GB558684A - Improvements in or relating to universally mounted gyro-verticals or artificial horizons for craft - Google Patents

Abstract

558,684. Gyroscopic apparatus. SPERRY GYROSCOPE CO., Inc. June 30, 1942, No. 8999. Convention date, Dec. 19, 1940. [Class 97 (iii)] In a universally and neutrally mounted gyro-vertical or artificial horizon provided with erecting means (for example pendulous shutters controlling air jets) deviations of the gyro from the vertical during lateral acceleration or bank accompanying a turn or change in speed of the craft are prevented by including in the gyroscope means for applying a countertorque in opposition to the disturbing torque applied by the erecting means. As shown in Fig. 1, when the craft turns and centrifugal force, acting on the erecting shutters 9 applies a disturbing torque, the banking movement of the craft, relative to the gimbal ring 3 displaces a two-way valve and admits air from a pipe 16 to one or other of two nozzles 11, 12 carried by the gimbal 3, and by directing an air jet on to a toothed sector 10 attached to the rotor casing 5 counteracts the disturbing torque. To prevent this counteracting torque from operating during the initial setting of the gyroscope, the air supply to the pipe 16 may be cut off manually by a valve operated from a handle 23, or may be automatically cut off by a sylphon bellows 25, Fig. 3, connected to the exhaust pump of the gyro. In a modification, Fig. 8 (not shown), the air jets from the nozzles 11, 12 are controlled by a shutter carried by a pendulum which swings out when the craft turns. In further modifications, the air to the counteracting nozzles is controlled from the rudder connections of the craft, or when the craft is equipped with an automatic pilot for example as described in Specification 416,813 the nozzles are controlled from the air pipes of the servomotor system of the directional gyroscope. Specification 393,695 also is referred to.