Abstract: An aspect of an electric pump of the present invention is an electric pump attached to a predetermined object. The electric pump includes a motor having a rotor rotatable about a center axis extending in an axial direction, a pump mechanism coupled to the rotor, a circuit board located radially outside the motor and having a plate face directed in a radial direction, an electrolytic capacitor attached to the plate face of the circuit board, and a housing that houses the motor, the pump mechanism, the circuit board, and the electrolytic capacitor therein. The housing has a mounting face attached to a predetermined object. The mounting face is a face directed radially outward. The plate face of the circuit board is disposed along a direction intersecting the mounting face. The electrolytic capacitor is disposed at a position closer to the mounting face than the center axis in the direction orthogonal to the mounting face.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an inductor component includes preparing an insulating paste that is photosensitive and that includes a filler material composed of quartz, a glass material and a resin material, and a conductive paste, forming a first insulating layer by applying the insulating paste, and exposing the first insulating layer in a state where a first portion of the first insulating layer is shielded by a mask. The method further includes removing the first portion of the first insulating layer to form a groove at a position corresponding to the first portion, applying the conductive paste in the groove to form a coil conductor layer in the groove, and applying the insulating paste on the first insulating layer and the coil conductor layer to form a second insulating layer.

Abstract: Drawing methods and drawing furnaces for drawing an optical fiber with small non-circularity by simple drawing system are provided. An optical fiber preform is received into a muffle tube and heated by a primary heater placed to surround the muffle tube. The optical fiber preform is heated such that a starting position of a meniscus portion is higher in its position than the top of the primary heater, wherein the meniscus portion is created at the bottom portion of the optical fiber preform.

Abstract: Drawing methods and drawing furnaces for drawing an optical fiber with small non-circularity by simple drawing system are provided. An optical fiber preform is received into a muffle tube and heated by a primary heater placed to surround the muffle tube. The optical fiber preform is heated such that a starting position of a meniscus portion is higher in its position than the top of the primary heater, wherein the meniscus portion is created at the bottom portion of the optical fiber preform.

Abstract: Drawing methods and drawing furnaces for drawing an optical fiber with small non-circularity by simple drawing system are provided. An optical fiber preform is received into a muffle tube and heated by a primary heater placed to surround the muffle tube. The optical fiber preform is heated such that a starting position of a meniscus portion is higher in its position than the top of the primary heater, wherein the meniscus portion is created at the bottom portion of the optical fiber preform.

Abstract: A protective cover is detachably fixed onto a spool to protect an optical fiber wound on the spool. The protective cover includes a pair of half-cylindrical cover members coupled together by a hinge and locked together by a locking mechanism. When an external force allows a pair of hinge members of the hinge to abut together, edges of the cover members are apart from each other at an angle of 2 to 7 degrees as viewed with respect to the center of the hinge. The edges of the cover members are then abut together by an additional external force to lock the locking mechanism.

Abstract: A protective cover is detachably fixed onto a spool to protect an optical fiber wound on the spool. The protective cover includes a pair of half-cylindrical cover members coupled together by a hinge and locked together by a locking mechanism. When an external force allows a pair of hinge members of the hinge to abut together, edges of the cover members are apart from each other at an angle of 2 to 7 degrees as viewed with respect to the center of the hinge. The edges of the cover members are then abut together by an additional external force to lock the locking mechanism.

Abstract: An optical fiber drawing furnace, comprising a furnace core tube where an optical fiber preform is inserted, fused with heat by a cylindrical heating element that is provided around the furnace core tube, and drawn to an optical fiber, wherein a protective tube is provided being contacted with an upper end edge of the furnace core tube.

Abstract: An optical fiber drawing furnace capable of the prevention of entry of an ambient gas into an inner space thereof both effectively and economically, provided with a lower gas introduction portion through which inert gas is introduced into the inner space of the optical fiber drawing furnace, a chamber separated by a lower partition, and a bottom cover. The lower partition is arranged immediately below the lower gas introduction portion and has a first hole through which the chamber and the inner space are communicated. The bottom cover has a second hole through which the chamber and the atmosphere are communicated. An optical fiber is passed through the first and second holes. A controller detects a differential pressure between a pressure P1 in the inner space and a pressure P2 in the chamber and controls the suction flow by a pump for evacuating the gas in the chamber to maintain P1>P2.

Abstract: A compression apparatus for reducing solid waste in volume, including: a base; an axial compression mechanism for axially compressing a columnar container containing the solid waste, the axial compression mechanism including a punching mechanism having first teeth projecting radially outwards from an outer periphery thereof at equal angular intervals about an axis thereof, a bottom mold mechanism mounted on the base, and a drive mechanism for driving the punching mechanism toward the bottom mold mechanism for axial compression; and a mold adapted to be placed on the bottom mold mechanism to be concentric with the punching mechanism and having a cavity wall for coaxially receiving the container, the cavity wall including a plurality of mold projections projecting radially inwards therefrom and extending axially at equal angular intervals about the axis, each mold projection including an inclined inner face inclined to the axis and in contact with a conical plane tapering toward both the axis and the bottom mol