GB100340A - Improvements in or relating to Course Determining and Correcting Devices for Aircraft. - Google Patents

Abstract

100,340. Jackson, W. J. Mellersh-, (Sperry Gyroscope Co.). April 24, 1915. Mariner's compasses; angle-measuring instruments for use on aerial vessels.-The lubber line of a compass for aircraft is adjustable and connected to a drift-determining device so that it may be placed in the true direction of flight and the course may be corrected. The drift-determining device comprises means for producing an image of the ground upon a screen, or a telescope, or sighting-device as described in Specification 6126/15, such device having cross-hairs, one at least of which is normally in the fore-and-aft line of the aircraft. The drift-determining device is turned about a vertical axis until this cross-hair lies in the direction of travel of the image of objects on the ground, the lubber line being adjusted simultaneously through the connexion. The pilot, during the adjustment, steers the aircraft so that the point on the compass card corresponding to the desired course follows the lubber line. and the course of the aircraft when the lubber line is brought to rest is consequently that desired. As shown, the compass is mounted within a packed casing 7, the card 10 being surrounded by liquid in a casing 9, to which is secured a corrugated expansion chamber 11. The lubber line 13 is carried by a rotatable ring 16 operated by a rack 15 and pinion 19, the shaft of the pinion carrying a pulley 29 and a hand-wheel 22, by either of which it may be turned. The pulley 29 is connected by a wire or rope with a similar pulley turned through bevel-gearing by the drift-determining device.