A structured cabling system includes a plurality of data cables (6A-6F), one end of each cable being secured to a jack of a multiple jack assembly (1) and the other end of each cable being secured to an individual jack (9A-9F) located within a protective enclosure (11). The individual cables are mechanically secured to at least the protective enclosure (11) and/or a strain relief member (8) within the cable bundle is secured to the protective enclosure (11). The entire assembly may be pre-formed under factory conditions and delivered to an installation site. The multiple jack assembly (1) may then be secured, preferably by snap-fitting, to a rack assembly and the protective enclosure (10) may be used to draw the entire cable length to the required position. Once the cable is in position the protective enclosure (10) is discarded and the jack secured to their final use positions. In an alternative embodiment the protective enclosure forms a housing for jacks (9A-9F) in their final use position and may, for example, be snap-fitted to a floor box for this purpose.
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1. A structured cabling system comprising:
a plurality of individual data cables, each data cable defining opposite first and second ends and including eight separate wires,
a multiple jack assembly containing a plurality of first jacks, a separate first jack being associated with a separate data cable, all eight wires at a first end of each data cable being electrically connected to the same associated first jack,
a plurality of second jacks, a separate second jack being associated with a separate data cable, all eight wires at a second end of each data cable being electrically connected to the same associated second jack, and
a protective enclosure surrounding said plurality of second jacks.
12. A method of installing a structured cabling system at a use site which comprises the steps of
(a) providing a structure structured cabling system which includes a plurality of individual data cables, each data cable defining opposite first and second ends and including eight separate wires, a multiple jack assembly containing a plurality of first jacks, a separate first jack being associated with a separate data cable, all eight wires at a first end of each data cable being electrically connected to the same associated first jack, a plurality of second jacks, a separate second jack being associated with a separate data cable, all eight wires at a second end of each data cable being electrically connected to the same associated second jack, and a protective enclosure surrounding said plurality of second jacks,
(b) delivering said structured cabling system to the use site,
(c) conveying said multiple jack assembly to a first location at said use site for installation in a support housing, and
(d) conveying said protective enclosure with second jacks to a second location at said use site for installation of at least one of said second jacks at said second location.
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3. A structured cabling system according to
4. A structured cabling system according to
6. A structured cabling system according to
7. A structured cabling system according to
8. A structured cabling system according to
9. A structured cabling system according to
10. A structured cabling system according to
11. A structured cabling system according to
13. A method according to
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Referring now to
In use, the protective enclosure 11 would be closed by means of a cover which forms a snap-fit with the base 10. The enclosure protects the individual jacks 9A-9F and allows strain to be applied to the composite cable without applying strain to the terminations of the individual cables to the IDC connectors. Preferably, a pulling eye 12 is formed in the protective enclosure to allow a pulling rope to be attached to the protective enclosure. Alternatively, if appropriate strain relief is provided at the multiple jack assembly end, a pulling rope may be attached to the multiple jack assembly to enable the multiple jack assembly to be pulled towards its eventual location.
The exact point at which the individual data cables 6A-6F are formed into the composite cable 7 will depend on the nature of the data installation in question. However, over he the majority of the distance between the multiple jack assembly 1 and the protective enclosure 11 the cables will be in the form of a single composite cable to facilitate easy handling of the complete assembly. In some instances, the act of laying the individual cables will form a composite cable of the required structural integrity. However, in general it is envisaged that some means would be provided for holding the composite cable in its composite form. Such means may, for example include over-wrapping of the cable with a suitable film material. The means used for holding the cable into its composite form will be chosen having due regard to the need to be able to bend the composite cable without imposing undue strain on any one individual cable within the composite.
Termination of the individual data cables to the individual Jacks 9A-9F, i.e., the connection of the individual wires in the data cables to respective contacts of the jacks, and subsequent testing, is accomplished under factory conditions.
Once a complete cabling assembly comprising multiple jack assembly, data cables, individual jacks and protective enclosures has been formed and tested under factory conditions, it will be transported to site. To this end, a carrier is preferably provided. The carrier preferably includes a drum for receiving the data cables and means for accommodating and holding the multiple jack assembly and the protective enclosure. Several complete cable assemblies may be mounted on the same delivery device depending on their length. The carrier is transported to site by any suitable means, for example, road transport, and is taken to the general area where the structured cabling installation is required. In general, a rack arrangement will be provided in a comms room or cabinet. In the case of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rack is provided with a plurality of individual housings 13 (
Having snap-fitted a multiple jack assembly 1 into tie correct position in the associated housing 13, the data cables are guided through the communication enclosure by conventional means or by use of special purpose clips 16 as illustrated in
It will be appreciated that the entire data installation process, as outlined above, can be effected on site without disturbing the terminations between the data cables and their associated jacks. Further, no on-site testing of the completed installation is necessary.
Although in general it will be desirable to start the cable laying exercise from the comms cabinet/comms room by installing the multiple jack assembly to its associated housing and then laying the cable to the required position, it is to be understood that under certain circumstances it may be desirable to start the cable laying exercise at the individual jack end of the assembly and lay the cable to the comms cabinet/comms room where the multiple jack assembly is secured in position.
In one embodiment of the invention the data cables are provided in pairs connected together on a common line in a generally “8” shaped cross-sectional arrangement. In order to provide the six cables of the illustrated embodiment of the invention, three such double “8” cables are laid around the strain relief member 8. The resultant bundle may be secured together by any appropriate means, for example, adhesive bonding or binding. In the case of a six cable arrangement as illustrated, the three different “8” shaped cable pairs may be of different colours. One data cable of each pair preferably includes an appropriate indicator, for example a continuous or near continuous line of printed text. By this means each individual jack 9 can readily be associated with a particular one of the jacks of the multiple jack assembly by visual inspection.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention six individual cables are laid about a central strain relief member. The individual cables can be of any suitable type. Preferably, the cables are provided with end-to-end identification means, for example in the form of a continuous printed legend on each cable or in the form of coloured or raised identification strips or bumps. This will assist in identifying which jack of the multiple jack assembly is connected to which of the individual jacks at the remote end of the cable assembly. However, use of identifying characteristics on the cables is not essential if all termination is carried out under factory conditions. Preferably, each of the jacks has associated therewith indicia which may be used to identify which of the jacks at the multiple jack assembly is connected to which of the jacks at the remote end of the structured cable assembly. The indicia may be in the form of a labeling system. Preferably, the label or labels of the multiple jack assembly are visible from the rear of the assembly so that they can be viewed from the rear of the comms cabinet.
In some applications, for example those using Cat 6 cable, it may be desirable to position the individual cables within the bundle to reduce alien cross-talk. For example, it may be desirable to lay the cables in an A-B, A-B, A-B sequence around the strain relief member.
Referring now to
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the ends of the cables remote from the multiple jack assembly are not terminated to jacks. Accordingly, the structured cabling system as supplied comprises a plurality of cables aeh each terminated to a multiple jack assembly, the cables being bundled with a strain element to enable the bundle cable to be drawn into the required position. With such an arrangement, individual termination is necessary on site, but such termination is restricted to the ends of the data cable remote from the comms cabinet or room.
In yet a further alternative embodiment both ends of the cable are terminated in multiple jack assemblies each substantially identical to the other. Both multiple jack assemblies are preferably of the form illustrated in
It is envisaged that, in many instances, each cable assembly will be manufactured to a specific length determined by the particular installation. Such specific lengths may be identified by site survey or from scaled plans of the proposed installation site. It is envisaged, however, that cable assemblies may be manufactured in a range of predetermined standard lengths. It is expected that manufacture of assemblies to predetermined standard lengths will be somewhat more economic than individual manufacture to specific lengths and in the circumstances where standard length cables may be utilized for a particular installation this may provide a more economic solution to the installation problem than the use of individually manufactured cables.
Referring now to
Whilst the invention has been described with particular reference to copper cabled arrangements it will be appreciated that the principles of the present invention may be applied to optical fibre arrangements if an optical fibre system is required.
Weatherley, Richard, James, Jason Lee
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