Patent Application
20100314266
This application claims benefit of Serial No. 10 2009 024 633.9, filed 12 Jun. 2009 in Germany and which application is incorporated herein by reference. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to the above disclosed applications.
In the technology for laying of glass fiber cables, glass fiber cables are often blown into so-called empty tubes or flexible tubes, by means of compressed air. The empty tubes in this case connect, for example, a distribution point and a building, with the empty tube being introduced into the building through a building inlet.
In glass fiber cable laying technology, gas stoppers form a gas-tight termination for said empty tubes. They allow a glass fiber cable which is running in the empty tube to be passed out of the empty tube without air or gas being able to emerge from the empty tube. It is thus possible to hold a network of empty tubes in a gas-tight manner, even when glass fiber cables emerge from the empty tubes. It is thus possible to blow further glass fiber cables into further empty tubes at a different point in the network, without the compressed air escaping through leaks, which would make it more difficult, or make it no longer possible, to blow the glass fiber cables in. In this case, gas stoppers are also known by the terms individual tension seal or gas block connector.
It is desirable to arrange gas stoppers directly in front of a building inlet, or as directly as possible after the building inlet, and then to route the glass fiber cable which emerges from the empty tube through the gas stopper, for example, into a connecting box for glass fiber cables. The arrangement of the connecting box is in this case generally not based on the position of the building inlet, but is often well away from it.
A previous approach provides for gas stoppers to be arranged directly after or close to the building inlet, in which case the gas stopper is not placed down in a defined manner, for example in a housing. This has the disadvantage that the gas stoppers are not protected against environmental influences, dirt or against unauthorized access.
In other variants, the gas stopper is placed in the connecting box for the glass fiber cable and, although this offers protection against environmental influences and/or access, it is, however, generally not arranged close to the building inlet. A further disadvantage of this variant is that existing connecting boxes can generally accommodate only one gas stopper, owing to lack of space. Another disadvantage is that a glass fiber cable which is not provided for the connecting box would need to be passed out of the connecting box again in order, for example, to be supplied to a further connecting box.
This therefore results in the technical problem of providing a space for at least one gas stopper, with the space offering protection against environmental influences and/or access and making it possible for the gas stoppers to be arranged in a predetermined manner in the vicinity of the building inlet.
In this case, a housing for accommodating at least one gas stopper comprises at least one inlet opening for an empty tube, wherein a glass fiber cable runs in the empty tube, wherein the housing has at least one holder for at least one gas stopper or at least one attachment element for the holder for the at least one gas stopper, and at least one outlet opening for the glass fiber cable. The housing therefore advantageously offers the capability to place one or more gas stoppers, preferably two gas stoppers, in a predetermined arrangement in the housing, with the housing being used as protection against environmental influences and/or unauthorized access, and in which case the housing can be arranged on a building wall, close to a building inlet for the glass fiber protective tube, independently of a connecting box.
In a first alternative, the housing has a holder for at least one gas stopper, while in a second alternative the housing has at least one attachment element, by means of which the holder for the at least one gas stopper can be detachably connected to the housing.
In both alternatives, an empty tube is passed through the inlet opening for an empty tube into the housing, and is passed directly to the gas stopper. The gas stopper forms a gas-tight termination for the empty tube. A glass fiber cable which is running in the empty tube then emerges from the gas stopper. The glass fiber cable which emerges from the gas stopper is then passed directly to the outlet opening for the glass fiber cable, and then emerges from the housing.
The gas stopper is detachably connected to the holder for the gas stopper, likewise in both alternatives. The gas stopper can therefore be inserted into the holder for the gas stopper, and can also be removed again. When it has been inserted, the gas stopper assumes a predetermined position, in which undefined movements of the gas stopper are prevented.
The detachable connection of the gas stopper to the holder for the gas stopper is in this case preferably made via a force-fitting connection, for which purpose the holder has means for attachment of the gas stopper. In addition, the holder may also have means for guiding the gas stopper.
In this case, at least one connection from the group comprising clamping connection, latching connection, plug connection, screw connection or a combination of said connections may be used as a force-fitting, detachable connection. It is also, of course, feasible to use further detachable connection techniques.
The connection options mentioned above can likewise be used for the further force-fitting and detachable connections mentioned in the following text.
The second alternative advantageously allows the housing to be fitted with different holders, in a modular form. In this case, it is feasible for the housing to also be fitted with a holder for at least one glass fiber coupling and/or a holder for at least one strain relief apparatus for glass fiber cables.
In addition to the attachment elements, the housing may additionally have guide elements, which can also additionally contribute to the attachment for guiding the holder.
In the second alternative, it is possible to fit the holder with the gas stopper first of all, and then to insert the holder for the gas stopper into the housing. Alternatively, it is possible to insert the holder for the gas stopper into the housing first of all, and then to fit it with the gas stopper.
In one preferred embodiment, the housing has at least one lower part and a cover, with the lower part and/or the cover having the at least one attachment element or at least one of the attachment elements for the holder for the at least one gas stopper. The cover is in this case preferably arranged such that it can pivot on the lower part. However, it is also feasible for the cover to be arranged on the lower part, for example, such that it can be removed or can be moved. The lower part preferably has at least one receptacle for a wall attachment element, in which case the lower part can be attached, for example, to a building wall or to a frame by means of the wall attachment element.
The holder for the gas stopper can preferably be plugged onto the lower part or can be inserted into the lower part, with the lower part having latching elements which latch with corresponding latching elements on the holders, during or at the end of the insertion or plugging-on process. It is also feasible for the lower part also to have stop elements and/or hold-down devices in addition to the latching elements, with the stop elements and/or the hold-down devices fixing the holders.
Other types of connection are, of course, also feasible. For example, the holder for the gas stopper may be screwed or clamped to the lower part.
In one alternative embodiment, the housing has at least one lower part and a cover, and the lower part and/or the cover form/forms at least one holder for at least one gas stopper. In this case, the holder for the at least one gas stopper is not detachably connected to the lower part but is formed integrally from the lower part or is non-detachably connected to it (for example by adhesive bonding).
In a further embodiment, the housing has at least one gas stopper guide. The gas stopper guide provides a predetermined arrangement for a gas stopper in the housing. The gas stopper guide is preferably formed by the lower part. The cover can also alternatively or cumulatively form the gas stopper guide. The gas stopper guide forms an interlocking and/or force-fitting detachable connection to the gas stopper, and is used to prevent undefined movements of the gas stopper, and/or to secure this in the housing. It is also feasible for the gas stopper guide to also at least partially be formed by the holder for the at least one gas stopper.
In a further embodiment, the housing has at least one receptacle for a coupling element. In this case, the coupling element is preferably connected to a further apparatus, for example to a coupling plate or a glass fiber connecting box, with respect to which the housing is intended to assume a predetermined spatial arrangement. The receptacle for the coupling element makes it possible to produce a force-fitting, detachable connection between the housing and the coupling element. The receptacle for a coupling element may also be used to guide the coupling element during the coupling process, thus simplifying the coupling process.
In a further embodiment, the housing has at least one holder for a fan-out element. The holder for the fan-out element in this case allows a force-fitting, detachable connection between the housing and at least one part of the fan-out element. The fan-out element is in this case used to pass glass fibers out of the glass fiber cable. This embodiment is preferably used when a holder for at least one glass fiber coupling is inserted into the housing.
In a further embodiment, the housing has at least one receptacle and/or at least one lock for a winding apparatus. The receptacle and/or lock for the winding apparatus allow/allows a force-fitting, detachable connection between the housing and the winding apparatus. The winding apparatus is in this case used for the winding of preferably glass fibers or glass fiber cables, in order to accommodate an excess length of the glass fibers, while complying with minimum bending radii. For this purpose, the winding apparatus has corresponding receptacle elements and/or locking elements, which interact with the receptacle and/or lock of the housing. Alternatively, it is also feasible for the winding apparatus to be connected non-detachably to the housing or to the lower part, but either to be permanently connected to it, or to be formed by it.
In one preferred embodiment, the housing has at least one inlet opening for a glass fiber cable. This advantageously allows a glass fiber cable to be inserted into the housing even when a holder with glass fiber couplings and/or strain relief apparatuses has been inserted into the housing. This embodiment makes it possible to also use the housing, for example, as a glass fiber connecting box. The inlet opening for a glass fiber cable is preferably arranged such that the glass fiber cable can be fed in without impeding the process of feeding in further glass fibers, for example glass fibers to be coupled. In this case, it is feasible to arrange the inlet opening for a glass fiber cable for example on the lower end surface, with the glass fiber cable to be inserted being inserted behind or in front of a holder which has been inserted into the housing or the lower part. The glass fiber inlet opening is preferably formed on the lower face of the lower part, with the glass fiber cable being introduced into the housing through a guide channel.
In one preferred embodiment, the housing has at least one closure apparatus and/or one lead-sealing apparatus.
The invention will be explained in more detail in the following text with reference to one exemplary embodiment. In the figures:
Furthermore, two cable guide lugs 109 are arranged on the lower end face of the cover 100, and project out of the inner face 101 of the cover 100. The cable guide lugs 109 preferably have a weak point, which allows them to be broken off the cover 100.
The lower part 200 has an inner surface 201, a left-hand side surface 202, a right-hand side surface 203 and an upper end surface 204. The lower part 200 has a left-hand and a right-hand end edge surface 205 on a lower end face of the lower part 200, with the left-hand end edge surface 205 being adjacent to the left-hand side surface 202, and with the right-hand end edge surface 205 being adjacent to the right-hand side surface 203.
The cover 100 and the lower part 200 are connected to one another via two hinges 110, whose limbs are respectively attached to the right-hand side surface 103 of the cover 100 and to the left-hand side surface 202 of the lower part 200. The cover 100 can thus be folded away sideways from the lower part 200, in order to open or to close the housing 1. In this case, the two hinges 110 are arranged at a distance which corresponds to approximately one third of the overall length of the side surfaces 103, 202.
As is also illustrated in
The upper end surface 204 of the lower part 200 has outlet openings 208, with glass fiber cables 404 being passed out of the housing 1 through the outlet opening 208 (see
A cable guide channel 210 for insertion of a glass fiber cable 900 is also illustrated (
Furthermore, the lower part 200 has a plurality of openings 213 for wall attachment elements, in order to attach the lower part 200 for example to a wall or to an attachment frame.
The lower part 200 has a plurality of attachment elements for attachment of a holder 300 for gas stoppers 400, with the holder 300 being illustrated in
The lower part 200 has a first spring tongue opening 221 as a further attachment element for attachment of the holder 300. A first spring tongue 222 with a projecting first tongue end is arranged in this first spring tongue opening 221, with the first tongue end having a raised rim 224. The raised rim 224 is raised in a direction from a first tongue attachment to the first tongue end. When the first spring tongue 222 is in an initial position, the raised rim 224 in this case projects out of the inner surface 201 into the volume enclosed by the housing 1.
The four hold-down devices 220 and the spring tongue 222 are used in conjunction with the left-hand and the right-hand side surfaces 202, 203, the lower end edge surfaces 205 and the inner surface 201 for accommodation and fixing of the holder 300, as illustrated in
The holder 300, as illustrated in
In order to accommodate a gas stopper 400, the bottom surface 304 of one part of the holder 300 has a bottom surface indentation 310 which points from a front face 308 of the holder 300 to a rear face 309. The intermediate surface 306 and the cover surface respectively have an intermediate surface indentation 311 and a cover surface indentation 312, which point from the front face 308 to the rear face 309, with the cover surface indentation 312 being aligned with the intermediate surface indentation 311 and the bottom surface indentation 310. The bottom surface indentation 310, the intermediate surface indentation 311 and the cover surface indentation 312 are in this case designed such that they taper toward the rear face 309. In this case, the bottom surface indentation 310 and the intermediate surface indentation 311 are used to accommodate an empty tube 401, and the cover surface indentation 312 is used to accommodate a tubular base body 402 of the gas stopper 400 (see
Furthermore, the holder 300 has a lower and an upper corresponding hold-down element 301, which project out of the right-hand holder side wall 303 on the side facing away from the holder center wall 307. A lower and an upper corresponding hold-down element are arranged in an analogous manner, although they cannot be seen, on the left-hand holder side wall 302.
In order to prevent the gas stopper 400 from sliding out of the holder 300, the latter has two holding arms 314. The holding arm 314 is arranged on the front face 308 of the holder 300 on the holder center wall 307 and projects in cantilever form into the holder sub-volume which is enclosed by the bottom surface 304, the right-hand holder side wall 303, the intermediate surface 306 and the holder center wall 307.
As can be seen from
Furthermore, the holder 300 has two stop edges 313.
In the second step, the holder 300 is moved downward, with the four corresponding hold-down elements 301 being moved between the inner surface 201 and the four hold-down devices 220.
When the holder 300 strikes the end edge surfaces 205, then the holder center wall 307 releases the first spring tongue 222. Because of the spring force of the first spring tongue 222, it returns to its initial position, with the raised rim 224 once again projecting into the volume of the housing 1. In this state, the holder 300 is fixed on the lower part 200. In this case, sideways movement of the holder 300 is prevented by the side surfaces 202, 203, downward movement is prevented by the end edge surfaces 205, upward movement is prevented by the raised rim 224 on the first spring tongue 222, a rearward movement is prevented by the inner surface 201 and the stop edges 313, and a forward movement is prevented by the interaction of the hold-down devices 220 with the corresponding hold-down elements 301.
In order to release the connection between the holder 300 and the lower part 200, the first spring tongue 222 is pushed out of the housing 1, thus allowing the holder 300 to move upward. The holder 300 is then pushed sufficiently far upward that the corresponding hold-down elements are no longer located under the hold-down devices. The holder 300 can then be pulled out of the housing 1, and away from the lower part 200.
Other embodiments of the gas stoppers are, of course, also feasible. The design of the holder for the gas stoppers must be adapted in accordance with the respective design.
The empty tubes 401 enter the gas stoppers 400 at a lower end thereof. The glass fiber cables 404 in each case emerge at an upper end of the gas stoppers 400, and are passed out of the housing 1 through one of the outlet openings 208. The protective lug 209, as shown in
The empty tube 401 is located in the bottom surface indentation 310 and in the intermediate surface indentation 311.
In order to insert the gas stopper 400 into the holder 300, the gas stopper 400 is placed on the holder 300 such that a lowermost rib 405 of the gas stopper 400 is inserted into the volume enclosed by the holder center wall 307, the cover surface 305, the right-hand holder side wall 303 and the intermediate surface 306. In this case, the empty tube 401 is inserted into the bottom surface indentation 310 and into the intermediate surface indentation 311. The tubular base body 402 is at the same time inserted into the cover surface indentation 312.
During the insertion process, the empty tube 401 slides over the holding arm 314 and presses the latter, against a spring force of the holding arm 314, in the direction of the holder center wall 307. When the empty tube 401 slides over the end 315 of the holding arm 314, then the latter returns to its initial position, owing to its spring force, in which the end 315 of the holding arm 314 projects over the empty tube 401. In the inserted and firmly held state, undefined movement of the gas stopper 400 is prevented by the cover surface indentation 312, the intermediate surface indentation 311 and the bottom surface indentation 310. The diagonal alignment makes it easy to insert the gas stopper 400 and the empty tube 401 into the holder 300. In order to remove the gas stopper 400 and the empty tube 401, the holding arm 314 is pushed in the direction of the holder center wall 307, thus allowing the empty tube 401 to be pulled out of the holder 300.
An inlet opening 211 for a glass fiber cable 900, which is illustrated in
It is also possible for the gas stopper 400 to be clamped by the arrangement of the guide arms 240 and/or the configuration of the taper.
The guide arms 240 are preferably formed with weak points, as a result of which the guide arms can be broken off. As can also be seen in
As can also be seen in
In an upper part, each of the holding arms 262 have a thickened area 264. In this case, the thickness of the holding arm 262 increases from its upper end to a holding edge 265. During insertion, the fan-out element 1000 slides over the thickened area 264, thus pressing the holding arms 262 against a spring force of the holding arms 262 in the direction facing away from the stop ribs 261.
When the lower surface of the fan-out element 1000 is in contact with the contact ribs 263, then the fan-out element 1000 no longer presses the holding arm 262 in the direction facing away from the stop 261. The spring force of the holding arm 262 causes it to return to its initial position. During this process, the holding edge 265 is moved over a surface 1001 of the fan-out element 1000, resulting in this being clamped.
In order to release or to remove the fan-out element 1000, the holding arms 262 are pushed in the direction facing away from the stop ribs 261, as a result of which the holding edge 265 is no longer located above the surface 1001. The fan-out element 1000 can thus be removed from the lower part 200. As can be seen in
For the illustrated accommodation purposes, the coupling element is, for example, a rectangular metal tongue 500 (see
In this case, the metal tongue 500 has a rectangular projection 501, which is arranged such that, when one end 502 of the metal tongue 500 abuts on the stop rib 293, the projection 501 projects into the opening 290 in order to hold the coupling element and the metal tongue 500. Thus, in this state, a force-fitting connection is produced between the metal tongue 500 and the lower part 200. In order to release the coupling, the metal tongue 500 is pushed away from the outer face 212 through the opening 291, as a result of which the metal tongue 500 can be pulled away from the lower part 200.
In addition to the holder 300 for gas stoppers 400, further holders can also be inserted into the lower part 200 of the housing 1.
Each insertion volume can hold two glass fiber couplings 700, whose accommodation will be described, for example, for one insertion volume. The bottom surface 603 and the cover surface 604 each have a front and a rear rectangular opening 608, with the front and rear openings 608 being separated by a web 612. The openings 608 are arranged such that the front opening 608 in the bottom surface 603 is aligned with the front opening 608 in the cover surface 604, and the rear opening 608 in the bottom surface 603 is aligned with the rear opening 608 in the cover surface 604, and these openings 608 are the same size. The glass fiber couplings 700 can be inserted into the openings 608.
In order to accommodate the holder 600 for glass fiber couplings 700 in the housing 1, analogously to the holder 300, this holder 600 has corresponding hold-down elements 614 and stop edges 615. The holder 600 can therefore be inserted into the lower part 200, analogously to the holder 300.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2009 024 633.9 | Jun 2009 | DE | national |
