GB306603A - Improvements in and relating to gyroscopes - Google Patents

Abstract

306,603. Henderson, Sir J. B. Nov. 25, 1927. Gyroscopic apparatus.-In a gimbal-mounted gyroscope having three degrees of freedom, the outer trunnion axis of the gimbals is controlled so as always to be at right-angles to the rotor axis, so that couples about the rotor axis, due for example to variations in the speed of the rotor, may have no component about the outer trunnion axis. The invention is particularly applicable to air-driven gyroscopes used for steering torpedoes. The Figures show a torpedosteering gyroscope in which the inner trunnion axis is vertical, and provided with the means described in Specification 234,419 for obtaining " angle-fire." The rotor 1 is pivoted on an axis 2 in the inner ring 3 which is mounted on trunnions 4 in the outer ring 5. According to the invention the ring 5 is mounted on trunnions 6 in an additional ring 7 which is mounted on trunnions 8 in the frame 9. Compressed air is introduced through the lower trunnion 8 and passes through pipes 10 to the trunnions 6 and thence through pipes 11 to the trunnions 4, the lower trunnion 4 being provided with a nozzle 12 for maintaining the spin of the rotor. To the upper trunnion 4 and) to a bridge-piece 14 fixed to the ring 3 is fixed a Y-tube 15 terminating in nozzles 16 the axes of which pass through the intersection of the axes 4, 6. The, jets from the nozzles 16 pass through shoots 17 on the ring 7 and strike a vane 20 constituting the rim of a spider 21 fixed to the ring 7. When the axis 6 is not at right-angles to the axis 2 the reaction of the air-jets causes the ring 7 to turn about the axis 8, this turning continuing until the axes 2, 6 are at right-angles. The means for controliing the steering of the torpedo are carried by the ring 7. The invention is also applicable to a gyroscope in which the axis 4 is horizontal. In this case the ring 5 is mounted in vertical trunnions 6 in a fork 7 mounted on an horizontal bearing 8 in the frame 9 (see Fig. 4, not shown). In a modified arrangement, the gyroscope is enclosed and the controlling air-jets are derived from the excess pressure within the casing. In another form in which the rotor is not enclosed, the residual velocity of the air from the nozzle 12 after it has impinged on the rotor is utilized.