GB124529A - Improvements in or relating to Gyro-compasses. - Google Patents

Abstract

124,529. Perry, J., aud Brown, S. G. Aug. 3, 1916. Gyroscopic compasses.-The pendulous or gravitational factor controlling the gyroscope acts through a relay or intermediate source of power. The gyrowheel and associated parts may therefore be mounted in almost neutral equilibrium. In the constructions illustrated in this abridgement, an air blast derived from the air in the gyrocasing is used to effect the displacement of a controlling- weight along a lever arm. Figs. 3 and 4 show, in plan and side elevation respectively, a form in which liquid is transferred from one vessel H to another vessel H by the differential pressure of an air blast controlled by a pendulum F carrying floats f<1> dipping into vessels G carried by the gyrocasing A, on which the vessels H are also carried. The pendulum F carries at its lower end a plate f in front of the air nozzle E, Fig. 5, for distributing the blast between the parts of an air chamber K which are so connected to the vessels H that any inequality in the distribution of the blast causes a difference of pressure in the vessels to effect a transfer of liquid. An auxiliary pair of liquid-containing vessels J, acting in a similar manner but oppositely to, and out of phase with, the vessels H, is provided in order to damp oscillations. Other pendulum devices also adapted to be unaffected by short period movements may be employed, e.g. a pendulum with an auxiliary gyroscope for increasing the period of oscillation, or a pendulum with viscous-fluid damping-means. This latter is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, which also show a form in which the righting-torque is produced directly by the differential action of two air nozzles E<1>. The air nozzle E<1> on either side is provided with an air-director f<7> carried on a pendulum F<2>, which is pivoted in brackets m<2> on the gyro-casing A and carries a blade dipping into very viscous fluid contained in a vessel M<1> mounted on the casing A. Relative movements of the pendulums and casing produce displacements of the directors over the nozzles E<1>, and consequently a difference between the air discharges, so that a righting-torque about the horizontal axle of the casing A is produced. In another construction, an air-hlast is caused to act with a differential cooling effect on two electrically heated wires, which are carried on a pendulum device, and by means of which a torque-producing motor is controlled.