Method and device for releasing the pre-load initially applied to a mechanism such as an on-board bearing in a spacecraft.

摘要

In spacecraft, mechanisms such as ball-bearings (14,14') are put under an initial pre-load to enable them to tolerate the vibrations caused by launching, without resulting in looseness. A member (34) made of a shape-memory material makes it possible, owing for example to its lengthening, to release this pre-load when the craft is in operational mode. This release may be triggered by, in particular, a heating resistor (36) which when a current is applied raises the member (34) above its shape-changing temperature.