Fiber Tray Assemblies With External Serpentine Fiber Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Movement of optical fibers within tray assemblies in rack-mount fiber enclosures causes undesirable optical loss due to loosening of connectors and bending below the maximum threshold bend radius.
Innovation Solution
A serpentine fiber routing path is provided external to the fiber tray, minimizing internal fiber movement by routing excess fibers outside the tray through a channel assembly, router, and bridges with bend radius protectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical fibers are routed internally within the tray, then the tray structure is compact and simple, but fiber movement causes optical loss due to connector loosening and bending below minimum radius
Solution Approach 1:
The serpentine fiber routing path is extracted from the internal tray structure and positioned externally. The fiber routing sub-assembly includes a channel assembly, router, and bridges that define the serpentine path outside the tray, separating the fiber management function from the tray structure itself. This extraction eliminates fiber movement issues within the tray while maintaining a compact overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
A fiber routing sub-assembly acts as an intermediary structure between the tray and the rack-mount enclosure. This sub-assembly includes channel assemblies with top and bottom plates defining channels, routers with slots for fiber routing, and bridges with bend radius protectors. The intermediary structure manages fiber routing externally while protecting fibers from damage and movement.
2Reliability
If a serpentine fiber routing path is provided external to the tray, then fiber movement is minimized and optical loss is reduced, but the overall structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber routing system is segmented into distinct functional components: channel assemblies with top and bottom plates, routers with fiber slots, bridges with bend radius protectors, and mounting brackets with rack engagement portions. Each segment performs a specific function (fiber guidance, routing, protection, or mounting), allowing for modular assembly and maintenance while achieving stable optical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber routing path transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional serpentine configuration using the channel assemblies, routers, and bridges. The serpentine path utilizes vertical and horizontal spaces externally, creating multiple bends and loops that manage fiber slack and movement while maintaining compact packaging through spatial optimization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mounting brackets with multiple lock opening and fastener hole pairs are used, then the fiber tray assembly can be securely mounted to various rack configurations, but the mounting bracket complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket is designed with universal adaptability to accommodate various rack configurations. The rack engagement portion includes multiple lock opening and fastener hole pairs positioned to align with different rack aperture patterns. This multi-functional design allows the same bracket to securely mount fiber tray assemblies to different rack types and sizes without requiring custom brackets for each configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a mounting bracket for mounting a fiber tray assembly to a rack includes a rack engagement portion operable to be positioned against the rack. The rack engagement portion includes a plurality of lock opening and fastener hole pairs, where a location of each lock opening and each fastener hole is operable to be aligned with an aperture of the rack. The mounting bracket further includes a base extending from an end of the rack engagement portion, at least one mounting arm extending from the base such that a gap is present between the at least one mounting arm and the base, and a first support surface and a second support surface each connected to the rack engagement portion and the base.