Telecom Panel Slide Tilt Mechanism for Cable Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sliding mechanisms for accessing the rear termination area of telecommunications panels often damage or obstruct lower active or jumper bar panels' patching cables, and the outrigger method is time-consuming due to the need for additional tool attachment.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism that combines a slide bar and a tilting element with a hinged joint, allowing the panel to slide outward and tilt at a desired angle without contacting lower cables, eliminating the need for additional tools and optimizing access to the rear termination area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional sliding mechanism is used to access the rear termination area, then the panel can slide out and tilt down, but the panel drops against the patching cables of the lower panel, causing damage to the lower panel cables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a depth dimension to the sliding mechanism by incorporating a slide bar that moves along the depth axis of the rack. This allows the panel to slide out horizontally without dropping vertically onto the lower panel's cables, thus maintaining cable integrity while still providing access to the rear termination area.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide bar acts as an intermediary component between the panel and the rack frame. It provides a controlled sliding path that prevents the panel from dropping directly onto the lower cables, mediating the interaction between the panel movement and the lower panel cables to prevent damage.
2Ease of operation
If the panel tilts down to aid cable termination, then access to the rear termination area is improved, but the tilt angle is obstructed by the lower panel cables
Solution Approach 1:
By adding the depth dimension through the slide bar mechanism, the panel can achieve the necessary tilt angle for cable termination without the tilt being obstructed by lower panel cables. The horizontal sliding movement creates sufficient clearance in the vertical plane, allowing the panel to tilt down to the ideal angle without contacting the lower cables.
3Ease of operation
If an outrigger tool is used to support the panel during termination, then the panel can tilt at an un-obstructed angle, but additional tool attachment to the frame is time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The slide bar mechanism is integrated into the rack structure itself, making the rack self-sufficient for providing the necessary tilt support during cable termination. This eliminates the need for external outrigger tools and their time-consuming attachment, as the rack's built-in slide bar mechanism automatically provides the required functionality when the panel is slid out.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the outrigger support function with the existing rack structure by incorporating the slide bar mechanism directly into the rack frame. This combines the support function with the mounting structure, eliminating the need for separate outrigger tools and reducing the overall complexity and time required for panel termination.
4Volume of moving object
If the panel depth is reduced to conserve space, then rack space efficiency is improved, but access to the rear termination area becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic movement to the panel through the slide bar mechanism, allowing the panel to slide out horizontally from the rack. This dynamic sliding capability compensates for the reduced panel depth, providing adequate access to the rear termination area even when the panel itself has a compact, space-saving depth.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism that provides access to a rear termination area of a telecommunications panel. The mechanism including a slide bar that permits the panel to laterally slide, and a tilt element the permits the panel to tilt. The slide bar and tilt element positioning the tilted termination panel over lower adjacent termination panels without contacting cables associated with the lower adjacent termination panels.