The disclosure relates to fiber optic splice trays, and, more particularly, to a fiber optic splice tray that is removably installed in an optical fiber distribution box, such that the splice tray may be removed from the optical fiber distribution box without requiring the disconnection of the fiber optic cables entering the box.
In the world of the ever-increasing need for broadband bandwidth fiber optic cables have become the main part of telecommunication networks. Fiber optic cables can transmit voice signals, data signals and video signals for very long distances with very high speed. Developments of optic telecommunication networks allow the connection of the end user directly to the optical fiber. This kind of network technology known as FTTH technology (fiber to the home) requires extending an “all optical” communication network closer to the subscribers. As a result such telecommunication networks include large number distribution points from a distribution cable to an end user or subscriber.
Typically, the distribution points include an enclosure, such as an optical fiber distribution box, that provides for fiber optic cables interconnections and houses the necessary optical components for extending the all optical network to the subscriber. One such optical component may be a splice tray having one or more splice holders. The splice holders provide a structure for holding splices of the optical fibers of one or more fiber optic cables to the optical fibers of one or more other optical fibers.
Embodiments disclosed in the detailed description include a fiber optic splice tray having a first side for connecting optical fibers, and a second side for splicing optical fibers. The splice tray is removably mountable to a base of an optical fiber distribution box in such a way that the fiber optic cables remain connected at the first side when the splice tray is removed from and mounted to the base. In this way, splicing of optical fibers in the fiber optic cables may be conveniently performed outside of the optical fiber distribution box without disturbing the interconnections of the fiber optic cables. When the splicing is completed the splice tray, with the fiber optic cables interconnected, may be re-installed in the box. A passage allows optical fibers to pass between the first side and the second side. The splice tray is reversibly mountable in that either side of the splice tray may be mounted towards the base. The box has a cover that removably attaches to the base and over the splice tray.
The first side has at least one fiber optic adapter mounted thereto, which may be one or more multiple fiber adapters and/or one or more single fiber adapters. Thus, the at least one fiber optic adapter may comprise a plurality of fiber optic adapters, whether multiple fiber adapters, single fiber adapters or a combination thereof. The splice tray may have a connection panel attached to it with the one or more multiple fiber adapters and/or one or more single fiber adapters mounted to the connection panel. A first portion of the plurality of fiber optic adapters may be located toward a first end of the connection panel and a second portion of the fiber optic adapters may be located toward a second end of the connection panel. Additionally or alternatively, one or more fiber optic cable ports may be mounted in or to the connection panel. Thus, a plurality of fiber optic cable ports may be mounted in or to the connection panel. A first portion of the plurality of fiber optic cable ports may be located toward a first end of the connection panel and a second portion of the fiber optic cable ports may be located toward a second end of the connection panel.
The second side of the splice tray has a splice area with a first splice section comprising at least one mechanical splice holder and a second splice section comprising at least one crimp splice holder. The at least one mechanical splice holder comprises a plurality of mechanical splice holders. The at least one crimp splice holder comprises a plurality of crimp splice holders. The second side may also have an optical fiber routing guide.
Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the embodiments as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary, and are intended to provide an overview or framework to understanding the nature and character of the claims. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiment(s), and together with the description serve to explain principles and operation of the various embodiments.
Embodiments disclosed in the detailed description include a fiber optic splice tray having a first side, or patching side, for connecting optical fibers, and a second side, or splicing side, for splicing optical fibers. The splice tray is removably mountable to a base of an optical fiber distribution box in such a way that the fiber optic cables remain connected at the first side when the splice tray is removed from and mounted to the base. In this way, splicing of optical fibers in the fiber optic cables may be conveniently performed outside of the optical fiber distribution box without disturbing the interconnections of the fiber optic cables. When the splicing is completed the splice tray, with the fiber optic cables interconnected, may be re-installed in the box. A passage allows optical fibers to pass between the first side and the second side. The splice tray is reversibly mountable in that either side of the splice tray may be mounted towards the base. The box has a cover that removably attaches to the base and over the splice tray.
The first side has at least one fiber optic adapter mounted thereto, which may be one or more multiple fiber adapters and/or one or more single fiber adapters. Thus, the at least one fiber optic adapter may comprise a plurality of fiber optic adapters, whether multiple fiber adapters, single fiber adapters or a combination thereof. The splice tray may have a connection panel attached to it with the one or more multiple fiber adapters and/or one or more single fiber adapters mounted to the connection panel. A first portion of the plurality of fiber optic adapters may be located toward a first end of the connection panel and a second portion of the fiber optic adapters may be located toward a second end of the connection panel. Additionally or alternatively, one or more fiber optic cable ports may be mounted in or to the connection panel. Thus, a plurality of fiber optic cable ports may be mounted in or to the connection panel. A first portion of the plurality of fiber optic cable ports may be located toward a first end of the connection panel and a second portion of the fiber optic cable ports may be located toward a second end of the connection panel.
The second side of the splice tray has a splice area with a first splice section comprising at least one mechanical splice holder and a second splice section comprising at least one crimp splice holder. The at least one mechanical splice holder comprises a plurality of mechanical splice holders. The at least one crimp splice holder comprises a plurality of crimp splice holders. The second side may also have an optical fiber routing guide.
The multiple fiber adapter may be one that provides for multi-fiber connector to multi-fiber connector interconnection, such as, for example, an MTP® connector, or an OptiTIP® connector, as commercially available from Corning Cable Systems LLC of Hickory, N.C., or other types of multi-fiber adapters. Additionally or alternatively, the fiber optic adapter may be one that provides for single fiber connector to single fiber connector interconnection, for example an SC connector, LC connector, or OptiTAP® connector, as commercially available from Corning Cable Systems LLC of Hickory, N.C., or other types of single fiber adapters.
As used herein, it is intended that terms “fiber optic cables” and/or “optical fibers” include all types of single mode and multi-mode light waveguides, including one or more optical fibers that may be upcoated, colored, buffered, ribbonized and/or have other organizing or protective structure in a cable such as one or more tubes, strength members, jackets or the like. The optical fibers disclosed herein can be single mode or multi-mode optical fibers. Likewise, other types of suitable optical fibers include bend-insensitive optical fibers, or any other expedient of a medium for transmitting light signals. An example of a bend-insensitive, or bend resistant, optical fiber is ClearCurve® Multimode fiber commercially available from Corning Incorporated. Suitable fibers of this type are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2008/0166094 and 2009/0169163, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
A perimeter 28 of the splice tray 10 is at least partially bounded by a rim 30. The rim 30 may have a first side wall 32 that extends from the first side 12 at least on a portion of the perimeter 28. One or more first side cover slots 34 extending through the first side wall 32 may receive protrusions extending from a first side cover (not shown on
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 61/327,234 filed on Apr. 23, 2010 and entitled “REMOVABLE FIBER OPTIC SPLICE TRAY”, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61327234 | Apr 2010 | US |