Spray nozzle, systems, and methods for cleaning optical fiber connectors

A system for cleaning at least one optical fiber end face with a mixture of positively pressurized air and a cleaning fluid, the system configured to be coupled to an optical fiber connector that supports the at least one optical fiber end face, the system comprising:

• a housing body having a first end portion and a second end portion, a discharge passage for carrying the mixture from the first end portion to a discharge opening in the second end portion, and a return passage extending at least partially in the second end portion;
• and
• a manifold coupled to the first end portion of the housing body;
• wherein:
• the return passage is configured to communicate with the discharge passage along a first fluid flow path proximate the second end portion for receiving the mixture after the mixture passes through the discharge opening, and
• the return passage is configured to communicate with the discharge passage along a second fluid flow path defined by a gap between the manifold and the housing body for diverting a portion of the mixture from the discharge passage and thereby control an amount of the mixture being carried by the discharge passage.

A system for cleaning at least one optical fiber end face with a mixture of positively pressurized air and a cleaning fluid, the system configured to be coupled to an optical fiber connector that supports the at least one optical fiber end face, the system comprising:

• a spray nozzle including:
• a housing body having a first end portion and a second end portion, a discharge passage for carrying the mixture from the first end portion to a discharge opening in the second end portion, and a return passage extending at least partially in the second end portion, and
• a spray nozzle coupling element at the first end portion;
• and
• a manifold including:
• a manifold coupling element configured to mate with the spray nozzle coupling element at the first end portion of the housing body,
• an air supply passage adapted to be coupled to a source of positively pressurized air, the supply passage communicating with the discharge passage of the housing body, and
• a vacuum passage adapted to be coupled to a source of vacuum pressure and communicating with the return passage of the housing body,
• wherein:
• the return passage of the housing body is configured to communicate with the discharge passage along a first fluid flow path proximate the second end portion for receiving the mixture after the mixture passes through the discharge opening, and
• the return passage of the housing body is configured to communicate with the discharge passage along a second fluid flow path proximate the first end portion for diverting a portion of the mixture from the air supply passage of the manifold to the vacuum passage and thereby control an amount of the mixture being directed to the discharge opening.

A method of removing contaminants from at least one optical fiber end face supported by an optical fiber connector using a spray nozzle having first and second end portions, the method comprising:

• coupling the optical fiber connector to the second end portion of the spray nozzle such that the at least one optical fiber end face confronts a discharge opening of the spray nozzle wherein the discharge opening is located in the second end portion, and wherein the first end portion of the spray nozzle is coupled to a manifold;
• directing a mixture of cleaning fluid and positively pressurized air through a discharge passage of the spray nozzle and at the at least one optical fiber end face, wherein the discharge passage carries the mixture from the first end portion to the discharge opening in the second end portion;
• removing contaminants from the optical fiber end face with the mixture after the mixture passes through the discharge opening;
• directing the mixture and removed contaminants proximate the second end portion into a return passage in the spray nozzle;
• and
• providing fluid communication between the discharge passage and the return passage along a fluid path defined by a gap between the spray nozzle and the manifold to divert a portion of the mixture from the discharge passage into the return passage and thereby control an amount of the mixture being directed to the discharge opening.