Thales

Centre National Detudes Spatiales

Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

L'ecole Centrale De Marseille

Stéphane Vezain

Yannick Baudasse

Jean-Philippe Fraysse

Didier Stanek

Sebastien Guionie

Damien Chassoulier

Bernard Boulanger

Yannick Baudassé

François Guinot

Ludovic Schreider

Julien Ducarne

Carole Billot

Alain Chaix

Ronan Pin

Francois Guinot

Robin Lacroix

Nicola Guercio

David Guichon

Yasmina Gafari

Yasmina Gafiri

Olivier Bardel

Nicolas Dando

Stéphane Bourgeois

Pernelle Marone-Hitz

Anthony Delmas

Robain Lacroix

M Sebastien Guionie

Sébastien Guionie

Julilen Ducarne

A deployable device includes a supporting structure, a mandrel able to move in rotation with respect to the supporting structure about a first axis Z, a membrane able to pass from a rolled-up configuration rolled up around the mandrel about the first axis Z to a deployed configuration deployed along a second axis X substantially perpendicular to the first axis Z. The device comprises two fittings secured to the mandrel at their centre, arranged one on either side of the membrane and comprising first stubs on their periphery, a casing extending between the two fittings, the casing comprising second stubs of a shape complementing the shape of the first stubs, the casing being able to pass from a rolled-up configuration at least partially enveloping the membrane in the rolled-up configuration to a deployed configuration at least partially superposed on the membrane in the deployed configuration.

Deployable tape spring device having a rollable membrane and casing, and satellite including the same

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 control system comprises sources of supply, in terms of power and in terms of control signals, capable of equally piloting each of the electric thrusters and further comprises a switching device capable of linking any one of the sources of supply to any one of the electric thrusters. The switching device comprises a rotary main roller divided into a number of angular segments comprising input and output conductive tracks and pre-wired electrical networks linking the input conductive tracks to the output conductive tracks of each angular segment, the pre-wired electrical networks associated with the different angular segments all being different and dedicated to different configurations for the piloting of the electric thrusters by the sources of supply.

Control system for a plurality of electric satellite thrusters and electric propulsion device comprising such a control system

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 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 mast with spontaneous autonomous deployment comprises at least one elementary structural block with a longitudinal axis of deployment X, the elementary structural block comprising two, respectively lower and upper platforms parallel to a plane YZ orthogonal to axis X, and N stages stacked on one another parallel to axis X, where N is more than 1, and where i is between 1 and N&#x2212;1. Each stage comprises at least six flexible longitudinal connection arms which are articulated by tape springs, which arms are, in the deployed position, on planes parallel to axis X and are inclined relative to axis X, the N stages being secured to one another in pairs by means of connection platforms parallel to the plane YZ; two adjacent lower and upper stages are offset angularly relative to one another by rotation around the axis of deployment X.

Deployable mast with spontaneous autonomous deployment, and satellite

A device is provided for unfurling and refurling comprising at least one tape spring having an axis of unfurling and of refurling parallel to an axis X and a rotor capable of rotating about an axis Y perpendicular to the axis X, the tape spring being able, autonomously, to pass from a state in which it is wound around the rotor to an unwound state. The tape spring is mounted bent in two in the shape of a U and comprises a first end fixed rigidly to a first anchor point that may be secured to a stator or to the rotor and a second end wound around the rotor.

Device for unfurling and refurling a flexible structure, and a flexible unfurlable structure and satellite both equipped with such a device

A deployable structure comprises: a support, a tape spring fixed to the support, able to pass from a wound configuration wound about an axis Z, to a deployed configuration, and a mobile arm able to rotate with respect to the support about the Z-axis, able to form a first contact with the tape spring so as to control the deployment of the tape spring.

Tape spring deployable structure

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

In the transmission of mechanical movements, a mechanical angular positioning device is provided, and applies notably to optical instruments necessary to position an element such as a mirror according to three predefined positions. The angular positioning device comprises an assembly of connecting rods and an assembly of pivot connections, the axes of which are parallel to one another. A first input connecting rod, a second output connecting rod and a third connecting rod are in pivot connection with a frame of the device. A fourth and a fifth connecting rod are each connected by two pivot connections to two other connecting rods. The input connecting rod can be rotated by a motor. The angular positioning device is configured such that the output connecting rod can adopt three distinct angular positions, for each of which two connecting rods in pivot connection with one another generate a dead center in the device.

Angular positioning device with three dead centres

In precision mechanical actuators, wherein a high precision stepping motor can notably be used in the actuating mechanisms of artificial satellites, a stepping motor comprises two rotors that rotate in opposite directions to generate a low-amplitude movement between one of the rotors and a stator. The first rotor comprises a first set of teeth distributed at a first pitch pand a second set of teeth distributed at a second pitch p. The stator comprises N stator contacts comprising a plurality a of teeth distributed at the pitch p, distributed at a third pitch equal to p(a+/N), and able to cooperate with the teeth of the first set. The second rotor comprises N rotor contacts comprising a plurality b of teeth distributed at the pitch p, distributed at a fourth pitch equal to p(b+/N), and able to cooperate with the teeth of the second set of the first rotor.

Double rotor stepping motor

A motorization device comprises two substantially parallel winding cylinders, and at least one longitudinal linking element able to maintain a predetermined distance between the winding cylinders and wound around winding tracks, the linking element consequently having a crossing point located between the winding cylinders. The motorization device includes two flexible tracks, fixed on each of the winding cylinders and arranged to face and to touch eachother at the contact point, a pre-stressing force being applied to the contact point under the effect of said linking element. The flexible tracks are spiral shaped and arranged such that the contact point between the two spiral-shaped flexible tracks, located between the winding cylinders, is offset relative to the crossing point of the linking element, such that a torque dependent on the distance between the contact point and the crossing point is applied to the contact point, causing reciprocal rotation of the flexible tracks.

Adapted torque motorisation system for deployable spatial structures

A motorization device comprises two substantially parallel winding cylinders, at least one longitudinal link element to maintain a predetermined distance between the cylinders, and wound around said winding tracks, the link element consequently having a crossover point between the winding cylinders, two flexible tracks fixed to the winding cylinders and arranged facing and in contact with one another at the point of contact, a winding cylinder and flexible track assembly forming a fitting, a prestressing force being applied at the point of contact under the effect of the link element. The flexible tracks have a spiral form configured that the point of contact between the two flexible tracks in spiral form, situated between said winding cylinders, is offset relative to the crossover point, such that a torque dependent on the distance between the point of contact and the crossover point is applied, to provoke the mutual rotation of the fittings.

Motorization system with torque suitable for hinge with crossed winding means

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.

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Mandelieu, France

Stéphane Vezain