IP Library Granted Patent US 7,574,094
Granted Patent B2
US 7,574,094 · App. 12/186,869 · Granted Aug 11, 2009

Fiber drop receiving device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,574,094
App. No.
12/186,869
Granted
Aug 11, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical fiber drop receiving device may include a housing assembly including a duct entry port for receiving a drop conduit. A drop receiving cylinder may be rotatably mounted in the housing assembly and connected to the duct entry port. The drop receiving cylinder may be configured to receive a fiber drop and a flow of pressurized air from the duct entry port. The drop receiving cylinder may include an escape port for providing an outlet for the flow of pressurized air. The flow of pressurized air through the escape port may cause the drop receiving cylinder to rotate within the housing assembly. The rotation of the drop receiving cylinder may enable winding of the received fiber drop inside the drop receiving cylinder.

Claims (54)

1. A drop receiving device comprising:

a housing that includes a duct entry port;

a receiving channel to:

receive an optical fiber from the duct entry port, and

receive a flow of pressurized air from the duct entry port; and

a drop receiving cylinder, rotatably mounted in the housing and including at least one air escape port, to:

rotate upon application of the flow of pressurized air from the receiving channel, and

accept a length of the optical fiber in response to the rotation.

2. The drop receiving device of claim 1 , where the duct entry port includes one or more duct seals to reduce an amount of air escaping from the duct entry port.

3. The drop receiving device of claim 1 , where the housing includes:

an outer housing, and

a back plate assembly,

where the outer housing is releasably connected to the back plate assembly via one or more fastening mechanisms.

4. The drop receiving device of claim 3 , where the back plate assembly further comprises:

a first section that includes the receiving channel, and

a second section connected to the first section, where the second section provides an axis for the rotation of the drop receiving cylinder.

5. The drop receiving device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a cover to close a top portion of the drop receiving cylinder and prevent the flow of pressurized air from escaping from the drop receiving cylinder except through the at least one air escape port.

6. The drop receiving device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a shield that includes an inner portion to receive an inner portion of the drop receiving cylinder.

7. The drop receiving device of claim 6 , where the shield is cylindrical in shape and includes a plurality of ventilation holes.

8. The drop receiving device of claim 1 , where the length of the optical fiber includes a predetermined length.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving a drop in a drop receiving cylinder;

rotating the drop receiving cylinder based on a flow of pressurized air; and

winding the drop in the rotating drop receiving cylinder.

10. The method of claim 9 , where the drop receiving cylinder is included within a drop receiving device, and

where the method further comprises:

installing the drop receiving device at a drop terminating location.

11. The method of claim 10 , where the drop receiving device further includes an entry port and a receiving channel that connects to the drop receiving cylinder and the entry port, and

where the method further comprises:

receiving the drop in the receiving channel.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving the flow of pressurized air in the receiving channel, and

passing the drop and the pressurized air to the drop receiving cylinder.

13. The method of claim 9 , where the drop receiving cylinder includes one or more air escape ports, and

where the air from the flow of pressurized air escapes through the one or more air escape ports.

14. The method of claim 13 , where the escape of air through the one or more air escape ports causes the rotating of the drop receiving cylinder.

15. The method of claim 9 , where the winding causes a predetermined length of drop to be received.

16. A drop receiving device comprising:

a drop receiving cylinder to:

receive a drop and a flow of pressurized air, the flow of pressurized air causing the drop receiving cylinder to rotate, and

wind the drop inside the drop receiving cylinder in response to the rotation.

17. The drop receiving device of claim 16 , where the drop receiving cylinder includes:

a plurality of escape ports, the drop receiving cylinder rotating in response to air from the flow of pressured air escaping from the plurality of escape ports.

18. The drop receiving device of claim 16 , further comprising:

a housing that includes a duct entry port, the duct entry port including one or more duct seals to reduce an amount of air escaping from the duct entry port.

19. The drop receiving device of claim 16 , where the housing includes:

an outer housing, and

a back plate assembly,

where the outer housing is releasably connected to the back plate assembly via one or more fastening mechanisms.

20. The drop receiving device of claim 19 , where the back plate assembly further comprises:

a first section that includes a receiving channel that connects to the duct entry port and the drop receiving cylinder, and

a second section connected to the first section, where the second section is to provide an axis for the rotation of the drop receiving cylinder.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2021
From: WEAVER, PATRICK ALLEN
To: VERIZON SERVICES CORP.
Reel/Frame 055178/0965 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2009
From: VERIZON SERVICES CORP.
To: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
Reel/Frame 023235/0251 →