GB524017A - Improvements in bearings for gyroscopic instruments - Google Patents

Abstract

524,017. Gyroscopic apparatus ; pivots. SPERRY GYROSCOPE CO., Ltd., MURTAGH, H., and HARDING, W. G. Dec. 22, 1938, No. 37319. [Class 97 (iii)] [Also in Group XXV] In a gyroscopic instrument the sensitive element is supported, for limited angular movement about a substantially horizontal axis, by vertical filaments or blades which connect with the sensitive element substantially on the horizontal axis, lateral movements of the sensitive element being prevented by low-friction guides. In Fig. 2 is shown the suspension means at one side of the rotor case 1 of a directional gyroscope of the type described in Specification 504,726. A spring steel blade 7 is secured at its upper end to the cardan or vertical ring 2 and is clamped between two blocks 9<SP>1</SP> bolted to the rotor case. A pivot 11 extending from the rotor case is received in a ball-bearing 12 which may slide vertically in a slot to accommodate vertical movement as the blade 7 shortens during bending. An eccentric shaft 14 may be adjusted to raise the ball-bearing and relieve the blade spring of weight, for example, during transport. In a modification, Fig. 5, the pivot shafts 18, 18<SP>1</SP> at each side of the rotor case project eccentrically as shown and are suspended by flexible steel blades 16, 16<SP>1</SP>, and instead of employing ball-bearings, lateral movement is prevented by stretched horizontal wires. The rotor case is tested for balance, top-heaviness and bottom-heaviness by suspending the rotor case solely by the spring blades and observing any tendency to rotate when displaced, and by observing its sensitivity to the transference of a very small weight from one side of the rotor case to the other.