Optical connector with ferrule interference fit

An optical connector having a front and back orientation, said connector comprising:

• a ferrule comprising a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (COE), and having a first diameter at a first temperature, and a second diameter at a second temperature, said ferrule also comprising an endface;
• a housing comprising a second material having a second COE, said housing having a restricted borehole having a third diameter at said first temperature, and a fourth diameter at said second temperature;
• a resilient member disposed in said housing and in contact with said ferrule to apply a forward urging force to said ferrule;
• wherein said connector has a first and second configuration, in said first configuration, said second COE is greater than said first COE, said first diameter is greater than said third diameter such that said connector is in an interference state at said first temperature, and said second diameter is less than said fourth diameter such that said connector is in a clearance state at said second temperature, in said second configuration, said second COE is less than said first COE, said first diameter is less than said third diameter such that said connector is in said clearance state at said first temperature, and said second diameter is greater than said fourth diameter such that said connector is in said interference state at said second temperature;
• and
• wherein said connector is in said interference state for a majority of its operating temperature range.

A method for assembling a connector, said connector comprising a ferrule, a housing, and a resilient member, said ferrule having an outer diameter, said housing having a restricted borehole having an inner diameter, said method comprising:

• (a) either heating said housing or cooling said ferrule such that clearance between said outer diameter of said ferrule and said inner diameter of said restricted borehole is achieved,
• (b) after step (a), inserting said ferrule into said restricted borehole of said housing,
• (c) disposing said resilient member in said housing to urge the ferrule forward relative to said housing, and
• (d) after steps (b) and (c), allowing the temperature of said housing to drop or the temperature of said ferrule to raise such that said connector transitions from a clearance state to an interference state while said ferrule is biased forward with said resilient member.

A method for disassembling a connector, said method comprising:

• (a) providing said connector comprising a ferrule, a housing and a resilient member, said ferrule comprising a first material and having a first diameter at said first temperature and a second diameter at a second temperature higher than said first temperature, said housing comprising a second material having a coefficient of thermal expansion different form that of said first material, and having a restricted borehole having a third diameter at said first temperature and a fourth diameter at said second temperature, said connector has a first and second configuration, in said first configuration, said second COE is greater than said first COE, said first diameter is greater than said third diameter such that said connector is in an interference state at said first temperature, and said second diameter is less than said fourth diameter such that said connector is in a clearance state at said second temperature, in said second configuration, said second COE is less than said first COE, said first diameter is less than said third diameter such that said connector is in said clearance state at said first temperature, and said second diameter is greater than said fourth diameter such that said connector is in said interference state at said second temperature;
• (b) either heating said connector of said first configuration to said second temperature or cooling said connector of said second configuration to said first temperature such that said connector transitions to a clearance state, said first and second temperature being within said operating temperature range;
• (c) removing said ferrule form said housing.