Abstract: An electronic expansion valve (50) includes a small hole (54a) that expands a refrigerant, a valve body (55c) that opens and closes the small hole, an elastic member (70) that urges the valve body to close the small hole, and a solenoid (61) that suctions the valve body to open the small hole, and expands the refrigerant by opening and closing the valve body. The elastic member is a disc spring in which a plurality of slits (73) formed in a spiral form is provided at mutually equal pitches on the perimeter. Therefore, there is no need for a guide, the occurrence of sludge due to sliding is suppressed, and the electronic expansion valve operates stably over a long period.

Abstract: An electronic expansion valve (50) includes a small hole (54a) that expands a refrigerant, a valve body (55c) that opens and closes the small hole, an elastic member (70) that urges the valve body to close the small hole, and a solenoid (61) that suctions the valve body to open the small hole, and expands the refrigerant by opening and closing the valve body. The elastic member is a disc spring in which a plurality of slits (73) formed in a spiral form is provided at mutually equal pitches on the perimeter. Therefore, there is no need for a guide, the occurrence of sludge due to sliding is suppressed, and the electronic expansion valve operates stably over a long period.

Abstract: Solid particles which comprise a substantially homogeneous mixture of an active carbon and an attrition-resistant inorganic substance and which have an average particle size of smaller than 300 .mu.m. The average particle size is preferred to range from 20 to 200 .mu.m. The inorganic substance is, for example, silica, titania, zirconia, alumina or silica-alumina. The active carbon is preferred to be contained in an amount of 5 to 70% by weight. The solid particles can be produced by spray drying a slurry containing an active carbon or a precursor thereof and an attrition-resistant inorganic substance or a precursor thereof so that particles having an average particle size of smaller than 300 .mu.m are obtained, and calcining the particles. The inorganic substance or precursor thereof is preferably present in a colloidal or hydrogel state in the slurry. The particles are excellent in attrition resistance and mechanical strength.