Patent ID: 8829416

Claim:
A passive mechanical athermalization device comprising: a barrel ( 1 ) formed of a first material having a first thermal expansion coefficient (λ 1 ) and having a longitudinal axis (AA) and a radial axis (BB) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (AA), the barrel ( 1 ) comprising at least one first portion ( 11 ) and at least one second portion ( 12 ), at least three beams ( 7 ) formed of the first material, each of the beams ( 7 ) connecting the first portion ( 11 ) and the second portion ( 12 ), and extending circumferentially relative to the longitudinal axis (AA) in a direction (C) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (AA) and to the radial axis (BB), at least three bars ( 8 ) formed of a second material having a second thermal expansion coefficient (λ 2 ) different from the first thermal expansion coefficient, and circumferentially distributed around the barrel ( 1 ) relative to the longitudinal axis (AA), each bar ( 8 ) connecting the first portion ( 11 ) and the second portion ( 12 ) axially relative to the longitudinal axis (AA), so that thermal expansion of the barrel ( 1 ) translates as deformation of the beams ( 7 ) and bars ( 8 ) along the longitudinal axis (AA).