Centre National Detudes Spatiales

Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Institut National Polytechnique De Toulouse

Christophe Casteras

Yvan Lefevre

Dominique Harribey

Xavier Coste

Amaury Larue De Tournemine

An inertial actuation magnetohydrodynamic wheel () comprising a torus-shaped fluid ring () filled with a conductive liquid, at least one effective area () for setting the liquid into motion, and at least one magnetohydrodynamic pump (). The ratio of the set back distance of any magnetic conduction element () of the air gap of any electromagnetic pump () over the internal size of the fluid ring () is greater than or equal to 0.5 and the fluid ring () comprises at least two distinct effective areas (), for setting the conductive liquid into motion, angularly spaced apart by at least 120&#xb0;.

Magnetohydrodynamic inertial actuator

A device includes at least one built-in flexible portion () between two stiffer portions () that are made of a stiff composite material, the flexible portion () being suitable for forming a flexible hinge and made of a flexible material including a reinforcing armature that includes at least one connecting layer () common to the material(s) forming each stiff portion (). The device has end surfaces () that oppose each other when extended, the opposing end surfaces being arranged to be suited to serve as a longitudinal compression abutment while enabling the thus-made hinge to fold back at least in a direction away from the extended state.

Device comprising at least one built-in composite material hinge having an uninterrupted connecting reinforcement

This ball () rolling bearing () comprises an outer ring () and an inner ring () between which the balls () roll around an axis of rolling (X), spherical separators () for the balls (), and a raceway () of revolution about the axis of rolling (X) and along which the said spherical separators () roll. The raceway is a channel section () formed in an element () secured to or forming part of one of the said rings () and having a substantially semi-cyclic cross section of a diameter suited to that of the said spherical separators () so as to accommodate the said separators resting in positions in which they are retained laterally and free of contact with the other of the said rings (). A rolling bearing such as this is particularly well suited to use without lubrication, particularly in the space industry.

Growing community of inventors

Toulouse, France

Christophe Casteras