Pivoting Telecom Tray Layout for Through-Axis Cable Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional telecommunications panels with hinged trays face challenges in efficiently managing cables due to the need to route them around structural elements during rotation, which limits space and increases the depth required for accommodating fiber optic connectors, and does not effectively utilize the available space for cable bundles.
Innovation Solution
A multi-positionable tray assembly with a support arm connected via a pivot joint, allowing the tray to rotate and featuring a cable routing pathway through the pivot axis without structural obstructions, and a patch panel with adapters at an oblique angle to reduce depth and enhance cable management, enabling efficient cable routing and accommodation of fiber optic connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional hinged trays rotate around a structural element extending along the pivot axis, then the tray can be rotated to provide access to rear portions, but cables must be routed around the structural element which increases the depth required and limits space for cable management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the structural element that previously extended along the pivot axis and blocked cable routing. By extracting this obstructing element, cables can now pass directly through the pivot axis area without needing to route around it, thereby reducing the required tray depth while maintaining rotation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent reconfigures the cable routing pathway from a two-dimensional path around the structural element to a three-dimensional path that passes through the pivot axis. This dimensional change allows cables to utilize the space previously occupied by the structural element, reducing the overall depth requirement.
2Device complexity
If adapters are positioned with longitudinal connection axes parallel to the transverse axis, then the patch panel structure is simple, but more depth is required to accommodate cabled fiber optic connectors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the longitudinal connection axes of the adapters at an oblique angle relative to the transverse axis, creating an asymmetric configuration. This angular arrangement allows fiber optic connectors to be accommodated in a more compact depth while maintaining structural integrity and cable management capabilities.
3Ease of manufacture
If the patch panel transverse axis is parallel to the front face and rear side of the tray, then the alignment is simple, but the areas with accumulated bundles of patch cords are reduced in size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent orients the patch panel transverse axis at an angle with respect to the front face of the tray, creating an asymmetric layout. This angular orientation increases the available area for accommodating cable bundles by utilizing the tray's depth more effectively, while the alignment can still be achieved through precise angular positioning during installation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A multi-positionable tray assembly (20) for mounting within a chassis (10) of a telecommunications panel (100) is disclosed. The multi-positionable tray assembly (20) may include support arm (24) that pivotally supports a tray (22) and that allows the tray assembly (20) to be installed and removed from the chassis (10). The tray (22) and the support arm (24) cooperatively define a cable routing pathway (208) that extends through a pivot axis (A1) defined by the tray and the support arm. To minimize the required depth of the tray (10) and optimize cable routing, the tray (20) can include a cable management structure (102) with a patch panel (104) having a plurality of adapters (108) arranged along a transverse axis (A2), wherein the transverse axis is non-parallel or oblique to a front plane (A4) of the tray.