Abstract: A vehicle differential device having a differential case rotatably supported via a bearing by a housing and a drive shaft inserted into the differential case, including an oil sump member on the opposite side of the differential case to the bearing, the oil sump member including an insert hole into which the drive shaft is inserted, and an oil supply channel formed higher than the drive shaft in the vertical direction, wherein at least a portion of the insert hole is formed with a gap between the insertion hole and the drive shaft wider than that on the vertically lower side of the rotational axis of the drive shaft, the oil sump member includes a discharge hole allowing oil to flow out toward the differential case if an oil level of an oil chamber formed between the oil sump member and an oil seal exceeds a predetermined height.

Abstract: A vehicle differential device having a differential case rotatably supported via a bearing by a housing and a drive shaft inserted into the differential case, including an oil sump member on the opposite side of the differential case to the bearing, the oil sump member including an insert hole into which the drive shaft is inserted, and an oil supply channel formed higher than the drive shaft in the vertical direction, wherein at least a portion of the insert hole is formed with a gap between the insertion hole and the drive shaft wider than that on the vertically lower side of the rotational axis of the drive shaft, the oil sump member includes a discharge hole allowing oil to flow out toward the differential case if an oil level of an oil chamber formed between the oil sump member and an oil seal exceeds a predetermined height.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning the centers of the cores of two optical fibers prior to their being fused together for splicing. A pair of supporting members are provided, each of which has a V-shaped recess in which an end of a respective one of the optical fibers is fixed. The supporting members are movable relative to one another in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the optical fibers. A transparent light conducting member forms a bottom portion of the recess of at least one of the supporting members. A photodetector is optically coupled to the light conducting member.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical fiber connecting jig that is particularly useful in connecting single core optical fibers to other single core fibers and to multiple core fibers. A base and top cover are hinged to permit the top cover to open and close. The base is grooved to hold optical fibers and glass means.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for coupling ends of first and second multicore coated optical fibers each having multiple optical fibers integrally covered with a coating. The method includes a clamping step of setting the first and second multicore coated optical fibers in first and second clamp members, respectively, a cutting step of cutting off exposed fiber ends of the first and second multicore coated optical fibers and a coupling step of coupling cut end faces of the optical fibers of the first and second multicore coated optical fibers such that the cutting step and the coupling step are performed without detaching the first and second multicore coated optical fibers from the first and second clamp members, respectively.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for thermally shrinkable tubes and the like has a heating density gradient such that a higher temperature is imparted initially to a central portion of the heated tube, spreading gradually to the ends of the tube, to purge air bubbles to the outside of the tube while employing only one heating element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing an optical waveguide by melt-drawing a transparent glass rod which has been produced by collapsing a doped porous glass rod. The glass rod is doped with refractive index enhancing dopant materials by depositing said material on the surface of the micro-pores wherein a waveguide having higher mechanical strength and lower transmission loss is obtained upon drawing said glass rod to a fiber. The drawing is performed at a temperature very close to the melting point of the outermost portion of the rod without causing any overmelting and resultant bubbling in the core portion. The drawing process is facilitated by matching the viscosity and softening characteristics of the outer, lower refractive-index portion of the rod to that of the central higher-refractive-index portion.

Abstract: A method for producing an optical waveguide by melt-drawing a transparent glass rod which has been produced by collapsing a porous glass rod after being doped with a dopant material by depositing said material on the surface of the micro pores in order to enhance the refractive index of the collapsed glass rod, wherein a waveguide having higher mechanical strength and lower transmission is attained by drawing said glass rod at a temperature very close to the melting point of the outermost portion of the fiber without causing any overmelting or bubbling in the core portion, said drawing being facilitates by matching the viscosity and characteristics of the outermost lower-refractive-index portion to those of the central higher-refractive-index portion.

Abstract: A process for producing a glass member includes subjecting a silicon, boron, phosphorous or aluminum compound or both a silicon, boron, phosphorous or aluminum compound and a dopant compound to vapor phase reaction to form a fine powder of fused silica, borate, phosphate or alumina or doped fused silica, borate, phosphate or alumina. Then the powder is partially sintered to form a porous glass body which subsequently is immersed in a solution containing a dopant compound thereby depositing the dopant compound on the surfaces of the pores in the glass body. Thereafter, the porous glass body is dried before the pores are collapsed to form the glass member.