Cable management panel with sliding drawer and methods
An optical fiber cable management panel includes drawer assemblies, each including a drawer slidable within a chassis. The drawer assemblies are secured together by a bracket that includes an interlock arrangement with the chassis. Such an interlock arrangement includes a non-threaded stud engaging a hole. Radius limiters may be part of the drawer assembly and include a cable entry aperture have a closed perimeter and a flared cable guide surface around most of, and preferably all of, the closed perimeter to allow for the entry of cables from all directions. A control mechanism controls movement of the radius limiter relative to the drawer assembly. The control mechanism includes a rotating member that has an axis of rotation transverse to the slidable motion of the radius limiter and normal to the radius limiter.
1. A cable management assembly, comprising:
a) a chassis;
b) a drawer;
c) a slide that provides a sliding interconnection between the drawer and the chassis;
d) a radius limiter having a curved cable trough and a hinged cover attached to the curved trough section; and
e) a control mechanism that provides synchronized movement of the radius limiter relative to the drawer.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the radius limiter further includes a bell-mouth portion that leads into the curved cable trough.
3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the bell-mouth portion of the radius limiter is partially defined by the hinged cover.
4. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the bell-mouth portion of the radius limiter is partially defined by a flared cable guide surface that extends along a perimeter of the cable trough.
5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hinged cover of the radius limiter includes a finger portion that extends across the curved cable trough and a flared portion interconnected to the finger portion, and wherein the curved cable trough includes a flared cable guide surface, the flared portion of the hinged cover and the flared cable guide surface of the curved cable trough defining a cable entry aperture having a closed, contoured perimeter that limits the bend of cables entering and exiting the radius limiter.
6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the radius limiter further includes a latching arrangement configured to latch the hinged cover in a closed position.
7. The assembly of claim 1 , further including a mounting bracket for mounting the cable management assembly to a frame, the mounting bracket having an interlock arrangement that connects together the chassis of the cable management assembly with another chassis of another cable management assembly.
8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the interlock arrangement includes a plurality of stub members provided on one of the chassis and the mounting bracket, and a plurality of holes formed in the other of the chassis and the mounting bracket.
9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism includes a wheel having an axis of rotation that is normal to the radius limiter.
10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the wheel contacts each of a sidewall of the chassis and a surface of the drawer to provide the synchronized movement of the radius limiter relative to the drawer.
11. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the wheel includes a compressible O-ring.
12. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the control mechanism further includes a bracket and an axle, the wheel being mounted on the axle.
13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the bracket is positioned within an elongated slot formed in the drawer.
14. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the bracket includes a catch arranged to engage a stop member provided on the chassis, the catch and stop member preventing separation of the drawer from the chassis.
15. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism includes an elongated bracket having a projection arrangement, the control mechanism being mounted to the radius limiter by the projection arrangement.
16. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the drawer has a sidewall-free construction.
17. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hinged cover is attached to the curved cable trough by a snap-fit connection.