APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION OF SINGLE BODY OF TUBULAR GLASS USING SOL-GEL METHOD AND METHOD THEREFOR

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for production of the single body of tubular glass by a sol-gel method capable of producing a glass tube for vapor deposition of a crack-free optical fiber by minimizing stresses generated in a gel by shrinkage in the drying process of the wet gel and a production method therefor. SOLUTION: The apparatus for producing the glass tube by the sol-gel method including a sol process, gelatinization process and drying process has a main cylinder 18, an upper cap 10 and lower cap 26 which are made freely fittable, attachable and detachable to and from the openings at the ends of this cylinder and hermetically close the inside of the main cylinder when fitted thereto and a supporting rod 24 which is inserted into fixing holes 14, 30 respectively disposed at the upper cap and the lower cap and pivotally support the glass tube within the main cylinder. The lower cap is inclined to a conical shape at the supporting surface 28a for receiving the sol, gel and glass tube.