Engineering/Mechanical help

[bobleponge]

Just had a conversation with one of my French clients, he is looking for a word in English. He explained this all to me in French, but not having an engineering clue, I shall ask those wot do!!

In French, the word is "contrefleche." Literal translation is "counter arrow" which I dont think is it.

If a piece of machinery is not under load, there is a distance between 2 points. When the machine is put under load, the distance between same 2 points changes.

What is this distance called?
Its "counter" something, not balance but something else.

He knows the word but cant remember it in English, and shamefully, I dont even know it.

Cheers

[bubblewrap]

Counterpoint?

[bobleponge]

Hmmm, cheers BW but its apparently not that.
Puzzled from Oran.

[HeyWayne]

Compression?

I know if you apply a tension load in one direction, at the opposing end of the 'lever' a compression load will be applied.

[Nicos]

Une contre fleche is the camber of say a beam as it bends under stress

( don't ask how I know!!!)

(Oh- is that what you were meaning???)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camber_beam

[bobleponge]

Apparently my French man is happy with camber.

Top of the engineering class >>>>>>>>>>>>> NICOS!!!!!

Cheers all those clever types wot replied.

[Bigmallly]

The only thing I can think of Bob is couterweight.

[HeyWayne]

Cheers all those clever types wot replied.

Ahem - I also replied.

[bobleponge]

Exceptions always made big fella.

[HeyWayne]

Exceptions always made big fella.

S'alright - I'm always being made an exception of.

[bobleponge]

And you're clearly at least as clever as wot I'm not cos you managed a stab at an answer.
I just smiled at said French type and said I would ask for help.

[Patchninja]

Ah ha! From the verb fléchir, not the word arrow!

[bobleponge]

I indeed realised the derivation of the word once I had seen the real meaning.
Thus all my stories of Agincourt were almost completely wasted.
Only almost as its never a bad thing to bring up in conversation with a Frenchman.

[Patchninja]

I suppose as a bow "flexes" to fire the arrow it's logical. It didn't occur to me, though when I first read your question. I love finding out about words.

I heard that our 2 -finger gesture comes from the longbowmen who used to wave their fingers at the French to show they still had their fingers and could still pull the long bow (which the French weren't strong enough to pull, apparently) as if caught, the French used to chop them off!

[bobleponge]

PN that is pretty much where it comes from. I explain this piece of history to my voisins as obviously they only use the 1.