Ferrule cleaning rod and method of use

In a fiber optic connector of the type having a ferrule mounted within a connector adapter housing, wherein the ferrule has a protruding free end portion and an end face, and there is an annular crevice between an outer surface of the protruding end portion of the ferrule and an inner surface of the protruding end portion of the adapter housing, the combination with a device for simultaneously cleaning, degreasing, and polishing the end face of the ferrule and an end face of an optical fiber contained within the ferrule, the device comprising a rod having at least one opening formed in an end portion of the device, the opening having a predetermined size and shape that approximately corresponds to the size and shape of the ferrule, the opening having a predetermined depth that approximately corresponds to the depth of the crevice such that when the rod opening is placed over the ferrule a sidewall of the rod at the opening extends down the entire length of the protruding end portion of the ferrule down to a bottom of the crevice, wherein the rod further includes an insert located within the opening, the insert having a working surface, said working surface being fixed with respect to said rod, the insert adaptable to be placed into physical contact with both the end face of the ferrule and the end face of the optical fiber, the insert working surface comprising cleaning, degreasing, and polishing means for cleaning, degreasing, and polishing both the end face of the ferrule and the end face of the optical fiber.

In a fiber optic connector of the type having a ferrule mounted in a connector adapter housing, wherein the ferrule has a protruding free end portion with an outer surface section and an adjacent end face, the combination with a device for simultaneously cleaning, degreasing, and polishing the outer surface section of the protruding end portion of the ferrule, the end face of the ferrule, and an exposed end face of an optical fiber contained within the ferrule, the device comprising a rod having at least one recess formed in an end portion of the device, the recess having a predetermined opening that approximately corresponds to the size and shape of the ferrule, the recess having a predetermined depth that corresponds to at least part of the length of the protruding end portion of the ferrule such that, when the recess is slid over the protruding ferrule's end face and down the ferrule's outer surface section, the recess has inner working surfaces that are operable to simultaneously contact the outer surface section of the protruding ferrule, the end face of the protruding ferrule, and the end face of the optical fiber, wherein the working surfaces comprise means for cleaning, degreasing, and polishing the outer surface portion of the protruding end portion of the ferrule, the end face of the ferrule, and the exposed end face of the optical fiber, and wherein the working surfaces comprise an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene ("UHMWPE") hydrophobic material, said surfaces being fixed with respect to said rod.

A method of cleaning and polishing a fiber optic cable of the type having an optical fiber contained within a ferrule, wherein the ferrule has a free end with an exposed end face of the fiber, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a rod, with a recessed end, made of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene ("UHMWPE") hydrophobic material;
• inserting the recessed end of the rod over the free end of the ferrule;
• sliding the recessed end down over the ferrule toward another end of the ferrule, until an end wall, fixed with respect to said rod, within the recessed end abuts the end faces of the ferrule and fiber;
• and rotating the rod to polish, degrease and otherwise clean the end faces of the ferrule and fiber with the UHMWPE material within the recessed end.