Abstract: The protection of the straight edges of multilayer panels (10), such as spacecraft thermal protection panels or heat shields, is ensured by an adhesive protection edging (14) having two adhesive, lateral zones bonded to the faces of the panel and a non-adhesive zone (18) placed on the edge of the panel. Following the removal of a non-adhesive protection (30b), a first adhesive, lateral zone (20b) is brought onto a working plane (22), through a slot (32), and is progressively bonded to the lower face of a panel (10) moving on said plane. The second lateral, adhesive zone is then turned down and pressed onto the upper face of the panel, after which the non-adhesive protection (30a) of said zone is removed.

Abstract: The protection of the straight edges of multilayer panels (10), such as spacecraft thermal protection panels or heat shields, is ensured by an adhesive protection edging (14) having two adhesive, lateral zones bonded to the faces of the panel and a non-adhesive zone (18) placed on the edge of the panel. Following the removal of a non-adhesive protection (30b), a first adhesive, lateral zone (20b) is brought onto a working plane (22), through a slot (32), and is progressively bonded to the lower face of a panel (10) moving on said plane. The second lateral, adhesive zone is then turned down and pressed onto the upper face of the panel, after which the non-adhesive protection (30a) of said zone is removed.

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: The shock absorbing jack of the invention includes essentially a rod in which a sliding piston defines an extension chamber and which itself slides in a body by means of a piston defining a retraction chamber, the body including a throttling device and, on the side opposite the rod, two high and low pressure gas chambers, these chambers being separated by a membrane bearing, at rest, on a support with hemispherical perforated bottom.