초록 ▼

An apparatus for managing lengths of flexible elongate elements between two fixed points has a single spool with a track of predetermined width sufficient for winding alternate turns of the elongate element about opposite side regions of the track in a folded figure eight pattern. A first turn of th

An apparatus for managing lengths of flexible elongate elements between two fixed points has a single spool with a track of predetermined width sufficient for winding alternate turns of the elongate element about opposite side regions of the track in a folded figure eight pattern. A first turn of the elongate element is wound about a first side region of the track, then the element is crossed over to the second side region of the track and a second turn is wound about the second side region of the track. The elongate element is crossed back over to the first side region and a third turn is wound about the first side region. The process is repeated until at least the majority of the slack between the fixed points on the element has been taken up.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for managing a length of optical fiber between two fixed points, comprising: a spool having an outwardly directed winding track; a length of optical fiber wound on the spool, the fiber extending between two fixed points on the fiber which are spaced outward

The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for managing a length of optical fiber between two fixed points, comprising: a spool having an outwardly directed winding track; a length of optical fiber wound on the spool, the fiber extending between two fixed points on the fiber which are spaced outwardly from the wound length of fiber and the spool winding track and not secured to the spool; the winding track having opposite first and second side edges, a first side region extending around the circumference of the track adjacent the first side edge, a second side region extending around the circumference of the track adjacent the second side edge, and a central region between the first and second side regions, the track having a radius greater than the minimum bend radius of the optical fiber to be managed; and the first side region and second side region receiving alternating, successive windings of the length of optical fiber, each winding extending in a circumferential direction about the respective side region, with the optical fiber crossing over from one side region to the other side region between successive windings at a cross over area in the central region of the track, whereby a folded figure eight pattern is formed. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one guide member associated with the spool and projecting radially outwards from the central region of the track. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the winding track is of predetermined width at least equal to the width of the guide member plus at least two times the width of a length of optical fiber to be wound on the track. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the track has opposite side edges and the spool has a pair of annular rims projecting from opposite side edges of the track. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spool has a central opening extending axially through the spool. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is a ribbon fiber. 7. An apparatus for managing a length of a flexible elongate element between two fixed points, comprising: a spool having an outwardly directed winding track; the winding track having opposite first and second side edges, a first side region extending around one side of the track adjacent the first side edge, a second side region extending around the opposite side of the track adjacent the second side edge, and a central region between the first and second side regions; the first side region and second side regions receiving alternating, successive windings of a flexible elongate element with the flexible elongate element crossing over from one side region to the other side region between successive windings at a cross over area in the central region of the track, whereby a folded figure eight pattern is formed; at least one guide member projecting radially outwards from the central region of the track; and a mounting device, the guide member comprising a stand-off clip having a first end secured to the track and a second end secured to the mounting device. 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the stand-off clip is releasably secured to the track. 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the stand-off clip is releasably secured to the mounting device. 10. An apparatus for managing a length of optical fiber between two fixed points, comprising: a spool having an outwardly directed winding track; the winding track having opposite first and second side edges, a first side region extending around one side of the track adjacent the first side edge, a second side region extending around the opposite side of the track adjacent the second side edge, and a central region between the first and second side regions, the track having a radius greater than the minimum bend radius of the optical fiber to be managed; the first side region and second side region receiving alternating, successive windings of a length of optical fiber with the optical fiber crossing over from one side region to the other side region between successive windings at a cross over area in the central region of the track, whereby a folded figure eight pattern is formed; at least one guide member projecting radially outwards from the central region of the track; and the guide member is integrally formed with the track. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mounting device holding the spool. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of spools mounted on the mounting device, and a plurality of lengths of optical fiber, each length wound on a respective spool. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the mounting device comprises a mounting base and a hub extending from one face of the base, the spool having a central opening which engages over the hub. 14. An apparatus for managing a length of a flexible elongate element between two fixed points, comprising: a spool having an outwardly directed winding track; the winding track having opposite first and second side edges, a first side region extending around one side of the track adjacent the first side edge, a second side region extending around the opposite side of the track adjacent the second side edge, and a central region between the first and second side regions; the first side region and second side regions receiving alternating, successive windings of a flexible elongate element with the flexible elongate element crossing over from one side region to the other side region between successive windings at a cross over area in the central region of the track, whereby a folded figure eight pattern is formed; a mounting device for holding the spool, the mounting device comprising a mounting base and a hub extending from one face of the base, the spool having a central opening which engages over the hub; and the spool having an inner annular face and a pair of diametrically opposed guide ribs project inwardly from the inner face of the spool, and the hub having a pair of diametrically opposed guide recesses for receiving the guide ribs when the spool is engaged over the hub. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the hub is of predetermined length for releasably receiving a plurality of spools in a stacked relationship over the hub. 16. An apparatus for managing a length of a flexible elongate element between two fixed points, comprising: a spool having an outwardly directed winding track and opposite first and second side edges; a first winding region extending circumferentially around the spool on one side of the track adjacent the first side edge; a second winding region extending circumferentially around the spool on the opposite side of the track adjacent the second side edge; and alternating, successive turns of a flexible elongate element extending between two fixed points which are spaced from and not secured to the spool wound alternately in a circumferential direction about the first and second winding regions with the flexible elongate element crossing over from one winding region to the other winding region between successive turns in a cross over area so that a folded figure eight pattern is formed; and a mounting device secured to the spool between the first and second side regions which holds the spool in a fixed, non-rotatable position during winding of the flexible elongate element. 17. A method of managing a length of optical fiber between two fixed points of the length of optical fiber, comprising: positioning a winding spool between two fixed points on a length of optical fiber which are separate from the spool and located at respective first and second positions which are spaced away from the spool in opposite directions, the spool having a central axis and a winding track, the winding track having a circumference; winding a first turn of the length of optical fiber extending between the two fixed points in a circumferential direction around at least a major portion of the circumference of a first side region of the track while passing the fiber over one axial end of the spool; crossing the optical fiber over to an opposite, second side region of the track in a cross over area in a central region of the track, whereby a first cross over portion of the length of optical fiber in the cross over area extends at an angle to the direction of the first turn; winding a second turn of the length of optical fiber in a circumferential direction around at least a major portion of the circumference of the second side region of the track parallel to the winding direction of the first turn while passing the fiber over an opposite axial end of the spool; crossing the optical fiber back over to the first side region of the track at the cross over area, whereby a second cross over portion of the length of optical fiber in the cross over area extends towards the first side region at an angle to the direction of the second turn; and repeating the preceding four steps until at least the majority of the slack in the length of the optical fiber between the fixed points is taken up and the spool and wound length of fiber are located between the two fixed points on the fiber which are both spaced from the spool. 18. A method of managing a length of optical fiber between two fixed points of the fiber, comprising: positioning a winding spool having a central axis and a winding track between two fixed points on a length of optical fiber; winding a first turn of the length of optical fiber extending between the two fixed points around a first side region of the track; crossing the fiber over to an opposite, second side region of the track in a cross over area in a central region of the track; winding a second turn of the fiber around the second side region of the track; crossing the fiber back over to the first side region of the track at the cross over area; repeating the preceding four steps until at least the majority of the slack in the length of the optical fiber between the fixed points is taken up; the steps of crossing the optical fiber over from one side region of the track to the other side region of the track comprise crossing first from the first side region located to one side of a guide member projecting radially outwardly from a central region of the track to the second side region of the track located on the opposite side of the guide member, and subsequently crossing from the second side region of the track back to the first side region of the track, the guide member acting as a guide for windings on opposite side regions of the track; and removing the guide member from the track after the winding is complete and subsequently mounting the winding spool on a mounting device. 19. A method of managing a length of a flexible, elongate element between two fixed points of the element, comprising: mounting a winding spool having a winding track in a fixed, non-rotating position between two fixed points on a length of a flexible elongate member which are completely separate from the spool and not secured to the spool; winding a first turn of the length of elongate member extending between the two fixed points around a first side region of the track while passing the member around a first axial end of the spool; crossing the member over to an opposite, second side region of the track in a cross over area in a central region of the track; winding a second turn of the member around the second side region of the track while passing the member around a second axial end of the spool; and crossing the member back over to the first side region of the track at the cross over area; and repeating the preceding four steps until at least the majority of the slack in the length of the elongate member between the fixed points is taken up. 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the fiber initially enters the track approximately at the central region of the track before the first turn is wound around the first side region of the track. 21. A method of splicing fibers to extend between two fiber containing devices and managing excess length of fiber between the devices after splicing, which comprises: adjusting a first length L1 of a first fiber pigtail extending from a first fiber optic device and second length L2 of a second fiber pigtail extending from a second fiber optic device so that the total fiber length L=L1+L2 is substantially equal to l1+l2+nπd, where d is the diameter of each winding groove, n is an integer, and l1 and l2 are the distances from the respective fiber optic devices to the point where fiber joins a winding track on a winding spool located between the fiber optic devices; splicing the ends of the adjusted length first and second fiber pigtails together; and winding the length of spliced fiber around the spool in a folded figure eight pattern until at least the majority of the slack in the spliced fiber between the fiber optic devices is taken up. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of winding the length of spliced fiber comprises winding the fiber in a first turn about a first side region of the spool track, crossing the fiber over to a second side region of the track, winding a second turn about the second side region of the track, crossing the fiber back to the first side region of the track, and repeating the preceding four steps until at least the majority of the slack in the spliced fiber is taken up. 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the pigtail lengths are adjusted such that the total spliced fiber length L=l1+l2+n.π.d+c, where ε is a compensation factor based on variation in winding diameter as a result of plural turns of the fiber being wound on top of one another. 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising reworking the spliced fiber length in the event of fiber damage, the reworking step comprising removing a length of fiber spanning the damaged portion, the removed length being substantially equal to qπd, where q is an integer, and re-splicing the fiber. 25. The method of claim 21, wherein n is an even number, whereby substantially no twist is introduced in the fiber during winding. 26. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the ribbon fiber is a spliced optical ribbon fiber. 27. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the elongate element is a spliced optical ribbon fiber. 28. The method of claim 17, wherein the optical fiber is a spliced optical ribbon fiber. 29. The method of claim 21, wherein the optical fiber is optical ribbon fiber. 30. A method of managing a length of a flexible, elongate member between two fixed points of the flexible elongate member, comprising: positioning a winding spool having a central axis and a winding track between two fixed points on a length of a flexible elongate member, the spool having opposite first and second axial ends which are both free and unobstructed and the fixed points on the elongate member being spaced from the spool and not connected to the spool; winding a first turn of the flexible elongate member extending between the two fixed points around a first side region of the track in a circumferential direction around the track while passing the elongate member over the first axial end of the track; crossing the flexible elongate member over to an opposite, second side region of the track in a cross over area in a central region of the track; winding a second turn of the flexible elongate member around the second side region of the track in a circumferential direction around the track while passing the elongate member over the second axial end of the track; crossing the flexible elongate member back over to the first side region of the track at the cross over area; and repeating the preceding four steps until at least the majority of the slack in the length of the elongate member between the fixed points is taken up and the spool and windings of the elongate member are located between the two fixed points on the elongate member which are both spaced away from the spool and windings. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the elongate member is optical fiber. 32. An apparatus for managing a length of a ribbon member between two fixed points on the ribbon member, comprising: a spool having an outwardly directed winding track and opposite axial ends; a length of ribbon member extending between two fixed points on the ribbon member which are not connected to the spool; the winding track having a width greater than twice the width of the ribbon member; the winding track having opposite first and second side edges, a first winding region extending around the spool on one side of the track adjacent the first side edge, a second winding region extending around the spool on the opposite side of the track adjacent the second side edge, and a central region between the first and second winding regions; successive turns of the length of ribbon member extending between the two fixed points being wound alternately in a circumferential direction about the first and second winding regions with the ribbon member crossing over from one winding region to the other winding region between successive turns in the central region so that a folded figure eight pattern is formed and the spool and wound length of ribbon member are located between the two fixed points on the ribbon member which are spaced from the spool and wound length of ribbon member; and the first face of the ribbon member facing outwardly from the spool in each turn of the length of ribbon member wound on the spool.