Electrostatic devices for mechanical blocking

An electrostatic unit for location of members of a mechanical device, comprising:

• a housing of the electrostatic location unit,
• a locating member arranged in the housing and movable from one position to another,
• an electrostatic location means designed for location of the locating member in one of the positions. placed in the housing and comprising two electrically conductive members and a layer of a dielectric therebetween, conformal surfaces of the electrically conductive members and the dielectric being designed for electrostatic interaction and location of one relative to the other when they are in close proximity to each other and when an electric charge is applied to the electrically conductive members, one of said members of the electrostatic location means being kinematically linked to the locating member,
• a means for applying an electric charge to the electrically conductive members, said means being connected to the electrically conductive members,
• at least one of the members of the electrostatic location means comprises a layer of an elastic material on a conformal surface, said elastic material being selected from the group consisting of an electrically conductive material and a dielectric material.