Fiber Tray Assemblies With External Serpentine Routing
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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 external to the fiber tray, minimizing internal fiber movement by routing excess optical fibers outside the tray, using a channel assembly, router, and bridges with bend radius protectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If optical fibers are stored within the tray, then fiber storage capacity is improved, but optical loss increases due to fiber movement and bending
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the fiber storage system into two separate components: the tray for connector storage and the channel assembly for fiber routing. This segmentation allows fibers to be routed externally through fixed channels rather than being stored within the moving tray, eliminating fiber movement while maintaining storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel assembly acts as an intermediary structure between the tray and the rack. It provides a fixed external pathway for optical fibers to follow, serving as a mediator that decouples the fiber routing function from the tray movement function, thereby preventing optical loss while enabling tray operation.
2Ease of operation
If trays are made movable for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but optical fiber movement causes connector loosening and bending loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fiber routing function from the tray by introducing a separate channel assembly that is fixed to the rack. This allows the tray to be moved freely for easy access while the fibers remain confined to the fixed external channels, preventing connector loosening and bending.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel assembly serves as a fixed intermediary pathway that remains stationary relative to the rack while the tray moves. This intermediary structure maintains stable fiber positions and protects connectors from movement-induced loosening while still allowing easy tray access.
3Device complexity
If fiber routing is integrated within the tray, then device complexity is reduced, but optical loss increases due to bending below maximum threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing function into a separate channel assembly that is fixed to the rack rather than integrating it within the tray. This segmentation allows the channel assembly to provide fixed, stable fiber pathways with controlled bend radii while keeping the tray structure simple and movable.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel assembly is pre-configured with fixed pathways and bend radius protectors before the tray is installed. This preliminary action establishes optimal fiber routing paths in advance, ensuring that fibers follow predetermined routes with adequate bend radii regardless of tray position or movement.
Data Source
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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.