Buried fiber optic system including a sub-distribution system and related methods
View Patent ↗A buried fiber optic cable system includes a distribution cable extending along a buried route, a splice enclosure connected to the distribution cable along the buried route, and a first sub-distribution fiber optic system extending along the buried route in a first direction away from the fiber optic splice enclosure. The first sub-distribution system may include spaced apart fiber optic taps along the buried route, a first sub-distribution fiber optic cable between the fiber optic splice enclosure and a first fiber optic tap, and at least one second sub-distribution fiber optic cable between adjacent fiber optic taps so that the first sub-distribution fiber optic cable and the at least one second sub-distribution fiber optic cable are arranged in end-to-end relation. The system may also or alternately include a similar lateral sub-distribution system.
1. A buried fiber optic cable system comprising:
a distribution fiber optic cable extending along a buried route;
at least one fiber optic splice enclosure connected to said distribution fiber optic cable along the buried route; and
a first sub-distribution fiber optic system extending along the buried route in a first direction away from said at least one fiber optic splice enclosure and comprising
a plurality of spaced apart fiber optic taps along the buried route,
a first sub-distribution fiber optic cable extending along the buried route between said at least one fiber optic splice enclosure and a first one of said plurality of fiber optic taps,
at least one second sub-distribution fiber optic cable extending along the buried route between adjacent fiber optic taps so that said first sub-distribution fiber optic cable and said at least one second sub-distribution fiber optic cable are arranged in end-to-end relation, and
at least one drop fiber optic cable extending away from the buried route at at least one of said fiber optic taps.
2. A buried fiber optic cable system according to claim 1 wherein each of said sub-distribution fiber optic cables comprises a desired length of cable and a fiber optic cable connector on at least one end thereof.
3. A buried fiber optic cable system according to claim 2 wherein each fiber optic cable connector comprises a factory installed fiber optic cable connector.
4. A buried fiber optic cable system according to claim 1 wherein each of said fiber optic taps comprises:
a tap housing;
an input fiber optic connector carried by said tap housing for coupling to a preceding sub-distribution fiber optic cable;
an output fiber optic connector carried by said tap housing for coupling to a succeeding sub-distribution fiber optic cable; and
a plurality of drop fiber optic connectors carried by said tap housing for coupling to respective drop fiber optic cables.
5. A buried fiber optic cable system according to claim 4 wherein each of said fiber optic taps further comprises a fiber optic splitter carried by said tap housing.
6. A buried fiber optic cable system according to claim 1 further comprising a second sub-distribution fiber optic system extending along the buried route in a second direction opposite the first direction.
7. A buried fiber optic cable system according to claim 1 further comprising a respective optical network unit connected to each drop fiber optic cable.
8. A buried fiber optic cable system comprising:
a distribution fiber optic cable extending along a buried route;
at least one fiber optic splice enclosure connected to said distribution fiber optic cable along the buried route; and
a first sub-distribution fiber optic system extending along the buried route in a first direction away from said at least one fiber optic splice enclosure and comprising
a plurality of spaced apart fiber optic taps along the buried route, each tap comprising a tap housing and a plurality of tap fiber optic connectors carried thereby,
a first sub-distribution fiber optic cable extending along the buried route between said at least one fiber optic splice enclosure and a first one of said fiber optic taps, and
at least one second sub-distribution fiber optic cable extending along the buried route between adjacent fiber optic taps so that said first sub-distribution fiber optic cable and said at least one second sub-distribution fiber optic cable are arranged in end-to-end relation,
said first sub-distribution fiber optic cable and said at least one second sub-distribution fiber optic cable each comprising a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable.
9. A buried fiber optic cable system according to claim 8 wherein said first sub-distribution fiber optic system further comprises at least one drop fiber optic cable extending away from the buried route at at least one of said fiber optic taps.
10. A buried fiber optic cable system according to claim 9 wherein each of said plurality of fiber optic taps comprises:
an input fiber optic connector for coupling to a preceding sub-distribution fiber optic cable;
an output fiber optic connector for coupling to a succeeding sub-distribution fiber optic cable; and
a plurality of drop fiber optic connectors for coupling to respective drop fiber optic cables.
11. A buried fiber optic cable system according to claim 10 wherein each of said fiber optic taps further comprises a splitter carried by said tap housing.
12. A buried fiber optic cable system according to claim 8 further comprising a second sub-distribution fiber optic system extending along the buried route in a second direction opposite the first direction.
13. A buried fiber optic cable system comprising:
a distribution fiber optic cable extending along a buried route;
at least one fiber optic splice enclosure connected to said distribution fiber optic cable along the buried route;
a forward sub-distribution fiber optic system extending along the buried route in a forward direction away from said at least one fiber optic splice enclosure; and
a backward sub-distribution fiber optic system extending along the buried route in a backward direction;
each of said forward and backward sub-distribution fiber optic systems comprising at least one fiber optic tap along the buried route, and a first sub-distribution fiber optic cable extending along the buried route between said at least one fiber optic splice enclosure and a first fiber optic tap.
14. A buried fiber optic cable system according to claim 13 wherein each of said forward and backward sub-distribution fiber optic systems further comprises at least one drop fiber optic cable extending away from the buried route at at least one of said fiber optic taps.
15. A buried fiber optic cable system according to claim 14 wherein said tap fiber optic connectors comprise:
an input fiber optic connector for coupling to a preceding sub-distribution fiber optic cable;
an output fiber optic connector for coupling to a succeeding sub-distribution fiber optic cable; and
a plurality of drop fiber optic connectors for coupling to respective drop fiber optic cables.
16. A buried fiber optic cable system according to claim 15 wherein each of said fiber optic taps further comprises a splitter carried by said tap housing.
17. A buried fiber optic cable system comprising:
a distribution fiber optic cable extending along a buried route;
at least one fiber optic splice enclosure connected to said distribution fiber optic cable along the buried route; and
a lateral sub-distribution fiber optic system extending outwardly from the buried route in a lateral direction away from said at least one splice enclosure and comprising
a plurality of spaced apart fiber optic taps, each tap comprising a tap housing and a plurality of tap fiber optic connectors carried thereby,
a first lateral sub-distribution fiber optic cable extending between said at least one splice enclosure and a first one of said fiber optic taps, and
at least one second lateral sub-distribution fiber optic cable extending between adjacent fiber optic taps so that said first lateral sub-distribution fiber optic cable and said at least one second lateral sub-distribution fiber optic cable are arranged in end-to-end relation,
said first lateral sub-distribution fiber optic cable and said at least one second lateral sub-distribution fiber optic cable each comprising a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable.
18. A buried fiber optic cable system according to claim 17 wherein said lateral sub-distribution fiber optic system further comprises at least one drop fiber optic cable extending away from at least one of said fiber optic taps.
19. A buried fiber optic cable system according to claim 18 wherein each of said plurality of fiber optic taps comprises:
an input fiber optic connector for coupling to a preceding lateral sub-distribution fiber optic cable;
an output fiber optic connector for coupling to a succeeding lateral sub-distribution fiber optic cable; and
a plurality of drop fiber optic connectors for coupling to respective drop fiber optic cables.
20. A buried fiber optic cable system according to claim 19 wherein each of said fiber optic taps further comprises a splitter carried by said tap housing.
21. A method for installing a buried fiber optic cable system comprising:
installing a fiber optic distribution cable along a buried route;
connecting at least one fiber optic splice enclosure to the fiber optic distribution cable along the buried route; and
installing a first fiber optic sub-distribution system extending along the buried route in a first direction away from the at least one fiber optic splice enclosure by
installing a plurality of spaced apart fiber optic taps along the buried route,
installing a first sub-distribution fiber optic cable extending along the buried route between the at least one fiber optic splice enclosure and a first one of the fiber optic taps,
installing at least one second sub-distribution fiber optic cable extending between adjacent fiber optic taps so that the first sub-distribution fiber optic cable and the at least one second sub-distribution fiber optic cable are arranged in end-to-end relation, and
installing at least one drop fiber optic cable extending outwardly from the buried route at at least one of the fiber optic taps.
22. A method according to claim 21 further comprising adding at least one drop fiber optic cable to the first fiber optic sub-distribution system after an initial installation.
23. A method according to claim 21 wherein each of the first and at least one second sub-distribution fiber optic cables comprises a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable.
24. A method according to claim 22 wherein each of the fiber optic taps comprises:
a tap housing;
an input fiber optic connector carried by the tap housing for coupling to a preceding sub-distribution fiber optic cable;
an output fiber optic connector carried by the tap housing for coupling to a succeeding sub-distribution fiber optic cable; and
a plurality of drop fiber optic connectors carried by tap housing for coupling to respective drop fiber optic cables.
25. A method according to claim 24 wherein each of the fiber optic taps further comprises a fiber optic splitter carried by the tap housing.
26. A method according to claim 21 further comprising installing a second sub-distribution fiber optic system extending along the buried route in a second direction opposite the first direction.
27. A method according to claim 21 further comprising installing a respective optical network unit to each drop fiber optic cable.
28. A method for installing a buried fiber optic cable system comprising:
installing a fiber optic distribution cable along a buried route;
connecting at least one fiber optic splice enclosure to the fiber optic distribution cable along the buried route;
installing a forward sub-distribution fiber optic system extending along the buried route in a forward direction away from the at least one fiber optic splice enclosure; and
installing a backward sub-distribution fiber optic system extending along the buried route in a backward direction;
wherein installing the forward sub-distribution fiber optic system and installing the backward sub-distribution fiber optic system each comprises
installing at least one fiber optic tap along the buried route, and
installing a first sub-distribution fiber optic cable extending along the buried route between the at least one fiber optic splice enclosure and a first fiber optic tap.
29. A method according to claim 28 wherein each of the forward and backward sub-distribution fiber optic systems comprises at least one drop fiber optic cable extending away from the buried route at at least one of the fiber optic taps.
30. A method according to claim 28 wherein the first sub-distribution fiber optic cable comprises a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable.
31. A method according to claim 29 wherein the plurality of tap fiber optic connectors comprises:
an input fiber optic connector for coupling to a preceding sub-distribution fiber optic cable;
an output fiber optic connector for coupling to a succeeding sub-distribution fiber optic cable; and
a plurality of drop fiber optic connectors for coupling to respective drop fiber optic cables.
32. A method according to claim 31 wherein each of said fiber optic taps further comprises a splitter carried by said tap housing.
33. A method for installing a buried fiber optic cable system comprising:
connecting at least one fiber optic splice enclosure to a fiber optic distribution cable along a buried route; and
installing a first fiber optic sub-distribution system extending along the buried route in a first direction away from the at least one fiber optic splice enclosure by
installing a plurality of spaced apart fiber optic taps along the buried route,
installing a first sub-distribution fiber optic cable extending along the buried route between the at least one fiber optic splice enclosure and a first one of the fiber optic taps,
installing at least one second sub-distribution fiber optic cable extending between adjacent fiber optic taps so that the first sub-distribution fiber optic cable and the at least one second sub-distribution fiber optic cable are arranged in end-to-end relation, and
installing at least one drop fiber optic cable extending outwardly from the buried route at at least one of the fiber optic taps.
34. A method according to claim 33 further comprising adding at least one drop fiber optic cable to the first fiber optic sub-distribution system after an initial installation.
35. A method according to claim 33 wherein each of the first and at least one second sub-distribution fiber optic cables comprises a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable.
36. A method according to claim 34 wherein each of the fiber optic taps comprises:
a tap housing;
an input fiber optic connector carried by the tap housing for coupling to a preceding sub-distribution fiber optic cable;
an output fiber optic connector carried by the tap housing for coupling to a succeeding sub-distribution fiber optic cable; and
a plurality of drop fiber optic connectors carried by tap housing for coupling to respective drop fiber optic cables.
37. A method according to claim 36 wherein each of the fiber optic taps further comprises a fiber optic splitter carried by the tap housing.
38. A method for installing a buried fiber optic cable system comprising:
connecting at least one fiber optic splice enclosure to a fiber optic distribution cable along a buried route;
installing a forward sub-distribution fiber optic system extending along the buried route in a forward direction away from the at least one fiber optic splice enclosure; and
installing a backward sub-distribution fiber optic system extending along the buried route in a backward direction;
wherein installing the forward sub-distribution fiber optic system and installing the backward sub-distribution fiber optic system each comprises
installing at least one fiber optic tap along the buried route, and
installing a first sub-distribution fiber optic cable extending along the buried route between the at least one fiber optic splice enclosure and a first fiber optic tap.
39. A method according to claim 38 wherein each of the forward and backward sub-distribution fiber optic systems comprises at least one drop fiber optic cable extending away from the buried route at at least one of the fiber optic taps.
40. A method according to claim 38 wherein the first sub-distribution fiber optic cable comprises a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable.
41. A method according to claim 39 wherein the plurality of tap fiber optic connectors comprises:
an input fiber optic connector for coupling to a preceding sub-distribution fiber optic cable;
an output fiber optic connector for coupling to a succeeding sub-distribution fiber optic cable; and
a plurality of drop fiber optic connectors for coupling to respective drop fiber optic cables.
42. A method according to claim 41 wherein each of said fiber optic taps further comprises a splitter carried by said tap housing.
43. A method for installing a buried fiber optic cable system comprising:
connecting at least one fiber optic splice enclosure to a fiber optic distribution cable along a buried route; and
installing a lateral fiber optic sub-distribution system extending outwardly from the buried route in a lateral direction away from the at least one fiber optic splice enclosure by
installing a plurality of spaced apart fiber optic taps,
installing a first lateral sub-distribution fiber optic cable extending between the at least one fiber optic splice enclosure and a first one of the fiber optic taps, and
installing at least one second lateral sub-distribution fiber optic cable extending between adjacent fiber optic taps so that the first lateral sub-distribution fiber optic cable and the at least one second lateral sub-distribution fiber optic cable are arranged in end-to-end relation,
the first lateral sub-distribution fiber optic cable and the at least one second lateral sub-distribution fiber optic cable each comprising a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable.
44. A method according to claim 43 further comprising adding at least one drop fiber optic cable to the lateral fiber optic sub-distribution system after an initial installation.
45. A method according to claim 44 wherein each of the fiber optic taps comprises:
a tap housing;
an input fiber optic connector carried by the tap housing for coupling to a preceding lateral sub-distribution fiber optic cable;
an output fiber optic connector carried by the tap housing for coupling to a succeeding lateral sub-distribution fiber optic cable; and
a plurality of drop fiber optic connectors carried by tap housing for coupling to respective drop fiber optic cables.
46. A method according to claim 45 wherein each of the fiber optic taps further comprises a fiber optic splitter carried by the tap housing.