GB886063A - Improvements in fixed position gyrocompasses - Google Patents

Abstract

886,063. Gyroscopic apparatus; theodolites. ANSCHUTZ & CO. G.m.b.H. March 21, 1960 [March 31, 1959], No. 9981/60. Classes 97(2) and 97(3). A gyrocompass for surveying purposes comprising a rotor 3 mounted in a float 2 supported by liquid in a case 1 is provided with a follow-up device comprising graduated plate 10 and driving wheel 9, rotated by a motor 11 controlled by the co-operating electrodes 7, 8, so that graduated plate 10, which is the azimuth circle of a theodolite 15, follows the movements in azimuth of float 2. The float 2 is weighted at 4 so that the float has slight excess weight which is supported by a strip or wire 18 or alternatively by a coil exerting an electromagnetic lifting force. Current is supplied to the gyroscope by conductors 6, utilizing the liquid in case 1, and a damping vessel 13 is mounted in the float. The rotor 3 is mounted in the upper part of the float so that heat generated thereby does not cause convection currents in the supporting liquid. The gyroscope is caged by rotating nut 5 which presses the recessed end of a screw against a conical projection on the lower end of float 2 and causes a similar projection on the upper end to engage a conical recess in the follow-up device, an indicator 19 being provided which is connected to nut 5. When the instrument is to be moved to another location, the rotor is rapidly slowed down or stopped by reversing the polarity of the three-phase current supplied to the rotor.