Cross-Reference to Related Application This application is being filed on October 30, 2020 as a PCT International Patent Application and claims the benefit of Indian Patent Application No. 201921044348, filed on November 1, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Background

Telecommunication systems typically employ a network of telecommunication cables capable of transmitting large volumes of data and voice signals over relatively long distances.

The telecommunication cables can include fiber optic cables, electrical cables, or combinations of electrical and fiber optic cables. A typical telecommunication network also includes a plurality of telecommunication enclosures integrated throughout the network of telecommunication cables. The telecommunication enclosures are adapted to house and protect telecommunication components such as optical splices, fiber optic connectors, fiber optic adapters, terminal panels, fiber management trays, optical power splitters, and wavelength division multiplexers. It is often preferred for the telecommunication enclosures to be re-enterable. The term re-enterable means that the telecommunication enclosures can be re-opened to allow access to the telecommunication components housed therein without requiring the removal and destruction of the telecommunication enclosures.

Summary

The present disclosure relates to telecommunication enclosures having features and arrangements for enhancing fiber management, access to components and fiber optic circuit density.

In certain examples, telecommunication enclosures in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure can include multiple fiber management levels with certain of the fiber management levels being defined by a pivotal tray. In certain examples, an optical power splitter module can be mounted on the tray. The optical power splitter module can include a housing that encloses a passive optical power splitter. An input fiber and the plurality of output fibers can be connected to the optical power splitter. The input optical fiber and output optical fibers can include connectorized ends received within fiber optic adapter ports of the passive optical power splitter module. In certain examples, the input optical fiber can be routed along a first fiber routing path on the tray while the output optical fibers can be routed along a second fiber routing path on the tray. In one example, the first fiber routing path can extend in a first circumferential direction about a perimeter of the tray while the second fiber routing path can extend in an opposite second circumferential routing path about a perimeter of the tray.

In certain examples, the tray can be pivotally connected to a housing of the telecommunication enclosure and optical fibers (e.g., input and output optical fibers from a passive optical power splitter) can be routed from a top side of the tray to a bottom side of the tray. In certain examples, the tray can include optical splice holding functionality and fiber storage functionality on the back side of the tray. In certain examples, the splice holding functionality can be adapted for holding only a single row of fiber optic splice protectors.

In certain examples, the housing of the telecommunication enclosure can be adapted for receiving a pass-through fiber optic cable and for allowing optical fibers of the pass-through fiber optic cable to be accessed at a mid-span location. The housing can include a base having a loop-storage location for storing a portion of the pass-through cable routed through the housing. In certain examples, an optical fiber of the pass-through cable can be spliced to the input fiber of the passive optical power splitter at the bottom side of the tray. In certain examples, lugs (e.g., female lugs) can be used to manage optical fibers at the loop-storage location. In certain examples, the loop storage location can include an inner loop storage location surrounded by an outer loop storage location.

In certain examples, the telecommunication housing can also include ports for routing drop cables, distribution cables and through-cables in/out of the enclosure. In certain examples, drop cables can be optically coupled to outputs of the passive optical power splitter. In certain examples, a base of the enclosure can include a loop-storage arrangement including a first loop storage location for storing excess length of the drop cables within the housing. In certain examples, the first loop-storage location for the drop cables surrounds and is concentric with respect to a second loop-storage location for the pass-through cable. In certain examples, lugs are connected to the base of the housing for managing the loop-storage of the pass-through cable and the drop cables.

A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the examples disclosed herein are based.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 depicts a telecommunication enclosure in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, the enclosure is depicted with a housing of the enclosure in an open configuration and with a pivotal tray of the enclosure also in an open configuration;

Figure 2 is another view of the telecommunication enclosure of Figure 1 with the housing of the telecommunication enclosure open and the tray of the telecommunication enclosure in the open configuration;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view showing a passive optical power splitter of the telecommunication enclosure of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a profile view showing the tray of the telecommunication enclosure of Figures 1 and 2 in the open configuration;

Figure 5 is a perspective view depicting a splice holding feature integrated with a bottom side of the tray of the telecommunication enclosure of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the splice holding feature of Figure 5 with a single row of splice protectors held therein;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a base of the housing of the telecommunication enclosure of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the telecommunication enclosure of Figures 1 and 2 with the cover and the tray in a closed configuration;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the base of the telecommunication enclosure of Figures 1 and 2 showing fiber management lugs mounted within the base;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of an example fiber management lug usable with the telecommunication enclosure of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 11 is another perspective view of the fiber management lug of

Figure 10; Figure 12 depicts an example fiber routing layout for a top level of the telecommunication enclosure of Figures 1 and 2, with top level provided at a top side of the tray;

Figure 13 depicts an example fiber routing layout for an intermediate level and bottom level of the telecommunication enclosure of Figures 1 and 2, the intermediate level is provided by the bottom side of the tray while the bottom level is provided within the base of the enclosure; and

Figure 14 depicts an alternative base that can be manufactured from the same main mold as the base of the telecommunication enclosure of Figures 1 and 2.

Detailed Description

Figures 1 and 2 depict a telecommunication enclosure 20 in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The telecommunication enclosure 20 includes a housing 22 having a base 24 and a cover 26. The cover 26 is connected to the base 24 at a hinge 28 that allows the cover 26 to pivot about a pivot axis 30 relative to the base 24 between an open configuration (shown in Figures 1 and 2) and a closed configuration (see Figure 8). The telecommunication enclosure 20 also includes a tray 32 connected to the base 24 at a hinge 34. The hinge 34 defines a pivot axis 36 about which the tray 32 can pivot relative to the base 24 between an open position and a closed position. When the tray 32 is in the closed position, the tray 32 is generally parallel with respect to a major side 38 (e.g., a bottom) of the base 24. Figures 1, 2, and 4 show the tray 32 in the open position. Preferably, the tray 32 has a range of pivotal movement between the closed and open positions that is greater than 100 degrees, or greater than 105 degrees, or greater than or equal to 110 degrees. Preferably, when the tray 32 is in the open position, gravity holds the tray 32 in the open position to prevent the tray from falling from the open position to the closed position while a technician performs work at a bottom side of the tray 32 or within the base 24. As shown at Figure 2, a lug 40 at the top side of the tray 32 engages the hinge 28 to stop the tray 32 in the open position.

The telecommunication enclosure 20 preferably includes three separate fiber management levels. For example, telecommunication enclosure 20 can include a top level 42 defined at a top side 44 of the tray 32, an intermediate level 46 defined at a bottom side 48 of the tray 32 and a bottom level 50 provided within the base 24. The top level 42 includes features for mounting and providing access to a passive optical power splitting module 52. In the depicted example, the passive optical power splitting module 52 is depicted as including a 1 x 8 passive optical splitter, in other examples passive optical power splitters having alterative split ratios can be used.

The intermediate level 46 includes a component holding region 54 for holding components such as fiber optic splice packages for reinforcing optical splices (e.g., splice protectors such as splice protective sleeves that may cover optical splices and may each include a reinforcing member covered by a heat-shrink sleeve containing adhesive), and/or other components such as bare optical splitters or wavelength division multiplexers. The intermediate layer 46 can also include structure for storing and managing optical fibers routed to the component holding region 54.

The bottom level 50 is adapted for anchoring, managing and storing cables such as pass-through cables routed through the enclosure 20 or drop cables routed out of the enclosure. In certain examples, the base 24 can include sealed ports 56 for sealing drop cables routed into the enclosure 20 and sealed ports 58 for routing a pass-through cable routed through the enclosure 20. In certain examples, a perimeter seal 60 can be mounted within a channel defined by the base 24. The perimeter seal 60 can be adapted for providing an environmental seal between the cover 26 and the base 24 when the cover 26 is in the closed position.

The passive optical power splitter module 52 mounted at the top side 44 of the tray 32 includes a module housing 62 in which a passive optical power splitter is contained and protected. A row of fiber optic adapters 64 is provided at an exterior of the module housing 62. The fiber optic adapters 64 define connector ports having connector insertion axes that are parallel to the pivot axis 36. The fiber optic adapters 64 include eight output fiber optic adapters 64a optically connected to an output side of the passive optical splitter within the module housing 62, and an input fiber optic adapter 64b optically connected to an input of the passive optical power splitter contained within the module housing 62. The row of fiber optic adapters 64 is aligned along a line 66 perpendicular relative to the pivot axis 36 of the tray 32. The input fiber optic adapter 64b is positioned at the end of the row of fiber optic adapters 64 and is the closest fiber optic adapter of the row to the pivot axis 36.

The telecommunication enclosure 20 includes an input optical fiber 70 having a connectorized end 72 plugged into the outer port of the input fiber optic adapter 64b and a plurality of output optical fibers 74 having connectorized ends 76 plugged into the outer ports of the output fiber optic adapters 64a. The input optical fiber 70 is routed along a different routing path as compared to the output optical fibers 74 to prevent interference between the optical fibers 24 and the input optical fibers 70.

In one example, as shown at Figure 12, the input optical fiber 70 is routed in a clockwise direction about a circumference of the tray 32 from the input fiber optical adapter 64b to a level transition location 78 (e.g., an opening in the tray 32) while the output optical fibers 74 are routed in a counter-clockwise direction about the circumference of the tray 32 from the output fiber optic adapters 64a to level transition location 80 (e.g., an exterior notch defined by the tray 32) or location 81 (an opening in the tray). The level transition locations 78, 81 are preferably adapted for allowing optical fibers to be routed from the top level 42 to the intermediate level 46 (e.g., from the top side to the bottom side of the tray 32). Location 80 is adjacent the pivot axis 36 and allows fibers to be routed between top level 42 and the bottom level 50 without interfering with the ability to open and close the tray 32.

In the depicted example, the input optical fiber 70 extends along a routing path 82 having a first segment 82a, a second segment 82b and a third segment 82c. The first segment 82a extends away from the input fiber optic adapter 64b in a first direction dl that is parallel to the hinge 34. The second segment 82b provides a curved transition that extends from the first segment 82a in a second direction d2 toward the pivot axis 36 to the third segment 82c. The curvature of the second segment 82b preferably complies with minimum bend radius requirements of the input optical fiber 70. The third segment 82c extends in a third direction d3 from the second segment 82b to the level transition location 78. The third direction d3 is opposite from the first direction dl, and both the first and third directions dl, d3 are parallel with respect to the pivot axis 36.

The output optical fibers 74 are routed along a routing path 90 including a first segment 90a, a second segment 90b and a third segment 90c. The first segment 90a extends from the output fiber optic adapter 64a in the first direction dlto the second segment 90b. The second segment 90b curves from the first segment 90a in a fourth direction d4 away from the pivot axis 36 to the third segment 90c. The curvature preferably complies with minimum bend radius requirements of the output fibers. The fourth direction d4 is opposite from the second direction d2 in which the input optical fiber 70 curves. The third segment 90c extends from the second segment 90b in the third direction d3 that is parallel to the pivot axis 36.

It will be appreciated that some of the output optical fibers 74 are connectorized drop cables 74a that are routed to the level transition location 80 adjacent the hinge 34. The drop cables 74a are routed from the top level 42 directly to the bottom level 50. At the bottom level 50 (see Figure 13) the drop cables 74a are routed to a loop- storage location 94 where excess length of the drop cables is stored within the enclosure, and then are routed to the drop ports 56 where the dropped cables exit the enclosure 20.

Other optical fibers 74b of the output optical fibers 74 are routed to the level transition location 81 where the output optical fibers 74b are transitioned from the top side 44 to the bottom side 48 of the tray 32. At the bottom side 48 of the tray 32 the output optical fibers 74b are routed through an excess fiber storage location 96 provided at the bottom side 48 of the tray 32. The output optical fibers 74b can be arranged in a looped configuration or an S-shaped configuration within the excess fiber storage location 96. From the excess fiber storage location 96, the output optical fibers 74b are routed to the component holding region 54 where the optical fibers 74b are spliced to optical fibers 98 of a distribution cable 100. The optical fibers 98 of the distribution cable 100 are routed from the component holding region 54 to another loop-storage location 102 on the bottom side 48 of the tray 32. From the fiber loop-storage location 102, the optical fibers 98 are routed across the hinge 40 to the bottom level 50 where portions of the fibers 98 are stored in a looped configuration within a central loop-storage region 104 of the bottom level 50. From the central loop-storage location 104, the optical fibers 98 are routed to their corresponding distribution cable 100 that extends out of the closure 20 through a sealed port. It will be appreciated that cable anchoring clamps 106 can be provided for anchoring the distribution cable 100 as well as the ends of a pass-through cable 108 which passes through the enclosure 20 and is accessed at a mid-span location within the enclosure 20. The loop-storage location 94 at which excess lengths of the drop cables 74a are stored surrounds the central loop-storage location 104. The drop cables can be anchored to the base 24 by an anchoring block 110.

In certain examples, the component holding region 54 can be arranged in a compact configuration to reduce the overall thickness of the tray 32. For example, the component holding region 54 can be configured with a height capable of holding only a single row of splice packages. In other examples, various fiber management features provided at the bottom side 48 of the tray 32 are relatively short to reduce the overall profile of the tray 32.

It will be appreciated that lugs can be provided for managing the cables/optical fibers stored at the central storage location 104 and the loop-storage location 94. The lugs can be generally L-shaped and can include portions that overhang the stored optical fibers/cables and can be configured to retain the optical fibers in vertically and laterally place. The lugs can include male lugs 119 each having an upright leg 120 that fits within a receptacle 122 defined by the base 24 and a horizontal leg 124 that overhangs and opposed the base 24 to prevent optical fibers from lifting vertically out of their designated storage location. In certain examples, some of the horizontal legs 124 can extend radially inwardly while others of the horizontal legs 124 can extend horizontally outwardly with respect to a center point of the loop-storage region/arrangement. The lugs can also include female lugs 130 having upright legs 132 defining openings 133 for receiving tabs 134 integrated with the base 24. The female lugs 130 also include horizontal legs 136 that project outwardly from the upright legs 132 preferably at about right angles. The horizontal legs 136 are adapted to oppose the major surface of the bottom of the base 24 and are adapted for preventing optical fibers from lifting out of the central cable storage location 104.

In certain examples, base 24 is molded using a main mold and inserts corresponding to different cable port layouts, and wherein the base can be molded from the main mold with different cable port layout by using different inserts. Figure 14 shows an alternate base 24a with a different port layout as compared to the base of the enclosure of Figures 1 and 2.