Unification Clip for Coordinated Splice Tray Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data center optical fiber rack systems face challenges in maximizing the number of connections per rack space and minimizing disruptions during maintenance, as they often require disturbing multiple optical fiber connections.

Innovation Solution

A high-density fiber enclosure system with sliding cassette trays, unification clips, and a trunk cable management system that allows for easy installation and replacement of optical fiber cables while maintaining minimal disruption to connections, enabling efficient use of space and reducing maintenance downtime.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If traditional rack systems are used to maximize connections per rack space, then the number of connections per rack space increases, but maintenance requires disturbing multiple optical fiber connections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of connections per rack spaceVSAvoidmaintenance disruption
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the optical fiber connections into separate modular cassette trays, each containing specific connections. This segmentation allows individual trays to be accessed and maintained independently, enabling maintenance of one connection without disturbing others in different trays, thus resolving the contradiction between high connection density and maintenance disruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cassette trays are designed to be dynamically movable along rails within the rack system. This dynamic capability allows trays to be easily slid in and out for maintenance purposes. The unification clip mechanism enables coordinated movement of multiple trays, facilitating efficient maintenance while preserving the high-density connection configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If smaller adapters (LC or MPO) are used to maximize rack space utilization, then the number of connections per rack space increases, but the complexity of coordinating maintenance across multiple adapters increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of connections per rack spaceVSAvoidcoordination complexity during maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The unification clip combines multiple separate cassette trays into a single coordinated unit. This merging allows multiple trays containing smaller adapters to be moved and maintained together as one assembly, significantly reducing the coordination complexity that would otherwise arise from managing numerous individual small adapters during maintenance operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If optical fiber connections are maintained in fixed positions to ensure connection stability, then connection reliability is improved, but maintenance requires service disruption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidmaintenance downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic positioning of cassette trays along rails, allowing trays to be easily moved to maintenance positions without disturbing the actual optical fiber connections. This dynamic design enables maintenance access while preserving connection stability, eliminating the need for service disruption that would occur in fixed-position systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3191884B1Unification clip to coordinate movement of splice trays, method and system to coordinate movement of splice trays
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 PANDUIT CORP
  • EP3191884B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3191884B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3191884B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A high density fiber enclosure system includes a chassis, cassette trays, an optional unification clip, cassettes, and an optional trunk cable management system. The chassis, cassette trays, and cassettes are configured such that individual cassettes may be installed, removed, and otherwise positioned for easy access by a user. The unification clip allows two adjacent cassette trays to be connected to one other such that cassette trays move as one unit. The trunk cable management system is designed to organize trunk cables and trunk cable furcation legs as well as relieve strain on the trunk cables and trunk cable furcation legs.