Messerschmitt-boelkow-blohm Gesellschaft MIT Beschraenkter Haftung

Astrium Gmbh

Daimler Chrysler Ag

Messerschmitt-bolkow-blohm Gmbh

Deutsche Aerospace Ag

Eads Space Transportation Gmbh

Messerschmitt-bolkow-blohm Gesellschaft MIT Beschrankter Haftung

Airbus Ds Gmbh

Franz Sperber

Martin Roth

Walter Stich

Michael Hahn

Peter M Wackerle

Arno Voit

Josef Grober

Adalbert Wagner

Ralf-Thilo Schulz

Wolfgang Prochaska

Rita Roth, Legal Representative

Wolfram Koletzko

Walter Weber

Leonhard Stielner

J&uuml;rgen Dupier

Peter-Martin Wackerle

Michael Kislinger

A mechanical rotational drive has a bar-like torsion element, whereby the torsion element is firmly clamped with a first end in a bearing device. The torsion element can be pivoted with a second free end with respect to the clamped end about the longitudinal axis, forming a rotation axis, of the torsion element between a relaxed position and a tensioned position, whereby the length of the torsion element is reduced with respect to the relaxed position when the torsion element is brought into its tensioned position. A device for transmitting a torque into the torsion element or out of the torsion element is provided in the area of the free end, and a damping device is arranged in the axial direction of the torsion element at a fixed distance from the bearing device and adjacent to the free end of the torsion element, and a damping part is provided on the torsion element in the area of the free end of the torsion element, which damping part in the relaxed position is in friction engagement with the damping device and which in the tensioned position is not engaged with the damping device.

Mechanical rotational drive

An exhaust nozzle bell for a rocket engine including a first part arranged on a motor of the rocket engine, and a second part coupled to the first part. The second part having a stowed position in which the second part surrounds the first part and is positioned closer to the motor, and an operating position in which the first part and the second part form a continuous shape and the second part is arranged farther from the motor. Moreover, the nozzle can include an extension mechanism structured and arranged to extend the second part from the stowed position to the operating position, the extension mechanism including a plurality of swiveling extension arms, wherein the extension arms have first and second ends. Furthermore, each of the extension arms comprise one of a sliding and rolling element on an end facing the second part of the exhaust nozzle bell. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Extendible exhaust nozzle bell for a rocket engine

An extendible solar generator has an extendible solar cell structure and an extendible support array structure which has a first cross member and is connected with a stowage housing for the solar cell structure. The support array structure can be rolled out independently of the solar cell structure and has guiding devices for rolling out the solar cell structure after the array structure has rolled out.

Extendible solar generator with an extendible supporting array structure

A support structure includes at least one shaped component which is produced from a shape memory alloy and which, in a first operating state of the support structure, results in an increase in the strength of the support structure and, in a second operating state, results in a reduction in the thermal conductivity of the support structure. The first strut structure is surrounded by a second strut structure, which has a higher mechanical strength in comparison with the first strut structure, and the first strut structure is connected securely, at least at one of its ends, to the second strut structure. In addition, the first strut structure is connected to a holding device, and the second strut structure is releasably connected to the holding device by the at least one shaped component.

Support structure having alternative states of high strength or low thermal conductivity, and connecting strut

An antenna reflector for satellites or space vehicles having a number of hexagonal individual reflectors (,) which can be arranged around a rigid central element (,). The reflectors (,) are connected to the central element (,) by a support structure (,) that can collapse to hold the reflectors in a compact storage state or be extended to deploy the reflectors. The reflectors (,) are folded like an umbrella in a transport state when the reflectors are collapsed and at the place of use, they are brought into their operating positions and spread out, so that they collectively form a reflector surface. Each reflector (,) has a foldable surface structure connected by a multiple number of ribs (,) to a rigid, central structure (,).

Reflector and reflector element for antennas for use in outer space and a method for deploying the reflectors

A method for the production of a reflector for antennas to be used in outer space in which a thread (,) is wound on a winding spindle (,), to obtain a netting or network structure. The winding spindle (,) has contour segments (,) on its surface, whose contour corresponds to the contour of a sector of the reflector surface being produced. After winding, the resulting thread network structure is hardened on the winding spindle (,) and the thread network structure is divided into individual sections. The contour segments (,) are separated from the winding spindle (,) and together with the sections of the hardened network structure thereon are fitted together on an assembly rig so that the individual sections collectively form a reflector. The winding of the thread of the network structure on the spindle can vary in at least one direction or in its angle of placement a, so that the network structure has a different, selectable rigidity in individual areas.

Method and apparatus for producing an antenna reflector, and a structure for such a reflector

A device for holding down solar panels with a holding-down bolt and for releasing the solar panels after shearing off with a pyrotechnical striking pin device is arranged on the outer side of the solar panels. After severing with the striking pin and after lifting out of the striking pin device with a spring, the holding-down bolt pivots out of spacers, which are connected to the solar panels via crossbolts, as a result of which the solar panels can be freely unfolded.

Device for holding down and releasing solar panels

A linear drive is disclosed comprising a single-acting pneumatic piston cylinder unit, at least one spring which acts against the pneumatic force and loads the piston rod in the direction of one end position, and one form-locking pneumatic locking mechanism respectively for each of the two end positions of the piston rod. The locking mechanism comprises a locking link which can be locked from diametrical sides into one recess of the piston rod respectively; a first control piston which is rigidly connected with the locking link, a second larger control piston which is disposed in a longitudinally movable manner on a supporting tube rigidly connected with the locking link; a spring which presses the second control piston in the direction of its extreme end position; a stop for the second control piston which is fixed to the housing; a valve piston which is coupled in a springy and sealing manner with the second control piston and has a closable throttle duct and an open flow connection from the interior of the second control piston and of the valve piston to the pressure space of the piston cylinder unit.

Pneumatic linear drive comprising a locking mechanism for end positions

An arrangement is provided for the adjusting of a mounting part on a carrier in a statically determined position which can be adjusted in a rotatory and translatory manner in three axes with respect to the carrier. The arrangement comprises at least three adjusting units which are arranged in an offset manner with respect to one another between the carrier and the mounted part, each of which comprises two connecting parts which can be translatorily adjusted relative to one another in two axes and are constructed to be rotatorily in three axes as well as translatorily in one axis freely movable sloped to the adjusting plane of the connecting parts. The two connecting parts are adjustably coupled with one another by a double disk arrangement which comprises a primary disk which is disposed on one connecting part so that its rotating position can be adjusted in the adjusting plane of the connecting parts, and a secondary disk which is surrounded by the primary disk in the disk plane, which is disposed on the primary disk so that its rotating position can be adjusted about an axis (B) which is eccentric to the axis of rotation (A) of the primary disk, at which secondary disk the other connecting part is arranged at a distance from the axis of rotation of the secondary disk and is connected with the mounting part via a freely movable combined ball joint slide connection.

Adjusting arrangement

A rail vehicle body consisting of a support frame and sandwich parts attached thereto having an outer and an inner cover layer and supporting layer glued in between them, comprises, with a view to cost-effective fabrication and above all reduction of assembly cost, individually made body modules which are designed in integral construction as a sandwich structure with support frame parts inserted in the region of the supporting layer and fastened to the cover layers and being provided at the edges of the support frame parts with fitting connections for assembly of the body modules.

Composite vehicle body having sandwich panels integrally formed with

A disc wheel, particularly for rail vehicles, with a composite metal/plastic structure. In order to make possible simple manufacture with at the same time adequate force transmission, a structure between the hub and the tread comprises a plastic structure comprising two half shells of the same design which are subdivided in sector fashion by spoke-like reinforcement ribs. The reinforcement ribs each have a longitudinal slot into which rib plates are inserted which connect the two half shells to each other. Advantageously, plastic foam is inserted into the cavities of the half shells. All joints between the plastic structure and the hub or the tread are cemented joints.

Disc wheel, particularly for rail vehicles

An airfoil particularly suited for use in rotor blades of large wind-driven ower plants is formed in three modular sections including a nose or leading section, a spar section and a trailing section, each separately formed and subsequently assembled. In the method of the invention the spar section is formed in two separate mold units which are configured to form part of the upper and lower aerodynamic profile of the airfoil and the two spar section units are trimmed along a junction plane and then joined together at the junction plane to form the spar section of the airfoil.

Large airfoil structure and method for its manufacture

A safety steering column made of wound fiber-reinforced synthetic material s manufactured economically and simply, yet simultaneously with due regard to its deformation characteristics in response to axial compressive overloading under various operating conditions. For this purpose the steering column is wound as a rotationally symmetrical tubular body having five component integral sections (3, 4, 5, 6, and 7). The component sections (3 and 7) are relatively thick-walled connecting tubes to provide a torque input section and a torque output section provided with connectors (8) for steering wheel hub and for a steering mechanism. An intermediate section (5) of the steering column is a cylindrical, relatively thin-walled tube with a larger diameter (d.sub.2) compared to the connecting sections. Conical transition sections (4 and 6) preferably extend between the intermediate section and the connecting tubes or sections. The wall thickness of these transition sections diminishes uniformly from the connecting section in the direction toward the intermediate section for improving the buckling ability. A geodetic winding procedure is preferably applied for winding the columns.

Safety steering column made of fiber-reinforced synthetic materials

Crash or shock absorbing structural components made of fiber reinforced shetic materials and having portions of different diameters including at least one portion of a larger diameter than another portion, are produced by winding synthetic fibers onto a winding arbor (6) in a desired winding pattern. For this purpose a winding support cage (14) is arranged on the winding arbor (6). The winding support cage (14) has circumferential end edges provided with cut-outs (18, 18') for receiving fiber strands. Arresting pins (25, 26) reach into pairs of these cut-outs for temporarily holding the winding support cage (14) against rotation with the winding arbor when a fiber guide (12) moves into a respective starting position for the next winding operation. The cut-outs are so spaced circumferentially and the coordination of the cut-outs to the position of the fiber guide (12) is such that during a winding operation a fiber strand is always deposited in the correct cut-out (18, 18') for producing the desired winding pattern.

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Kolbermoor, Germany

Franz Sperber