Dynamic fiber slack management for telecom racks

摘要

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for managing and storing excess amounts of fiber-optic cable in a telecom rack. According to one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a fiber-optic cable slack take-up device attached to an arm. The arm is mounted to a supporting member attached to a side of the telecom rack and movable from a first stored position to a second deployed position. Access to the fiber-slack take-up device is provided by situating the arm in the second position. Situating the arm in the stored position places the slack take-up assembly, along with the excess fiber-optic cable, out of the way of operators working in the equipment aisle. Further embodiments provide means for safe-guarding the minimum bend radius of fiber-optic cable being used. The apparatus and method are useful for overcoming the space requirements of in-rack fiber storage systems known in the art.