Abstract: A pump assembly is presented including a motor housing holding an electric motor and a wet-end housing. The pump assembly also includes a heat transfer interface positioned between a front end of the motor housing and the wet-end housing. The heat transfer interface establishes a thermal conduction path between the motor housing and the wet-end housing so that, in use, a portion of heat generated by the motor is absorbed by the heat transfer interface and is dissipated in water circulating through the wet-end housing. In addition, or alternatively, another thermal conduction path may be established between the heat transfer interface and an electronic controller of the pump assembly so that heat generated by the controller is absorbed by the heat transfer interface and dissipated in water circulating through the wet-end housing.

Abstract: A pump assembly is presented including a motor housing holding an electric motor and a wet-end housing. The pump assembly also includes a heat transfer interface positioned between a front end of the motor housing and the wet-end housing. The heat transfer interface establishes a thermal conduction path between the motor housing and the wet-end housing so that, in use, a portion of heat generated by the motor is absorbed by the heat transfer interface and is dissipated in water circulating through the wet-end housing. In addition, or alternatively, another thermal conduction path may be established between the heat transfer interface and an electronic controller of the pump assembly so that heat generated by the controller is absorbed by the heat transfer interface and dissipated in water circulating through the wet-end housing.

Abstract: A UV water treatment system comprising a reactor unit for receiving water therein and a power unit for powering the UV water treatment system. The reactor unit includes a housing and a pair of end caps that sealingly engage the housing at opposing ends. Optionally, the UV water treatment system may have a reduced footprint.

Abstract: A control method of a tracked vehicle having a track belt and configured to advance the tracked vehicle provides for acquiring the driving speed of the tracked vehicle; acquiring the speeds of the tracks with respect to the tracked vehicle; calculating a range of expected values of traveling speed as a function of speed of the track; and varying the speed of the track when the traveling speed of the tracked vehicle is outside the range of expected values.

Abstract: A UV water treatment system comprising a reactor unit for receiving water therein and a power unit for powering the UV water treatment system. The reactor unit includes a housing and a pair of end caps that sealingly engage the housing at opposing ends.

Abstract: A control method of a tracked vehicle having a track belt and configured to advance the tracked vehicle provides for acquiring the driving speed of the tracked vehicle; acquiring the speeds of the tracks with respect to the tracked vehicle; calculating a range of expected values of traveling speed as a function of speed of the track; and varying the speed of the track when the traveling speed of the tracked vehicle is outside the range of expected values.

Abstract: The hybrid vehicle can have a heat engine driving a first pair of wheels and an electric motor on another pair of wheels. The electric motor is selected to have a greater power than the heat engine, such as corresponding to the maximum power requirement of the vehicle, whereas the heat engine can have a power corresponding to a cruise power requirement of the vehicle. A generator is coupled to the heat engine and can be designed to have a generator capacity corresponding to the power of the heat engine. The electric motor can be used for propulsion during city driving conditions, and the heat engine can be used for propulsion during long range highway conditions, for instance. The design can be considered a power split through the road approach.

Abstract: A power efficient assembly is provided for applying a temperature gradient to a Fiber Bragg grating. The assembly includes inner and outer enclosures, the outer enclosure defining an insulation chamber around the inner enclosure. The respective ends of the inner and outer enclosures are in thermal contact. A heat exchange system, such as coiled resistive wires or thermo-electric coolers, applies different temperatures to the opposite ends of the outer enclosure.

Abstract: A power efficient assembly is provided for applying a temperature gradient to a Fiber Bragg grating. The assembly includes inner and outer enclosures, the outer enclosure defining an insulation chamber around the inner enclosure. The respective ends of the inner and outer enclosures are in thermal contact. A heat exchange system, such as coiled resistive wires or thermo-electric coolers, applies different temperatures to the opposite ends of the outer enclosure.

Abstract: A watercraft includes a watercraft control mechanism that is capable of steering, decelerating, and/or trimming a watercraft without causing the stern to elevate and the bow to dive; steers or assists steering in off-power situations; steers, trims and/or decelerates a watercraft, or assists in steering, trimming, and/or decelerating a watercraft that can be stowed or retracted to minimize hydrodynamic drag at high speeds; steers, trims and/or decelerates a watercraft, or assists in steering, trimming, and/or decelerating a watercraft that does not become clogged or jammed by seaweed or flotsam or foreign objects floating in the water; and decelerates or assists in decelerating a watercraft in a smooth and stable manner when the watercraft is travelling at high speeds.

Abstract: An athermally packaged optical fiber device, such as a Bragg grating, is provided. The device includes a hollow structure, and a free and a threaded member projecting in the hollow structure from both ends. The optical fiber is mounted in tension inside the hollow structure through longitudinal fiber-receiving bores in both members, and has an anchor point affixed to each member with the grating therebetween. The anchor point of the threaded member is provided outside of the hollow structure, making the device more compact. The free and threaded members are rotatable together to adjust the resonant wavelength of the grating, and a nut may be provided to allow a fine-tuning. The hollow structure, free member and threaded member have a coefficient of thermal expansion selected so that they together compensate for the temperature dependency of the Bragg wavelength.

Abstract: A personal watercraft is described having a hull, an engine disposed in the hull, a propulsion unit driven by the engine, and a steering unit to steer the propulsion unit. A deck is supported above the hull. The deck includes an opening therethrough to provide access to the engine. A pedestal is disposed on the deck and releasably fastened to the deck. The pedestal includes an opening therethrough. The pedestal opening is disposed at a position vertically above the deck opening. A seat is supported by the pedestal and releasably fastened thereto. The seat is moveable from a first position where the seat covers the pedestal opening to at least a second position where the seat does not cover the pedestal opening.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for manufacturing a mold with a reusable material. The apparatus having a heating basin, a pump for pumping the liquefied heat sensitive pliable substance out from the heating basin and into a cooler. The heat sensitive pliable substance is injected in a forming tool according to a definite path in order to form a mould.

Abstract: A watercraft includes a watercraft control mechanism that is capable of steering, decelerating, and/or trimming a watercraft without causing the stern to elevate and the bow to dive; steers or assists steering in off-power situations; steers, trims and/or decelerates a watercraft, or assists in steering, trimming, and/or decelerating a watercraft that can be stowed or retracted to minimize hydrodynamic drag at high speeds; steers, trims and/or decelerates a watercraft, or assists in steering, trimming, and/or decelerating a watercraft that does not become clogged or jammed by seaweed or flotsam or foreign objects floating in the water; and decelerates or assists in decelerating a watercraft in a smooth and stable manner when the watercraft is travelling at high speeds.

Abstract: An athermally packaged optical fiber device, such as a Bragg grating, is provided. The device includes a hollow structure, and a free and a threaded member projecting in the hollow structure from both ends. The optical fiber is mounted in tension inside the hollow structure through longitudinal fiber-receiving bores in both members, and has an anchor point affixed to each member with the grating therebetween. The anchor point of the threaded member is provided outside of the hollow structure, making the device more compact. The free and threaded members are rotatable together to adjust the resonant wavelength of the grating, and a nut may be provided to allow a fine-tuning. The hollow structure, free member and threaded member have a coefficient of thermal expansion selected so that they together compensate for the temperature dependency of the Bragg wavelength.

Abstract: A watercraft is provided that includes a rearwardly facing ventilation opening, which allows ambient air to flow into a hull assembly of the watercraft. A seat is provided that has a seating surface configured to accommodate at least one rider seated thereon. The seat is mounted on the hull assembly such that the seat covers the ventilation opening of the hull assembly to obstruct water from flowing therein and forms one or more air pathways between the seat and hull assembly. Each of the one or more air pathways has one end open to the atmosphere and an opposite end open to the ventilation opening to enable air to flow between the atmosphere and the ventilation opening between the seat and the hull assembly via the one or more air pathways.

Abstract: A watercraft is provided that includes a rearwardly facing ventilation opening, which allows ambient air to flow into a hull assembly of the watercraft. A seat is provided that has a seating surface configured to accommodate at least one rider seated thereon. The seat is mounted on the hull assembly such that the seat covers the ventilation opening of the hull assembly to obstruct water from flowing therein and forms one or more air pathways between the seat and hull assembly. Each of the one or more air pathways has one end open to the atmosphere and an opposite end open to the ventilation opening to enable air to flow between the atmosphere and the ventilation opening between the seat and the hull assembly via the one or more air pathways.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to photoinduce a grating or other type of modulated refractive index change in a photosensitive optical medium such as optical fiber. The resulting grating has a variable and controllable intensity profile and average value of the index change. The modulated refractive index change is photoimprinted in the medium in a series of writing steps, each comprising exposing a segment of the medium to a writing beam for a predetermined exposure time. To change the modulation intensity from step to step, the angle of incidence of the writing beam is dithered for an appropriate fraction of the exposure time at each step. This allows to control the amount of incident light on the medium for each step. If the exposure time is the same for each writing step, the average value of the index change may be kept constant avoiding undesired structure in the grating frequency response.

Abstract: A treatment system is described for treating waste water, comprising a container having an upper and a lower portion, at least one elongated hollow casing within the lower portion of the container, inlets, openings, or vents for aerating the treatment system and at least one distribution system for distributing the waste water entering the container into at least one treatment chamber defined by the casing. A combination of a septic tank and a treatment system is also described.