GB2126048A - Distributing frame - Google Patents

Abstract

A distributing frame is provided having a plurality of distributing blocks (1) which are spaced from one another and which are arranged beside and above one another in rows and columns. In order to facilitate the introduction of jumper wires into the narrow gaps between the individual distributing blocks (1) jumper wire guide means (3, 3a) are arranged at the upper front and/or rear edge zones of the distributing blocks (1) arranged beside one another in a row and extend continuously over the blocks. The jumper wire guide means may be in the form of continuous rods (3) or individual elements (3a) associated with respective blocks (1), the adjacent ends of which abut to form a continuous guide means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Distributing frame The present invention relates to a distributing frame for use in a telephone exchange having a plurality of distributing blocks which are spaced from one another and are arranged beside and above one another in rows and columns.

Such distributing frames with a plurality of distributing blocks (which are also referred to as "main distributors") serve to connect each external line of a telephone cable network to any internal line of a telephone exchange. In older distributing trames, components were used as distributor blocks which had smaller dimensions than the modern distributing blocks currently available. If older distributing frames are now equipped with modern distributing blocks, the connection of jumper wires, which is difficult anyway, is rendered more difficult as a result of the only narrow interspaces which now remain between the distributing blocks on the distributing frame, since insertion of jumper wires may be necessary behind any distributing block.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a distributing frame having a plurality of spaced distributing blocks arranged in rows and columns, in which the connection of jumper wires on the distributing frame is facilitated for assembly personnel.

According to the invention, there is provided a distributing frame comprising a plurality of spaced distributing blocks arranged beside and above one another in rows and columns, and continuous jumper wire guide means extending along the top front and/or rear edge regions of the distributing blocks forming a row.

Because of the continuous guide edges which in the distributing frame of the invention are formed by the jumper wire guide means at the front and/or the rear of the upper side along all the distributing blocks in each row and along which the jumper wires can slide, the guidance of the jumper wires no longer involves any particular difficulty. The jumper wire can easily be guided laterally at the required height between the adjacent rows of distributing blocks. When the required bay has been reached the jumper wire is drawn from above; it falls into the horizontal jumper channel and can now be inserted into the jumper openings between the vertical components and connected.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a plurality of distributing blocks forming part of a distributing frame according to the invention, illustrating two alternative forms of jumper guide; and Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the distributing block arrangement of Figure 1.

For clarity, in the drawing, only those parts are shown which serve to illustrate the invention.

Referring to the drawings, a plurality of individual distributing blocks 1 are connected to an actual distributing frame (which is not illustrated) by means of holders 2 (Figure 2). The holders 2 for the distibuting blocks can, of course, have constructions other than that shown in the drawing.

Jumper wire guide means in the form of rods 3, 3a, of a predetermined cross-sectional shape, for exampie, round rods made of metal or synthetic resin, are arranged to form a continuous jumper wire-deflecting edge along the upper front and rear edge zones of the distributing blocks which are arranged one beside another in a row.

It is thus rendered possible to guide a jumper wire 5, which has been brought to the required height from the bottom in the distributing frame behind the distributing blocks 1, laterally in the required direction without any great difficulty, i.e. it can be guided to the required bay without getting caught between the individual distributing blocks during the lateral guidance.

The lateral guidance is particularly facilitated if a continuous jumper wire guide means 3 is arranged both at the front and rear upper edge regions of the distributing blocks 1 forming a row, but the provision of a jumper wire guide means 3 at the rear edge regions of the distributing blocks 1 is basically sufficient. As shown in Fig. 2, jumper wire pins or clips 4, by means of which the jumper wire 5 which is vertically led to the top in the distributing frame, is held during its lateral guidance, are provided on the holders 2.

As shown at 3 in the upper part of Figures 1 and 2, the jumper wire guide may run continuously at the top front and/or rear edge regions of the blocks forming a row from one end of the distributing frame to the other end thereof.

However, it may possibly be desirable to divide each wire guide jumper means into individual elements which are respectively assigned to the individual distributing blocks and which are of such a length at the respective ends of any such element abut against the ends of adjacent elements so as to form a continuous jumper wire guide edge. This construction makes possible a particularly simple exchange of individual distributing blocks 1. Such individual jumper wire guide elements are indicated at 3a in the lower part of Figures 1 and 2.

Conveniently the jumper wire guide means 3 or 3a may be constructed to be telescopically extensible. In this way, a tolerance compensation is possible, so that the individual jumper wire guide means or elements do not have to have an accurately preset length. if, in the distributing frame illustrated, individual jumper wire guide elements are used, it is also possible to bridge the interspaces produced as a result of missing distributing blocks in a simple manner. At the same time, it is also possible in this case to reequip with the missing distributing blocks in a simple way.

The jumper wire guide means arranged at the rear edge regions of the blocks may conveniently be directly connected to the holders 2 of the distributing blocks and thereby connected to the distributing frame, so that the jumper wire guide means do not have to be taken into account during exchange of distributing blocks.

Claims (6)

Claims

1. A distributing frame comprising a plurality of spaced distributing blocks arranged beside and above one another in rows and columns, and continuous jumper wire guide means extending along the top front and/or rear edge regions of the distributing~blocks forming a row.

2. A distributing frame as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said jumper wire guide means are in the form of continuous rods of predetermined crosssectional shape.

3. A distributing frame as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said jumper wire guide means are each formed from a plurality of individual elements, each assigned to a respective distributing block and adjacent ends of which abut to form a continuous jumper wire guide edge.

4. A distributing frame as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein said jumper wire guide means are telescopically extensible.

5. A distributing frame as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the jumper wire guide means for each row of distributing blocks is secured to a holder or holders for the distributing blocks of this row in the distributing frame.

6. A distributing frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawing.