Abstract: In the connection of the optical fiber wires, it is required to align each axis of two optical passages to be connected, to minimize the connection space, and to include a retaining mechanism capable of preventing any invasion of foreign materials, such as dust, vapor and water. A pair of ferrule holders 2 for retaining a pair of optical fiber wires 21 positioned opposed to each other through an adapter B are rotated simultaneously by rotating an outer ring 4 to correct the displacement of the axes of the optical fiber wires. Further, a rotating stopper portion 33 on the shaft of the ferrule holder 2 is moved in conjunction with an elastic rotating stopper plate 13 disposed at the adapter B to retain the corrected position. A silicone low crosslinking-density gel 41 having the refractive index substantially equal to that of the optical fiber wires 21 is filled in a connection space 32, to minimize the connection space 32.

Abstract: An ash melting device employing the means of using a crucible with a three-layer structure, using an auxiliary burner for prevention of the lowering of temperature in the vicinity of the discharge outlet, employing furnace walls with a four-layer structure to improve the heat insulating property and thereby improve the durability, providing lids at both the left and right sides to enable the crucible to be taken out readily, etc. This ash melting device is intended to significantly improve durability even after a long period of use at a high temperature of 1600 to 1700° C. or more, to resolve the problem of prevention of use of the melting furnace due to clogging of the vicinity of the discharge outlet by the cooling and solidification of the ash melt, to reduce fuel cost by the improvements in thermal efficiency through improvement of the heat insulating property of the furnace walls, and to enable the crucible to be exchanged readily in a short time.

Abstract: In the connection of the optical fiber wires, it is required to align each axis of two optical passages to be connected, to minimize the connection space, and to include a retaining mechanism capable of preventing any invasion of foreign materials, such as dust, vapor and water. A pair of ferrule holders 2 for retaining a pair of optical fiber wires 21 positioned opposed to each other through an adapter B are rotated simultaneously by rotating an outer ring 4 to correct the displacement of the axes of the optical fiber wires. Further, a rotating stopper portion 33 on the shaft of the ferrule holder 2 is moved in conjunction with an elastic rotating stopper plate 13 disposed at the adapter B to retain the corrected position. A silicone low crosslinking-density gel 41 having the refractive index substantially equal to that of the optical fiber wires 21 is filled in a connection space 32, to minimize the connection space 32.