OPTICAL TERMINATION AND DERIVATION BOX

Abstract

The box has a base (10) and a (20) which is hinged to the base (10 and displaceable between a closed position and an open position. At least one peripheral wall (12) of the base (10) is provided with at least two lateral openings (13) each being flanked by two inclined recesses (13a/13b) and each closed by a sealing grommet (30) for the passage of at least one multi-fiber optical cable (CO) and which is pressed into the lateral opening (13) to receive thereon a sealing gasket (24) carried by the lid (20). A splitter accommodation tray (60) has a front face (61) attached to the top wall (21) of the lid (20) and carrying splitter and/or fiber accommodation means (MSF), and a rear face (62) covered by a splitter protective plate (PS). Each splitter and/or fiber accommodation means (MSF) is connectable to a fiber extension (EF1) of an optical cable (CO) received in the base (10) and to fiber extensions (EF2) connected to output adapters (AS) mounted. on at least one peripheral wall (22) of the lid (20) and externally connected to connectors (C) of terminal cables (CT).

Claims

1. Optical termination and derivation box, having: a base (10) having a bottom wall (11) and peripheral walls (12) defining a leading edge (12a); and a lid (20) hinged to the base (10), having a top wall (21) and peripheral walls (22) defining a trailing edge (22a) carrying a sealing gasket (24), the box being characterized in that at least one peripheral wall (12) of the base (10) is provided, from its leading edge (12a), with at least two lateral openings (13), in the shape of a “U” and each closed by a sealing grommet (30), for the tight passage of at least one multi-fiber optical cable (CO) and having a first leading edge portion (31a), recessed with respect to the leading edge (12a) of the base (10), and a second leading edge portion (31b) leveled with leading edge (12a), each sealing grommet (30) being pressed into the lateral opening (13) by a shoe (50) seated on the first leading edge portion (31a) of the grommet (30) and fixed, by clamping means (55), on the leading edge (12a) of the base (10), the sealing gasket (24) being seated and compressed on the second leading edge portion (31b) of the grommet (30) when the lid (20) is closed against the base (10).

2. Box, according to claim 1, characterized in that each lateral opening (13) is flanked by two inclined recesses (13a), with the second front edge portion (31b) of each grommet (30) incorporating two lateral flaps (31c), opposite and projecting outwardly from the contour of the sealing grommet (30), anteriorly coplanar to the first leading edge portion (31a) and each posteriorly defining an inclined surface (31d) to be seated in a respective inclined recess (13a) of the leading edge (12a), and the sealing gasket (24) being seated and compressed on the two lateral flaps (31c) of each sealing grommet (30) when closing the lid (20) against base (10).

3. Box, according to claim 2, characterized in that each shoe (50) incorporates opposite and coplanar end portions (51) that project beyond the width of each lateral opening (13) and which are provided, each one, with a through hole (51a), the leading edge (12a) of the base (10) being provided with a recessed step (13b) on each side of a lateral opening (13), adjacent to an inclined recess (13a) and provided of a threaded hole (13c), each recessed step (13b) receiving the seating of an end portion (51) of a respective shoe (50), the through hole (51a) of each end portion (51) being transpassed by a clamping means (55) in the form of a screw inserted and fixed in the threaded hole (13c) of the recessed step (13b).

4. Box according to claim 2, characterized in that the inclined recesses (13a) are positioned radially internal to the adjacent recessed steps (13b) on the leading edge (12a) of the respective peripheral wall (12) of the base (10).

5. Box, according to claim 4, characterized in that the sum of the width of each inclined recess (13a) and the width of the adjacent recessed step (13b) is less than the width of the peripheral wall (12) of the base (10) in the region of each lateral opening (13).

6. Box, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each sealing grommet (30) is provided with transversal holes (33, 34), presenting one or more diametrical patterns and having one of the ends originally closed by a respective tearable sidewall portion (35) of the sealing grommet (30). |.sub.[VdSA3]

7. Optical termination and derivation box, having: a base (10) receiving one or more multi-fiber optical cables (CO) and having a bottom wall (11) and peripheral walls (12) defining a leading edge (12a); and a lid (20) hinged to the base (10), having a top wall (21) and peripheral walls (22) defining a trailing edge (22a) carrying a sealing gasket (24), the box being characterized in that it comprises a splitter accommodation tray (60) having a front face (61) secured against the top wall (21) of the lid (20) and carrying a splitter accommodation means (MSF), and a rear face (62) which is covered by a plate (PE), fixed inside the lid (20), each splitter and/or fiber accommodation means (MSF) being connectable, on the one side, to a fiber extension (EF1) derived from an optical cable (CO) received in the base (10) and, on the other side, to split fiber extensions (EF2), maintained on the front face side (61) and connectorized to output adapters (AS) passing through at least one of two opposite peripheral walls (22) of the lid (20), not hinged to the base (10), the output adapters (AS) being externally connected to respective connectors (C) from a terminal cable (CT) external to the box.

8. Box, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it carries, internally, at least one fusion tray (40), hinged to the base (10) and incorporating fiber fusion means (FF) and fiber extensions accommodation means (AF), the at least one fusion tray (40) having a front face (41) facing the lid (20) and a rear face (42) carrying fiber fusion means (FF) and fiber extensions accommodation means (AF), the at least one fusing tray (40) being displaceable between a first position seated on the base (10) and a second position in which it exposes, to the operator, the fusing means (FF) of fiber extensions (EF1, EF2).

9. Box, according to claim 8, characterized in that at least two overlapping fusion trays (40) are provided, with the most posterior one being hinged to the base (10) and the anterior one being hinged to the one immediately posterior.

10. Box, according to claim 9, characterized in that the base (10) internally incorporates a locking tongue (19), elastically deformable from an operating position, in which it locks the rear fusion tray (40) in its first position seated on the base (10), to an inoperative position, in which it releases the angular displacement of the fusion tray (40) from the first position to the second position.

11. Box, according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the base (10) incorporates, in the region of its peripheral wall (12) to which is hinged the lid (20), a pair of engaging means (16) in which two hinge tabs (46) incorporated in an edge of the tray (40) adjacent to the hinge axis of the lid (20) are detachably hinged with elastic deformation.

12. Box, according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is mounted on a strand, in a position with the hinge axis of the lid (20) positioned horizontally, by means of a pair of suspension hooks (18), detachably secured to the base (10).

13. Box, according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it further comprises a concave cradle (70) externally and removable fixed to the bottom wall (11) of the base (10) and provided with pairs of lateral openings (72) , opposite two by two, for the passage of straps for lashing the box to a post.

14. Box, according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it is provided with multiple latches (T) carried by a peripheral wall (12) of the base (10), opposite to that to which the lid (20) is hinged to the base (10) and displaceable between an open position and a closed position, in which it locks, to each other, peripheral walls (12, 22) of the base (10) and the lid (20) facing each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention will be hereinafter described on the basis of the accompanying drawings, given by way of example of an embodiment of the invention and in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of the termination and derivation box of the invention, with its lid in a closed condition over the base and with the lateral openings of the latter each housing a sealing grommet that can be provided with one or more transversal holes for a tight and sealed passage of a corresponding distribution or derivation cable;

[0021] FIG. 2 represents a perspective view of the box of FIG. 1, when seen from the bottom side of the base that is provided with a concave cradle for fixing the box, in the vertical position, on a post;

[0022] FIG. 3 represents a perspective view of the box of FIGS. 1 and 2, when in a horizontal mounting condition, with the lid in the open condition, with a splitter accommodation tray fixed (in an invisible way) inside the lid and behind a protective plate of splitter in opaque material, with fusion trays seated in the base and at the opposite lateral of the lid, each one carrying output adapters, projecting outwardly from the box, for connection of termination cables (“drop” cables);

[0023] FIG. 4 represents a perspective view of the box of FIG. 3, with the lid in the open condition and the fusion trays angularly displaced together to a position in which each of them can expose to the installer its rear face each carries fiber fusion means and fiber extension accommodation means;

[0024] FIG. 5A represents an exploded, reduced-scale perspective view of a first group of the termination and derivation box components associated to the lid;

[0025] FIG. 5B represents an exploded, reduced-scale perspective view of a second group of termination and derivation box components associated to the base;

[0026] FIG. 5C represents an enlarged detail of the right side region of the base illustrated in FIG. 5B;

[0027] FIG. 5D represents a sectional view of the right side region of the base and taken along the line VD-VD in FIG. 6;

[0028] FIG. 5E represents a sectional view of the right side region of the base and taken along the line VE-VE in FIG. 6;

[0029] FIG. 6 represents a plan view of the inside of the box in the open condition, with the assembly of fusion trays seated on the base, with the splitter accommodation tray fixed inside the lid, but with the splitter protective plate removed from the lid, said view illustrating also the inner end of the output adapters and the routing of fiber extensions between the output adapters and the hinged fusion trays within the base; and

[0030] FIG. 7 represents a partial cross-sectional view of the termination and derivation box, in the closed condition and illustrating the sealing grommet acting on a distribution or derivation cable and also the sealing between the lid and the base.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0031] As illustrated in the drawings and mentioned above, the optical termination and erivation box in question comprises a base 10 and a lid 20 hinged to the base 10, both in electrically non-conductive material, with the base 10 incorporating, in one piece, a bottom wall 11 and peripheral walls 12 defining a leading edge 12a. The lid 20 has a top wall 21 and peripheral walls 22 defining a trailing edge 22a that carries a sealing gasket 24, generally of elastomer.

[0032] At least one peripheral wall 12 of the base 10, not hinged to the lid 20, is provided, from from its leading edge 12a, with at least two lateral openings 13, in a “U” shape and each closed by a sealing grommet 30, made of elastomer, for the tight passage of at least one multi-fiber optical cable CO. The optical CO cable can be defined by a multi-fiber distribution cable or by one or more multi-fiber termination (drop) cables of different diameters.

[0033] Each sealing grommet 30 has a first leading edge portion 31a recessed from the leading edge 12a of the base 10, and a second leading edge portion 31b leveled with the leading edge 12a, each sealing grommet 30 being pressed into its respective lateral opening 13 by a shoe 50, for example of plastic, seated on the first leading edge portion 31a of the grommet 30 and secured by clamping means 55, for example in the form of screws, on the leading edge 12a of the base 10.

[0034] The sealing gasket 24 is seated and pressed on the second leading edge portion 31b of the grommet 30 and on the leading edge 12a of the base 10, when the lid 20 is closed against the base 10. The trailing edge 22a of the lid 20 can take the form of a channel in which the sealing gasket 24 is partially housed and retained, as illustrated in the drawings|.|.sub.[VdSA1]

[0035] In the illustrated construction, each lateral opening 13 is flanked by two inclined recesses 13a, the second leading edge portion 31b of each grommet 30 incorporating two opposite lateral flaps 31c which projects outwardly from the contour of the sealing grommet 30, anteriorly coplanar to the first leading edge portion 31a and which define, each one and posteriorly, an inclined surface 31d to be seated in a respective inclined recess 13a of the leading edge 12a, and the sealing gasket 24 being seated and pressed onto the two lateral flaps 31c of each sealing grommet 30 when the lid 20 is closed against the base 10.

[0036] The lateral flaps 31c on the second leading edge portion 31b of each sealing grommet 30 have their inclined surface 31d seated on a respective inclined recess 13a of the leading edge 12a of the base 10 and pressed against said inclined recess 13a by the gripping actuation of the shoe 50 and also by the seating of the gasket 24, providing a high degree of tightness in the region of assembly of the sealing grommets 30 and in the seating region between the base 10 and the lid 20.

[0037] Preferably and as illustrated, each shoe 50 incorporates opposite and coplanar end portions 51 which project beyond the width of each lateral opening 13 and which are each provided with a through hole 51a, the leading edge 12a of the base 10 being provided with a recessed step 13b on each side of a lateral opening 13 adjacent to an inclined recess 13a and provided with a threaded hole 13c.

[0038] Each recessed step 13b receives the seating of an end portion 51 of a respective shoe 50, the through hole 51a of each end portion 51 being passed through by a clamping means 55, in the form of a screw, inserted and fixed. in the threaded hole 13c of the recessed step 13b.

[0039] Still in accordance with the illustrated construction, the inclined recesses 13a are positioned radially internal to the adjacent recessed steps 13b on the leading edge 12a of the respective peripheral wall 12 of the base 10, so that the cooperating lateral flaps 31c of the second leading edge portion 31b of each sealing grommet 30 are aligned with a respective extension of the sealing gasket 24.

[0040] For secure radial locking of each sealing grommet 30 within a respective lateral opening 13, the sum of the width of each inclined recess 13a and the width of the adjacent recessed step 13b should be less than the width of the peripheral wall 12 of the base 10 in the region of each lateral opening 13.

[0041] To ensure that each sealing grommet 30 completely seals the cross section, not occupied by an optical cable CO, of each respective lateral opening 13 into which it is fitted, they are provided with transversal holes 33, 34, having one or more diametrical patterns and having one of the ends originally closed by a respective tearable lateral wall portion 35. It is sufficient for said tearable lateral wall portion 35 to be easily removed to allow the passage of a multi-fiber optical cable CO through the respective transversal hole 33, 34, to enter into the box or to leave therefrom.

[0042] According to a second aspect of the invention, the box in question further comprises a splitter accommodation tray 60 having an front face 61 secured against top wall 21 of lid 20 and carrying splitter and/or fiber accommodation means MSF, and a rear face face 62 which is covered by a splitter protector plate PS, secured inside the lid 20 and which protects the splitter and/or fiber accommodation means MSF (FIG. 6).

[0043] Each splitter and/or fiber accommodation means MSF is connectable, on the one side, to a fiber extension EF1 derived from a optical cable CO received at the base 10 and, on the other side, to split fiber extensions EF2 held at the side of the front face 61 and connectorized to output adapters AS passing through at least one of two opposite peripheral walls 22 of the lid 20, not hinged to the base 10, the output adapters AS being externally connected to respective connectors C of a terminal cable CT external to the box.

[0044] In addition to any of the aspects of the invention, defined by the assembly of the sealing grommets 30 and the assembly of the division tray 60 with protection of the optical divisions, the box in question carries, internally, at least one fusion tray 40, hinged. to the base 10 and incorporating fiber fusing means FF and fiber extension accommodation means AF. The at least one fusing tray 40 has a front face 41 facing the lid 20 and a rear face 42 carrying fiber fusing means FF and fiber strand accommodation means AF. The at least one fusion tray 40 is displaceable between a first position seated on the base 10 and a second position in which it exposes, to the operator, the fusion means FF of fiber extensions EF1.

[0045] In the exemplified construction, at least two overlapping fusion trays 40 are provided, with the most rear one being hinged to the base 10 and the front ones being hinged to the one immediately posterior. In order to maintain a stable positioning of the fusion trays 40 inside the box, the base 10 incorporates, internally, a locking tongue 19, elastically deformable from an operative position, in which it locks the rear fusion tray 40 in its first position seated on the base 10, to an inoperative position, in which it releases the angular displacement of the fusion tray 40 from the first position to the second position.

[0046] The base 10 also incorporates, in the region of its peripheral wall 12 for hinging the lid 20, a pair of engaging means 16 to which are detachably hinged, with elastic deformation, two hinge tabs 46 incorporated to an edge of the tray 40, adjacent to the hinge axis of the lid 20.

[0047] The engaging means 16 facilitate work on the rear face 42 of the fusion tray 40 when the box is installed vertically. With this, it is possible for the operator/installer to detach the fusion trays 40 from the base 10, to work on the rear face 42 of said trays on a work platform mounted, in an elevated way, next to a strand, to a wall of building or to a post. This feature is particularly useful when the box is mounted horizontally.

[0048] With the proposed construction, it is possible for an installation team to carry out fusion splices of an optical fiber using the rear face 42 of one or more fusion trays 40, which can be individually and jointly taken to their second position in which they define a kind of horizontal table, when the box is mounted on a strand or in a building, with the lid articulated to an horizontal position.

[0049] When the box is mounted with the hinge axis of the lid in a vertical position, the rear face 42 of the fusion trays 40 remain in a vertical plane when the tray is moved to its second position illustrated in FIG. 3. In this case, the team involved with splices or optical divisions can simply move the tray 40 to its second position and work on the rear face 42, without risk of producing damage to the connections of the cables CO and to the fiber extensions EF2|.sub.[VdSA2].

[0050] As illustrated, the bottom wall 11 of the base 10 is usually arranged in a vertical mounting plane to remain mounted on a strand (not shown) by means of suspension hooks 18, which are detachably secured to the base 10 and which can take different constructions, like the one illustrated by way of example.

[0051] However, the suspension hooks 18 can be removed when the box has the external face of the bottom wall 11 of the base 10 directly fixed against a building wall, with the hinge axis positioned vertically or horizontally, by means, for example, of screws (not shown) passing through lateral flaps 17 incorporated laterally and externally to the base 10, or even against a post with the hinge axis of the lid 20, arranged vertically. In the vertical assembly of the box, the latter can have its base 10 provided with the sealing grommets 30 only on its side facing downwardly or have sealing grommets provided on both sides, but with only the sealing grommets, positioned on the side facing downwardly, being transpassed by multifiber optical cables CO.

[0052] When mounting the box on a post, a concave cradle 70 is provided which is externally and detachably fixed to the bottom wall 11 of the base 10, by screws 71 securable in tight housings provided in said bottom wall 11, or by other adequate detachable fixing means, the concave cradle 70 being provided with pairs of lateral openings 72, opposite two by two, for the passage of straps (not shown) for lashing the box to a post.

[0053] Particularly when mounting the box with the hinge axis of the lid 20 positioned horizontally, the trays 40 can be stabilized in their second position by partially seating them against a peripheral wall region 22 of the lid 20, adjacent to its articulstion to the base 10, the lid 20 being in an open position coplanar to the base 10 and pending from the latter.

[0054] In the proposed construction, the lid 20 is locked to the base 10 by multiple locks T carried by a peripheral wall 12 of the base 10, opposite that of the hinge of the lid 20 to the base 10 and displaceable between an open position and a closed position, in which it locks the peripheral walls 12 of the base 10 and the lid 20 facing each other. It should be understood that the latches T can also be pivotally mounted to a peripheral wall 22 of the lid 20, to act against the base 10, when the box optical termination closing. In addition to the latches T, the lid 20 can be even more solidly fixed to the base 10, in the closed condition, by means of a pair of screws 90 passing through respective lateral regions of the lid 10 and threadable in holes 91 provided in the leading edge 12a of the lid base 10.

[0055] Although only one configuration of the optical termination and derivation box in question has been illustrated here, it must be understood that changes in the shape and arrangement of the components may be made, without departing from the constructive concept defined in the claims that accompany this diclosure.