and a bending radius control ring. The horizontal guide plate is located at the top of the module frame and extends along the width direction of the cabinet, used to guide the fiber optic patch cord from one side of the cabinet to the other; the vertical guide plate is located on both sides of the module frame and extends along the height direction of the cabinet, used to guide the fiber optic patch cord from the top to the bottom of the module frame; the bending radius control ring is located at the junction of the horizontal and vertical guide plates, used to control the minimum bending radius of the fiber optic patch cord, avoiding signal loss due to excessive bending.

[0008] In some embodiments, the bending radius control ring includes a fixed ring and a movable ring. The fixed ring is fixed to a horizontal or vertical guide plate by screws, and the movable ring is connected to the fixed ring by a hinge. The inner surface of the movable ring is provided with a flexible pad to protect the fiber optic patch cord from mechanical damage. A locking pin is provided on the outer side of the movable ring, which engages with a positioning hole on the fixed ring to fix the position of the movable ring.

[0009] In some embodiments, the bottom of the modular frame is provided with a slide rail base, which extends along the depth of the cabinet to support the overall removal of the modular frame. Ball bearings are provided at both ends of the slide rail base, and these ball bearings roll into contact with the inner wall of the cabinet to reduce friction when the modular frame is removed. A positioning pin is provided in the middle of the slide rail base, which engages with a positioning hole at the bottom of the cabinet to fix the position of the modular frame.

[0010] In some embodiments, the wiring module further includes an identification component located on the front of the housing for marking port information of the fiber optic adapter array. The identification component includes a transparent panel and a label slot. The transparent panel covers the label slot to prevent the label from being contaminated by external factors. The label slot is equipped with a magnetic adsorption piece, which secures the label to the label slot for easy replacement and maintenance.

[0011] In some embodiments, a rotating door is provided on the front side of the cabinet. The rotating door is connected to the cabinet via hinges, and a dustproof sealing strip is provided on the inner side of the rotating door to prevent dust from entering the cabinet. A locking device is provided on the outer side of the rotating door, which includes a latch and a lock hole. The latch is connected to the rotating door via a spring, and the lock hole is located on the front side of the cabinet to secure the rotating door in the closed state.

[0012] In some embodiments, a heat dissipation component is provided on the top of the module frame. The heat dissipation component includes a fan and ventilation holes. The fan is located at the top center of the module frame to accelerate air circulation inside the cabinet. The ventilation holes are located on the top and sides of the cabinet to form air convection channels and reduce the temperature inside the cabinet.

[0013] Through the above structural design, this utility model achieves the following effects: the grid structure and slot design of the module frame significantly improve the expansion flexibility of the wiring module, making module replacement and addition operations more convenient; the horizontal guide plate, vertical guide plate and bending radius control ring of the cable guide assembly effectively optimize the routing path of the fiber optic patch cord, reducing patch cord clutter and signal loss; the design of the slide rail base and rotating door enhances the maintenance convenience and protection performance of the equipment; the marking component and heat dissipation component further improve the management efficiency and operational stability of the equipment.

[0014] In summary, this utility model solves the problems of inconvenient module expansion, chaotic cable management, and poor structural flexibility in the prior art by introducing innovative modular design, integrated cable guidance structure, and reconfigurable layout scheme. It provides a better solution for high-density cabling scenarios and meets the needs of high-performance application scenarios such as 5G and cloud computing. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model, showing the layout relationship of the cabinet, module frame, wiring module and cable guide assembly.

[0016] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the module frame, highlighting the design details of the grid structure and slots, as well as the way the elastic clips and the protruding structure of the wiring module work together.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of the wiring module, showing the specific construction of the outer casing, fiber optic adapter array, internal patch cord channel, and slide rail.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of the cable guiding assembly, including the arrangement and connection relationship of the horizontal guide plate, the vertical guide plate, and the bending radius control ring.

[0019] Figure 5This is an exploded view of the bending radius control ring, showing in detail the structural design of the fixed ring, movable ring, flexible pad, and locking pin.

[0020] The attached figures are labeled as follows: 1. Cabinet; 2. Modular frame; 3. Wiring module; 4. Cable guide assembly; 5. Slot; 6. Elastic snap-fit; 7. Fiber optic adapter array; 8. Internal patch cord channel; 9. Slide rail; 10. Horizontal guide plate; 11. Vertical guide plate; 12. Bending radius control ring; 13. Fixed ring; 14. Movable ring; 15. Flexible pad; 16. Locking pin. Detailed Implementation

[0021] This utility model provides a modular patch panel suitable for high-density cabling, and its specific implementation is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 As shown, cabinet 1 serves as the basic framework of the overall structure. Inside, a modular frame 2 is installed to support several wiring modules 3. For cable management, a cable guide assembly 4 guides the fiber optic patch cords and controls their bending radius. The modular frame 2 consists of multiple horizontal and vertical support bars connected by bolts to form a grid structure. Each grid unit has a slot 5, and the inner wall of the slot 5 has an elastic buckle 6. The elastic buckle 6 engages with the protruding structure at the bottom of the wiring module 3, enabling quick installation and removal of the wiring module 3.

[0022] Figure 2 The details of the modular frame 2 are shown, where the grid structure design allows for flexible expansion or adjustment of the wiring module 3's position. The slot 5 is precisely sized to ensure accurate positioning of the wiring module 3 upon insertion, while the elastic latch 6 provides a reliable mechanical locking function. When replacing or adding a wiring module 3, the operator simply pushes or pulls it into or out along the slot 5, requiring no additional tools. Furthermore, the bottom of the modular frame 2 features a slide rail base that extends along the depth of the cabinet 1 and rolls against the inner wall of the cabinet 1 via ball bearings at both ends to reduce friction. A positioning pin in the center of the slide rail base engages with a positioning hole at the bottom of the cabinet 1 to fix the position of the modular frame 2, ensuring its stability during use.

[0023] The structure of wiring module 3 is as follows Figure 3As shown, its outer casing is rectangular, with a fiber optic adapter array 7 on the front for connecting external fiber optic patch cords. The ports of the fiber optic adapter array 7 are arranged in a high-density manner to meet the needs of high-density cabling. A through-type internal patch cord channel 8 is located on the back of the casing, which connects to the cable guide assembly 4 within the module frame 2, thus enabling orderly transmission of fiber optic patch cords from the outside to the inside. Slide rails 9 are located on both sides of the casing, slidingly engaging with the edges of the grid cells in the module frame 2 to ensure stability of the wiring module 3 during insertion and removal. Furthermore, the wiring module 3 includes an identification component located on the front of the casing, with a transparent panel covering the label slot to prevent label contamination. A magnetic adsorption piece is provided inside the label slot, securing the label to the slot for easy replacement and maintenance.

[0024] The structure of cable guide assembly 4 is as follows Figure 4 As shown, the system includes a horizontal guide plate 10, a vertical guide plate 11, and a bending radius control ring 12. The horizontal guide plate 10 is located at the top of the module frame 2, extending along the width of the cabinet 1, and is used to guide the fiber optic patch cord from one side of the cabinet 1 to the other. The vertical guide plate 11 is located on both sides of the module frame 2, extending along the height of the cabinet 1, and is used to guide the fiber optic patch cord from the top to the bottom of the module frame 2. The bending radius control ring 12 is located at the junction of the horizontal guide plate 10 and the vertical guide plate 11, and is used to control the minimum bending radius of the fiber optic patch cord to avoid signal loss due to excessive bending. The specific structure of the bending radius control ring 12 is as follows... Figure 5 As shown, the fixed ring 13 is fixed to the horizontal guide plate 10 or the vertical guide plate 11 by screws. The movable ring 14 is connected to the fixed ring 13 by a hinge. The inner surface of the movable ring 14 is provided with a flexible pad 15 to protect the fiber optic patch cord from mechanical damage. The outer side of the movable ring 14 is provided with a locking pin 16, which cooperates with the positioning hole on the fixed ring 13 to fix the position of the movable ring 14, thereby ensuring that the fiber optic patch cord maintains a stable bending radius during bending.

[0025] The front of cabinet 1 has a rotating door connected to it via hinges. The inner side of the rotating door has a dustproof sealing strip to prevent dust from entering the cabinet. The outer side of the rotating door has a locking device, including a latch and a lock hole. The latch is connected to the rotating door via a spring, and the lock hole is located on the front of cabinet 1 to secure the rotating door in the closed position. The top of the modular frame 2 has a heat dissipation assembly, including a fan and ventilation holes. The fan is located at the center of the top of the modular frame 2 to accelerate airflow inside cabinet 1; the ventilation holes are located on the top and sides of cabinet 1 to create air convection channels and reduce the internal temperature of cabinet 1.

[0026] In practical applications, the operation process of this modular patch panel is as follows: First, select an appropriate number of patch modules 3 according to actual needs and insert them one by one into the module frame 2 according to the positions of the slots 5. During insertion, the protruding structure at the bottom of the patch module 3 cooperates with the elastic buckle 6 to ensure that the module is installed in place. Then, connect the fiber optic patch cord to the patch module 3 through the fiber optic adapter array 7, and introduce it into the cable guide assembly 4 in the module frame 2 through the internal patch cord channel 8. The horizontal guide plate 10 and the vertical guide plate 11 are responsible for the lateral and longitudinal guidance of the fiber optic patch cord, respectively, while the bending radius control ring 12 ensures that the patch cord meets the minimum bending radius requirement when turning, thereby avoiding signal loss. When it is necessary to maintain or replace the patch module 3, the module can be directly pulled out along the slide rail 9, which is convenient and does not affect the normal operation of other modules. In addition, the rotating door design of the cabinet 1 makes equipment maintenance more convenient, and the dustproof sealing strip effectively prevents dust from entering, ensuring the long-term stability of the equipment. The heat dissipation assembly, through the cooperation of the fan and ventilation holes, ensures that the internal temperature of the cabinet 1 is always within a suitable range, thereby improving the overall reliability of the equipment.

[0027] To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and implement this utility model, the following supplementary explanation of the operating principle and implementation steps of the modular patch panel is provided in conjunction with specific application scenarios.

[0028] In actual deployment, cabinet 1 is first installed in the designated location in the communication equipment room or data center. Cabinet 1 is fixed to the ground through the positioning holes on its bottom to ensure overall structural stability. Then, the operator selects an appropriate number of wiring modules 3 according to cabling requirements and inserts them one by one into the slots 5 in the module frame 2. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the grid design of slot 5 allows the wiring module 3 to be flexibly arranged in different positions to meet dynamic networking requirements. When the wiring module 3 is inserted, its bottom protrusion engages with the elastic latch 6, which applies moderate pressure to lock the wiring module 3 in place, ensuring it will not loosen during operation. This process requires no additional tools and can be completed simply by manually pushing it in.

[0029] The fiber optic patch cord connection begins at the fiber optic adapter array 7 on the front of the patch panel 3. For example... Figure 3 As shown, the fiber optic adapter array 7 employs a high-density port arrangement, supporting the simultaneous connection of a large number of patch cords. After the patch cords are connected, they enter the module frame 2 through the internal patch cord channel 8 on the back of the wiring module 3, and are further guided by the cable guide assembly 4. The horizontal guide plate 10 and the vertical guide plate 11 are distributed along the width and height directions of the cabinet 1, respectively, ensuring that the patch cords can be passed orderly from one side to the other or from the top to the bottom. At the junction of the horizontal guide plate 10 and the vertical guide plate 11, the bending radius control ring 12, through the cooperation of the fixed ring 13 and the movable ring 14, limits the minimum bending radius of the patch cord. Figure 5 As shown, the flexible pad 15 of the movable ring 14 is in close contact with the surface of the jumper cable to avoid signal loss due to mechanical stress. The locking pin 16 engages with the positioning hole on the fixed ring 13 to fix the position of the movable ring 14, thereby ensuring that the jumper cable maintains a stable shape during bending.

[0030] When maintenance or replacement of a specific wiring module 3 is required, the operator simply pulls the target module out along the slide rail 9. The design of the slide rail 9 ensures that the wiring module 3 remains stable during the extraction process, preventing loosening or damage to jumpers due to shaking. Meanwhile, other modules continue to operate normally, without affecting overall network performance. Furthermore, the slide rail base at the bottom of the module frame 2 rolls against the inner wall of the cabinet 1 via ball bearings, allowing the entire module frame 2 to be pulled out for comprehensive maintenance of the entire device. The positioning pin in the middle of the slide rail base engages with the positioning hole at the bottom of the cabinet 1, ensuring that the module frame 2 remains fixed during use.

[0031] To prevent dust from entering the cabinet 1 and affecting equipment operation, the rotating door is connected to the front of the cabinet 1 by hinges and is equipped with a dustproof sealing strip. The locking device uses a spring-loaded latch to engage with the lock hole on the front of the cabinet 1, ensuring a tight seal when the rotating door is closed. In addition, the heat dissipation components on the top of the modular frame 2 accelerate air circulation with a fan, and the ventilation holes form convection channels, effectively reducing the internal temperature of the cabinet 1 and ensuring long-term stable operation of the equipment.

[0032] The labeling component is located on the front of the wiring module 3 housing, with a transparent panel covering the label slot to prevent the labels from being contaminated by external factors. The labels are secured in the slot using magnetic attachments, facilitating quick replacement and maintenance. This design not only improves equipment management efficiency but also reduces maintenance difficulties caused by labels falling off or becoming illegible.

[0033] In summary, in practical applications, this modular patch panel, through the synergistic effect of its slots 5, elastic clips 6, cable guide components 4, and bending radius control ring 12, achieves modular expansion, improved cable management and maintenance convenience in high-density cabling scenarios. The combination of these steps and principles ensures the reliability and flexibility of the equipment in high-performance application scenarios.

[0034] It should be noted that, in the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more; the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. At the same time, in the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0035] The above content is only a preferred embodiment of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, many changes can be made in the specific implementation and application scope based on the ideas of this technical content. As long as these changes do not depart from the concept of this utility model, they all fall within the protection scope of this patent.

Claims

1. A modular patch panel suitable for high-density cabling, characterized in that, It includes a cabinet (1), a module frame (2), several wiring modules (3) and a cable guide assembly (4). The module frame (2) is installed inside the cabinet (1) and is used to carry the wiring modules (3). The wiring modules (3) are connected to the module frame (2) through slots (5). The cable guide assembly (4) is located on both sides and the top of the module frame (2) and is used to guide the fiber optic patch cord and control its bending radius.

2. The modular distribution frame of claim 1, wherein, The module frame (2) includes multiple horizontal support bars and vertical support bars. The horizontal support bars and vertical support bars are fixedly connected by bolts to form a grid structure. Each grid unit is provided with a slot (5). The inner wall of the slot (5) is provided with an elastic buckle (6). The bottom of the wiring module (3) is provided with a protrusion structure that matches the elastic buckle (6).

3. The modular patch panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wiring module (3) includes a housing, a fiber optic adapter array (7) and an internal patch cord channel (8). The fiber optic adapter array (7) is located on the front of the housing and is used to connect external fiber optic patch cords. The internal patch cord channel (8) extends through the back of the housing and is connected to the cable guide assembly (4) inside the module frame (2). The housing is provided with slide rails (9) on both sides, and the slide rails (9) slide in cooperation with the edge of the grid unit of the module frame (2).

4. The modular patch panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cable guiding assembly (4) includes a horizontal guide plate (10), a vertical guide plate (11), and a bending radius control ring (12). The horizontal guide plate (10) is located at the top of the module frame (2) and extends along the width direction of the cabinet (1). The vertical guide plate (11) is located on both sides of the module frame (2) and extends along the height direction of the cabinet (1). The bending radius control ring (12) is located at the junction of the horizontal guide plate (10) and the vertical guide plate (11).

5. The modular patch panel according to claim 4, characterized in that, The bending radius control ring (12) includes a fixed ring (13) and a movable ring (14). The fixed ring (13) is fixed to the horizontal guide plate (10) or the vertical guide plate (11) by screws. The movable ring (14) is connected to the fixed ring (13) by a hinge. The inner surface of the movable ring (14) is provided with a flexible pad (15). The outer side of the movable ring (14) is provided with a locking pin (16). The locking pin (16) cooperates with the positioning hole on the fixed ring (13).

6. The modular patch panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the module frame (2) is provided with a slide rail base, which extends along the depth direction of the cabinet (1). Both ends of the slide rail base are provided with ball bearings, which roll in cooperation with the inner wall of the cabinet (1). The middle part of the slide rail base is provided with a positioning pin, which cooperates with the positioning hole at the bottom of the cabinet (1).

7. The modular patch panel according to claim 3, characterized in that, The wiring module (3) also includes an identification component, which is located on the front of the housing and includes a transparent panel and a label slot. The transparent panel covers the label slot, and the label slot is provided with a magnetic adsorption sheet.

8. The modular patch panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cabinet (1) has a rotating door on the front side. The rotating door is connected to the cabinet (1) by a hinge. The inner side of the rotating door is provided with a dustproof sealing strip. The outer side of the rotating door is provided with a locking device. The locking device includes a latch and a lock hole. The latch is connected to the rotating door by a spring. The lock hole is located on the front side of the cabinet (1).

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