Cable management in rack systems
A rack system includes one or more racks each configured to receive at least one distribution module. Each rack includes management sections located at the front of the rack; troughs located at the rear of the rack; horizontal channels extending between the management sections and the trough; a storage area located at a first of opposing sides of the rack; a front vertical channel that connects to the storage area and at least some of the management sections; and a travel channel at the rear of the first rack that connects the storage area to the troughs.
1. A rack system comprising:
a first rack having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, and opposing sides;
a plurality of mounting sections located on the first rack, each mounting section being configured to receive at least one distribution module;
a plurality of management sections positioned at the front of the first rack, each management section including at least one bend radius limiter, wherein each management section is associated with at least one of the mounting sections;
a plurality of troughs at the rear of the first rack, each trough corresponding to at least one distribution section;
a plurality of horizontal channels located on the first rack, each horizontal channel extending between one of the management sections at the front of the first rack and one of the troughs at the rear of the first rack;
a storage area located at a first of the opposing sides of the first rack, the storage area including a plurality of management spools;
a first front vertical channel at the front of the first rack that connects to the storage area and at least some of the management sections; and
a first travel channel at the rear of the first rack that connects to the storage area and the troughs.
2. The rack system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each horizontal channel is located below the respective management section and extends beneath the respective distribution module.
3. The rack system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a second storage area is located at a second of the opposing sides of the first rack, the second storage area including a plurality of management spools.
4. The rack system as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising:
a second front vertical channel at the front of the first rack that connects to the second storage area and others of the management sections; and
a second travel channel at the rear of the first rack that connects to the second storage area and the troughs.
5. The rack system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the management sections each also include at least one retention finger positioned between the management section and the associated mounting section.
6. The rack system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the management sections each include a plurality of retention fingers for each distribution module that the associated mounting section is configured to receive.
7. The rack system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least a first distribution module mounted to one of the mounting sections of the first rack, the first distribution module including a plurality of cable ports accessible from a front of the first rack.
8. The rack system as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising a patch cable extending between first and second ends, the first end being plugged into one of the cable ports of the first distribution module.
9. The rack system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the second end is plugged into a cable port of a second distribution module installed at one of the mounting sections of the first rack, wherein excess length of the patch cable is stored in the storage area of the first rack.
10. The rack system as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising a second rack at which at least a second distribution module is installed, the second rack having management sections located at a front of the second rack, travel sections located at a rear of the second rack, and a storage area located at a first side of the second rack, wherein the second end of the patch cable is plugged into a cable port of the second distribution module.
11. The rack system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein at least a third rack is located between the first and second racks.
12. The rack system as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising:
at least a first distribution channel extending vertically along the rear of the first rack, and
at least a first distribution cable routed through the first distribution channel to the first distribution module, the distribution cable being plugged into cable ports located at a rear of the first distribution module, the first distribution cable carrying signals that pass through the first distribution module to the patch cable.
13. The rack system as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising:
at least a first additional routing channel extending vertically along the rear of the first rack; and
at least a first additional cable routed through the first additional routing channel to the first distribution module.
14. The rack system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first distribution channel is located between the first travel channel and the first additional routing channel.
15. The rack system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first additional cable carries power to the first distribution module.
16. The rack system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first additional cable connects the first distribution module to a communications network for transmission of physical layer information.