DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates generally to an optical fiber cable storage device with a cover unit and a cable unwinding feature without ripping off the cover unit of the storage device or the cable.
BACKGROUND
Optical fibers are widely used for data transmission. Generally, the optical fibers are connected to each other via a connector assembly. With the advancement in communication technologies there is a need to deploy optical fiber cables in different geographies and different locations. For deploying an optical fiber cable, the optical fiber cable needs to be stored over a winding device and pulled out from the winding device by holding the device in a rotatable position. The optical fiber cables utilize strength member components which store energy when wound over a cable spool and unwinding the cables from the standard cable spools can result in an uncontrolled and tangled deployment and cause excessive delays. The uncontrolled and tangled deployment is due to a spring effect produced by the stored energy and hence, a cover is required over the wound cable spool portion. The cover is installed either in a fixed manner or in a floating manner over the cable spool. A prior art reference “US10782499B2” discloses wall outlets having a base structure and a stationary spool structure having a hub portion such that a length of fiber optic cable is coiled about the hub portion between the first and second walls. A cover is also provided which covers at least a portion of the spool structure. Another prior art reference “EP4220876A1” discloses a device for storing, transporting and installing electric wires or cables comprises at least one casing in the form of a wheel, through which passes a rotating shaft and containing a reel of wire or electric cable movable in rotation. around the rotating shaft. However, the fixed cover concept failed to deploy the cable properly without ripping the cover during an unwinding process.
Thus, there is a need to create a cable storage device with a feature to deploy the optical fiber cable in a controlled way with tangling and ripping the spool cover.
SUMMARY
In an aspect of the present disclosure, an optical fiber cable storage device is disclosed. The optical fiber cable storage device has a cable winding spool defined by a cylindrical storage structure confined between a first side wall and a second side forming a circumferential region between the first side wall and the second side. The cylindrical storage structure is adapted to receive the optical fiber cable when the optical fiber cable is wound on the cable winding spool. The optical fiber cable storage device further has a floating cover having a window region. The floating cover is loosely engaged between the first side wall and the second side wall. The floating cover is configured to revolve around the cylindrical storage structure while retaining a radial position between the first side wall and the second side wall when the optical fiber cable is unwound through the window region.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Having thus described the disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying figures, where:
FIG. 1A illustrates an optical fiber cable storage device mounted on a stand.
FIG. 1B illustrates an exploded view of the storage device.
FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a floating cover of the storage device.
FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method of unwinding an optical fiber cable from a cable winding spool.
It should be noted that the accompanying figures are intended to present illustrations of exemplary aspects of the present disclosure. These figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It should also be noted that accompanying figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
DEFINITIONS
The term “optical fiber” as used herein refers to a light guide that provides high-speed data transmission. The optical fiber has one or more glass core regions and one or more glass cladding regions. The light moving through the glass core regions of the optical fiber relies upon the principle of total internal reflection, where the glass core regions have a higher refractive index (n1) than the refractive index (n2) of the glass cladding region of the optical fiber.
The term “optical fiber cable” as used herein refers to a cable that encloses one or more optical fibers.
The term “cable winding spool” refers to a cylindrical component to wind optical fiber cable over its cylindrical surface for storage purpose.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The detailed description of the appended drawings is intended as a description of the currently preferred aspects of the present disclosure, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different aspects that are intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Moreover, although the following description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations and/or alterations to said details are within the scope of the present technology. Similarly, although many of the features of the present technology are described in terms of each other, or in conjunction with each other, one skilled in the art will appreciate that many of these features can be provided independently of other features. Accordingly, this description of the present technology is set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the present technology.
FIG. 1A illustrates an optical fiber cable storage device 100 mounted on a stand 102. The fiber cable storage device 100 (hereinafter interchangeably referred to as and designated as “the storage device 100”) may be adapted to store optical fiber cables. In some aspects of the present disclosure, a user may mount the storage device 100 on the stand 102 to allow a rotational movement of the cable storage device 100. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the stand 102 may be designed to structurally support the storage device 100. The stand 102 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, metal, wood, hardened plastic, and the like. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise over any type of the material for the stand 102 that enables the stand 102 to rigidly support the storage device 100 thereupon, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
The storage device 100 may include a cable winding spool 104 such that for storage, the optical fiber cable is wound over the winding spool 104. The winding spool 104 may have a first side 104a and a second side 104b. Specifically, the first side 104a may include a first side wall 106 and the second side 104b may include a second side wall 108. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the first side wall 106 and the second side wall 108 may have a shape such as, but not limited to, a circular shape, an oval shape, and the like. Aspects of the present disclosure is intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the shape for the first side wall 106 and the second side wall 108, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
The storage device 100 may further have a floating cover 112. The floating cover 112 may be wrapped over the optical fiber cable 110 when the optical fiber cable 110 is wound over the cable winding spool 104. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the floating cover 112 may be a rectangular sheet that may be removably attached between the first side wall 106 and the second side wall 108 of the cable winding spool 104. The floating cover 112 may have a window 114 such that the window 114 is created over the floating cover 112. Specifically, the window 114 may be adapted to enable a user to pull out at least one end of the optical fiber cable 110 while wrapping the floating cover 112 over the cable winding spool 104.
FIG. 1B illustrates an exploded view of the storage device 100. As discussed in FIG. 1A, the storage device 100 may include the cable winding spool 104 such that for storage, the optical fiber cable 110 is wound over the winding spool 104. The cable winding spool 104 may be defined by a cylindrical storage structure 116 confined between the first side 104a (i.e., the first wall 106) and the second side 104b (i.e., the second wall 108) thus, forming a circumferential region 118 between the first side 104a (i.e., the first wall 106) and the second side 104b (i.e., the second wall 108). Specifically, the cylindrical storage structure 116 forming the circumferential region 118 between the first side 104a and the second side 104b may be adapted to receive the optical fiber cable 110 when the optical fiber cable 110 is wound on the cable winding spool 104 for storage. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the first side wall 106 and the second side wall 108 may have first and second diameters, respectively. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the first diameter and the second diameter may be same. In some other aspects of the present disclosure, the first diameter and the second diameter may be different. Specifically, the first diameter of the first side wall 106 and the second diameter of the second side wall 108 are greater than the diameter of the cable winding spool 104 such that the first side wall 106 and the second side wall 108 creates flanges at both the first side 104a and the second side 104b of the cable winding spool 104. In operation, for storage of an optical fiber cable 110 in the storage device 100, the optical fiber cable 110 may be wound over the cable winding spool 104 between the first side wall 106 and the second side wall 108. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the optical fiber cable 110 may be, but not limited to, a flat cable, a round cable, an optical fiber ribbon, and the like. Aspect of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the optical fiber cable 110, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
Further, the floating cover 112 may be loosely engaged between the first side wall 106 and the second side wall 108. Specifically, the floating cover 112 may be adapted to revolve around the cylindrical storage structure 116 while retaining a radial position between the first side wall 106 and the second side wall 108 when the optical fiber cable 110 is unwound through the window region 114.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the floating cover 112 may be wrapped over the cable winding spool 104 in such a way that a gap is created between the floating cover 112 and an outer periphery of the optical fiber cale 110 that is wound over the cable winding spool 104. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the floating cover 112 may be engaged over the cable winding spool 104 at a pre-defined radial distance (D) from a center of the cable winding spool 104. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any value for the pre-defined radial distance (D) depending on different sized cable winding reels, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. Specifically, the floating cover 112 may be loosely engaged to provide a floating effect over the cable winding spool 104, after winding of the optical fiber cable 110. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the floating cover 112 may be disposed at a minimum radial gap from an outer periphery of the optical fiber cable 110 that is wound over the cable winding spool 104. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the minimum radial gap may be at least two times of a diameter of the optical fiber cable 110. Specifically, the radial gap may enable the loose engagement of the floating cover 112 that provides the floating effect over the cable winding spool 104, after winding of the optical fiber cable 110. For example, when the optical fiber cable 110 with a cable diameter of 5 millimeters (mm) is wound over the cable winding spool 104, the gap between the floating cover 112 and the outer periphery of the optical fiber cale 110 may be at-least 10 mm for a better unwinding process.
In some aspects of the disclosure, the window 114 may include an edge guard 120 mounted over a plurality of edges of the window 114 of the floating cover 112. Specifically, the edge guard 120 may be adapted to protect the floating cover 112 and the optical fiber cable 110 from ripping, while pulling-out the optical fiber cable 110 from the window 114 during the unwinding process of the optical fiber cable 110. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the floating cover 112 may be made up of a material which is flexible enough to be wrapped around the cable winding spool 104, robust enough to not get ripped while rotating the cable winding spool 104, weighted lightly to provide smooth cable unwinding process, and maintain floating property of the floating cover 112 during the unwinding process of the optical fiber cable 110. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the floating cover 112 may be made up of a flexible material such as, but not limited to, a Polyethylene (PE) extrusion material, a PE foam material, and the like. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the material for the floating cover 112, including known, related, and/or later developed materials, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
The edge guard 120 may be provided to cover the plurality of edges of the window 114 created over the floating cover 112. Specifically, the edge guard 120 may be adapted to maintain a structural integrity of the window 114 by preventing the window 114 from getting damaged through the optical fiber cable 110 during the unwinding process of the optical fiber cable 110. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the edge guard 120 may be required to be made of a material with low friction coefficient for easy pulling of the optical fiber cable 110 during the unwinding process of the optical fiber cable 110 through the window 114. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the edge guard 120 may be made up of a low friction material such as, but not limited to, a PE material, a Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material, an Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material, and the like. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the material for the edge guard 120, including known, related, and/or later developed materials, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the window 114 may be positioned over the floating cover 112 in such a way that the position of the window 114 may be same as a direction of pulling of the optical fiber cable 110 during the unwinding process of the optical fiber cable 110. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the position of the window 114 may be movable over the floating cover 112 between -45 degrees to +45 degrees along an axis of the pulling direction of the optical fiber cable 110 during the unwinding process of the optical fiber cable 110.
FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the floating cover 112. As discussed in FIG. 1B, the floating cover 112 may be loosely engaged between the first side wall 106 (as shown on FIG. 1A and FG. 1B) and the second side wall 108 (as shown on FIG. 1A and FG. 1B). Specifically, the floating cover 112 may be adapted to revolve around the cylindrical storage structure 116 (as shown on FIG. 1A and FG. 1B) while retaining a radial position between the first side wall 106 and the second side wall 108 when the optical fiber cable 110 (as shown on FIG. 1A and FG. 1B) is unwound through the window 114. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the window 114 may be present over an edge of the floating cover 112. In some other aspects of the present disclosure, the window 114 may be present in middle of the floating cover 112. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the floating cover 112 may have first and second long edges 112a and 112b and first and second short edges 112c and 112d. Specifically, the first and second long edges 112a and 112b may be parallel to each other. Similarly, the first and second short edges 112c and 112d may be parallel to each other. Further, the first and second long edges 112a and 112b may be orthogonal to the first and second short edges 112c and 112d. In some aspects of the present disclosure, for installation of the floating cover 112, the first and second short edges 112c and 112d of the floating cover 112 may be fastened together to wrap the floating cover 112 over the cable winding spool 104. Specifically, the first and second short edges 112c and 112d of the floating cover 112 may be fastened together by way of one or more fastening mechanisms. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the one or more fastening mechanisms may include, but is not limited to, one or more cable ties, adhesive material, welding process, and the like. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the one or more fastening mechanisms, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the first and second short edges 112c and 112d of the floating cover 112 may have first and second window portions 114a and 114b such that when the first and second short edges 112c and 112d of the floating cover 112 are fastened together, the first and second window portions 114a and 114b forms the window 114. Although FIG. 2 illustrates that window 114 is formed by the first and second window portions 114a and 114b disposed on the first and second short edges 112c and 112d, respectively, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to it. In various other aspects of the present disclosure, the window 114 may be provided at any position along a length of the floating cover 112, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the floating cover 112 may have a length (L) such that the length (L) is enough to fully cover a circumference of the cable winding spool 104 after winding of the optical fiber cable 110. Further, the floating cover 112 may have a width (W). In some aspects of the present disclosure, the width (W) of the floating cover 112 may be provided in a way such that the floating cover 112 partially covers an area between the first side wall 106 and the second side wall 108 of the cable winding spool 104. In some other aspects of the present disclosure, the width (W) of the floating cover 112 may be provided in a way such that the floating cover 112 fully covers an area between the first side wall 106 and the second side wall 108 of the cable winding spool 104 (as shown on FIG. 1A and FG. 1B).
FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method 300 of unwinding the optical fiber cable 110 from the cable winding spool 104 of the cable storage device 100.
At step 302, a user may mount the cable winding spool 104 of the cable storage device 100 on a stand 102 to allow a rotational movement of the cable storage device 100. As discussed, the cable winding spool 104 may be defined by the cylindrical storage structure 116. The cylindrical storage structure 116 may be confined between the first side wall 106 and the second side wall 108 of the cable winding spool 104 thus forming a circumferential region 118 between the first side wall 106 and the second side wall 108. The cylindrical storage structure 116 may be utilized by the user to wound the optical fiber cable 110.
At step 304, the user may pull out the optical fiber cable 110 through the window 114 of the floating cover 112 of the cable winding spool 104 such that the floating cover 112 revolves around the cylindrical storage structure 116 and the floating cover 112 retains a radial position between the first side wall 106 and the second side wall 108 when the optical fiber cable 110 is pulled through the window region 114. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the window (114) may be adapted to move between -45 degrees to +45 degrees from the direction of pulling the optical fiber cable 110 through the window 114 during unwinding of the optical fiber cable 110.
Thus, the fiber cable storage device 100 may provide an easy and convenient way to store the optical fiber cable 110. Moreover, the floating cover 112 may be loosely engaged to provide a floating effect over the cable winding spool 104, after winding of the optical fiber cable 110. Further, the window 114 may be positioned over the floating cover 112 in such a way that the position of the window 114 may be same as a direction of pulling of the optical fiber cable 110 during the unwinding process of the optical fiber cable 110. The window 114 may have the edge guard 120 that may be provided to cover the plurality of edges of the window 114 created over the floating cover 112. Specifically, the edge guard 120 may be adapted to maintain a structural integrity of the window 114 by preventing the window 114 from getting damaged through the optical fiber cable 110 during the unwinding process of the optical fiber cable 110.
The foregoing descriptions of specific aspects of the present technology have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present technology to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The aspects were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present technology and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present technology and various aspects with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present technology.
While several possible aspects of the invention have been described above and illustrated in some cases, it should be interpreted and understood as to have been presented only by way of illustration and example, but not by limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred aspect should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary aspects.
,CLAIMS:I/We Claim(s):
1. An optical fiber cable storage device (100) comprising:
a cable winding spool (104) defined by a cylindrical storage structure (116) confined between a first side wall (106) and a second side (108) forming a circumferential region (118) between the first side wall (106) and the second side (108), where the cylindrical storage structure (116) is adapted to receive the optical fiber cable (110) when the optical fiber cable (110) is wound on the cable winding spool (104); and
a floating cover (112) having a window region (114), where the floating cover (112) is loosely engaged between the first side wall (106) and the second side wall (108), where the floating cover (112) is configured to revolve around the cylindrical storage structure (116) while retaining a radial position between the first side wall (106) and the second side wall (108) when the optical fiber cable (110) is unwound through the window region (114).

2. The optical fiber cable storage device (100) of claim 1, where the floating cover (112) is loosely engaged between the first side wall (106) and the second side wall (108) at a pre-defined radial distance (D).

3. The optical fiber cable storage device (100) of claim 1, where the window (114) has an edge guard (120), where the edge guard (120), while unwinding the optical fiber cable (110) maintains a structural integrity of the window (114) and prevents damages to the optical fiber cable (110).

4. The optical fiber cable storage device (100) of claim 1, where the floating cover (112) is disposed at a minimum radial gap from an outer periphery of the optical fiber cable (110) that is wound over the cable winding spool (104), where the minimum radial gap is at least two times of a diameter of the optical fiber cable (110).

5. The optical fiber cable storage device (100) of claim 1, where the floating cover (112) fully covers the circumferential region (118).

6. The optical fiber cable storage device (100) of claim 1, where the floating cover (112) is made up of a flexible material selected from one of, a Polyethylene (PE) extrusion material, a PE foam material, or a combination thereof.

7. The optical fiber cable storage device (100) of claim 1, where the edge guard (120) is made up of a low friction material selected from one of, a PE material, a Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material, an Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material, or a combination thereof.

8. A method (300) of unwinding an optical fiber cable (110) from a cable winding spool (104), where the method (300) comprising:
mounting the cable winding spool (104) on a stand (102) to allow a rotational movement, where the cable winding spool (104) is defined by a cylindrical storage structure (116) confined between a first side wall (106) and a second side wall (108) forming a circumferential region (118) between the first side wall (106) and the second side wall (108); and
pulling out the optical fiber cable (110) through a window (114) of a floating cover (112) of the cable winding spool (104) such that the floating cover (112) revolves around the cylindrical storage structure (116) while retaining a radial position between the first side wall (106) and the second side wall (108) when the optical fiber cable (110) is pulled through the window region (114).

9. The method (300) of claim 8, where the window (114) moves between -45 degrees to +45 degrees from the direction of pulling the optical fiber cable (110) through the window (114) during unwinding of the optical fiber cable (110).