DAMPER INCLUDING A SHAPE-MEMORY ALLOY COMPONENT AND A TEMPERATURE LIMITER, AND A SUPPORTING DEVICE COMPRISING SAID DAMPER

摘要

The invention relates to a damper (10) comprising two linking parts (12A, 12B) connected to two bodies (A, B) in order to dampen a relative movement therebetween. A force-transmission element (31A, 32A, 31B, 32B), connected to the two linking parts, includes a component (31A, 32A, 31B, 32B) made from a shape-memory alloy which deforms by dissipating energy when such a relative movement takes place. The damper also comprises: means (50) for limiting the maximum temperature reached by the aforementioned component, which include at least one current generator (70) made from a thermoelectric material and arranged such that it can produce an electric current when the component (30) is heated; and means (80) for dissipating the electrical energy carried by said current. The invention also relates to a supporting device for an engineering structure, including at least one such damper.