In a method and an apparatus for replacing old underground conduits, the old conduit is first laid bare with the aid of a ground drilling device with an overdrilling head and then, in turn, a new conduit is drawn in with the aid of the drill rods and at the same time\u2014in a uniform operating step\u2014the old conduit is pulled out of the ground. The microspheres in the adhesive are obtained as the reaction product of at least one alkyl acrylate ester wherein the alkyl group contains four to about 14 carbon atoms, preferably four to about 10 carbon atoms and a comonomer. The conductive region has a wider portion that is wider in width than the conductive region interposed between the adjacent gate electrodes on one end thereof. The upper hinge assembly is provided with a rotating shaft to pivotably connect the stand body to the stand top assembly. One of a system for supplying a reaction gas to only a part of the reaction gas passage, and a system for supplying a reaction gas to the entire reaction gas passage is switchably selected.