Abstract: A field installable optical fiber connector is provided, the connector including an inner housing defining an interior passageway extending longitudinally between a forward end and a rearward end, a first connector subassembly inserted through the rearward end of the inner housing into the interior passageway thereof. In one embodiment, the first connector subassembly includes a ferrule holder having a ferrule disposed within the ferrule holder, and an optical fiber stub disposed within the ferrule. In another embodiment, the first connector subassembly also includes a flange disposed at a first end of the ferrule holder, a spring element and a spring element retainer slidably mounted on the ferrule holder, and a collar mounted on a second end of the ferrule holder so as to capture the spring and the spring element retainer between the flange and the collar.

Abstract: A quick connector with an accessory housing. The accessory housing receives a system sensing device such as an absolute pressure sensor or a differential pressure sensor in fluid tight relation to the housing. A receptacle portion is arranged to connector the sensor to measuring instrumentation.

Abstract: A bridge accessible by a host processor can expand access over a first bus to a second bus. The first bus and the second bus are each adapted to separately connect to respective ones of a plurality of bus-compatible devices. Allowable ones of the devices include memory devices and input/output devices. The bridge has a link, together with a first and a second interface. The first interface is coupled between the first bus and the link. The second interface is coupled between the second bus and the link.

Abstract: A configurable control valve for use with air brake systems is provided. This control valve includes: a first or top body portion, a second or bottom body portion, and a connector for attaching the first body portion to the second body portion. The first body portion may include an actuator or handle having either a linear translation a rotational translation, and the second body portion may include either horizontal or vertical port configurations. The connector cooperates with the first body portion and the second body portion to provide complete 360° lateral rotation of the body portions relative to one another.

Abstract: A ferrule assembly having highly protruding optical fibers and a corresponding method of efficiently, precisely and repeatedly fabricating the ferrule assemblies are provided. In this regard, a ferrule assembly is provided that includes a plurality of optical fibers extending at least about 3.5 ?m beyond the front face. The end portions of the optical fibers of the ferrule assembly may also be substantially coplanar with the end portions of the optical fibers differing in position from one another by no more than 100 nm. The ferrule assembly may be efficiently fabricated by polishing the optical fibers to a desired protrusion without first grinding or polishing the optical fibers to be flush with the front face of the ferrule. The ferrule assembly may be even more efficiently fabricated in instances in which the ferrule includes at least one polishing feature, such as an outwardly extending pedestal or a recessed portion.

Abstract: A pre-connectorized fiber optic distribution cable assembly includes a plurality of optical fibers and at least one mid-span access location along the length of the distribution cable. At least one of the optical fibers is accessed, terminated and then connectorized at the mid-span access location to an optical connector disposed within a receptacle. The mid-span access location, the accessed, terminated and connectorized optical fiber, the optical connector and at least a portion of the receptacle are encapsulated with a protective overmolded shell. A tether including at least one optical fiber connectorized at a first end of the tether is optically connected to the optical connector through the receptacle. A second end of the tether opposite the first end terminates in a network optical connection terminal, thereby compensating for a span length measurement difference between the actual location of the mid-span access and the desired location of the optical connection terminal.

Abstract: An optical ferrule is provided with a ferrule body having a front face and at least one covering applied to the front face to protect the front face of the ferrule from a laser beam used during a trimming process. The optical ferrule may also have a second covering disposed between the front face of the ferrule and the first covering to assist in adhering the first covering to the optical ferrule. A method is also provided for applying the first covering or the first covering and the second covering to the front face of the ferrule. A method is also provided for trimming, and in particular, ablating portions of one or more optical fibers that protrude beyond the front face of the ferrule.

Abstract: A laundry dryer having a tumbler with airflow openings of generally triangular shape with rounded transverse sides and opposed ends configured to permit passage of round heads of standard drywall screws when oriented parallel to the long dimension of the opening, while preventing the passage of standard collar buttons having a diameter no greater than the diameter of the drywall screw heads. Loose drywall screws within the tumbler are thereby permitted to pass harmlessly through the air flow openings in the rotating drum into the lint filter of the dryer without damage to the dryer nor interruption of the dryer operation.

Abstract: A fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly adapted to be mounted within an opening through a wall of a connection terminal. The receptacle and plug define complimentary alignment and keying features for ensuring that the plug is mated with the receptacle in a predetermined orientation. An alignment sleeve is disposed within the plug for receiving a multi-fiber receptacle ferrule and a multi-fiber plug ferrule. The fiber optic receptacle and corresponding plug each include a biasing member assembly for urging the receptacle ferrule and the plug ferrule towards one another, wherein the biasing member assembly includes a round spring, a spring centering cuff and a ferrule boot that operatively engage the rear of the receptacle ferrule and the plug ferrule, respectively, to substantially center a spring biasing force on the end face of the receptacle ferrule and the plug ferrule.

Abstract: A carton and blank for forming a carton of the top gripping type for accommodating a plurality of containers. The carton is tubular in structure and has top and base spaced, opposed panels. The base panel has apertures each for receiving a container. The base panel also has a foldable retaining tab hingedly connected thereto for operatively engaging part of the respective container. The carton also has a retaining structure depending from the top panel. The retaining structure comprises an engagement panel with an engaging edge to engage at least one of the containers.

Abstract: A panel-mountable fiber optic splice is provided for interconnecting first and second optical fibers through an opening in a panel, bulkhead, wall or the like. The optical fiber splice includes a housing configured to be inserted into the opening in the panel, a splice holder disposed within an internal passageway defined by the housing, first and second splice members disposed within an internal cavity defined by the splice holder, and a cam member disposed about the splice holder for actuating the first and second splice members between a first, unactuated position for inserting the first and second optical fibers between the splice members and a second, actuated position for securing the first and second optical fibers between the splice members.

Abstract: A fiber optic mechanical splice connector including a single connector element operable for providing optical fiber alignment and strain relief includes opposed splice components that define first and second grooves for receiving the bare glass portions of mating optical fibers, as well as the coated or buffered portion of at least one of the optical fibers when the splice components are biased together by an actuator. The mating optical fibers are aligned while the coated or buffered portion of one of the optical fibers is retained within the same connector element, thus eliminating positioning problems that occur when separate connector elements are utilized for fiber alignment and strain relief. The splice components may be unbiased to allow removal of at least one of the mating optical fibers without destroying the connector assembly or potentially damaging the optical fibers.

Abstract: A multimedia racing experience system is provided including a plurality of input devices, such as cameras, microphones, and telemetry sensors. All input devices communicate with an on-vehicle processing unit for multiplexing the input data into a data stream. The data stream is then transferred to a central location for display or recording on playback media.

Abstract: A convection oven that achieves a substantially enhanced degree of air flow through the use of a special nozzle design. Turbo flow air nozzles create an air flow pattern to provide higher velocity airflow with a smaller fan size and ductwork. The turbo flow air nozzles include main supply nozzles that direct high velocity air through air entrainment and mixing sections that entrain air from the oven interior to generate the increased air flow in a heat transfer zone of the oven. Appropriate ductwork is provided to direct air from a fan or fans to the supply nozzles to generate a high velocity air flow therethrough.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for generating a homogeneous aqueous mist solution containing a solvent such as water and a biocide agent such as chlorine dioxide, which would otherwise be unstable. The unstable biocide agent or chlorine dioxide is quickly dissolved or mixed with a mist of solvent causing the biocide agent to co-exist or co-mist therewith. The mist microencapsulates the biocide gas so that it does not decompose in the fumigation volume or space. The resulting homogenous mist solution provides a mist for delivering the biocide agent in a chemically stable form. Methods for mixing the separately generated mist and biocide gas include combining the mists in a Y-tube and then mixing the combination in a baffled mixing chamber, combining the mists in an area above their points of generation and then further mixing, and providing a series of mist generation units connected by a conduit for a carrier medium to pass to and connect the units and cause the mists to combine.

Abstract: A freight management arrangement includes a monitor system that communicates over wireless with a large number of freight assets by land and with smaller number of users each associated with a fleet of the freight assets. The monitor system polls sensed ambient data in the freight assets on the basis of requests from the users. The requests may be stored as data in the monitor system or occur on a real-time basis.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention includes an upper frame mounted on a support structure, such as a truck, building, or billboard, three adjustable frame assemblies mounted on the support structure below the upper frame, and sheet material having an upper sheet tab inserted into the upper frame and lower, right, and left sheet tabs inserted into the adjustable frame assemblies. The frame assemblies can be adjusted to vary the tension in the sheet material between the upper frame and the adjustable frame assemblies. The method includes the steps of inserting the upper sheet tab into the upper frame, inserting the right, left, and lower sheet tabs into the adjustable frame assemblies, and adjusting the adjustable frame assemblies so that the sheet material is pulled taut between the upper frame and the adjustable frame assemblies.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for packaging a horticultural product, especially cut flowers, for transportation, one or more stems are inserted through a flexible foam block formed from a low density, low compression force material disposed in an opening of container such that the foam is compressed. The compression of the foam forms a water-tight seal around each stem to prevent water or other liquid inside the container from leaking during shipment of the horticultural product and insulates each stem from each other stem.

Abstract: Microwave apparatus for measuring the blood flow rate in a patient's blood vessel includes an intravascular catheter having proximal and distal ends and containing an inner coaxial cable forming a first antenna and an outer cable coaxial with the inner cable and forming a second antenna, the first antenna extending axially beyond the second antenna a selected distance. The apparatus also includes a control unit including a microwave transmitter, a microwave receiver and a processor controlling the transmitter and receiver. A diplexer is connected between the first and second antenna and the control unit to couple signals from the transmitter to the second antenna but not to the receiver and to couple signals from the first antenna to the receiver but not to the transmitter. The transmitter transmits microwave pulses to the first antenna which heat blood around that antenna. When the heated blood volume flows to the second antenna this is detected at the receiver which produces a detect signal.

Abstract: A testing apparatus is described with a housing, a power source, a carrier assembly, and a backbone connecting the carrier assembly to the power source. A resource board is disposed on the carrier assembly and is connected thereto, thereby receiving power from the power source through the carrier assembly. The resource board is adapted to perform a test on a device under test and to generate data reflecting results of the test on the device under test. A test pin assembly is disposed at one end of the resource board and is connectable with a loadboard. A controller operatively connects to the power supply, the carrier assembly, and the resource board. The controller is adapted to communicate with the resource board to execute instructions to test the device under test. The controller also receives the result data from the resource board, permitting analysis of the device under test.