Abstract: Two robot arms (16, 17) controlled by a preprogrammed system support each in turn a thread dispensing cassette (18), one of the arms 16 equipped with the cassette travelling over one part of a winding path 19 around a mandrel 2, at the end of which the cassettee is transferred to the other arm 17, which travels over the other part of the said path up to the point of departure of the first arm, in such a way that the thread is wound around the entire periphery of the mandrel in a movement that is analogous to the placing of a bandage around a limb when the rolled up bandage is passed from one hand to the other while unrolling the said bandage. Application to filament winding of complex shapes, particularly of toroidal articles, is disclosed.

Abstract: A joint is provided for connecting an end of a tube of composite material which is subject to relatively large axial stress to an annular metallic ferrule, and includes a composite tube composed of high strength fibers agglomerated by a polymerized synthetic resin having a wall and an annular metallic ferrule formed as a band. The ferrule has in cross-section the shape of a segment of a circle including a curved portion and a flat portion, the curved portion of the ferrule facing the composite tube. The ferrule is embedded in a receiving surface of the wall of the tube, and the flat portion of the ferrule is flush with adjacent regions of the receiving surface of the tube. An end member is included having an extending portion which engages the ferrule, and a complementary connecting device is disposed between the flat portion of the ferrule and the extending portion of the end member, for connecting the tube to the end member.

Abstract: So as to dampen the shock occuring at the end of deploying a deployable lengthening piece of a space instrument, such as a solar generator, without resorting to using a complex speed regulation or synchronization mechanism for deployment, the present invention offers a torque limiter device (28a) to be placed between each joint (12) and at least one of the adjacent elements (10a) of the lengthening piece. This device includes an elastic system, such as a stack of Belleville washers (48a) which presses the plate (24a) of the joint against the edge of the element (10a) with a predetermined and preferably adjustable force. At the end of deployment, this elastic system absorbs the energy of the shock by deforming, then it brings the two pieces (24a, 10a) back into contact with each other thus giving the lengthening piece with the desired rigidity. An accurate relative positioning is then ensured by a flexible plate (34a) whose lateral edges are secured to each of the pieces.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for supplying an enclosure with trolleys or similar, provided more particularly in the passenger cabin of an aircraft and comprising:at least one storage container in which said trolleys are arranged and which is situated in the baggage compartment of said aircraft;a controllable automatic device provided in the baggage compartment of said aircraft and able to move to seize each of said trolleys in said container, by gripping means, and then bring it to said enclosure via a passage formed between the baggage compartment and said enclosure; anda programmable control unit connected to said automatic device and containing the information relative to the position of said trolleys in the container and to the types of products contained in each of them so that, depending on the information transmitted by said unit, said automatic device moves for seizing said corresponding trolley and bringing it from the baggage compartment to said enclosure.

Abstract: A device for guiding and controlling displacement of a mobile member relative to a fixed member parallel to a translation axis comprises at least one pair of parallel flexible flat plates. These plates are transverse to and spaced along the axis, one end of each plate being rigidly attached to the mobile member and the other end of each plate being rigidly attached to the fixed member. The rigidly attached parts of each plate are at the same distance from the axis. A transverse extension on the mobile member extends approximately parallel to the plates towards the fixed member, over at least half the transverse distance between the respective parts of the plates rigidly fixed to the mobile member and the fixed member. An actuator applies a force to this extension parallel to the axis at a point substantially equidistant transversely from the respective parts of the plates rigidly fixed to the mobile member and the fixed member.

Abstract: So as to control parts of any form, such as panels made of a composite material, a control head (10) is used comprising a small bar made of an elastic material, aligned ultrasonic transducers (18) being placed in said control head which functions by reflected light. The small bar bears contact blocks (22,24) which are brought into support on the surface of the part to be controlled, which has the effect of deforming the small bar and orientating each of the transducers perpendicular to the surface. As regards parts having a non-uniform shape, a uniform quality of the control is thus ensured, the same applying for a reduction of the control time. A precise control of the evolution of the structure of parts during production is also rendered possible. Advantageously, the transducers are mounted on the small bar so as to be disassembled, said mounting being effected by means of wedging members, such as screws and metal wire clips.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for recognizing a target (T) among a plurality of n known targets Ti (with i=1, 2, 3, . . . , n).According to the invention, by direct examination of said target (T) to be recognized and from first values (Cki) representative of a plurality of p recognition criteria Ck (with k=1, 2, 3, . . . , p), at least p third values (pCk(Ti)) are established representative of the probabilities that, for each recognition criterion (Ck), the target (T) to be recognized is each of said known targets (Ti); and said third values associated with the same known target (Ti) are merged while taking into account second values (PCk(Ti)) representative of the probabilities that a target (Ti) is recognized, in so far as criterion Ck is concerned, when it is examined so as to obtain n fourth values (p(Ti)), each of which is representative of the probability that the target to be recognized is one of the known targets (Ti).

Abstract: A method and apparatus to perform the observation and imaging from a space vehicle by scanning of a celestial body with reference to a scanning axis, forming successively two signals corresponding to the scanning in a given directional series of a line or band including ground area, detecting in each of these signals a characteristic transition representative of a given characteristic point of this line or band of ground, reading the relative position of these transitions in these signals, and determining an angular velocity of the space vehicle from any divergence between these relative positions while taking into account the time interval separating the instants where each of these transitions appeared in the aforementioned formed signals.

Abstract: So as to temporarily connect two elements, such as an artificial satellite lengthening piece and the body of this satellite, a device is used including a holding mechanism (22) of any structure and a freeing member (20) made of a form memory material. The holding mechanism (22) normally applies a holding mechanical tension between the elements. When it is desired to free these elements, the freeing member (20) is heated by, for example, a heating resistor (28) or by using solar energy, until it reaches the transformation temperature of the form memory material. The disposition of the freeing member (20) is such that its change of form suppresses the mechanical holding tension and creates a positive allowance between the elements.

Abstract: A miniature photopyrotechnic priming device having a hollow body (18) for receiving a pytotechnic substance (24). A rigid index gradient microlens (30) is mounted in the hollow body for focusing a high energy beam having a given wavelength onto the pyrotechnic substance. A shape memory alloy or metal ferrule (32) is located in the hollow body (18) which has a smaller internal diameter at ambient temperature than the diameter of the microlens. A connector (34) fixed to the body (18) secures the microlens-ferrule assembly and an optical fiber (12) carrying the laser beam.

Abstract: The composite material according to the invention has carbon reinforcing fibres (2) coated with a carbon coating (6) and then a SiC coating (8), embedded in a carbon-based matrix, covered by an outer silicon carbide layer (10), sealed by a silicon carbide coating (14), then an aluminium or hafnium nitride coating (16) and finally an outer alumina coating (18). This stainless material can be used as a heat shield for space shuttles.

Abstract: Light source for an optical detector of the position of a body, the latter being measured by the relative position(s) of spots of light projected by the source on a linear detection element. Said source is in the form of a flat luminous geometric figure comprising a curve (23,23',24,24') symmetrical about an axis (22). Said curve is symmetrical about an other axis (21) and has at least a first thickness (e.sub.1) on one side of a first (21) of the two axes, and at least a second thickness (e.sub.2) on the other side of said axis. Application to an optical device for measuring the angular position of a body.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for comprising connecting elements on electric conductors, which device comprises:a punch-carrying member (4) with a plurality of sets of n punches (4C) movable radially with respect to the electric conductor about which said pin to be crimped is disposed;a first piece (5) mounted on said punch-carrying member and comprising radially movable pushers (5C), said first piece being movable with respect to said punch-carrying member by first actuating means (10), so as to bring the pushers (5C) opposite the chosen set of punches (4C); anda second piece (6) mounted on said first piece (5) and having means (6B) for moving said pushers (5C), representative of the crimping force to be exerted by the punches, said second piece (6) being movable with respect to the first piece and to the punch-carrying member by second actuating means (11), so that the movement means (6B) act on the pushers (5C) which, in their turn, act on the punches (4C) so as to obtain crimping of the element on the electric co

Abstract: A device is disclosed for controlling a variable electric signal. A first switch receives the monitored variable electric signal at its input. A second switch receives a first limit electrical signal for the monitored signal and a first minimum reference for the first limit electric signal. A third switch receives a second limit electric signal for the monitored signal and a second maximum limit reference for the limit electric signal. The first switch delivers at its output: the monitored signal when it is between the output signals of the second and third switches; the output signal of the second switch when the monitored signal is greater than the latter signal; and the output signal of the third switch when the monitored signal is less than the latter signal.

Abstract: In space vehicles, mechanisms such as ball bearings (14, 14') are subject to an initial preload or prestress enabling them to withstand the vibrations caused by the launch and without leading to any clearance or play. A member (34) made from a shape memory material e.g. makes it possible under the effect of its elongation, to release said preload when the vehicle is in the operational mode. The control of the release can take place by means of a heating resistor (36), whose energization leads to the member (34) clearing its shape change temperature.

Abstract: The machine comprises on a body bearing and rolling devices (5), a guiding arrangement constituted by adjustable claws (11) adapted to bear against the edge of the work piece (30) to be chamfered, and a router (20) including a milling cutter (24) mounted on the body to be pivotable in a plane perpendicular to the edge, the milling cutter (24) being located between the claws (11).

Abstract: In order to reinforce a working hull, such as the fuselage of an aircraft and in particular that of a helicopter, a frame (C) is embodied made of a composite material in the form of a monolithic monobloc structure. This structure is constituted by a profile whose internal flange (16) and the external half-flanges (18) principally comprise unidirectional fibers which extend over its entire length. As a variant, the lower section of the frame is embodied separately in the form of a panel bordered over its entire periphery by lateral half-flanges which also principally comprise unidirectional fibers. After assembling the two sections of the frame, the half-flanges are then opposite each other in the elongation.

Abstract: A system for transmitting optical information uses several transmitters and receivers connected by optical fibers. The transmitters and receivers are arranged in individual networks in each of which all the optical fibers leaving the transmitters are coupled to one another and all the optical fibers arriving at the receivers are coupled to one another. In addition, all the optical fibers leaving the transmitters in each individual network are interconnected to the corresponding optical fibers, i.e., those leaving the transmitters, in all the other networks.

Abstract: The coil according to the invention has normal dimensions, but contains a considerable optical fiber length.It is constituted by a main cylindrical support (12) about which is wound a first part (18) of the optical fiber (16), which is to be unwound by pulling. It is constituted by a first concentric, supplementary cylindrical support (14) placed within the main cylindrical support (12), a second part (20) of the optical fiber (16) being wound around said first supplementary support (14), the inner layer of the first part (18) of the optical fiber (16) being directly connected to an outer layer of the second part (20) of the optical fiber (16).

Abstract: A composite reinforcement element comprising three superimposed and crossed even layers of threads and a continuous thread extending perpendicularly through the three superimposed even layers. The layers are impregnated with a binder and the binder is polymerized after impregnation. The superimposed and crossed even layers are initially maintained assembled, before the impregnation and the polymerization of the binder, by a conjugate action of gripping and friction of the three superposed and crossed even layers of threads on the continuous thread which extends therethrough. The continuous thread forms an internal surface of the composite reinforcement element which protrudes from the superimposed and crossed even layers of threads in the form of open loops which are interconnected on an external surface of the element.