Abstract: Circularly polarized light is used to detect an end point of a thin film layer. Collimated light is passed through a polarizing filter and a polarizing beam splitter resulting in light which is almost entirely linearly polarized in a first direction. This first direction polarized light is passed through a quarter wave retarder and is converted to circularly polarized light. The circularly polarized light is reflected off of a surface having a thin film layer and passes back through the quarter wave retarder. This reflected circularly polarized light is converted by the quarterwave retarder into linearly polarized light having a second direction. This second direction polarized light is easily isolated by passing it back through the beam splitter. The light may then be analyzed by end-point detection circuitry and the end-point of the film layer detected.

Abstract: A quick release closure for bottles which provides access to fluids contained therein. The closure includes a U-shaped spider portion having two opposed pairs of legs, and a disk-shaped plug portion having two opposed pairs of slots for receiving the legs and for fitting within the spider. Each leg includes an inward facing lip at a distal end for engaging a flange around a bottle neck, and an outward seal face for abutting an O-ring encircling the plug. The legs also include, at a proximal end, an inward facing wedge for engaging the slots of the plug whereby the legs may be urged outward as the plug rides up over the wedge. The plug further includes a ring-shaped cavity for sealingly receiving the mouth of a bottle, and a pair of fluid channels, having internal openings formed within the ring-shaped cavity, and external openings formed between the slots of the plug.

Abstract: A bottle closure device having a stem member with an enlarged top portion, a collar resiliently biased away from the top portion, a retainer member on the end of the stem, and an O-ring between the retainer member and the collar. When the end of the stem is placed within the mouth of a bottle, the biasing means acts to cause the retainer member to press the O-ring radially outward against the collar to form a fluid-tight seal with the mouth of the bottle.

Abstract: An automatic vent valve having a stoppage member within a flow chamber located between an inlet chamber and vent chamber with said stoppage member being biased against a lower seat. The stoppage member moves between said lower seat and an upper seat in response to pressure changes associated with the operation of a positive displacement pump which either overcomes said biasing means or allows said biasing means to function. During the movement of the stoppage member between the upper and lower seats a flow path exists between the inlet chamber and vent chamber such that gases and/or fluid are vented on each stroke of the pump.

Abstract: A system for the metered pumping and dispensing of fluid includes a filter for the pumped fluid and a pump connected to the filter. The pump is of the displacement type which includes a tubular, longitudinally-contractable bellows to receive fluid for pumping, fluid-activated reciprocating means to expand and contract the bellows, and means to selectively introduce working fluid to the reciprocating means. A rigid fluid-tight chamber is formed to surround the bellows, and means are provided to selectively introduce working fluid into chamber, whereby the working fluid assists in contracting the bellows as well as in partially balancing the internal pressure on the bellows.