Abstract: A fuel tank assembly for vehicles including a fuel tank shell having reduced wall thickness, accordingly resulting in a reduced total mass of the tank assembly. The fuel tank shell comprises two half shells connected to one another and having at least one support member attached thereto for providing structural support to the fuel tank shell. In particular, the support member may be positioned internally or externally to the fuel tank with such a positioning being selected so as to offer support in at least one area where the stress level exerted on the fuel tank shell is maximum.

Abstract: A fuel tank assembly for vehicles comprising a fuel tank shell having reduced wall thickness, accordingly resulting in a reduced total mass of the tank assembly. The fuel tank shell comprises two half shells connected to one another and having at least one support member attached thereto for providing structural support to the fuel tank shell. In particular, the support member may be positioned internally or externally to the fuel tank with such a positioning being selected so as to offer support in at least one area where the stress level exerted on the fuel tank shell is maximum.

Abstract: A fiber management frame and an interconnection closure including the fiber management frame are provided for securely retaining optical fiber connection trays once the closure is placed into service, while also permitting access to any of the trays to reconfigure the connections of the optical fibers without disturbing the remaining trays. The fiber management frame includes a support for holding at least one such tray selected from the group consisting of a splice tray, a coupler tray, and a connector panel. The fiber management frame may also include a bias member, such as one or more tension members, for urging each tray toward the support. As such, the bias member releasably secures each tray to the support. The fiber management frame may also include at least one adjustable member, such as an upstanding bracket, that cooperates with the support to define a space for housing at least one tray.

Abstract: A fiber management frame and an interconnection closure including the fiber management frame are provided for securely retaining optical fiber connection trays once the closure is placed into service, while also permitting access to any of the trays to reconfigure the connections of the optical fibers without disturbing the remaining trays. The fiber management frame includes a support for holding at least one such tray selected from the group consisting of a splice tray, a coupler tray, and a connector panel. The fiber management frame may also include a bias member, such as one or more tension members, for urging each tray toward the support. As such, the bias member releasably secures each tray to the support. The fiber management frame may also include at least one adjustable member, such as an upstanding bracket, that cooperates with the support to define a space for housing at least one tray.

Abstract: A fiber management frame and an interconnection closure including the fiber management frame are provided for securely retaining optical fiber connection trays once the closure is placed into service, while also permitting access to any of the trays to reconfigure the connections of the optical fibers without disturbing the remaining trays. The fiber management frame includes a support for holding at least one such tray selected from the group consisting of a splice tray, a coupler tray, and a connector panel. The fiber management frame may also include a bias member, such as one or more tension members, for urging each tray toward the support. As such, the bias member releasably secures each tray to the support. The fiber management frame may also include at least one adjustable member, such as an upstanding bracket, that cooperates with the support to define a space for housing at least one tray.

Abstract: A fiber optic NID includes a base defining an interior cavity and a protective cover. A backplate shaped, sized, and configured to be positioned within the internal cavity defines a first fiber management area, a second fiber management area, and a fiber connecting area. The fiber connecting area includes a raised platform having a connection tray, an adapter, and a routing guide positioned on the platform and secured thereto. The connection tray optically joins an optical fiber of a feeder cable from the first fiber management area to a first connector and an optical fiber of a distribution cable from the second fiber management area to a second connector. The first connector and the second connector are routed along the routing guide to the adapter and optically joined to connect the optical fiber of the feeder cable and the optical fiber of the distribution cable.

Abstract: A fiber optic NID includes a base defining an interior cavity and a protective cover. A backplate shaped, sized, and configured to be positioned within the internal cavity defines a first fiber management area, a second fiber management area, and a fiber connecting area. The fiber connecting area includes a raised platform having a connection tray, an adapter, and a routing guide positioned on the platform and secured thereto. The connection tray optically joins an optical fiber of a feeder cable from the first fiber management area to a first connector and an optical fiber of a distribution cable from the second fiber management area to a second connector. The first connector and the second connector are routed along the routing guide to the adapter and optically joined to connect the optical fiber of the feeder cable and the optical fiber of the distribution cable.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable closure for containing optical fibers of a dispersion-managed network. The fiber optic closure has a housing with a cavity, and at least one bridge optical fiber disposed within the cavity. The bridge optical fiber having a first end configured to optically connect to a first optical fiber with a first dispersion characteristic. A second end of the bridge optical fiber is configured to optically connect with a second optical fiber having a second dispersion characteristic. In one embodiment, the fiber optic cable closure includes a fiber optic cassette within the cavity of the housing when assembled.

Abstract: A fiber management frame and an associated interconnection closure are provided that may be configured to house splice connections or to connect pre-connectorized optical fibers by means of connector sleeves. The fiber management frame includes a frame, at least one optical fiber connection tray, and a connector platform including at least one connector sleeve. The connector platform may be detachably mounted to the frame such that the connector platform is removable. In order to provide access to the connector platform, the connector platform may also be slidably connected to the frame. The fiber management frame facilitates routing of the optical fibers. For example, the fiber management frame may include stacks of connector sleeves that are spaced from adjacent stacks to define a gap therebetween through which optical fibers may be routed. The connector platform may also include at least one routing guide for guiding optical fibers to respective connector sleeves.

Abstract: A distribution terminal is provided for interconnecting one or more fiber optic drop cables with at least one fiber optic distribution cable at a convenient access point in a telecommunications network. The terminal comprises a base and a cover adapted to be opened and closed on the base. The base defines an interior cavity having a lower fiber management area for accessing the distribution cable and an upper fiber management area for accessing the drop cables. The upper fiber management area includes a transition panel that is movable relative to the base to provide access to the lower fiber management area. Thus, both the lower fiber management area and the upper fiber management area are easily and readily accessible to a field technician initially installing the terminal and subsequently reconfiguring the optical fiber connections within the terminal at the access point.

Abstract: A distribution terminal is provided for interconnecting one or more fiber optic drop cables with at least one fiber optic distribution cable at a convenient access point in a telecommunications network. The terminal comprises a base and a cover adapted to be opened and closed on the base. The base defines an interior cavity having a lower fiber management area for accessing the distribution cable and an upper fiber management area for accessing the drop cables. The upper fiber management area includes a transition panel that is movable relative to the base to provide access to the lower fiber management area. Thus, both the lower fiber management area and the upper fiber management area are easily and readily accessible to a field technician initially installing the terminal and subsequently reconfiguring the optical fiber connections within the terminal at the access point.

Abstract: A fiber management frame and a closure are provided that are adapted to be utilized in a universal manner for both FTTH and FTTC applications. The closure includes a housing and the fiber management frame disposed within the housing. The fiber management frame includes a back panel attached to the housing and four separate compartments for routing optical fibers and, in FTTC applications, electrical conductors. In FTTH applications, the first compartment receives express optical fibers of the fiber optic feeder cable, while in FTTC applications, the first compartment receives at least one electrical conductor of the electrical feeder cable. The second compartment is proximate the first compartment. In FTTH applications, the second compartment stores at least one coupler tray that splits a first optical fiber of the fiber optic feeder cable into a plurality of second optical fibers. In FTTC applications, the second compartment receives express optical fibers of the fiber optic feeder cable.

Abstract: A fiber optic closure includes a panel assembly having at least two planar panels affixed to another in a hinged manner. The panel assembly includes a storage bay sandwiched between a pair of fiber connection management assemblies. Each fiber connection management assembly includes a sleeve connector panel that supports one or more sleeve connector arrays within which fiber optic cable connectors may be inserted to establish fiber optic connections. The panel assembly also provides a conventional splice panel having splice holders within which splice connections are established. It is preferred to position the splice panel directly adjoining the sleeve connector panel. In this manner, a craftsperson can easily form custom sleeve connections within the fiber optic closure by splicing connectors onto selected optical fibers utilizing the splice panel and then interconnecting the connectors with opposing connectors utilizing the sleeve connector panel.

Abstract: A fiber optic closure includes a panel assembly having at least two panels hinged to one another. The panel assembly includes a storage bay sandwiched between a pair of fiber management and connection assemblies. Each fiber management and connection assembly includes a sleeve connector panel that supports at least one sleeve connector array for establishing optical fiber connections. The splice panel having splice tube holders is also provided for establishing splices. The splice panel may further have at least one coupler cassette for splitting at least one input optical fiber into two or more output optical fibers. Preferably, the splice panel is positioned adjacent the sleeve connector panel so that a craftsperson can easily form custom sleeve connections within the fiber optic closure utilizing the splice panel to splice connectors onto selected optical fibers and utilizing the sleeve connector panel to interconnecting the connectors with opposing connectors.

Abstract: A converting assembly and method for creating an in-line closure from a first end cap and a first support frame of a butt-type closure includes a second support frame and a second end cap. An elongate housing defines an internal cavity, a front opening at the front end of the housing, and a rear opening at the rear end of the housing. The front and rear openings are contemporaneously respectively occluded by the first and second end caps while the first end cap is connected to the front end of the first support frame and the second end cap is connected to the rear end of the second support frame. The front end of the second support frame is connected to the rear end of the first support frame so that the first and second support frames are enclosed within the internal cavity defined by the housing.

Abstract: A fiber management frame having a movable work platform and an interconnection closure including the fiber management frame are provided for supporting and securely retaining various sized optical fiber connection trays and test equipment adjacent the fiber management frame, while also permitting a technician to readily support and retain any one of the trays without damaging the optical connections housed by the trays. The work platform includes a generally planar shelf and a bias member positioned on the shelf opposite a pair of upwardly and inwardly extending first outer flanges. The bias member biases the tray in the direction of the first outer flanges so as to securely retain the tray between the bias member and the first outer flanges. Preferably, the work platform is hingedly mounted to the fiber management frame such that the work platform can be rotated between an operational position and a stowed position.

Abstract: A fiber management frame and an associated interconnection closure are provided that may be configured to house splice connections or to connect pre-connectorized optical fibers by means of connector sleeves. The fiber management frame includes a frame, at least one optical fiber connection tray, and a connector platform including at least one connector sleeve. The connector platform may be detachably mounted to the frame such that the connector platform is removable. In order to provide access to the connector platform, the connector platform may also be slidably connected to the frame. The fiber management frame facilitates routing of the optical fibers. For example, the fiber management frame may include stacks of connector sleeves that are spaced from adjacent stacks to define a gap therebetween through which optical fibers may be routed. The connector platform may also include at least one routing guide for guiding optical fibers to respective connector sleeves.

Abstract: A fiber management frame having a movable work platform and an interconnection closure including the fiber management frame are provided for supporting and securely retaining various sized optical fiber connection trays and test equipment adjacent the fiber management frame, while also permitting a technician to readily support and retain any one of the trays without damaging the optical connections housed by the trays. The work platform includes a generally planar shelf and a bias member positioned on the shelf opposite a pair of upwardly and inwardly extending first outer flanges. The bias member biases the tray in the direction of the first outer flanges so as to securely retain the tray between the bias member and the first outer flanges. Preferably, the work platform is hingedly mounted to the fiber management frame such that the work platform can be rotated between an operational position and a stowed position.

Abstract: A fiber management frame and an interconnection closure including the fiber management frame are provided for securely retaining optical fiber connection trays once the closure is placed into service, while also permitting access to any of the trays to reconfigure the connections of the optical fibers without disturbing the remaining trays. The fiber management frame includes a support for holding at least one such tray selected from the group consisting of a splice tray, a coupler tray, and a connector panel. The fiber management frame may also include a bias member, such as one or more tension members, for urging each tray toward the support. As such, the bias member releasably secures each tray to the support. The fiber management frame may also include at least one adjustable member, such as an upstanding bracket, that cooperates with the support to define a space for housing at least one tray.