Abstract: An electrical, manually actuated switch comprises a housing (11), in which a contact unit (27) is located that comprises switch elements (26), and at least one self-returning and eccentrically mounted switch (10) having a switch tappet (29) that acts on the switch elements (26). The manually actuated switch (9) is to be adapted to prevent a damaging or destruction of the switch elements (26) even under excessive loading. To achieve this object, the contact unit (27) is resiliently or spring mounted in a housing (11) and yields to excessive application of force to the switch elements (26) by the switch tappet (29), wherein a spring unit (60) is located between the contact unit (27) and the base (20) of the housing (11).

Abstract: A naphtha-soluble, hydrogenated C.sub.1-4 -alkyl C.sub.6-10 -aryl ketone/formaldehyde resin, having an oxygen content of at least 6% by weight and a softening point of at least 70.degree. C. can be produced by a process comprising the step of hydrogenating a C.sub.1-4 -alkyl C.sub.6-10 -aryl ketone/formaldehyde resin under a hydrogen pressure of at least 200 bar and a temperature of 140.degree.-300.degree. C., in the presence of a nickel, palladium, palladium/copper or palladium/nickel catalyst. These resins are useful, for example, as additives to improve the hardness of varnishes and other coatings.

Abstract: A continuous process for the preparation of butane-1,4-diol comprises, in a one-stage process, catalytically hydrogenating a solution of maleic anhydride in a monohydric aliphatic alcohol, in the presence of hydrogen and a copper chromite catalyst.

Abstract: In a process for the production of neopentyl glycol comprising high-pressure hydrogenating a crude hydroxypivalaldehyde, containing the monoisobutyric acid ester of neopentyl glycol as an impurity, in the liquid phase over a barium-activated copper chromite catalyst, an improvement comprises hydrogenating the crude hydroxypivalaldehyde in the presence of 3-8% of water, and in two stages, wherein, in the first stage, the temperature is 120.degree.-160.degree. C. and the charge of hydrogenation starting material is 0.05-1.0 liter/liter of catalyst . h., and in the second stage, the temperature is 170.degree.-200.degree. C. and the charge of hydrogenation starting material is 0.05-1.0 liter/liter of catalyst . h., whereby there is obtained neopentyl glycol having a degree of purity of above 98% as determined by gas chromatographic analysis.