GB2537767A

GB2537767A - Fibre management device

Info

Publication number: GB2537767A
Application number: GB1611135.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cooper Brynn; Chapman Paul
Original assignee: Technetix BV
Current assignee: Technetix BV
Priority date: 2012-06-11
Filing date: 2012-06-11
Publication date: 2016-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 2032-06-11
Also published as: GB201611135D0; GB2537767B; GB201210228D0; GB2502965A; GB2502965B

Abstract

A fibre management device 38, suitable for storing glass fibres such as fibre optic cables, has a chamber 42 configured to act as a spooling surface to allow winding of an elongate filament 12 and a further locating surface within the chamber. The chamber may have an internal bell profile and the locating surface 44 may be conical. A wall box containing the fibre management device is also claimed.

Description

Title: Fibre management device

Field of the invention

This invention relates to a fibre management device for containing fibres, and in particular 5 glass fibres.

Background to the invention

Optical fibres used for data transfer normally have to be terminated with a connector at each end before they can be connected to the transmitting and receiving equipment. Frequently the connectors come with a short length of fibre already attached (called a pigtail) which is spliced onto the main length of fibre. The equipment that splices the fibre is usually quite large and if the fibre is coming out of a floor or wall it requires a length of spare fibre to reach the equipment which splices on the connector pigtail. If the terminating equipment is not precisely the correct distance from the point where the fibre entered the room the spare fibre has to be is contained safely in a fibre management box or tray.

Conventional fibre management containers for holding/managing data communications optical fibre usually take the form of trays or boxes with a series of hooks which retain the fibres and attempt to protect them from being bent inside their minimum rated bend radius. The boxes may hold the splice and provide a mounting point for the connector so that a fibre "fly lead", (possibly armoured) can be used to connect to the final equipment. Mounting the fibres in these trays is delicate intricate work.

Summary of the invention

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fibre management device for storing glass fibres and the like comprising a chamber configured to act as a spooling surface to allow winding of an elongate fibre further comprising a locating surface within the chamber.

The chamber may be shaped to achieve spooling and in this instance, desirably has a profile 30 that will achieve winding of an elongate filament fed into the chamber.

The chamber may be configured to act as a spooling surface by further comprising a locating surface within the chamber, such that in use an elongate filament fed into the chamber winds around the locating surface and stacks in a region defined between an inner surface of the chamber and the locating surface.

Preferably the locating surface is conical so as to ensure filaments constantly maintain a 5 minimum bend radius.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a prior art fibre management device; Figure 2 shows a cutaway perspective view of an embodiment; and Figure 3 shows a plan view of the second embodiment in use.

Description

Figure 1 shows one example of a prior art fibre management tray 10 without a lid fitted showing the intricate way in which a glass fibre 12 has to be inserted. It is time consuming and is delicate work to store spare fibre into such a tray whilst ensuring the fibre is not broken or tangled.

The present invention provides a simpler less intricate way to store fibres.

An embodiment 38 is shown in Figure 2 comprising a cylindrical body 40 moulded with an internal bell profile to define a chamber 42 within which is located centrally a conical support 44. As fibre 12 is fed into pot 38, cone 44 acts as a guide surface for winding of the fibre to take place within chamber 42.

In use, fibre 12 is passed through the management chamber 42 which is mounted on the wall over an in-wall back box 46 which connects to conduit through which the fibre 12 is fed. A connector pigtail 27 is spliced onto the main length of fibre, then the spare fibre is coiled back in management chamber 42 by gently pushing it in at a slight angle. The centre cone 44 helps guide fibre 12 into the chamber. Splice 28 and connector 30 are mounted in their final :30 position, see Figure 3, and a wall box cover fitted. Multiple fibres can be spooled inside the same chamber.

Where the fibres are routed through conduit in walls or floors and emerge via embedded wall boxes, the inventive fibre management device enables the spare excess fibre to be retained in the wall. However the device can equally well be used in cabinets or surface mounted.

Claims

Claims 1. A fibre management device comprising a chamber configured to act as a spooling surface to allow winding of an elongate fibre, further comprising a locating surface within the chamber.
2. A fibre management device according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is shaped to achieve spooling and has an internal bell profile.
3. A fibre management device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the locating o surface is conical.
4. A wall box containing a fibre management device according to any of the preceding claims.Amendments to the claims have been made as follows Claims 1. A fibre management device comprising a chamber configured to act as a spooling surface to allow winding of an elongate fibre, further comprising a conical locating surface within the chamber.2. A fibre management device according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is shaped to achieve spooling and has an internal bell profile.to 3. A wall box containing a fibre management device according to any of the preceding claims.