Abstract: The present invention relates to an in-service reconfigurable antenna reflector comprising a rigid support and a membrane, deformable and having radio-electric reflectivity properties. According to the invention, the reflector comprises a plurality of coupling means connecting the rigid support and the membrane, comprising a first link of finger ball joint type connected to the rigid support, and a second link of finger ball joint type connected to the membrane. Each coupling means furthermore comprises a linear actuator, comprising a rotary motor and a screw-nut assembly, connected to the two links of finger ball joint type, and able to generate, in an operational configuration, a translational motion allowing the deformation of the membrane.

Abstract: A multiple-reflector antenna for telecommunications satellites including a shaft, to which are attached at least two sub-reflectors, rotating in relation to a load-bearing structure, and a motor including a rotor able to drive the shaft in rotation, and a stator attached to the load-bearing structure, wherein the multiple-reflector antenna also includes two bearings enabling the shaft to rotate in relation to the load-bearing structure, a torsionally rigid mechanical filter placed between the shaft and the rotor, enabling the rotor to transmit the rotational movement to the shaft, and able to dampen the stresses generated by the shaft on the motor, and locking means able to hold the angular position of the shaft in relation to the load-bearing structure.

Abstract: A method for forming a protective coating containing aluminum and zirconium on the surface of a metal part. The part is put into contact with a cement made of aluminum alloy, at a treatment temperature, with an atmosphere containing an active gas which reacts with the cement to form a gaseous aluminum halide, which decomposes in contact with the part depositing metallic aluminum thereon, the active gas containing ZrOCl2 that decomposes in contact with the part depositing Zr metal thereon, and being formed by vaporizing granules of ZrOCl2 that are solid at ambient temperature. The part, the cement, and ZrOCl2 granules are then progressively heated together in a chamber from ambient temperature to the treatment temperature with a plateau at 400° C.±200° C.

Abstract: A method for forming a protective coating containing aluminum on the surface of a metal part, wherein the part is contacted with a carburizer made of an aluminum alloy, at a treatment temperature and in a chamber, the atmosphere of which contains an active gas which reacts with the carburizer to form a gaseous aluminum halide, which decomposes upon contacting the part while depositing aluminum metal thereon. In the method the aluminum alloy of the carburizer includes at least one element, zirconium and/or hafnium, the active gas reacting with the carburizer to also form a halide of the reactive element which decomposes upon contacting the part while depositing the element thereon at the same time as the aluminum.

Abstract: A multiple-reflector antenna for telecommunications satellites including a shaft, to which are attached at least two sub-reflectors, rotating in relation to a load-bearing structure, and a motor including a rotor able to drive the shaft in rotation, and a stator attached to the load-bearing structure, wherein the multiple-reflector antenna also includes two bearings enabling the shaft to rotate in relation to the load-bearing structure, a torsionally rigid mechanical filter placed between the shaft and the rotor, enabling the rotor to transmit the rotational movement to the shaft, and able to dampen the stresses generated by the shaft on the motor, and locking means able to hold the angular position of the shaft in relation to the load-bearing structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in-service reconfigurable antenna reflector comprising a rigid support and a membrane, deformable and having radio-electric reflectivity properties. According to the invention, the reflector comprises a plurality of coupling means connecting the rigid support and the membrane, comprising a first link of finger ball joint type connected to the rigid support, and a second link of finger ball joint type connected to the membrane. Each coupling means furthermore comprises a linear actuator, comprising a rotary motor and a screw-nut assembly, connected to the two links of finger ball joint type, and able to generate, in an operational configuration, a translational motion allowing the deformation of the membrane.

Abstract: A method for forming a protective coating containing aluminum on the surface of a metal part, wherein the part is contacted with a carburizer made of an aluminum alloy, at a treatment temperature and in a chamber, the atmosphere of which contains an active gas which reacts with the carburizer to form a gaseous aluminum halide, which decomposes upon contacting the part while depositing aluminum metal thereon. In the method the aluminum alloy of the carburizer includes at least one element, zirconium and/or hafnium, the active gas reacting with the carburizer to also form a halide of the reactive element which decomposes upon contacting the part while depositing the element thereon at the same time as the aluminum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a protective coating containing aluminium and zirconium on the surface of a metal part, wherein said part is put into contact with a cement made of aluminium alloy, at a treatment temperature, with an atmosphere containing an active gas which reacts with the cement to form a gaseous aluminium halide, which decomposes in contact with the part depositing metallic aluminium thereon, the active gas containing ZrOCl2 that decomposes in contact with the part depositing Zr metal thereon, and being formed by vaporizing granules of ZrOCl2 that are solid at ambient temperature. The method is characterized in that the part, the cement and ZrOCl2 granules are progressively heated together in a chamber from ambient temperature to the treatment temperature with a plateau at 400° C.±200° C.

Abstract: A rotary positioning device of a movable element for space equipment comprising a part attached to a fixed portion of the equipment and a handle actuating the movable portion of the equipment, said handle being rigidly connected to a first race of a ball or roller antifriction bearing and said fixed part being connected to the second race of said antifriction bearing, wherein a link between said fixed part and the second race is an elastic link in rotation about the axis of said antifriction bearing and wherein a stop is rigidly attached to one of the races in order to interact with an element rigidly attached to the other race, so that the relative rotation of the two races of said antifriction bearing is limited angularly.

Abstract: Device for deploying and retracting appendages of space systems comprising at least one support (2) carrying an appendage (1) to be deployed, which is mobile about a rotation spindle (4), and an actuator furnished with a collar (10) driving the said support in rotation by way of a coupling means (9) characterized in that the said coupling means is able in one direction of rotation to cooperate with at least one support (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) so as to drive the said support in rotation and to not cooperate with the said supports in the opposite direction of rotation.

Abstract: Actuator for a device for the rotary positioning of a movable element for space equipment comprising a part attached to the fixed portion of said equipment, a bearing, a sleeve designed to actuate the movable portion of said equipment and mounted on an output shaft supported by a first race of said bearing, said actuator comprising a mechanically movable input means and being capable of converting a movement of the input means into a rotary movement of the output shaft about the axis of said bearing, characterized in that said second race of said bearing is connected in rotation to the part of said equipment, in that an adjustable stop so as to angularly limit the relative rotation of the two races of the bearing, and in that the rate of rotation of the output shaft in response to a movement of the input means is different depending on whether or not the sleeve is resting on the adjustable stop.

Abstract: A rotary positioning device of a movable element for space equipment comprising a part attached to a fixed portion of the equipment and a handle actuating the movable portion of the equipment, said handle being rigidly connected to a first race of a ball or roller antifriction bearing and said fixed part being connected to the second race of said antifriction bearing, wherein a link between said fixed part and the second race is an elastic link in rotation about the axis of said antifriction bearing and wherein a stop is rigidly attached to one of the races in order to interact with an element rigidly attached to the other race, so that the relative rotation of the two races of said antifriction bearing is limited angularly.