Rotating Cable Spool Re-orientation for Wall Box Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fiber optic splicing enclosures are not adapted to store optical cables with diameters larger than standard fibers, leading to management issues with reserved redundant cables being either too short or too long, and existing solutions, such as external spools, are bulky and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A telecommunications wall fixture with a rotatably mounted cable spool that can change its rotation axis from perpendicular to parallel or non-perpendicular to the mounting surface, allowing the spool to be stored within the fixture and facilitating efficient deployment and management of optical cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If an external spool is used to store optical cable, then the cable storage capacity is improved, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the cable spool directly into the wall fixture body, merging the storage function with the mounting structure. The spool is positioned within the fixture and rotates on an axis that allows the cable to be deployed through the wall opening, eliminating the need for separate external spool assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation of the spool rotation axis from a conventional horizontal arrangement to a vertical arrangement aligned with the wall opening. This dimensional change allows the spool to be compactly integrated within the fixture depth while maintaining full cable storage and deployment functionality.
2Volume of moving object
If the spool rotation axis is perpendicular to the mounting surface, then the spool can be stored within the body, but the cable deployment is less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the spool rotation axis adjustable rather than fixed. The axis can be reoriented from a position perpendicular to the mounting surface (for compact storage) to a position parallel to the mounting surface (for efficient cable deployment). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize for different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent includes a re-orientation device that can pre-position the spool axis in the optimal orientation before cable deployment begins. This preliminary action ensures that when cable deployment is initiated, the spool is already in the correct rotational plane for efficient cable feed through the wall opening.
3Ease of operation
If redundant optical cable is reserved outside the splicing enclosure, then the splicing operation can be performed, but the cable management becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cable storage spool with the splicing enclosure structure, integrating both functions into a single unified device. The spool is positioned within the enclosure body, and the cable feeds directly from the spool through the wall opening into the working area, eliminating the need for separate cable management systems.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A telecommunications wall fixture includes a body configured for mounting to a wall, the body defining a mounting surface generally parallel to the wall when mounted. A cable storage spool is rotatably mounted to the body for storage and deployment of cable. A device is used for re-orienting the rotation axis of the spool from being generally perpendicular to the mounting surface to being generally non-perpendicular to the mounting surface, wherein the spool is configured such that the spool can be stored within the body when the spool is oriented to have the rotation axis generally perpendicular to the mounting surface.