GB191019779A - Automatic Stabilisers for Aeroplanes and the like. - Google Patents

Abstract

19,779. Regnard, P. L. A. Aug. 25, 1909, [Convention dute]. Gyroscopic apparatus for balancing aerial machines. A gyroscope rotating in an horizontal plane is adapted, when the machine inclines from its normal position, to switch into action one or more of four electric circuits tending to restore equilibrium, two of the circuits being used for the longitudinal balancing a n d two for the lateral balancing. The gyroscope A is universally mounted between supports B fixed to the machine, and carries a disk E, which, when the machine inclines, contacts with and closes one or more of four switches F<1>, F<2>, F<3>, F<4>. Each switch may comprise two conducting-strips a, b, Fig. 3, pressed into contact by the disk E, but a preferred construction is that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the strip a carries an arched projection c on which the lower spherical surface of the disk E presses, the radius of the sphere being the distance from the axis of the gyroscope, so that the pressure applied to the strips is constant. The switches F<1>, F<2> for the longitudinal equilibrium are connected with a solenoid G, of which the iron core is connected to an endless rope passing over pulleys and adapted to actuate a sector on a shaft carrying rear elevating-planes H. The solenoid comprises two coils placed end to end, one of which is connected with the switch F<1>, and the other with the switch F<2>, so that the iron core is moved in one direction or the other according as one or other of the switches F<1>, F<2> is closed by the disk E. The switches F<3>, F<4> for the lateral equilibrium are connected to a similar solenoid G<1>, of which the iron core is similarly adapted to actuate sectors to operate side planes I in opposite directions about laterally extending axes.