code: public void incrementRefCount() {
          synchronized (this.cf) {
              this.refCount++;
              if (TraceComponent.isAnyTracingEnabled() && tc.isDebugEnabled()) {
                  Tr.debug(tc, "Increased refcount; " + this);
              }
          }
      }
docs: Increment the reference to the users of the outbound chain.
  This is called by the framework when a request is made for an
  existing VCF.