GB802776A - Gas-floated gyroscopes - Google Patents

Abstract

802,776. Gyroscopic apparatus. PROTOCORP, Inc. Feb. 19, 1957, No. 5638/57. Class 97(3) Gyroscopic apparatus includes a gyroscopic element floating substantially at neutral bouyancy in a compressed gas in a pressure container. As shown in Fig. 1, a sphere 12 is mounted in bearings 14 in a ring 16, which itself is mounted in bearings 17 in a ring 18, which in turn is mounted in bearings 19 in a ring 20 mounted on a base 10. The sphere, which may have e.g. an inside diameter of 2.2 cm. and a thickness of 0.2 cm, is filled, through a closure 22, with a gas such as nitrogen at a pressure of 13,500 p.s.i. An inner sphere 25, forming the gyro rotor, may be of magnesium-aluminium alloy of about 2 cm. inside diameter and 0.07 cm. thick, is filled through a closure 26 with a lighter gas, e.g. hydrogen, also at a pressure of 13,500 p.s.i. Alternatively, the inner sphere may be solid, of light material such as lithium. with flattened pole portions, and the flotation gas is of high molecular weight and may be xenon or krypton. To drive the inner sphere, the outer sphere may be driven by a motor consisting of a stator 40 and a rotor 42, this rotation being imparted to the inner sphere 25 by viscous drag. Friction locks, disengaged by centrifugal force at a desired operating speed, may also be used, and the outer sphere may be driven by an air turbine. The inner sphere may be centred with respect to the outer sphere by means of eddy currents, magnets or by electrostatic means, e.g. eddy currents may be induced by three windings at right angles outside the sphere 25. Other centring means are also mentioned. Displacement between the inner and outer spheres may be indicated by currents set up by magnets on the inner sphere in coils mounted on the outer sphere. The signal generated may be used to apply correcting torques to the inner sphere or to align the axis of the outer sphere with that of the inner sphere.