GB572201A - Improvements in and relating to aircraft control devices - Google Patents

Abstract

572,201. Gyroscopic apparatus. JACK & HEINTZ, Inc. April 29, 1943, No. 6788. Convention date, April 13, 1942. [Class 97 (iii)] [Also in Group XXIX] An automatic pilot for aircraft includes an air-spun gyroscope and an oil-spun gyroscope. The air-spun gyroscope' is used for controlling the aircraft during straight flight and during a turn to a predetermined new course with an over-riding control by the oil-spun gyroscope in the event of an abnormal rate of yaw while the oil-spun gyroscope is used alone to control the craft during a manually-controlled turn at a predetermined rate. In the form shown in the Figures, the air-spun gyroscope housed in a casing 46 has an air pick-off with a follow-up control from the rudder 30 by way of arm 65, cable 62 passing over pulleys 61, 63, 64, differential gear 70 and worm gearing and a setting knob 58 coupled to the differential gear. Pipes 47, 48 connect the air pick-off to the chambers on opposite sides of a diaphragm 50 actuating a balanced valve 52 controlling a hydraulic cylinder is also connected by pipes 24, 25 to a second balanced valve 21 actuated by the gimbal 9 of the oil-spun gyroscope 8. This gimbal is adjustably loaded by a spring 43 arranged between a pin 44 on an arm 45 on the spindle 10 of the gimbal and a pin on an arm 42 carried by a shaft 36. The shaft 36 is turned to adjust the spring by a knob 31 with a pointer moving over a scale 68 acting through a flexible cable 32 and worm gearing 34. The arm 42 is held in its adjusted position by a spring catch engaging depressions in a sector 39 secured to the arm 42. The air-spun gyroscope is put out of operation during a controlled rate-of-turn by closing a valve 60 in a conduit connecting the valve 52 with the oil sump. A compass card 66 is turned by the knob 58 and a lower card 67 is carried by the gimbal frame 9.