Measuring tape with thermal deployment and deployable structure comprising said measuring tape
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a measuring tape ( 10 ) comprising a stack of at least two layers, characterized in that it also includes a first layer, called support layer, based on composite material ( 11 ) and a layer, called top layer, ( 12 ) based on a polymer having a high glass transition temperature so that, in conditions of use, said polymer is in a glassy state to maintain the element in the wound or folded position. The invention also relates to a deployable structure including said measuring tape intended notably for space applications.
1. Measuring tape ( 10 ) comprising a stack of at least two layers, comprising a first layer, called support layer, based on composite material ( 11 ) and a layer, called top layer, ( 12 ) based on a polymer having a high glass transition temperature so that, in conditions of use, said polymer is in a glassy state to maintain the element in the wound or folded position.
2. Measuring tape according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer is of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) type having a glass transition temperature of the order of 67° C.
3. Measuring tape according to claim 2 , wherein the polymer is of polyvinyl chloride type having a glass transition temperature between approximately 80° C. and 85° C.
4. Measuring tape according to claim 2 , wherein the polymer is of atactic polymethyl methacrylate type having a glass transition temperature of the order of 107° C.
5. Measuring tape according to one of claims 1 to 2 , wherein the composite material is a laminated material of carbon/epoxy type.
6. Measuring tape according to one of claims 1 to 2 , wherein the top layer also includes elements ( 121 ) of glued or screen-printed heating resistor type.
7. Measuring tape according to one of claims 1 to 2 , comprising an intermediate adhesive layer between the layer of composite material and the top layer of polymer.
8. Measuring tape according to one of claims 1 to 2 , wherein the thickness of the top layer of polymer is around 0.5 millimetres.
9. Measuring tape according to one of claims 1 to 2 , wherein the thickness of the support layer is around 0.2 millimetres.
10. Measuring tape according to one of claims 1 to 2 , wherein the deployable element has a length of around a metre and a width of around 60 millimetres.
11. Deployable structure, characterized in that it also includes:
measuring tapes ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 to 2 ;
means of winding said measuring tapes;
a platform ( 30 ) to be deployed by the unwinding of the measuring tapes;
means of unwinding the measuring tapes ( 22 ) comprising means for heating the top layer of polymer.
12. Deployable structure according to claim 11 , including a hexapod structure comprising six measuring tapes.
13. Deployable structure according to claim 11 , comprising a base ( 20 ) and means ( 21 ) of fixing the winding means onto said base.
14. Deployable structure according claims 11 , comprising an optical component ( 23 ) positioned on the platform.