Fiber Splice Closure Rear Tray for Excess Fiber Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved designs in optical fiber splice closures to manage excess fiber length effectively while maintaining the integrity of the fiber and preventing signal loss.
Innovation Solution
A telecommunications enclosure with a management unit that includes a support infrastructure with adapter and splice mounting locations, and a pivotable rear tray to store excess fiber length, along with a pivot interlock mechanism for secure and intuitive fiber management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional splice closure design is used, then the structure is simple, but the excess fiber management is inadequate and fiber damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is divided into multiple functional sections including a front section with splice trays and a rear section with fiber management components. The excess fiber is segregated into dedicated storage areas with proper bend radius control, separating fiber splicing functions from fiber management functions to prevent damage and improve reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a rear tray that pivots between a stowed position and a deployed position, utilizing vertical and rotational dimensions to provide access to excess fiber without increasing the closure's horizontal footprint. This dimensional approach allows complex fiber management within a compact structure.
2Reliability
If excess fiber is stored without proper management, then the closure structure is simple, but signal loss occurs due to excessive bending
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber management system provides different local conditions for different fiber sections: splice trays with secure retention for spliced fibers, and rear trays with controlled bend radii for excess fiber. Each area is optimized for its specific function, ensuring signal transmission integrity while managing fiber complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear tray is designed to pivot between stowed and deployed positions, dynamically adapting the fiber management configuration. When deployed, it provides accessible fiber management with proper bend control; when stowed, it maintains a compact profile. This dynamic capability ensures signal integrity while managing fiber complexity efficiently.
3Ease of operation
If the rear tray is always accessible, then fiber management is easy, but the closure structure becomes more complex and space-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The rear tray pivots on a hinge axis between a stowed position (parallel to the rear wall) and a deployed position (providing fiber access). This dynamic mechanism allows the closure to maintain a compact volume when fiber management is not needed, while easily providing access when required, without permanently increasing the closure's external dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear tray is nested within the closure structure when stowed, utilizing the vertical space between the top and bottom walls. The tray's pivot mechanism allows it to be stored compactly within the closure's internal volume, only extending outward when fiber management operations are performed, thus minimizing the closure's overall footprint.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a sealed closure having modular components, enhanced cable sealing, modular connection interfaces, enhanced cable anchoring and enhanced fiber management.