Abstract: A rotor assembly for a centrifugal pump includes a rotor and a rotor cover, defining a fluid chamber therebetween, and having openings or channels that are provided in either the rotor cover or the rotor, or both, to direct fluid from the fluid chamber into the rotor or rotor cover of the rotor assembly to provide reduction of increased pressure that is experienced within the fluid chamber, especially at or near the center of the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump of the pitot type is structured with axially-arranged inlet and discharge features positioned on opposing axial sides of a rotor, the rotor being journalled between a rotating sleeve and a suction inlet, and the rotating sleeve being concentric with the discharge, the rotating sleeve being gear-driven by a drive mechanism.

Abstract: A pitot tube assembly for a centrifugal pump includes an extension arm having a tubular body with opposing ends, at least one pickup tube secured to one of the opposing ends of the extension arm, a terminal portion positioned at the other end of the extension arm and a tapered fitting provided toward the end of the extension arm opposite to the end of the extension arm to which the pickup tube is secured, where the tapered fitting provides a frustum surface for registration with a frustoconically-shaped bore of a portion of the pump to provide axial, radial and torsional stability to the pitot tube assembly during pump operation.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for a centrifugal pump includes a rotor and a rotor cover, defining a fluid chamber therebetween, and having openings or channels that are provided in either the rotor cover or the rotor, or both, to direct fluid from the fluid chamber into the rotor or rotor cover of the rotor assembly to provide reduction of increased pressure that is experienced within the fluid chamber, especially at or near the center of the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for a centrifugal pump includes a rotor and a rotor cover, defining a fluid chamber therebetween, and having openings or channels that are provided in either the rotor cover or the rotor, or both, to direct fluid from the fluid chamber into the rotor or rotor cover of the rotor assembly to provide reduction of increased pressure that is experienced within the fluid chamber, especially at or near the center of the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A pitot tube assembly for a centrifugal pump includes an extension arm having a tubular body with opposing ends, at least one pickup tube secured to one of the opposing ends of the extension arm, a terminal portion positioned at the other end of the extension arm and a tapered fitting provided toward the end of the extension arm opposite to the end of the extension arm to which the pickup tube is secured, where the tapered fitting provides a frustum surface for registration with a frustoconically-shaped bore of a portion of the pump to provide axial, radial and torsional stability to the pitot tube assembly during pump operation.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for a centrifugal pump includes a rotor and a rotor cover, defining a fluid chamber therebetween, and having openings or channels that are provided in either the rotor cover or the rotor, or both, to direct fluid from the fluid chamber into the rotor or rotor cover of the rotor assembly to provide reduction of increased pressure that is experienced within the fluid chamber, especially at or near the center of the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump of the pitot type is structured with axially-arranged inlet and discharge features positioned on opposing axial sides of a rotor, the rotor being journalled between a rotating sleeve and a suction inlet, and the rotating sleeve being concentric with the discharge, the rotating sleeve being gear-driven by a drive mechanism.

Abstract: Optical waveguides are fabricated in glass-ceramic materials utilizing an ion-exchange process to pattern the waveguide at a temperature below the ceramming temperature of the glass-ceramic material. The optical waveguides may include optically-active dopants dispersed preferably within the crystallite phase of the glass-ceramic material.

Abstract: Neodymium-doped fluoroaluminate optical glass has a composition: 35 to 45 mol % AlF3; 5 to 30 mol % RF2, where R is selected from the group consisting of Ca, Mg, Sr and Ba; 5 to 25 mol % MF, where M is selected from the group consisting of Na, Li, K and Rb; and 0.001 to 10 mol % dopant.

Abstract: An optical fibre amplifier, laser or superluminescent source, consisting of a chalcogenide glass matrix hosting trivalent rare earth ions and which is doped with oxide in the form of a metallic oxide. The device utilizes the properties of the added oxide to improve the fabrication and efficiency of optical waveguide sources, in particular for applications around 1.3 &mgr;m. Specifically, the oxide broadens the wavelength range for pump absorption, broadens the wavelength range for light emission, increases the device efficiency through a change in lifetime of certain laser levels and modifies properties of the glass to prevent crystallization during fiber fabrication. The device exploits the intentional addition of oxide to improve amplifier, laser, glass and fiber properties.

Abstract: The core of a low phonon energy glass optical fibre is doped with trivalent Dysprosium ions for application as an efficient optical fibre amplifier operating around 1.3 .mu.m. The device utilises the transition .sup.6 H.sub.9/2 -.sup.6 F.sub.11/2 to .sup.6 H.sub.15/2. The low phonon energy (high quantum efficiency) glasses include mixed halides, chalcogenides and chalcohalides. Improvements in efficiency can be achieved by co-doping of the fibre core with Eu.sup.3+ and/or Tb.sup.3+ ions.