Abstract: A door for a motor vehicle of the type without frame for the side window is provided with a device for controlling a slight movement of the window from and into its completely raised position upon opening and closing of the door. Said device comprises shape-memory actuating means.

Abstract: A locking device for preventing the rotation and/or the axial movement of a pin includes a coil spring wound around at least a portion of the pin and having one end rigidly connected to a support structure. In its undeformed condition, the spring has an internal diameter smaller than the diameter of the pin, whereby in its resting condition the spring is tightened around the pin to prevent a rotation thereof at least in a direction or an axial movement in any direction. The device includes shape memory means for causing the unwinding of the turns of the spring for the purpose of temporarily releasing the pin.

Abstract: A sealing ring is set between the engine block of an internal-combustion engine and a cylinder head fixed to the engine block, within a seat set concentrically around a cylinder of the engine. The sealing ring has a composite structure, with an external hollow annular body made of superelastic material, and an internal hollow annular body including a shape-memory alloy.

Abstract: A lock (1) comprises at least a bolt (7) actuated by means of a flexible shape memory element (14), which can take an extended and a shortened configuration as a result of heating. Constraint means (P, 10, 17) cause the arrangement of at least an intermediate portion of the shape memory element (13), within which portion said element is associated to the bolt (7); the constraint means (P, 10, 17) are in such relative positions that said intermediate portion of the shape memory element (14) takes a substantially V-shaped arrangement at least when the first controlled element (7) is in its operating position.

Abstract: Described herein is a valve for fluids, liquids or dusts, which can be used to particular advantage for controlling openings for passage of cooling air in refrigerating apparatuses or the like. The valve comprises a diaphragm open/close element having a central part and a peripheral edge connected, respectively, to a central support and to a peripheral support. Said supports are axially displaceable with respect to one another between a first relative end position and a second relative end position corresponding, respectively, to the open condition and to the closed condition of the valve, or vice versa. The relative displacement in an axial direction of said first and second supports is controlled by shape-memory means, including at least one shape-memory wire, which extends at least in part along the periphery of the diaphragm and is activated by electrical supply means.

Abstract: A lock device which includes a bolt actuated by a flexible shape memory element. The memory element can assume an extended or a shortened configuration as a result of heating. A constraining element which includes two points between which an intermediate portion of the shape memory extends is also provided. At least of the two points belongs to a moveable transmission element which moves when the shape memory element extends. As a result, a controlled element is moved from between an operating position and a non-operating position.

Abstract: A gasket for the cylinder head of a motor-vehicle engine comprises: a body, including a polymeric matrix containing a reinforcement material constituted by a dispersion of microfibres or nanofibres or nanotubes of electrically conductive material, in which each nanotube or nanofibre has a substantially elongated conformation; a uniform distribution of electrodes associated to said body; two layers of electrically insulating material, arranged on the top and bottom surfaces of said body, one on top of and one underneath said polymeric matrix, and designed to insulate electrically said dispersion of nanofibres or nanotubes contained therein; and control and processing means, designed to be connected to any pair of electrodes of said distribution for detecting any variation of electrical resistance across said electrodes and consequently determining any corresponding variation of load applied in the axial direction to the gasket, in such a way that the gasket functions as integrated load sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises at least one passage for a heating or conditioning air flow and a flow deviating device associated to the seat to control the flow of air through such passage. The flow deviating device comprises at least one Coanda effect deviating device. In the case of application to the front seat of a car, the passage internal to the seat for the ventilation air flow has an upstream end communicating with an air supplying duct, and a downstream end communicating with a discharge duct whose outlet opens at the rear of the seat, to ventilate the rear part of the car passenger compartment. Said passage inside the seat is formed on the surface of the seat padding in the area of contact with the user's body, immediately below the cover of the padding. The discharge duct is arranged such that the flow of air through the passage carries out a flushing action of the area of contact with the user's body and is not forced to flow substantially through the cover.

Abstract: An outer-rearview-mirror unit for a motor vehicle comprises an electrical switching device with a number of positions, which controls electrical supply of a plurality of shape-memory wires that control oscillation of the reflecting plate of the mirror. The electrical switching device has a single control lever with a number of positions projecting from a support, which, in the mounted condition of the mirror, is in a position coinciding with that of the base of the mirror, on the inside of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: An electrical energy generator device comprising an array of micro-fans each associated to a respective dynamo-electric generator by means of a respective connecting shaft, further comprises, for at least some of the micro-fans (3), a lug element (6) associated to the respective connecting shaft (4) which mechanically co-operates at each revolution with a piezoelectric element (7), for the production of additional electrical energy. In addition or instead of the aforesaid arrangement, it is possible to provide plates (10) made of piezoelectric material which vibrate in the flow of air that invests them, thereby producing electrical energy.

Abstract: A device for autonomous power supply of power-using devices set in the proximity of a road, along which vehicles travel, includes one or more electric-current generator elements of a piezoelectric type. The device includes at least one structural element configured for being deformable in an elastic way in at least one direction in response to a perturbation of the environment adjacent to the path of a vehicle that is travelling. The at least one structural element includes at least one area of deformation. The electric-current generator element of a piezoelectric type is associated to the area of deformation.

Abstract: An assisted manual actuating device includes a controlled member, which can be displaced from a first position into a second position, a control member, which is designed to actuate the controlled member, and a mechanical transmission, which connects the control member to the controlled member. The mechanical transmission includes a shape-memory element, which is supplied by electrical-supply means that can be activated when the control member reaches an actuation position. The assisted manual actuating device includes an activation device having anchoring means for constraining the mechanical transmission when the control member reaches the actuation position of the device in such a way as to enable the mechanical transmission to move only in the direction useful for bringing the controlled member into the second position.

Abstract: A sunshade device comprises a sunshade in the form of a roller blind forming part of a roller-blind device, comprising a supporting structure, a shaft for rolling of the sunshade blind, mounted so that it can rotate on the aforesaid supporting structure, and a shape-memory actuator device for causing displacement of the blind from the rolled-up condition to the distended condition.

Abstract: An actuator comprises an elongated shape-memory element wound around a first element and having one first end connected to the first element and one second end connected to a second element. Heating means are provided for heating the shape-memory element in order to obtain a displacement of one of the ends thereof. The elongated shape-memory element is guided so that it can slide within a closed channel made of a material having a low coefficient of friction, for example defined by a sheath.

Abstract: An air-distribution system for the dashboard of a motor vehicle comprises a plurality of auxiliary ducts that branch off in parallel from a manifold. Associated to each auxiliary duct is an additional and independent unit for regulating the flow rate and/or the temperature of the air flow that traverses the respective auxiliary duct. Each auxiliary duct branches off into a number of terminal ducts and is provided with means for the distribution of the air to the terminal ducts, which are preferably of the type comprising means of deviation of the air by the Coanda effect.

Abstract: A suspension system for the cab of a lorry comprises a rotational damper preferably of a magneto-rheological type.

Abstract: A valve for gases, liquids or powdery material, comprises a diaphragm shutter element having a central part and a peripheral edge connected, respectively, to a central support and to a peripheral support. Said supports can be displaced axially with respect to one another between a first relative end position and a second relative end position corresponding, respectively, to the open condition and to the closed condition of the valve, or vice versa. The relative displacement in the axial direction of said first and second supports is controlled by shape-memory means, preferably formed by a first shape-memory wire and a second shape-memory wire set on the two opposite faces of the diaphragm shutter element.

Abstract: Described herein is a valve for fluids, liquids or dusts, which can be used to particular advantage for controlling openings for passage of cooling air in refrigerating apparatuses or the like. The valve comprises a diaphragm open/close element having a central part and a peripheral edge connected, respectively, to a central support and to a peripheral support. Said supports are axially displaceable with respect to one another between a first relative end position and a second relative end position corresponding, respectively, to the open condition and to the closed condition of the valve, or vice versa. The relative displacement in an axial direction of said first and second supports is controlled by shape-memory means, including at least one shape-memory wire, which extends at least in part along the periphery of the diaphragm and is activated by electrical supply means.

Abstract: A device for controlling the-flow of a fluid in one or more conduits in an electrical appliance, particularly in a dishwasher machine, comprises at least a control member, movable between two or more positions, and shape memory actuator means of control member.

Abstract: An actuator including a shape-memory flexible cable with a flexible sheath can be used, by controlling it both electrically and mechanically using the sheath as element for applying a mechanical tensile force. The shape-memory flexible cable is provided with a coating made of synthetic or elastomer material moulded thereon and adherent thereto, which favors rapid return of the shape-memory cable into its resting configuration after its activation both on account of its elastic return and owing to the fact that it favors cooling of the cable. Preferably, the coating is obtained by means of a process of co-extrusion with the shape-memory cable.