Thales

Alcatel

Centre National Detudes Spatiales

Damien Chassoulier

Jean-Paul Yonnet

Didier Stanek

Alain-Vincent Blanc

Thomas Combernoux

Christian Chillet

Alain Blanc

J&eacute;r&ocirc;me Delamare

Yannick Baudasse

Stéphane Vezain

Yannick Baudassé

Thierry Dargent

Guy Carron De La Morinais

François Michellet

Valentin Bouchet

Morgan Pigeron

Nicola Guercio

Fabrice Champandard

A deployable device includes a supporting structure, a deployable structure capable of switching from a configuration wound around a first axis to a configuration deployed according to a second axis substantially at right angles to the first axis, by being deployed by a length defined in a frame of reference of the supporting structure, wherein it further comprises a deployed length control device comprising a sensor and a computer linked to the sensor, a first conductive track electrically linked to the sensor extending on the deployable structure, substantially along the perimeter of the deployable structure, and forming one or more turns of a first coil in the wound configuration, and in that the sensor is configured to measure an electrical parameter from the first electrically conductive track which varies with the deployed length of the deployable structure and the computer is configured to determine the deployed length of the deployable structure.

Deployable device with control of deployed length of a deployable structure

A dual-drive device for sequential scanning includes a moving part comprising a frame and an optical instrument that is positioned on the frame and is rotatable about a first axis with respect to the frame so as to be slowed down or immobilized in a plurality of successive positions about the first axis, a motor configured to set the moving part in rotation about the first axis in a first direction of rotation at a constant speed, the moving part comprising a first actuator positioned on the frame and configured to actuate the rotation of the optical instrument about the first axis with respect to the frame in the first direction of rotation in order to pass from a first position to a successive position from the plurality of successive positions, and in a second direction of rotation, opposite to the first direction of rotation, in order to slow down or immobilize the optical instrument in the successive position.

Dual-drive device for sequential scanning, and associated method

A position sensor to provide an absolute position of a movable portion with respect to a fixed portion of a mechanism comprises two elements to move with respect to one another. The first element comprises a component that is sensitive to a magnetic field. The second element comprises two pairs of magnets. In each of the pairs, the orientation of each of the magnets alternates. An air gap is formed between the two pairs of magnets, the air gap configured to allow the component to pass therethrough. Each magnet of one pair faces a magnet of the other pair and the magnets facing one another have the same orientation.

Position sensor

A control device for a linear actuator comprises a motor coupled to a device for converting a rotational movement into a translational movement configured to move a translationally mobile part. The actuator comprises at least one mechanical stop placed on a fixed part of the actuator, the group of at least one mechanical stop being configured to act as an obstacle to the relative helicoidal movement of a stud of the translationally mobile part when the stud reaches at least one predetermined position, contact of the stud with a stop generating a torque. The control device comprises a control module connected to at least one strain gauge configured to generate a signal indicative of the detected torque, the control module being configured to compare the amplitude of the signal generated by the group of at least one strain gauge against at least one predetermined value.

Control device for linear actuator, and associated actuator, method and use

An active tie rod for retaining and releasing appendages without shock is provided. The device comprises: a fixed base, a tie rod extending along an axis between two ends, a mechanism fastened to the base and temporarily retaining a first end of the tie rod, operating the mechanism to release the tie rod from the base, an end piece fastened to a second end of the tie rod, at least one appendage temporarily retained between the base and the end piece, a component disposed between the mechanism and the end piece, and an actuator of the component to modify a characteristic dimension of the component along the axis between two values, the component producing a tension in the tie rod for the first of the two values and the tension in the tie rod being reduced for a second of the two values.

Device for retaining and releasing appendages

A linear actuator comprises a roller screw mechanism guided in rotation with respect to a structure by two angular-contact ball bearings, the roller screw mechanism comprising rollers interposed between an endless screw and two tapped rings which are joined together in rotation and free in translation. Each tapped ring is secured to an inner ring of a ball bearing. The linear actuator further comprises a single preloading device capable of applying load between two outer rings of the angular-contact ball bearings respectively, thereby simultaneously allowing the loading of the roller screw mechanism and the rotational guidance of the roller screw mechanism with respect to the structure.

Preloading device for a roller screw mechanism guided in rotation

The present invention relates to a magnetic center-finding structure, and more particularly a magnetic center-finding bearing structure intended notably for space applications. The present invention proposes a magnetic concept with no magnet on the rotor, the rotor being reduced to a crown comprising magnetic yokes, to arrange an item of equipment that can be tested on the ground, under gravity, in all positions, without the addition of extra energy, and with a reduction in the complexity of said device.

Magnetic centre-finding device with no magnet on the rotor and with small air gap

The invention produces contactless radial position sensors having an equivalent angular aperture greater than 90&#xb0;, and substantially eliminates the spurious microvibrations due to the imperfections of the current sensors. For this, the invention uses at least four independent sensors and an electronic device capable of virtually placing in series said sensors in groups of two or three in order to spread the equivalent angular aperture of said groups of sensors.

Device for sensing a radial position spread over more than 90 degrees

The present invention relates to a magnetic centering structure, and more particularly a structure of a centering magnetic bearing intended notably for space applications. The solution proposed in the present patent is suited to the centerers used on gyroscopic wheels and actuators. The main originality of the invention is the proposal of a dual-stage magnetic bearing structure. According to the implementation chosen, this invention presents the significant advantage of an improvement in terms of radial bulk.

Dual-stage centering magnetic bearing

A magnetic bearing for centering and controlling tilting of a first body relative to a second body includes centering members adapted to center the first body magnetically relative to the second body at least in the direction transverse to the reference axis, two permanently magnetized rings carried by a first ferromagnetic armature fastened to the first body, an annular plurality of (at least three) tilt windings fastened to the second body and each including two groups of circumferential strands respectively adapted to face each of the permanently magnetized rings regardless of the orientation of the hollow outer part, and an excitation circuit adapted to apply excitation currents to the tilt windings adapted to generate tilting forces in the air-gaps.

Growing community of inventors

Mouans-Sartoux, France

Damien Chassoulier