Patent ID: 6513218
Filing Date: 2003-02-04
Classification: B09B,G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for extracting a fiber from a ferrule-fiber assembly, said assembly comprisinga ferrule having a central capillary opening and an entry cone at one end of said capillary opening; a metallic housing attached to and surrounding a portion of said ferrule including said entry cone and having a central opening; a fiber situated within said central opening of said metallic housing and within said capillary opening of said ferrule; and an adhesive resin for securing the fiber in said central opening of said metallic housing and in said entry cone and capillary opening of said ferrule; said method comprising the steps of:immersing said ferrule-fiber assembly in a first acid solution to remove the metallic housing; immersing said ferrule-fiber assembly in a second acid solution to remove said adhesive resin which was located within the central opening of said metallic housing and within said entry cone of said ferrule; and heating and applying a tensile load to said ferrule-fiber assembly to thermally degrade said adhesive resin within said capillary opening of said ferrule and to extract said fiber from said ferrule-fiber assembly.