Fiber Optic Panel Movable Cable Support Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fiber optic management systems face challenges in minimizing space requirements and deployment costs while allowing for high-density connections and efficient storage of cable slack.
Innovation Solution
A modular fiber optic panel with movable cable support assemblies, featuring parallel support rods and a bracket configuration that allows the cable to be wound and stored within a low-profile housing, enabling easy access and connection to multiple ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If fiber optic cables are stored in a traditional fixed support structure, then cable management is simple, but space requirements increase and cable accessibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The support assembly is designed with movable support rods that can slide between a retracted position (within the housing) and an extended position (outside the housing). This dynamic structure allows the same component to minimize space when cables are not in use while providing easy cable access when needed, resolving the contradiction between space efficiency and operational ease
Solution Approach 2:
The support rods are designed to nest within the housing when not in use, with the brackets and support rods fitting inside the housing boundaries. This nesting approach allows the cable management system to occupy minimal space while still providing full functionality when the support rods are extended for cable installation and management
2Volume of moving object
If fiber optic cables are stored in a compact housing, then space requirements are reduced, but cable length storage capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable support rods extend the effective cable storage capacity beyond the housing boundaries. When extended, the support rods provide additional length for cable winding and management, allowing significant cable lengths to be managed within a compact housing volume, thus resolving the contradiction between compact size and storage capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The support rods extend in the dimensional space outside the housing, utilizing the third dimension (depth/length) to provide additional cable storage capacity. This allows the compact housing to manage longer cable lengths by extending the support structure in the necessary dimension when needed
3Productivity
If high-density fiber optic connections are implemented, then connection capacity increases, but space requirements and deployment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic support assembly allows for compact panel design that can accommodate high-density connections. By retracting the support rods when not in use, the panel maintains a compact footprint that can be densely packed with connection ports, while still providing access to long cable lengths when needed for installation and management
Data Source
AI summary
A panel for storing a length of cable has a housing and a support assembly positioned in the housing and moveable with respect to the housing. The housing defines a housing space for storing the length of cable. The housing space is accessible through an opening. The support assembly is slidable through the opening between a stowed position inside of the housing space and a released position in which the support assembly is at least partially outside of the housing space. The support assembly has a pair of support rods that extend generally parallel to each other and are spaced by a distance, and a bracket connected to first ends of the support rods such that the support rods extend from the bracket and each have second ends that are free ends.