Abstract: A connecting device is provided having a connector housing having a male connecting portion and a female connecting portion formed therewith a plurality of integrally formed male/female terminals mounted in the connector housing, each of the male/female terminals having a male connecting end and a female connecting end, and at least an outlet opening provided on said connector housing for branch-out wires to pass therethrough and to connect to the male/female terminals. This connecting device allows the shunt connection of at least a pair of branch-out wires from a +12V DC cable that is used to supply power to main devices to an electric fan.

Abstract: A support boat for objects-to-be-processed including a plurality of support shelves formed in multi-stages spaced from each other by a vertical pitch for mounting a plurality of objects-to-be-processed which are to be heat treated in a vertical heat treatment apparatus; and a plurality of support bars for interconnecting the support shelves vertically spaced from each other and holding the same, the support boat comprising a light shielding plate disposed above an uppermost one or below a lowermost one of the support shelves for blocking heat rays from a heater for heating, whereby abrupt heating of central parts of those of the objects-to-be-processed which are positioned near the top or the bottom of the support boat is suppressed, and all the objects-to-be-processed can have substantially the same heat history.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified Raney nickel catalyst which can serves as hydrogenation catalyst for hydroxy aldehydes, such as 4-hydroxy-butanal, and 2-methyl-3-hydroxypropanal and hydroxy cyclic ethers such as 2-hydroxy-tetrahydrofuran. Further, a process for preparing diols by using the modified Raney nickel catalyst is provided.