GB471895A - Improvements in and relating to gyroscopic navigational instruments - Google Patents

Abstract

471,895. Gyroscopic apparatus. MOSS, D. G. K., and PEIRCE, H. C., (trading as MECHANISM). Feb. 12, 1936, No. 4244. [Class 97 (iii)] In a gyroscope for indicating pitching and azimuth movements of the supporting craft, the inner and outer gimbals are erected by the opening and closing of oppositely directed air jet orifices to set up an unbalance of the emergent air jets. As shown the rotor 1 spins on a normally horizontal axis in a casing 2 forming the inner gimbal. The latter pivots about a vertical axis in the outer gimbal ring 4 which in turn pivots about a horizontal transverse axis in a U-shaped bracket fixed to the rear wall of the outer casing 25. The outer gimbal 4 is erected by oppositely directed air jets issuing from an extension 24 of the casing 2 and differentially controlled by a rolling valve 20 as described in Specification 441,130. The inner gimbal 2 is centralized with respect to the outer gimbal 4 by the differential obstruction of oppositely directed air jet orifices 18, 18<1> in the gimbal 4 by a semicircular flanged element 17 on the spindle 16 of the inner gimbal 2. A semi-hemispherical member 21 secured to the gimbal 4 indicates pitching by reference to graduations on the casing 25 and a semihemispherical member 22 secured to an extension 23 of the casing 2 indicates aximuth movements by its movements relatively to the member 21. In a modification a single hemispherical member is carried by the extension 23 and has at the centre a representation of an aircraft which moves relatively to cross wires to indicate both pitching and azimuth movements. The gyro may be reset by operation of a plunger 26 having a flat end face 28 adapted to engage the flat end wall of the casing 2.