Abstract: The locking device (100) includes a pivoting ratchete (10) and a component (30) that is movable between two extreme stop positions. The pivoting ratchet (10) is symmetrical about a plane including its pivot axis (35), and it includes first and second locking fingers (15, 25) each of which is designed to engage in stable manner and under the action of a load (F) acting on the moving component (30) in a corresponding one of symmetrical notches (50a, 50b) formed in the moving component. A spring (20) is mounted in a prestressed state so that for a given resilient reaction (R1) thereof, the distance of said reaction from the pivot axis (35) of the ratchet (10) in either of the two stable locking positions is such that the ratchet (10) is unlocked by applying the smallest load that is likely to be applied to the moving component (30) in the direction that tends to switch it from one extreme stop position to the other.

Abstract: A device for jettisoning a payload from a spacecraft, the device comprising: connection means between the payload and the spacecraft; an energy storage device for jettisoning the payload; and a releasable latching device for latching the payload to the spacecraft. In the device for jettisoning a payload: the connection means comprises a single rod in alignment with the axis of symmetry of the jettisoning device and having a first end fixed to the payload; the energy storage device acts on the first end of the connection rod; and the releasable latching device acts on the second end of the connection rod, said device being fixed to the spacecraft. Application to the aerospace industry.

Abstract: A mechanism for finely adjusting the orientation and/or the position of a payload, characterized in that it comprises: a resilient mechanism constituted by at least one continuous ring (10); a payload support device (15) suitable for transforming deformation of the ring into rotation or into combined rotation and translation; a ring deformation mechanism (11) suitable for directly applying simultaneous deformation forces at two diameterically opposite points of the ring; and a device (14) for varying the orientation of the diametral line of action of the ring deformation mechanism, thereby enabling the orientation and/or the position of the payload to be adjusted finely or coarsely. The mechanism is applicable to the optical industry, to pointing antennas, etc.