Vorrichtung zum zeitweiligen Verbinden, vorzugsweise ein Ansatzteil eines künstlichen Satellitens und Verfahren zum Lösen dieser Verbindung

• Main Authors: VEZAIN, GERARD, F-06210 MANDELIEU, FR, LONG, CHRISTIAN, F-06110 LE CANNET, FR, MARCHAL, JEAN, F-06530 PEYMEINADE, FR
• Format: Patent
• Language: German
• Published: 10.03.1994
• Edition: 5
• Subjects: AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; BLASTING; COSMONAUTICS; DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS ORMACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS,CLIPS, WEDGES, JOINTS OR JOINTING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR; WEAPONS

In order to temporarily link two elements such as an appendix of an artificial satellite and the body of this satellite, a device is used which comprises a holding mechanism (22) of any structure whatever and a freeing member (20) made of a material with a memory of shape. The holding mechanism (22) normally applies a mechanical holding tension between the elements. When it is desired to free these elements, the freeing member (20) is heated for example by means of a heating resistor (28) or by using the solar energy, until the temperature of transformation of the material with a memory of shape is reached. The arrangement of the freeing member (20) is such that its change of shape has the effect of removing the mechanical holding tension and of creating a play between the elements.