Abstract: A pulley composed of a composite material in which hard particles are dispersed in a matrix material, in which a part of the hard particles is exposed to the outside by removal of the matrix material at the pulley surface.

Abstract: A drain valve has a construction such that ascent and descent of a drain valve head for opening and closing a discharge port are effected by a combination of two coiled springs, one of which is made of a shape memory effect alloy. The drain valve head is supported so that it is capable of ascending and descending by an inside and outside dual structure of attachment of the two springs alone. Thus, it is made possible to simplify a drain valve construction and to miniaturize a drain valve per se.

Abstract: A freeze preventing valve which comprises a valve cage body longitudinally provided with a cylindrical guide at the upper part thereof in a valve housing connected to a steam feed pipe, a valve element having a shaft disposed through the guide of the valve body to be able to open an exhaust port opened at the lower end of the housing and to be elevationally guided in the guide of the housing, a spring of shape memory alloy interposed between the lower surface of the valve body and the valve element for urging the valve element to close the valve element, a bias spring mounted between the upper surface of the valve body and the shaft protruding from the guide of the valve element upwardly for urging the valve element to open the valve element. Thus, the valve element of the freeze preventing valve is effectively supported and guided in the housing via the guide of the valve body.

Abstract: A freeze preventing valve which comprises a valve body longitudinally provided with an inserting hole at the upper part thereof in a hollow valve housing connected to a steam feed pipe, a valve element having a shaft disposed movably through the inserting hole of the valve body to be able to open an exhaust port at the lower end of the housing and to be vertically guided through the inserting hole of the housing. A collar is secured at an intermediate position on the shaft and a spring of shape memory alloy is interposed between the upper surface of a valve seat of the valve housing and the lower surface of the collar for urging the valve element to close the valve, by moving the valve element upwardly. A bias spring is mounted between the lower surface of the upper part of the valve body and the upper surface of the collar for urging the valve element to open the valve.

Abstract: A louver is pivotally secured to a body in an air passage formed between side walls for altering the diffusing direction of diffused air. A device for changing the angle of the louver comprises a shape memory alloy spring for urging rotary force to the louver in one direction by fittings mounted at the side walls of the body and the louver, as required, and a bias spring for urging rotary force reverse to the louver in such a manner that the shape memory alloy spring and the bias spring are balanced in the air passage. The shape memory alloy spring is deformed by the bias spring when chilled air is fed to the passage to tiltably incline the louver. The shape memory alloy spring returns to a memorized position when warm air is fed to the passage to rotate the louver to a position aligned with the passage against the bias spring. Thus, the louver can be automatically controlled by sensing the temperature of the diffused air by the shape memory alloy spring and the bias spring.

Abstract: A resilient supporting member for an exhaust gas catalytic converter which has a thin plate of ceramic fiber, an edgewise peripheral base formed by pressing a laminate formed by folding a cylindrical unit of knitted or looped fabric made of stainless steel fine wires and folding the thin plate, and an erected peripheral end erected from the base in an L shape in section. Thus, the resilient supporting member can effectively prevent the exhaust gas from entering into the air gap passage in the catalytic converter.