Fiber Tray Slack Storage With Bend Radius Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Movement of optical fibers within tray-based 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 externally to the fiber tray, utilizing a bridge with a bend radius protector and engagement member to manage slack fibers, minimizing internal fiber movement.
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 excessive bending
Solution Approach 1:
The serpentine fiber routing path is extracted from the internal tray structure and positioned externally. The fiber routing channels are formed in the tray body itself, creating an external path that allows fiber slack management outside the tray while maintaining a compact overall structure. This resolves the contradiction by preventing fiber movement and optical loss without significantly increasing device complexity.
2Reliability
If a serpentine fiber routing path is provided externally to the tray, then fiber movement is minimized and optical loss is reduced, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber routing channels are integrated directly into the tray body structure, merging the routing function with the existing tray components. The bend radius protectors are positioned within the fiber routing area, combining protection functions with the routing path. This integration approach achieves reliable fiber stability while minimizing additional structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bend radius protectors are nested within the fiber routing area, and the fiber routing channels are nested within the tray body structure. This nested arrangement allows multiple functions (routing, protection, slack management) to be achieved within a compact integrated structure, reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If bend radius protectors are positioned within the fiber routing area, then optimal bend radii are maintained, but the routing structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Bend radius protectors are positioned at specific locations within the fiber routing area where bending occurs, rather than providing uniform protection throughout. This localized approach maintains optimal bend radii at critical points while avoiding unnecessary structural complexity in areas where protection is not needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
In one embodiment, a fiber tray assembly includes a tray, a first tray member and a second tray member, where the tray is slidably attached to the first tray member and the second tray member. The fiber tray assembly also includes at least one fiber routing sub-assembly coupled to the tray. The at least one fiber routing sub-assembly includes a channel assembly having a top plate and a bottom plate that define a channel, a router coupled to an end of the channel assembly, the router including one or more slots for routing one or more optical fibers, and at least one bridge including a bend radius protector and an engagement member. The engagement member is operable to pivotally attach to the tray, and the channel assembly, the router, and the at least one bridge define a serpentine fiber routing path that is external to the tray.