Thales

Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Centre National Detudes Spatiales

L'ecole Centrale De Marseille

Didier Stanek

Stephane Vezain

Stéphane Vezain

Yannick Baudasse

Yannick Baudassé

Stéphane Vézain

Carole Billot

Damien Chassoulier

François Guinot

Alain-Vincent Blanc

Gilles Pommatau

Stéphane Bourgeois

Paul Mouille

Francois Guinot

Pernelle Marone-Hitz

Olivier Bardel

Nicola Guercio

Stephane Bourgeois

Florence Montredon

Yannick BaudassÉ

Stéphane VÉZAIN

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 link device comprising a first object and a second object comprises a first strip, capable of passing from a configuration wound about an axis Z about a support fixed to the first object to a configuration deployed along an axis X substantially at right angles to the axis Z, the strip having an end intended to come into contact with the second object, so as to link the first object to the second object.

Device for connecting objects using a strip

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

A system for manipulating a space object in space comprises an articulated structure, wherein the articulated structure comprises a single actuator configured to control, equally, the deployment of the structure in space, the gripping of the space object and the folding down of the articulated structure. Developments describe the use of a fixed supporting structure, a threaded rod, a tapped whorl guided by the threaded rod and a set of articulated bars held by pivot links at their interfaces on the tapped whorl and on the fixed supporting structure. Various mechanical configurations are described, notably gripping devices comprising rollers for locking and/or unlocking the space object by separation of the articulated bars. A method of regulation, of control and of adjustment of the manipulation is provided.

Manipulation of a satellite in space

A projectile extending along an axis X between two ends, the projectile being positioned in a barrel of substantially cylindrical shape of axis X is provided. The projectile comprises: a hollow part at its center, opening onto a first of the two ends of the projectile to receive a compressed fluid, a plurality of vents passing through the projectile from the hollow part substantially perpendicular to the axis X and with a substantially radial outlet to expel the compressed fluid substantially at a tangent to the projectile. The invention also relates to the barrel and to a launch device comprising a projectile and a barrel.

Projectile and barrel intended to accommodate such a projectile

A deployable structure comprises a mast and two storage rollers each supporting a flexible solar generator, the two storage rollers being articulated on the mast. The mast comprises at least one longitudinal rod and two lateral arms, inclined angularly in two opposite directions that are symmetrical relative to the longitudinal rod, each lateral arm comprising an end provided with a hollow guide. Each storage roller has a longitudinal axis comprising a bent end forming a pivot respectively articulated inside the hollow guide of a corresponding lateral arm, the pivot of each storage roller having an axis of revolution different from the longitudinal axis of the corresponding storage roller.

Deployable structure comprising a set of solar generators, system for deploying such a deployable structure and satellite comprising such a system

A tape having a fully wound stable state and a fully unwound stable state, configured for space applications, the intermediate states between the fully wound state and the fully unwound state comprises a single continuous portion of wound tape with a first radius of curvature greater than a threshold value and a single continuous portion of unwound tape with a second radius of curvature less than the threshold value, the value of the second radius of curvature being continuous over the unwound portio; the tape comprises a stack comprising fibrous layers extending in a longitudinal direction, the resulting stack having symmetry with respect to a longitudinal plane of its fibres to compensate for torsional deformations generated by variations in temperature.

Tape with smooth deployment

A deployable structure comprises: a mount comprising a first point and a second point opposite and a third point, a storage reel able to rotate about an axis Z, a tape spring able to switch from a configuration in which it is wound about the axis Z in the storage reel into a configuration in which it is deployed along an axis X substantially perpendicular to the axis Z, the first and second points forming a double support with the tape spring to keep the tape spring in the deployed configuration. The third point is able to form a simple support with the tape spring, the storage reel is able to move with respect to the third point and the storage reel is pressed against the third point to guide the deployment of the tape spring.

Retractable deployable structure using a tape spring

An aiming assembly comprising an instrument and aiming device, the aiming device comprises: a frame, a mobile part comprising a plate, the instrument being fixed onto the plate, the mobile part and the instrument having a centre of gravity, the mobile part being rotationally mobile relative to the frame on a first axis of rotation, and comprising a support configured to cooperate with the plate to allow the plate to be rotationally mobile relative to the frame about a second axis of rotation at right angles to the first axis of rotation, and rotationally mobile relative to the frame on the first axis, the first and second axes of rotation intersecting at a point of intersection. The point of intersection coincides with the centre of gravity of the mobile part and of the instrument, and the support comprises a flexible part configured to compensate for the differential expansions on the second axis of rotation between the frame and the plate.

Assembly for aiming an instrument

A retractable tape spring in-building method for a deployable structure comprising a main tape spring having an axis of deployment and of refurling substantially parallel to an unfurled axis X and comprising two ends, a secondary tape spring comprising two ends and a winding mandrel carried by a shaft parallel to an axis Z perpendicular to the axis X, the main tape spring being wound around the mandrel, a first end of the main tape spring being fixed to the mandrel, the method comprising the following steps: fixing a first end of the secondary tape spring a predefined distance away from a second end of the main tape spring, fixing a second end of the secondary tape spring on the mandrel. A deployable structure comprising a tape spring for a flexible structure is also provided.

Tape spring retractable deployable structure and method

A device for launching using compressed fluid, comprises: a projectile, a barrel having two ends, the projectile being positioned inside the barrel, a first of the two ends allowing the compressed fluid to enter the barrel, a second of the two ends allowing the projectile to leave, a reservoir of compressed fluid connected to the first of the two ends of the barrel. A connecting device comprises a first tape, able to make the transition from a configuration in which it is wound about an axis Z around a support to a configuration in which it is deployed along an axis X substantially perpendicular to the axis Z, the tape having an end fixed to the projectile, and wherein the support is fixed in the barrel.

Device for launching a projectile using a compressed fluid

A rolling hinge device comprises two substantially parallel winding cylinders, longitudinal link element-forming winding means, the winding means being able to maintain a predetermined distance between the winding cylinders and being wound around winding cylinders, and at least two flexible tracks, a flexible track being fixed to each winding cylinder, the flexible tracks being arranged facing one another and having a point of contact, a prestressing force being applied at said point of contact of the flexible tracks under the effect of the winding means. At least one flexible track comprises at least one slot produced over at least a part of its length, the slot delimiting a plurality of flexible beam sections of determined profiles.

Growing community of inventors

Cannes la Bocca, France

Didier Stanek