Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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Distribution device
The invention relates to a distribution device for
information technology and telecommunications, in
particular to an optical waveguide distribution device,
as claimed in the precharacterizing clause of claim 1.
Distribution devices are used in distribution cabinets
for optical waveguide cables, such as those from the
product catalog "Zubehor ffir LWL-Kabelnetze,
[Accessories for optical waveguide cable networks]
issue 2, page 227, year 2002, Corning Cable Systems
GmbH & Co. KG". The optical waveguide distribution
device disclosed there is used in particular for
handling optical waveguides which have been
prefabricated with plugs, such as patch cords or
pigtails, with the optical waveguide distribution
device disclosed there having a distribution panel
which is mounted in a housing like a drawer. The
distribution panel of the distribution device disclosed
there has guide elements for the optical waveguides,
couplings for the plugs of the prefabricated optical
waveguides, strain relief devices for optical waveguide
cables to be inserted into the distribution panel, as
well as receptacles for splices of optical waveguides
which have been spliced to one another, in which case
all of the elements or components mentioned above are
in the form of individual parts and ~re connected to a
mount element in the distribution panel. The optical
waveguide distribution device, and therefore the
distribution panel in it, can be attached via the
housing to a rack for example in a distribution
cabinet, with the housing having attachment sections at
an angle to it, via which the housing of the optical
waveguide distribution device can be screwed to the
rack in the distribution cabinet. This governs the
position of the optical waveguide distribution device
in the distribution cabinet.
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Against this background, the present invention is based
on the problem of providing a novel distribution
device.
The problem on which the invention is based is solved
by a distribution device having the features of claim
1. According to the invention, a holding element acts
in the area of in each case two mutually opposite side
walls of the distribution panel, with guide sections of
the holding elements being guided on the side walls of
the distribution panel such that the distribution panel
can be moved in the sense of a drawer-like relative
movement with respect to the holding elements, in which
case the distribution device can be mounted via angled
attachment sections of the holding elements on a rack
in particular in a distribution cabinet, and in which
case at least one stud-like projection is formed in the
area of each of the mutually opposite side walls of the
distribution panel and can in each case be latched or
snapped into in each case one of a plurality of
recesses, which are integrated in the guide sections on
the holding elements, in order to lock a different
relative position between the distribution panel and
the holding elements.
One stud-like projection, which is mounted in a sprung
form, is preferably arranged in the area of each of the
two mutually opposite side walls, in which case each
stud-like projection has a circular or oval base area,
and in which case each stud-like projection is curved
at right angles to the direction of the relative
movement between the distribution panel and the holding
elements such that a guide section of a holding element
can be moved over it, like a ramp.
A plurality of differently contoured recesses are
preferably integrated in the guide section of each
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holding element and allow and/or prevent movement over
a stud-like projection depending on their contouring
and, possibly, depending on the direction of a relative
movement between the distribution panel and the holding
elements.
Preferred developments of the invention are specified
in the dependent claims and in the following
description. Exemplary embodiments will be explained in
more detail with reference to the drawing, in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a
distribution device within the
meaning of the invention, comprising
a distribution panel and holding
elements arranged on both sides of
it;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a detail
of the distribution device shown in
Figure 1, in the area of a holding
element and a side wall of the
distribution panel;
Figures 3a to 3c show the detail from Figure 2 in
three different relative positions
between the holding element and the
side wall of the distribution panel;
Figures 4a and 4b show a further detail of the
distribution device from Figure 1,
in the area of one side wall of the
distribution panel;
Figure 5 shows an alternative detail to the
detail in Figure 4;
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Figure 6 shows a further alternative detail
to the detail in Figure 4; and
Figures 7a to 7d show various refinements and views
of a stud which is arranged in the
area of one side wall of the
distribution panel and interacts
with a holding element.
The invention will be described in the following text
using the example of a distribution device in the form
of an optical waveguide distribution device. Although
the use of the invention is preferable for optical
waveguide distribution devices such as these, the
invention is not restricted to optical waveguide
distribution devices. In fact, the invention can also
be used for other distribution devices for information
technology and telecommunications, for example for
distribution devices for copper cables or else for
hybrid distribution devices in which optical waveguide
cables and copper cables are placed and/or handled
jointly.
Figure 1 shows a perspective plan view of one exemplary
embodiment of an optical waveguide distribution device
10, with the optical waveguide distribution device 10
having a distribution panel 11 which can be mounted
like a drawer via holding elements 12 on a rack in a
distribution cabinet. In the illustrated example, the
distribution panel 11 has a bottom wall 13 as well as
four side walls 14, 15, 16 and 17, with the side wall
14 forming a front wall of the distribution panel 11,
and the side wall 15 forming a rear wall of the
distribution panel 11. The holding elements 12 act on
the side walls 16 and 17 of the distribution panel 11,
with a translational relative movement being possible
between the distribution panel 11 and the holding
elements 12, in order to move it like a drawer.
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As can be seen from Figure 1, recesses or openings 18
are integrated in that side wall 14 of the distribution
panel 11 which is in the form of a front wall, into
which recesses or openings 18 couplings, which are not
illustrated, can be inserted or latched, for plugs
which are not illustrated. It should be noted that
couplings such as these may also be an integral
component of the front wall of the distribution panel.
The distribution panel 11 for the optical waveguide
distribution device 10 illustrated in Figure 1 is used
primarily for handling and as a repository for splices
which are formed between optical waveguides which have
been prefabricated with plugs at one end and optical
waveguides which have been inserted via an optical
waveguide cable into the distribution panel 11. Optical
waveguides which have been prefabricated at one end
with plugs are also referred to as pigtails.
The splices between the prefabricated optical
waveguides and the optical waveguides which have been
inserted via an optical waveguide cable into the
distribution panel 11 are held in receptacles 19 for
the splices, with the receptacles 19 being an integral
component of the distribution panel 11, which is in the
form of a plastic injection-molded part.
Those ends without plugs of the optical waveguides
which have been prefabricated with plugs at one end can
be passed to the receptacles 19 via guide elements 20
while ensuring that minimum bending radii are
maintained for the optical waveguides. Those ends of
the prefabricated optical waveguides which have been
prefabricated with plugs can iikewise be passed to the
couplings, which are not illustrated, for the plugs via
guides 21 which are arranged adjacent to the front wall
14 of the distribution panel 11, while complying with
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minimum permissible bending radii, with the couplings
which are not illustrated being accommodated in the
openings 18 in the front wall 14. Further guide
elements 22 for the prefabricated optical waveguides
are positioned between the guide elements 20 and 21 and
form an excess-length storage means 23 for the
prefabricated optical waveguides.
At least one optical waveguide cable with optical
waveguides guided in it can be inserted into the
distribution panel 11 of the optical waveguide
distribution device 10 illustrated in Figure 1,
specifically through an opening 24 which is integrated
in the rear wall 15 of the distribution panel 11. For
strain relief for the optical waveguide cables which
have been inserted into the distribution panel 11, the
distribution panel 11 has strain relief devices 25 for
the optical waveguide cables, wherein optical
waveguides which have been inserted via the respective
optical waveguide cable into the distribution panel 11
can be passed via guide elements 26 to the receptacles
19 for the splices while complying with the minimum
permissible bending radii for the optical waveguides.
Further guide elements 27 for the optical waveguides
which have been inserted via an optical waveguide cable
into the distribution panel 11 form an excess-length
storage means 28 therefor.
The receptacles 19 for splices between the
prefabricated optical waveguides and the optical
waveguides which have been inserted via an optical
waveguide cable into the distribution panel 11 are an
integral component of the distribution panel 11, which
is in the form of a plastic injection-molded part, in
the same way as the guide elements 20, 21, 22, 26 and
27 as well as the strain relief devices 25.
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As already mentioned, the distribution panel 11 can be
attached to a rack, preferably in a distribution
cabinet, via holding elements 12 which act on the side
walls 16 and 17 thereof, and can be moved backwards and
forwards translationally with respect to the holding
elements 12, in the form of a drawer-like relative
movement. As can be seen in particular in Figures 1 and
2, the holding elements 12 have guide sections 29 which
act on the side walls 16 and 17 of the distribution
panel 11, and/or are guided on them.
Furthermore, the holding elements 12 have attachment
sections 30 which are at an angle to the guide sections
29 and via which the optical waveguide distribution
device 10 can be attached to a rack, in particular in a
distribution cabinet.
When an optical waveguide distribution device 10 is
attached to a rack in a distribution cabinet, the
position of the holding elements 12 is fixed, but the
distribution panel 11 can be moved translationally with
respect to the holding elements 12, specifically in the
form of a drawer-like relative movement. Fiaures 3a, 3b
and 3c show different relative positions between a
fixed holding element 12 and a side wall 16 or 17 of
the distribution panel 11 in the optical waveguide
distribution device 10 according to the invention, with
the distribution panel 10 having been moved to the left
with respect to the holding element 12 in Figure 3a,
and with the distribution panel 11 having been moved to
the right with respect to the holding element 12 in
Figure 3b. In the position shown in Figure 3a, the
distribution panel 11 is withdrawn, for example in
order to form splices on optical waveguides which have
been placed in the distribution panel 11, with respect
to a rack to which it is attached via the holding
elements 12. In contrast, in Figure 3b, the
distribution panel 11 has been pushed back into the
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rack, to be precise beyond the position illustrated in
Figure 3c, in order in this way, for example, to
protect plugs acting on the front wall 14 of the
distribution panel 11 against mechanical stresses.
A stud-like projection 31 is formed in the area of each
of the side walls 16 and 17 of the distribution panel
11. The stud-like projections 31 interact with recesses
within the holding elements 12 in order to lock
different relative positions (see Figures 3a, 3b and
3c) between the distribution panel 11 and the holding
elements 12, such that, depending on the relative
position of each of the studs 31 which are formed in
the area of a side wall 16 or 17 of the distribution
panel 11, it is possible to latch or snap into one of a
plurality of recesses which are integrated in the guide
sections 29 of the holding elements 12. As can be seen
from Figures 3a, 3b and 3c, the projection 31 latches
into different recesses in the holding element 12
and/or the guide section 29 depending on the relative
position between the distribution panel 11 and the
holding element 12.
The stud-like projections 31 are in the form of
projections which are mounted in a sprung form, with
the stud-like projections being mounted on a sprung
section 32 of the respective side wall 16 or 17 in
order to mount them in a sprung form. The sprung
section 32 of each side wall 16, 17 is formed by slots
33 in the respective side wall 16, 17. In the
embodiments shown in Figures 4, 6, the sprung section
32 is in this case integrated in the respective side
wall 16, 17 such that the sprung section 32 runs at
right angles to any relative movement between the
distribution panel 11 and the holding elements 12. In
contrast, in the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the
sprung section 32 runs parallel to the direction of any
relative movement between the distribution panel 11 and
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the holding elements 12. The direction of the relative
movement between the distribution panel 11 and the
holding elements 12 is indicated by double-headed
arrows 34.
As already mentioned, each of the stud-like projections
31 which is mounted in a sprung form engages in in each
case one of a plurality of recesses which are
integrated in the guide sections 29 of the holding
elements 12, in order to lock different relative
positions between the distribution panel 11 and the
holding elements 12, with the recesses having different
contours in the illustrated exemplary embodiment.
First recesses 35 have a rectangular contour, with
recesses 35 with rectangular contours such as these
making it possible to move over a stud-like projection
31, which is mounted in a sprung form, in both
directions of the relative movement (double-headed
arrow 34) between the distribution panel 11 and the
holding elements 12. As can be seen in particular in
Figures 7a to 7d, the stud-like projections have a
circular or else oval base area, with the projections
31 being curved at right angles to the direction of the
relative movement between the distribution panel 11 and
the holding elements 12 such that a guide section 29 of
a holding element 12 can be moved over it, like a ramp.
In the situation in which a stud-like projection 31
such as this has been latched in a recess 35 with a
rectangular contour, the stud-like projection 31, which
is mounted in a sprung form, can be moved over and
thereby overcome, like a ramp, in both directions of
the relative movement, by application of an appropriate
force. The projection 31, which is mounted in a sprung
form, is then pushed back and therefore slides along an
inner surface of the guide section 29 of the holding
element 12 until it snaps or latches into a recess
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again. The first recesses 35 with the rectangular
contour accordingly allow the stud-like projections 31
to be moved over in both directions of the relative
movement (double-headed arrow 34) between the
distribution panel 11 and the holding elements 12.
As can be seen in particular from Figure 2, second
recesses 36 are integrated in the guide section 29 of
the holding element 12, in addition to the first
recesses 35 with the rectangular contour, and these
second recesses 36 have a rectangular contour on one
side, and a circular or else oval contour on another
side. Such contouring of the second recesses 36 may
also be referred to as a D-contour.
Recesses 36 such as these with a D-shaped contour make
it possible to move over the stud-like projection 31 in
a first direction of the relative movement between the
distribution panel 11 and the holding elements 12, in
which the projection 31 is pressed against the side of
the recess 36 with a rectangular contour. In contrast,
in the other direction of the relative movement, in
which the stud-like projection 31 is pressed against
the side of the recess 36 with a circular or oval
contour, movement over the projection 36 is prevented,
so that this makes it possible to define a limit
position for the relative movement between the
distribution panel 11 and the holding elements 12.
It should be noted that, in addition to or instead of
the recesses 35 and 36 illustrated in Figure 2,
recesses may be integrated in the guide section 29 of
the holding elements 12, with a circular or else oval
contour overall, and accordingly have a contour
corresponding to the base area of the stud-like
projections 31. Recesses with contours such as these
prevent movement over a stud-like projection 31, which
is mounted in a sprung form, in both directions of the
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relative movement (doubled-headed arrow 34) between the
distribution panel 11 and the holding elements 12, so
that, in this case, the sprung section 32 has an
associated unlocking device in order to unlock a
projection 31 which has been latched or snapped into a
recess such as this.
An unlocking device such as this is preferably formed
by a projection 37 on the sprung section 32 which, as
shown in Figure 6, projects beyond the respective side
wall 16 or 17 and the holding element 12, which is not
shown in Figure 2. A stud-like projection 31 can be
moved out of a recess by application of a force to the
projection 37, in order in this way to allow relative
movement between the distribution panel 11 and the
corresponding holding element 12.
As already mentioned, the stud-like projections are
curved at right angles to the direction (double-headed
arrow 34) of the relative movement between the
distribution panel 11 and the holdings elements 12 such
that the guide section 29 of a holding element 12 can
be moved over it, like a ramp. In this case, Figures 7a
to 7d show possible embodiments of the curvature of the
stud-like projections 31. These embodiments have the
common feature that the curvatures increase in the
direction of a central section of the projections 31,
starting from sections of the projections 31 which are
located at the front and/or are located at the rear in
the direction of the relative movement (double-headed
arrow 34), so that the curvatures have a local maximum
in the central section of the projections 31 and a
local minimum on the sections which are located at the
front and at the rear in the direction of the relative
movement.
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List of reference symbols
Optical waveguide distribution device
11 Distribution panel
12 Holding element
13 Bottom wall
14 Side wall
Side wall
16 Side wall
17 Side wall
18 Openings
19 Receptacle
Guide element
21 Guide element
22 Guide element
23 Excess-length storage means
24 Recess
Strain relief device
26 Guide element
27 Guide element
28 Excess-length storage means
29 Guide section
Attachment section
31 Projection
32 Section
33 Slot
34 Double-headed arrow
Recess
36 Recess
37 Projection
