Pivoting Telecommunications Tray With Bend Radius Cable Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional telecommunications panels lack efficient cable management and bend control mechanisms, particularly in trays that rotate out of the panel, leading to potential cable damage and space inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A multi-positionable tray assembly with a pivotable support arm and bend radius limiter that allows for flexible cable routing and protection, featuring a modular design with removable attachment to the chassis and rotatable cable management features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tray is made rotatable to allow access to rear portions, then ease of operation is improved, but cable management and bend control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A bend radius limiter is introduced as an intermediary component between the rotatable tray and the cables. This limiter includes a curved surface that guides cables through the rotation, ensuring they maintain a safe bend radius even when the tray moves between positions. The intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by enabling tray rotation while simultaneously protecting cables from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The bend radius limiter is designed to move dynamically with the tray rotation. As the tray rotates between folded and access positions, the limiter rotates with it, continuously maintaining proper cable guidance and bend control throughout the range of motion. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain cable protection while achieving full rotational access.
2Ease of operation
If the tray is made rotatable, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot joint serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports the tray, enables rotation, and provides the mounting point for the bend radius limiter. By combining these functions into a single integrated mechanism, the design achieves rotatable access without adding separate complex components. The support arm and pivot joint work together as a unified structure that simplifies the overall mechanism.
3Reliability
If cable management structures are added to the tray, then cable protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bend radius limiter serves multiple purposes: it guides cables, maintains proper bend radius, protects cables from pinching during rotation, and integrates with the pivot joint structure. This multi-functional component provides comprehensive cable management without requiring separate dedicated structures for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity while improving cable protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular multi-positionable tray assembly (420) for mounting within a chassis (10) of a telecommunications panel (100) is disclosed. The multi-positionable tray assembly (420) may include support arm structure (423) having a first support arm (424) and a second support arm (480) that pivotally supports a tray (422) and that allows the tray assembly (420) to be installed and removed from the chassis (10). The tray (422) and the support arm structure (423) cooperatively define a cable routing pathway (208) that extends through a pivot axis (A1) defined by the tray and the support arm. To protect the cables (300) and to increase accessibility of cables (300) within the portion of the cable routing pathway (208) defined by the tray (422), a bend radius limiter (460) can be provided that is rotatably mounted to the tray (422). The tray (422) can also be provided with attachment features for allowing the tray (422) to accept various telecommunications components, such as splice trays and splitter trays.