Connection device with separation controlled by non-pyrotechnic thermal effect with reduced reaction time
AssigneeArianegroup SAS
InventorThierry Abensur
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In order to provide a temporary connection between two structure elements, such as two parts of a space launcher or of another type of spacecraft or aircraft, a connection device with controlled separation comprises a thermally breakable layer, two thermal containment layers, between which the thermally breakable layer is arranged, and an electrically conductive element arranged between the two thermal containment layers in such a way as to heat the thermally breakable layer using the Joule effect when an electric current passes through the electrically conductive element.
Claims8
A controlled-separation connection device, comprising a thermally frangible layer, two thermal confinement layers between which the thermally frangible layer is arranged, and an electrically conductive element arranged between the two thermal confinement layers so as to heat the thermally frangible layer by Joule effect when the electrically conductive element carries an electric current,
- wherein the thermally frangible layer is a thin layer made of a first material having a melting point lower than a melting point of a second material in which the electrically conductive element is provided, and
- wherein the first material is a metal alloy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.