Abstract: A cleaning device (100) for cleaning fiber optic end faces comprises a dispensing nozzle (104) configured to discharge a jet column (118) generated by the Coanda effect with intermittent injection of a cleaning solvent into the jet column (118). The method comprises impinging the jet column (118) onto a fiber optic end face (120) while maintaining a stand-off distance from the end face being cleaned.

Abstract: A cleaning device (10, 110, 210) may be a card-like member such as a flap (16, 116), integrally formed with a dispenser container (12), or a slotted member (36) mounted on a stand-alone cleaning device (110). A cleaning wipe fabric (22, 122) has a modulus of stiffness which is high enough to bridge a plurality of cleaning slots (26a-26d, 126a-126d) and hold the fabric out of contact with the slot floor surfaces (26a?), and low enough to be deflected by a fiber optic end being cleaned to sag within the cleaning slot to better enclose and clean the tip of the fiber optic end. Used cleaning fabric (22, 122) can easily be advanced or removed as needed to avoid using the same area of fabric for cleaning more than once.

Abstract: An injection device (10) injects a dispensable fluid material (32), for example, a liquid sealant, into refrigerant lines of an air conditioning or refrigeration pressurized system, by utilizing the pressure difference between high and low pressure zones of the pressurized system. The device comprises a tube (12) which contains the dispensable fluid material (32) and is closed by an outlet valve (26). A movable member (34) houses a spring-loaded check valve (38) and is disposed downstream of and spaced from the outlet valve (26). The movable member (34) is movable within a passageway (24e) formed in an outlet tube connector (24). Upon being connected to a service port (17) of a pressurized system by an installation nut (28), movable member (34) is forced into engagement with the outlet valve (26) to open it to dispense fluid material (32) into service port (17).

Abstract: A cleaning device (10, 110, 210) may be a card-like member such as a flap (16, 116), integrally formed with a dispenser container (12), or a slotted member (36) mounted on a stand-alone cleaning device (110). A cleaning wipe fabric (22, 122) has a modulus of stiffness which is high enough to bridge a plurality of cleaning slots (26a-26d, 126a-126d) and hold the fabric out of contact with the slot floor surfaces (26a?), and low enough to be deflected by a fiber optic end being cleaned to sag within the cleaning slot to better enclose and clean the tip of the fiber optic end. Used cleaning fabric (22, 122) can easily be advanced or removed as needed to avoid using the same area of fabric for cleaning more than once.

Abstract: A fluid injection device (10) for injecting a dispensible fluid such as a liquid sealant (24) into an air conditioning or refrigeration system or the like, includes a tube (12, 12?, 12?) containing the fluid sealant in a storage chamber (26, 26?, 26?). Outlet valves conventionally used at the tube outlet are replaced with a rupturable membrane (28, 28?, 66). Means to rupture the membrane may comprise a puncture tool (32, 50), or the membrane may be designed to burst under pressure imposed on it in use. Use of membrane (28, 28?, 66) at the outlet of device 10 avoids problems caused by even very slight leakage of fluid sealant past an outlet valve. The fluid injection device (10) is used by connecting the tube inlet to a high pressure zone of the system and connecting the tube outlet to a low pressure zone of the system.

Abstract: An injection device (10) injects a dispensible fluid material (32), such as a liquid sealant, into pressurized refrigerant lines of an air conditioning or refrigeration pressurized system or the like, by utilizing the pressure difference between high and low pressure zones of the pressurized system. The device comprises a tube (12) which contains the dispensible fluid material (32) and is closed by an outlet valve (26). A movable member (34) houses a spring-loaded check valve (38) and is disposed downstream of and spaced from the outlet valve (26). The movable member (34) is movable within a passageway (24e) formed in an outlet tube connector (24). Upon being connected to a service port (17) of a pressurized system by an installation nut (28), movable member (34) is forced into engagement with the outlet valve (26) to open it to dispense fluid material (32) into service port (17).

Abstract: A cleaning device (10, 110, 210) may be a card-like member such as a flap (16, 116), integrally formed with a dispenser container (12), or a slotted member (36) mounted on a stand-alone cleaning device (110). A cleaning wipe fabric (22, 122) has a modulus of stiffness which is high enough to bridge a plurality of cleaning slots (26a-26d, 126a-126d) and hold the fabric out of contact with the slot floor surfaces (26a), and low enough to be deflected by a fiber optic end being cleaned to sag within the cleaning slot to better enclose and clean the tip of the fiber optic end. Used cleaning fabric (22, 122) can easily be advanced or removed as needed to avoid using the same area of fabric for cleaning more than once.

Abstract: A fluid injection device (10) for injecting a dispensible fluid such as a liquid sealant (24) into an air conditioning or refrigeration system or the like, includes a tube (12, 12?, 12?) containing the fluid sealant in a storage chamber (26, 26?, 26?). Outlet valves conventionally used at the tube outlet are replaced with a rupturable membrane (28, 28?, 66). Means to rupture the membrane may comprise a puncture tool (32, 50), or the membrane may be designed to burst under pressure imposed on it in use. Use of membrane (28, 28?, 66) at the outlet of device 10 avoids problems caused by even very slight leakage of fluid sealant past an outlet valve. The fluid injection device (10) is used by connecting the tube inlet to a high pressure zone of the system and connecting the tube outlet to a low pressure zone of the system.

Abstract: The cleaning head (30, 40, 44, 130) of a swab-like cleaning device (28, 36, 42, 134) for cleaning optical fiber end faces, especially the lens of expanded beam (“EB”) optical fibers, has a concave configuration of its cleaning surface (30a, 40a, 44a). This provides for effective engagement of the cleaning surface with the convex, e.g., spherical or nearly spherical, light transmission surfaces of the lenses (16a, 16b) of EB optical fibers. The cleaning head comprises coherent bodies of sintered polymers and may have zones of different density. Deformability of at least that portion of the cleaning head (30, 40, 44, 130) which terminates in the cleaning surface (30a, 40a, 44a) facilitates use of the cleaning device for non-EB as well as EB optical fiber end faces by better conforming the cleaning surface to the end faces during cleaning of the end faces.

Abstract: A test kit (110) includes an at least partially transparent or translucent tubular collection chamber (122) which has a flow control valve (111) at the inlet end (122a) thereof. Flow control valve (111) has a mouth (112a) that is used to engage a Schrader valve (132) of a HVACR system to flow pressurized refrigerant fluid into the collection chamber (122) via flow control valve (111). The flow of the pressurized refrigerant fluid is throttled by flow control valve (111) to ensure that sufficient lubricating oil is separated from the refrigerant fluid and remains within the collection chamber (122), even as refrigerant is expelled from collection chamber (122) via vent holes (124). A collector (126) serves to accumulate separated lubricating oil. A frangible ampoule (128) which contains a liquid pH indicator (130) is crushed to contact the pH indicator with the separated lubricating oil to test the pH of the oil by color change of the pH indicator.

Abstract: A cleaning device (10, 110, 210) may be a card-like member such as a flap (16, 116), integrally formed with a dispenser container (12), or a slotted member (36) mounted on a stand-alone cleaning device (110). A cleaning wipe fabric (22, 122) is suspended over a plurality of cleaning slots (26a-26d, 126a-126d) and held under moderate tension so that the wipe fabric, when deflected by a fiber optic end or the like being cleaned, sags within the cleaning slot to better enclose and clean the tip of the fiber optic end. Used cleaning fabric (22, 122) can easily be removed and replaced as needed to avoid using the same area of fabric more than once.

Abstract: The cleaning head (30, 40, 44, 130) of a swab-like cleaning device (28, 36, 42, 134) for cleaning optical fiber end faces, especially the lens of expanded beam (“EB”) optical fibers, has a concave configuration of its cleaning surface (30a, 40a, 44a). This provides for effective engagement of the cleaning surface with the convex, e.g., spherical or nearly spherical, light transmission surfaces of the lenses (16a, 16b) of EB optical fibers. The cleaning head comprises coherent bodies of sintered polymers and may have zones of different density. Deformability of at least that portion of the cleaning head (30, 40, 44, 130) which terminates in the cleaning surface (30a, 40a, 44a) facilitates use of the cleaning device for non-EB as well as EB optical fiber end faces by better conforming the cleaning surface to the end faces during cleaning of the end faces.

Abstract: A cleaning device (10, 110, 210) may be a card-like member such as a flap (16, 116), integrally formed with a dispenser container (12), or a slotted member (36) mounted on a stand-alone cleaning device (110). A cleaning wipe fabric (22, 122) is suspended over a plurality of cleaning slots (26a-26d, 126a-126d) and held under moderate tension so that the wipe fabric, when deflected by a fiber optic end or the like being cleaned, sags within the cleaning slot to better enclose and clean the tip of the fiber optic end. Used cleaning fabric (22, 122) can easily be removed and replaced as needed to avoid using the same area of fabric more than once.

Abstract: An actuator (10, 10?, 110) for a fluid-dispenser container, e.g., an aerosol container (14) or a non-aerosol pump container (114), has in one version (actuators 10 and 10?) a base (18) having a port (20) which receives fluid from the container (14) and dispenses the fluid via a shallow cavity (24, 24?). In another version of the actuator, the actuator (110) has a base (44) and a cover (46) which may be positioned either in a closed or open position relative to each other. In the closed position, fluid is transported through an extended conduit of actuator (110) provided by a base conduit (58) which is connected in fluid flow communication with a cover conduit (70) to discharge fluid through a cover orifice (66). When cover (46) is in the open position, fluid is dispensed via base conduit (58) through a shallow cavity (54) in the same manner as that of actuators (10, 10?).

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning the ferrule end surface of an optical fiber that has been installed in a connector, such as a connector coupler or bulkhead receptacle, comprises a cleaning head (22a, 22b, 22c). The cleaning head is made from thermally sintered polymers, e.g., thermally sintered particles and/or thermally sintered strands and provides a matrix of open-celled multi-directional pores. The cleaning head has zones (26, 28, 32) of increasing polymer densities from compression zone (26) to sidewall cleaning zone (28) to base zone (32). The cleaning head serves to lift, absorb, trap and remove contamination from the ferrule end faces (14a, 14b, 14c) and the end face of the optical fiber therein. The open-celled structure of the cleaning head (22a, 22b, 22c) allows the contact surface to compress both laterally and radially where it contacts the ferrule end, thus permitting effective cleaning for all ferrule end designs. The cleaning head may be used either dry or with a cleaning solvent.

Abstract: A sealed package (10) encloses a pad (14) which has an impervious backing layer which may optionally be the base layer (10b) of the package (10). At least the interior of the package (10) and the sealed pad (14) are made of materials which are substantially free of micro-contaminants. The package is openable by separating the cover layer (1 Oa) from the base layer (10b) and thereby breaking the seal (12). The pad (14) may be dry or it may be impregnated with any suitable treatment substance, such as a solvent, which facilitates cleaning and which dissipates electrostatic charges. When the sealed pad (14) is dry, a suitable liquid or gel treatment substance, such as a solvent, may be applied to the pad or to a portion of it. A retainer hole (20) may be provided in the package (10) in the extra-peripheral area (11) outside the seal (12) to hold an optic fiber connector with which the package (10) may be sold as a unit.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning the ferrule end surface of an optical fiber that has been installed in a connector, such as a connector coupler or bulkhead receptacle, comprises a cleaning head (22a, 22b, 22c). The cleaning head is made from thermally sintered polymers, e.g., thermally sintered particles and/or thermally sintered strands and provides a matrix of open-celled multi-directional pores. The cleaning head has zones (26, 28, 32) of increasing polymer densities from compression zone (26) to sidewall cleaning zone (28) to base zone (32). The cleaning head serves to lift, absorb, trap and remove contamination from the ferrule end faces (14a, 14b, 14c) and the end face of the optical fiber therein. The open-celled structure of the cleaning head (22a, 22b, 22c) allows the contact surface to compress both laterally and radially where it contacts the ferrule end, thus permitting effective cleaning for all ferrule end designs. The cleaning head may be used either dry or with a cleaning solvent.

Abstract: A composition for cleaning the ferrule end surface of an optical fiber that has been installed in a connector, such as a connector coupler or bulkhead receptacle, is made from sintered polymeric particles and/or stranded fibers and is formed into a cleaning head (22a, 22b, 22c). The composition provides a matrix of open-celled multi-directional pores to lift, absorb, trap and remove contamination from the ferrule end faces (14a, 14b, 14c) and the end face of the optical fiber therein. The open-celled structure of the cleaning head (22a, 22b, 22c) allows the contact surface to compress both laterally and radially where it contacts the ferrule end, thus permitting effective cleaning for all ferrule end designs. The cleaning head may be used either dry or with a cleaning solvent.

Abstract: A composition for cleaning the ferrule end surface of an optical fiber that has been installed in a connector, such as a connector coupler or bulkhead receptacle, is made from sintered polymeric particles and/or stranded fibers and is formed into a cleaning head (22a, 22b, 22c). The composition provides a matrix of open-celled multi-directional pores to lift, absorb, trap and remove contamination from the ferrule end faces (14a, 14b, 14c) and the end face of the optical fiber therein. The open-celled structure of the cleaning head (22a, 22b, 22c) allows the contact surface to compress both laterally and radially where it contacts the ferrule end, thus permitting effective cleaning for all ferrule end designs. The cleaning head may be used either dry or with a cleaning solvent.

Abstract: A dispenser apparatus (36) permits dispensing from different model machines sheet material from a standard size supply roll (40), mounted as part of a supply roll member (38) on a support bar (46) having a locator (48a, 48b) which adapts the dispenser apparatus (36) to be mounted on any one of a variety of models of under-stencil wipe fixtures (26). Support bar (46) has a plurality of radial bores (52a-52d) to enable positioning supply roll member (38) at a selected longitudinal position in support bar (46) to permit aligning the supply roll (40) with a given cut-out pattern (18) on stencil (16). Supply roll member (38) comprises a supply roll (40) mounted on a core member (42) having a core member extension (42a) which protrudes beyond supply roll (40) and has a radial bore (42b) for mounting supply roll member (38) on support bar (46) by screw fastener(54).