US1770245A - Earth inductor compass - Google Patents
Earth inductor compass Download PDFInfo
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- US1770245A US1770245A US31742A US3174225A US1770245A US 1770245 A US1770245 A US 1770245A US 31742 A US31742 A US 31742A US 3174225 A US3174225 A US 3174225A US 1770245 A US1770245 A US 1770245A
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- generator
- armature
- shaft
- compass
- brushes
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
- G01C17/00—Compasses; Devices for ascertaining true or magnetic north for navigation or surveying purposes
- G01C17/02—Magnetic compasses
- G01C17/28—Electromagnetic compasses
- G01C17/30—Earth-inductor compasses
Definitions
- This invention relates to improvements in compasses, and more particularly to rotating .coil, electric or earth inductor compasses, and
- a further object is to p inductor compass mechanism or system which may conveniently be installe objects and adinvention is disroduce an earth din or combined with the fuselage of an airplane with the various units of the compass system separated or remotely placed from each other to attain the most eificient operation and accurate indications.
- Figure 1 represents the generator unit in longitudinal section; and Figure 2 represents an air-impeller drive head unit, also in section; these two views being aligned to represent the two units in assem bled relation.
- Figure 3 represents an. electric motor drive head which is interchangeable with the air impeller-drive head shownin Figure 2 for use in case it is desired to electrically drive the compass generator.
- Figure 4 represents a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4'-4. of Figure 1, showing details of a universal oint and gimbal support by which the rotating armature is suspended from a drive shaft.
- Figure 5 represents a plan view of the generator of Figure 1 with the drive head of Figure 2 mounted thereon.
- Figure 6 is a front "elevation of the direction controller with its graduated compass direction dials; and Figure 7 is a side elevation' of the same controller with a fragment of the shaft control assembly attached thereto.
- Figure 8 shows a plan assembly of the various units of the compass system installed 1 in the fuselage of an airplane with the genings, the inductor generator for the compass system comprises an armature 11 and a commutator .13 both fixed on a shaft 12.
- armature windings 11 are connected with the 'QOID-IHHtatOI' in the usual way as indicated by the numeral 10.
- the armature shaft 12 is journaled in bearing *16 and 17, one of which forms part of an upper casing 18 and the other of which is attached to a lower cas ing 19.
- Carried upon the casing19 are also the commutator brushes 20 and 21 which bear upon and collect current from the commutator 13.
- Integral with the casin 18 are spaced upstanding lugs 22 and 23 y means of which the casing 18 is freely and movably suspend-- ed for universal movement from a gimbal ring 24 by the pin 25.
- the gimbal ring 24 is in turn qispended from lugs 26 'and 27 by means of pins 28, and the lugs 26 and 27 are'formed integrally with and depend from a rotatable generator mounting base in the form of a worm wheel 31 which carries an integral upstanding bearing sleeve 30.
- the sleeve 30 is rotatably carried upon the lower end of an upstanding tubular member 32 which is secured to a base member plate 33 by means of which the generator is fastened to the vehicle represented in Figure 8 by an air airplane fuselage 34.
- a nut 39 is screwed on the lower end of the tube 32 to support the worm wheel 31 and armature unit suspended therefrom.
- a cover which encloses that part of the mechanism which is below the base member 33.
- a lower yoke 41 forming part of a universal joint which is shown in section in Figure 4.
- the yoke 41 is attached to a universal joint ring 42 by pivot screws 43 and to this ring 42 is also attached a second or upper yoke 44 by means of pivot screws 45.
- the upper yoke 44 is fastened to a short shaft 47 which is slidably connected to a driving shaft 46 which may be partially tubular.
- the generator is supported by the rotatable mounting ear base '31 and the armature is driven y. transmission shaft .means 46 extending through said gear down to the generator therebeneath, and the generator mounting means 31 is capable of manual adjustable turning movement so as to orient the brushes 20 and sition in relation to earths flux where no ated in the armature.
- Two alternate means a are provided for driving the shaft 46 and the generator armature 11, one electric and one by air pressure as will be illustrated.
- a housing 48 is carried upon the upper end of the tube 32.
- This housing 48 is clamped to the tube 32 by means of the bolt'49 and nut 50. By releasing the bolt and nut the housing 48 may be rotatably adjusted to any position upon the tube 32.
- Within this housing 48 is journaled the upper end of the drive shaft 46.
- a shaft 52 is journaled and bevel gears 53 and 54 are fastened to shafts 52 and 46 and to the forward end of shaft 52 is secured an air impeller 55.
- Air pressure from an airplane in flight spins the propeller 55 and thus drives the generator armature causing potential to be produced by virtue of the windings 11 cutting through the earths magnetic field.
- the adjustable attachment between housing 48 and tube 32 makes it possible to turn the housing 48 and impeller 55 to a position where the impeller receives the greatest air pressure thereupon to drive the generator.
- FIG. 3 An alternate form of driving means, comprising an electric motor, is shown in Figure 3.
- the tube 32 carries on its upper end the electric motor 61 and the shaft 46 is connected to and driven froin the shaft of the electric motor.
- Electric connections from the brushes 20 and 21 are made with wires 71 and 72 which wires are connected to slip rings 73 and 74 which are anchored on the bearing sleeve 30 but insulated from it by a bushing 75.
- Current is collected from these slip rings by contact brushes 76 and 77 which are in turn connected to transmission wires 78 and 79.
- wires 78 and 79 establish electrical connection between the generator unit and a 105 steering meter or deviation indicator 9 located any suitable distance from the generator, as in Figure 8, the wires 78 and 79 usually being mounted on the frame of the fuselage when the compass system is installed no
- the face of the deviation orsteering meter or galvanometer 9 is shown in Figure 9 which is also illustrated its deviation indicating hand 80 which normally points to zero on the dial of the indicator 9 when the airplane is traveling in the direction indicated on the graduated compass dials 106 and 107 of the manually operable direction controller 6.
- a mechanical connection or transmission drive means is established between the generator and direction controller and to this end, an operating shaft 87 is journaled in the base member casing cover 33 and carries a w0rm 86 which engages the worm wheel 31.
- This shaft extends through the cover 35 and carries on its outer end a universal joint 88 to which is attacheda piece of shafting 89 by any appropriate means.
- This shaft is connected through bearing blocks 91 anchored to the fuselage 34 and to a miter gear box 92 which is in turn connected to the direction controller 6.
- a front view of this controller is shown in i ure6 and a side elevation in Figure 7. caring blocks 91, miter gear box 92, and direction controller 6 are equipped with universal joints as shown.
- the gear transmission 31-86 holds the genuniversal joint 100 is connected a piece of- .Sha'fting 101 by means of a clamp 102 or other suitable means.
- This sectional shaft 101 ine stalled on the fuselage forms part of the shaft" line connected with shaft 89 on the generator already mentioned and by which a mechanical operating connection is established over an angular course between the direction controller 6 and the generator.
- a direction indicating compass dial 106 is .graduated from 0 to 9 as shown and this dial is fixed to the controller'shaft 96 so that the dial makes one complete turn for every turn of the crank 97 and the dial is exposed to view on the front face of the direction controller case 6 in which the dials are mounted. Geared to this dial 106 in a ratio of 1 to 36, in a second concentric compass dial 107 which is graduated from 1 to 36 or N corresponding to a compass card graduated in 10 intervals.
- the two compass dials are availed of to provide a fine compass setting since one dial may be used as a Vernier to'read against the other dial and this arran ement aids a navigator in laying out and following a precisely defined course.
- the various units are installed on an aircraft or, other vehicle as illustrated in Figure 8.
- the direction controller 6 and the steering or deviation indicator'9 are usuallyinstalled on the instrument board 90 remotely from the generator and in plain view of the pilot or navigator.
- the inductor generator is placed in operation by the rotationof the air impeller 55, or the electric motor 61. As the armature 11 is rotated, the wires comprising it are caused to cut the earths lines of force and a potential is generated. As in any electric generator, the external potential depends upon the relation between the position of the collecting brushes and the direction of the field vflux.
- the operation of the compass consists in setting upon the compass dials 106 and 107,
- the direction in which it'is-desired to navigate the craft This is accomplished by manually turning the direction controller crank 97 until the dials are brought into. proper relation with the lubbers line. If the direction or steering meter hand 80 indicates zero, the craft will be headed in the direction indicated by thedirection controller dials or else in a direction the exact reverse thereof. To determine in which of the two directions the craft is headed, said craft is steered slightly to the right or left.
- the heading is that indicated on the dials 106107 of the direction controller 6, but if the meter hand 80 moves off of zero oppositely to the direction in which the craft is steered, the said craft is then known in fact to be headed in a direction the reverse of that shown on the controller dials and the direction of travel is according y. correctedby reversing the direction of the craft.
- One of the improved features among others of this invention is the gimbal ring suspension 2 4 for pendulously supporting the non-rotatlng housing 18 containing the revolving armature 11 together with the substantially concentric universal joint ll-44 connecting the driving shaft 46 and the armature shaft 12 and which jointis disposed down through the gimbal suspension ring 24.
- This improved structure permits the fuselage to roll or pitch without disturbing the operating efiiciency or position of the generator stabilized in the earths flux, it being desirable to maintain the generator in a predetermined position to eliminate errors in generation otherwise introduced by the vertical component of the earths flux.
- My improved airplane andcompass combination shown in Figure 8 is particularly useful because the generator is placed back in the tail of the airplane where its operation is not hindered by outside electrical or magnetic disturbing influences such as would occur in case the generator was placed near the instrument board for in the latter case other instruments on board the craft would interfere with the free and normal potential output of the compass generator.
- the universal shaft-line connection 101 runningfrom'the instrument board 2 to the rotary generator mounting base 31 along the airplane fuselage frame 34 and forming part of the combined system, enables the manufacturer to very conveniently locate the generator and deviation indicator hand 80 points to 0.
- the commutator brushes 20 and 21 are carried by or with orientable brush mounting means such as the wheel 31 gear driven by the small pinion 86.
- the brushes are suspended, in this instance by the case 19, from the turntable gear or orientable mounting means 31 and bear against the commutator 13 and are subject to .orientation thereabout by the operating means 101 which is driven by the controller drive means 97 2 ad by which a dead or nonfpotential position is found for the brushes.
- the armature 11 be stabilized so as to normally function in the earths field and as a matter of structhe brushes, armature and-the like in opera-M tive relation with each other, and the brush or armature mounting gear 31 is disposed adjacent the armature,
- a potential generating unit including brushes with mounting means supporting the brushes for-adjustable turning, said potential generating unit being installed in the airplane fuselage remotely from the instrument board, power means for driving the generator, a manually operable direction controller mounted onthe instrument board for adjustably turning the brushes, a graduated direction controller dial forming a part of and carried by the direction controller, a shaft and universal joint connection established between the direction controller and theremotely located potential generating unit, a deviation indicator mounted on the instrument board where it may be simultaneously observed with the aforesaid graduated dial of the direction controller, and electrical wires installed in the fuselage and connecting the potential generating unit with the deviation indicator in order that said indicator readings be effected by the remotely located generator and such affects be simultaneously observed with the manually changeable readings in' terms of direction on the aforesaid direction controller dial.
- a vehicle and electric compass system therefor comprising, a vehicle frame, a generator casing fixed on the frame,'a generator carried within the casing, means for driving the generator, an adjustably turning support attached to the casing from which the generator is suspended, a direction controller mounted in the vehicle frame'remotely from the generator, a gradline installed on the frame and connecting the separated generator and deviation indiv eating meter.
- An earth inductor compass system combined with an airplane as defined in'claim 1 and stabilizing means Cooperating with the potential generating unit adapted to stabilize the generator in normal position and permit the airplane to move relatively thereto, whereby no current flows from the potential generating unit when the airplane is on the desired course.
- An earth inductor compass generator comprising in combination. a base member. an adjustable turning support carried on said base member. a casing, an armature shaft journaled within said casing and projecting therethrough, an armature and a commutator carried upon said armature shaft, a gimbal joint suspending said casing from said turning support, adrive shaft journaled for rotation in respect to said base membena universal joint connection established between said armature shaft and said drive shaft. and said drive shaft being disposed coneentrically within and through the gimbal joint;
- An earth inductor compass generator and drive unit comprising in combination. a base member, an adjustablx turning support carried on said base member, a casing. an armature shaft journaled within said casing and projecting therethrough. an armature and a commutator carried upon said armature shaft within said casing, a gimbal joint connection established between said casing and adjustable turning support which gyroscopically suspends the casing and armature from the base member for stabiliza tion of said casing and armature, a drive shaft journaled for rotation in respect to said base member.
- An earth inductor compass system comprising in combination, a direction controller, a deviation indicating steering meter,
- an adjustable turning support adapted to rotate relatively to said base member, means cooperating with said controller for adjustably turning said support, a casing, a gimbal suspension interposed betweensaid rotatable support and said casing, an armature shaft journaled for rotation relatively to said casing, an armature and a commutator carried upon said armature shaft within said casing, a drive shaft journaled for rotation relatively to the adjustable turning support, a universal joint interposed between said armature shaft and said drive shaft, said universal joint being substantially concentric with said gimbal suspension, power means for rotating said drive shaft, current-collecting brushes carried on the casing and cooperating with the commutator, slip rings carried upon said rotatable turning support, electrical connections .made between said brushes and said slip rings, current collecting brushes carried on the base member and bearing against said slip rings, and an electrical connection made between said current collecting brushes and the deviation indicating steering meter.
- a potential generator element for electrical compass system comprising in com bination, a base member, a stationary tube rising therefrom, power means carried on one end of the tube, an adjustable turning generator support carried on the other end of the tube, a generator armature having current-collecting means suspended for free universal movement beneath the adjustable turning support, a drive shaft within the tube and connected to the power means at one end, a universal connection established between the drive shaft and suspended generator, and means for adjustably turning said support.
- a potential generator unit for electrical compass systems comprising in combination, a base member, a stationary tube rising therefrom, power means carried on one end of the tube, a gear rotatably carried on the other end of the tube, a generator armature having current collecting means suspended for free universal movement beneath the gear, a drive shaft mounted in the tube and connected to the power means at one end, a universal connection established between the drive shaft and suspended generator, and
- a direction controller disposed remotely from the generator, a compass dial forming part of the direction controller, means connecting the direction controller and aforesaid support adapting said support thereby to be adjustably turned by operating the aforesaid remotely located direction controller, a deviation and steering indicator, and electrical transmission wires connecting the deviation I and steering indicator to the generator.
- An earth inductor compass generator comprising in combination, a cover housing by which the generator is installed in service position, a case disposed within the housing, an adjustably turned gear supported by the housing, a gimbal connection interposed between the gear and case thereby adapting the case to swing pendulously and universally free in the housing, an armature having a current-collecting means assembly carried within the pendulous case, a drive shaft, a universal joint concentrically disposed within the aforesaid gimbal connection serving to join the drive shaft and armature, power means to drive the shaft, slip rings carried on the gear, a flexible electrical connection established between the aforesaid current-collecting means and the slip rings, an adjusting shaft journaled in the housing, and a gear fixed on the adjusting shaft meshing with the aforesaid adjustably turned gear.
- a potential generator unit for electrical compass systems comprising a base memher, a casing attached to said base member, a generator armature universally supported for rotation within said casing, a stationary tubular member arising from said base member, power means carried upon said tube, a driving connection established between said power means and said armature, said power means being adjustably secured to said tube,
- An earth inductor compass comprising in combination, a potential generating unit having current collecting means, said current collecting means being adjustably turned about a normally vertical axis, a manually operable direction controller located remote from said generating unit, a. mechanical connection established between said generating unit and said controller whereby manual operation of said controller effects turning movement of said current-collecting means, said mechanical connection comprising a plurality of universal joints and intermediate shafts, a galvanometer deviation indicator, and electrical connection established between said current-collecting means and said deviation indicator.
- a potential generator for electrical compass systems comprising in combination, a casing, an armature carried therein, means universally supporting the armature in the casing, a drive shaft universally connected with the armature, air impeller power means supported on the casing thereabove and connected with the drive shaft, means whereby the power means may be adj ustably rotated to bring the air impeller into the line of air pressure, and means for fixing the power means in said adjusted position.
- a potential generator for electrical compass systems comprising in combination, an adjustably turned support, an armature having currentfcollecting means suspended universally therefrom and gyroscopically stabilized in relation to the earths field, means for adjustably turning the support for adjusting the current-collecting means to any desired position, means for collecting the potential and transmitting it away from the stabilized armature, a power driving head mounted above the adjustably rotatable support, a universal drive shaft connecting the power head and armature. said shaft extending concentrically through said adjustably rotatable support, and adjusting means adapted to anchor the power head in any desired position.
- a generator for electric compasses comprising an armature and a current-collecting means assembly, means pendulously suspending said assembly, power means for driving the armature, a universal joint connection established between the power means and armature to drive the latter which simultaneously produces potential and gyroscopic force to stabilize itself in relation to the earths field regardless of the position of the power means, and means mounted concentrically with the universal joint and mounted between the power means and armature for adj ustably rotating the armature and the current-collecting means assembly in relation to the earths field.
- a compass generator adapted to work in the earths field comprising, an armature and driving means therefor, a commutator and current-collecting means, rotary mounting means disposed above the armature and including means carrying the current-collecting means in operative engagement and for orientation about. the commutator, and
- controller operating means to rotate the mounting means by which the current-collecting means are oriented at the will of an operator to find a null-potential position for the armature.
- a compass generator adapt-ed to work in the earths field comprising, a stationary housing support, a non-stabilized rotatable gear wheel carried with the stationary housjournaled in the housingsupport, and a gear,
- Amincluctor compass comprising; an earth inductof'generator including an armature, a commutator therefor sbrushes bearing thereon, 'orienta ble-brush mounting means carrying the brushes for orientation-9a.;
- a compass controller lncludlng a casing, a shaft journaled therein,- a compass dial fiired to the. shaft and mounted to turn in the casing, and
- An inductor compass comprising; a fieldless generator including an armature, a commutator therefor, brushes bearing thereon, orientable-brush mounting means on which the brushes are carried for orientation; a deviation indicatorand electrical connections extending therefrom to the brushes; op- I crating means connected with the orientablebrush mounting means by which the latter is chanically interconnected; and drive means connected with the concentric compass dials and connected with. the operating means by which the dials and brushes are simultaneously operated.
- An inductor compass comprising; an
- inductor generator including an armature, a:
- commutator therefor, current collecting means cooperating therewith, and orientable means to which'the current-collecting means are attached and adapted to be oriented about a normally vertical axis; a deviation indicator connected with' the current-collecting means; operating means connected with the orientable means and including sections of .shafting, and universal joints connecting the shaft sections whereby the shaft sections are operatively laid out over an angular course; and a compass controller connected with the operating means and including a casing, a shaft journaled therein, drive means to re volve the shaft, compass-dial means mounted within the casing and fixed on the shaft to revolve therewith, and bevel gears connected with the shaft and connected with the aforesaid operating means whereby the orientable means and the compass-dial means are'simulg taneously actuated by the drive means.
- An inductor compass comprising; .an. inductor generator adapted to run in the earths field and including an armature, a commutator and brushes,- and gear means to carry the brushes'for orientation about a normally verticalaxis; a deviation indicator connected with the brushes; a compass controller including a shaft, acrank'fixedto one end of the shaft. direction-dial means fixed to shaft adjacent the crank, and bevel gears connected at the other end of the shaft; and operating means including shafting one end of which' is connected with the bevel gears at the controller'and the other end of which is operatively connected with the gear means of the 4 generator whereby the brushes are oriented and the direction-dial means are turned when the crank is actuated.
- An inductor compass generator comprising a gear wheel, a universally pivoted support. depending therefrom, an armature pendulously suspended from the universal support, a commutator carried with the armature, brushes bearing on the armature and means carrying the brushes for orientation 7 with the gear wheel.
- a drive shaft extending a through the gearwheel and one end being connected to the armature to rotate the latter in the earths field, motormeans connect ed with the other end of the drive shaft, slip' rings carried with the gear wheel and turning therewith, wire connections made between the slip rings and the brushes,'contact brushes bearing on the sliprings, and means mounting the contactbrushes tion'.
- An inductor generator comprising a base plate, a cover anchored theretoto house the generator parts, motor means and a support therefor on the base plate and cover, said support having'one end thereof projecting through the base plate'into the cover, a gear wheel inside' the cover and journaled on the projecting support end. a sleeve on the gear .wheel. slip rings fixed on the sleeve to rotate in a.
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Description
July 8, 1930.
M. M. TITTERINGTON EARTH INDUCTOR COMPAS S 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 21, 1925 INVENTOR Morris M. Tifiering'fon Jul 8, 1930.
M. M. TITTERINGTON EARTH INDUCTOR COMPAS S Filed May 21, 1925 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Morris M. Tiri'eriqgfon r @MMQ W y 1930. M. M. TITTERINGTON 1,770,245
EARTH INDUCTOR COMPASS I Filed May 21, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Morris M- Tiffcringfon Patented July 8,1930
"UNITED 'STATES PATENT? OFFICE MORRIS TITTEBINGTON, OE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK; GEORGE A. TITTERINGTON, EXECUTOR OF SAID MORRIS M. TITTERINGTON, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR T PIONEER INSTRUMENT COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OE BBOOKEYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORA- bilizing the-generating element, and provid- TION OE NEW YORK nan'rn nmuc'ron comrass Application filed Maj 21, 1925. Serial 1%.. 31,742.
This invention relates to improvements in compasses, and more particularly to rotating .coil, electric or earth inductor compasses, and
is an improvement over the electric compass shown in former application Serial Number 542,937, filed March 11, 1922 Some of the objects of this invention are to provide in such a compass,
or driving means for the potential generating improved power element, the securing of indications in connection therewith, improved means for staing an improved fieldless ge ner'ator the commutator' brushes of which are rotatably adjustable by a direction controller, and the latter instrument being novel inits compass 'dials arrangement. Other vantages will appear as the .closed and described.
A further object is to p inductor compass mechanism or system which may conveniently be installe objects and adinvention is disroduce an earth din or combined with the fuselage of an airplane with the various units of the compass system separated or remotely placed from each other to attain the most eificient operation and accurate indications.
While a practical embodiment of this invention is shown in the drawings and dis- -'closed:in this specification, it will be under- I stood that various modifications may-be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.
Referring to the drawings which represent a one of the preferred forms of the invention Figure 1 represents the generator unit in longitudinal section; and Figure 2 represents an air-impeller drive head unit, also in section; these two views being aligned to represent the two units in assem bled relation.
Figure 3 represents an. electric motor drive head which is interchangeable with the air impeller-drive head shownin Figure 2 for use in case it is desired to electrically drive the compass generator.
Figure 4 represents a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4'-4. of Figure 1, showing details of a universal oint and gimbal support by which the rotating armature is suspended from a drive shaft.
Figure 5 represents a plan view of the generator of Figure 1 with the drive head of Figure 2 mounted thereon.
Figure 6 is a front "elevation of the direction controller with its graduated compass direction dials; and Figure 7 is a side elevation' of the same controller with a fragment of the shaft control assembly attached thereto.
Figure 8 shows a plan assembly of the various units of the compass system installed 1 in the fuselage of an airplane with the genings, the inductor generator for the compass system comprises an armature 11 and a commutator .13 both fixed on a shaft 12. The
armature windings 11 are connected with the 'QOID-IHHtatOI' in the usual way as indicated by the numeral 10. The armature shaft 12 is journaled in bearing *16 and 17, one of which forms part of an upper casing 18 and the other of which is attached to a lower cas ing 19. Carried upon the casing19 are also the commutator brushes 20 and 21 which bear upon and collect current from the commutator 13. i
Integral with the casin 18 are spaced upstanding lugs 22 and 23 y means of which the casing 18 is freely and movably suspend-- ed for universal movement from a gimbal ring 24 by the pin 25. The gimbal ring 24 is in turn qispended from lugs 26 'and 27 by means of pins 28, and the lugs 26 and 27 are'formed integrally with and depend from a rotatable generator mounting base in the form of a worm wheel 31 which carries an integral upstanding bearing sleeve 30. The sleeve 30 is rotatably carried upon the lower end of an upstanding tubular member 32 which is secured to a base member plate 33 by means of which the generator is fastened to the vehicle represented in Figure 8 by an air airplane fuselage 34.
A nut 39 is screwed on the lower end of the tube 32 to support the worm wheel 31 and armature unit suspended therefrom. To the housing base plate 33 is attached a cover which encloses that part of the mechanism which is below the base member 33. It will now be understood how the armature assembly and its closure casing 18-19 swings pendulously and universally free from-the worm wheel 31 by placing the gimbal or other universally pivoted support 24 therebetween; and the gear 31 is rotatably adjustable on the lower end of the tube 32 which thus constitutes a rotatably adjustable support or mounting means from which the armature 11 is pendulously suspended and gyroscopically stabilized and by which the pilot or navigator may alter the position of the current collecting brushes 20 and 21 as later described for the purpose of obtaining indications of direction to enable him to steer the v craft.
To the upper end of the armature shaft 12 is anchored a lower yoke 41 forming part of a universal joint which is shown in section in Figure 4.- The yoke 41 is attached to a universal joint ring 42 by pivot screws 43 and to this ring 42 is also attached a second or upper yoke 44 by means of pivot screws 45. The upper yoke 44 is fastened to a short shaft 47 which is slidably connected to a driving shaft 46 which may be partially tubular. It is now understood how the universal joint 4l 44, while not supporting the generator unit 11, is adapted to drive it and the universal oint is suspended concentrically through the gimbal support 24 and the horizontal axis ofthe universal joint and gimbal oint lie in a common plane.
Thus the generator is supported by the rotatable mounting ear base '31 and the armature is driven y. transmission shaft .means 46 extending through said gear down to the generator therebeneath, and the generator mounting means 31 is capable of manual adjustable turning movement so as to orient the brushes 20 and sition in relation to earths flux where no ated in the armature.
Two alternate means a are provided for driving the shaft 46 and the generator armature 11, one electric and one by air pressure as will be illustrated.
the direction of the current will be generin an airplane.
21 around to a po-' A description of power means for driving the compass generator will now be given, and referring first to Figure 2, a housing 48 is carried upon the upper end of the tube 32. This housing 48 is clamped to the tube 32 by means of the bolt'49 and nut 50. By releasing the bolt and nut the housing 48 may be rotatably adjusted to any position upon the tube 32. Within this housing 48 is journaled the upper end of the drive shaft 46. At right angles thereto, a shaft 52 is journaled and bevel gears 53 and 54 are fastened to shafts 52 and 46 and to the forward end of shaft 52 is secured an air impeller 55. Air pressure from an airplane in flight spins the propeller 55 and thus drives the generator armature causing potential to be produced by virtue of the windings 11 cutting through the earths magnetic field. The adjustable attachment between housing 48 and tube 32 makes it possible to turn the housing 48 and impeller 55 to a position where the impeller receives the greatest air pressure thereupon to drive the generator.
An alternate form of driving means, comprising an electric motor, is shown in Figure 3. In this form the tube 32 carries on its upper end the electric motor 61 and the shaft 46 is connected to and driven froin the shaft of the electric motor. 95
Electric connections from the brushes 20 and 21 are made with wires 71 and 72 which wires are connected to slip rings 73 and 74 which are anchored on the bearing sleeve 30 but insulated from it by a bushing 75. Current is collected from these slip rings by contact brushes 76 and 77 which are in turn connected to transmission wires 78 and 79. These wires 78 and 79 establish electrical connection between the generator unit and a 105 steering meter or deviation indicator 9 located any suitable distance from the generator, as in Figure 8, the wires 78 and 79 usually being mounted on the frame of the fuselage when the compass system is installed no The face of the deviation orsteering meter or galvanometer 9 is shown in Figure 9 which is also illustrated its deviation indicating hand 80 which normally points to zero on the dial of the indicator 9 when the airplane is traveling in the direction indicated on the graduated compass dials 106 and 107 of the manually operable direction controller 6.
A mechanical connection or transmission drive means is established between the generator and direction controller and to this end, an operating shaft 87 is journaled in the base member casing cover 33 and carries a w0rm 86 which engages the worm wheel 31. This shaft extends through the cover 35 and carries on its outer end a universal joint 88 to which is attacheda piece of shafting 89 by any appropriate means. This shaft is connected through bearing blocks 91 anchored to the fuselage 34 and to a miter gear box 92 which is in turn connected to the direction controller 6. A front view of this controller is shown in i ure6 and a side elevation in Figure 7. caring blocks 91, miter gear box 92, and direction controller 6 are equipped with universal joints as shown.
The gear transmission 31-86 holds the genuniversal joint 100 is connected a piece of- .Sha'fting 101 by means of a clamp 102 or other suitable means. This sectional shaft 101 ine stalled on the fuselage forms part of the shaft" line connected with shaft 89 on the generator already mentioned and by whicha mechanical operating connection is established over an angular course between the direction controller 6 and the generator.
A direction indicating compass dial 106 is .graduated from 0 to 9 as shown and this dial is fixed to the controller'shaft 96 so that the dial makes one complete turn for every turn of the crank 97 and the dial is exposed to view on the front face of the direction controller case 6 in which the dials are mounted. Geared to this dial 106 in a ratio of 1 to 36, in a second concentric compass dial 107 which is graduated from 1 to 36 or N corresponding to a compass card graduated in 10 intervals. The two compass dials are availed of to provide a fine compass setting since one dial may be used as a Vernier to'read against the other dial and this arran ement aids a navigator in laying out and following a precisely defined course.
Having described a structural embodiment of this invention, its operation will now be explained. r
The various units are installed on an aircraft or, other vehicle as illustrated in Figure 8. The direction controller 6 and the steering or deviation indicator'9 are usuallyinstalled on the instrument board 90 remotely from the generator and in plain view of the pilot or navigator.
The inductor generator is placed in operation by the rotationof the air impeller 55, or the electric motor 61. As the armature 11 is rotated, the wires comprising it are caused to cut the earths lines of force and a potential is generated. As in any electric generator, the external potential depends upon the relation between the position of the collecting brushes and the direction of the field vflux.
If therefore the brushes '20 and 21 are oriented, by turning the direction controller handle 97, and through the shaft line 101 and worm 86 the worm wheel 31 and dependent parts, two positions of the brushes will be found where the external potential reads zero on the steering meter 9.
I When a null indication of the meter 9 shows that the brushes 20 and 21 are in a position of zero potential, the mechanical connection, in first installing the system for service, between the direction controller 6 and generator 11 is broken by disconnecting the shaft line 101. The controller handle 97 is then turned until the compass dials 106- 107 indicate the direction in whicl the vehicle is headed. The mechanical connection 101 is then re-established and the controller is-rotated a-few degrees to the right or left. If' 1 nowthe hand of the deviation or steering meter 9 moves in the same direction as the controller dials 106 107 have been turned, the electrical connection 7 8-79 between the generatorand meter 9 is correct and may be made permanent. If the meter moves in adirection opposite to that in which the controller compass dials 106-107 was rotated, the connections of wires 78 and 79 to the steering meter must be reversed in order to properly complete the assembly and make it ready for servlce. r I
The operation of the compass consists in setting upon the compass dials 106 and 107,
the direction in which it'is-desired to navigate the craft. This is accomplished by manually turning the direction controller crank 97 until the dials are brought into. proper relation with the lubbers line. If the direction or steering meter hand 80 indicates zero, the craft will be headed in the direction indicated by thedirection controller dials or else in a direction the exact reverse thereof. To determine in which of the two directions the craft is headed, said craft is steered slightly to the right or left. If now the meter hand 80 indicates by moving in the same direction as thec'raft is steered, the heading is that indicated on the dials 106107 of the direction controller 6, but if the meter hand 80 moves off of zero oppositely to the direction in which the craft is steered, the said craft is then known in fact to be headed in a direction the reverse of that shown on the controller dials and the direction of travel is according y. correctedby reversing the direction of the craft.
One of the improved features among others of this invention is the gimbal ring suspension 2 4 for pendulously supporting the non-rotatlng housing 18 containing the revolving armature 11 together with the substantially concentric universal joint ll-44 connecting the driving shaft 46 and the armature shaft 12 and which jointis disposed down through the gimbal suspension ring 24.
armature without interfering with its pendulous suspension and permits the generator to hang vertically and to stabilize itself so as to properly operate in relation to the earths flux lines. This improved structure permits the fuselage to roll or pitch without disturbing the operating efiiciency or position of the generator stabilized in the earths flux, it being desirable to maintain the generator in a predetermined position to eliminate errors in generation otherwise introduced by the vertical component of the earths flux.
My improved airplane andcompass combination shown in Figure 8 is particularly useful because the generator is placed back in the tail of the airplane where its operation is not hindered by outside electrical or magnetic disturbing influences such as would occur in case the generator was placed near the instrument board for in the latter case other instruments on board the craft would interfere with the free and normal potential output of the compass generator. The universal shaft-line connection 101 runningfrom'the instrument board 2 to the rotary generator mounting base 31 along the airplane fuselage frame 34 and forming part of the combined system, enables the manufacturer to very conveniently locate the generator and deviation indicator hand 80 points to 0.
It is significant that the commutator brushes 20 and 21 are carried by or with orientable brush mounting means such as the wheel 31 gear driven by the small pinion 86. The brushes are suspended, in this instance by the case 19, from the turntable gear or orientable mounting means 31 and bear against the commutator 13 and are subject to .orientation thereabout by the operating means 101 which is driven by the controller drive means 97 2 ad by which a dead or nonfpotential position is found for the brushes.
It is of course preferred that the armature 11 be stabilized so as to normally function in the earths field and as a matter of structhe brushes, armature and-the like in opera-M tive relation with each other, and the brush or armature mounting gear 31 is disposed adjacent the armature,
One of the outstanding features which 'make for success of this compass is that when navigationinstruments, a potential generating unit including brushes with mounting means supporting the brushes for-adjustable turning, said potential generating unit being installed in the airplane fuselage remotely from the instrument board, power means for driving the generator, a manually operable direction controller mounted onthe instrument board for adjustably turning the brushes, a graduated direction controller dial forming a part of and carried by the direction controller, a shaft and universal joint connection established between the direction controller and theremotely located potential generating unit, a deviation indicator mounted on the instrument board where it may be simultaneously observed with the aforesaid graduated dial of the direction controller, and electrical wires installed in the fuselage and connecting the potential generating unit with the deviation indicator in order that said indicator readings be effected by the remotely located generator and such affects be simultaneously observed with the manually changeable readings in' terms of direction on the aforesaid direction controller dial.
2. In combination, a vehicle and electric compass system therefor comprising, a vehicle frame, a generator casing fixed on the frame,'a generator carried within the casing, means for driving the generator, an adjustably turning support attached to the casing from which the generator is suspended, a direction controller mounted in the vehicle frame'remotely from the generator, a gradline installed on the frame and connecting the separated generator and deviation indiv eating meter.
3. An earth inductor compass system combined with an airplane as defined in'claim 1 and stabilizing means Cooperating with the potential generating unit adapted to stabilize the generator in normal position and permit the airplane to move relatively thereto, whereby no current flows from the potential generating unit when the airplane is on the desired course.
4. An earth inductor compass generator comprising in combination. a base member. an adjustable turning support carried on said base member. a casing, an armature shaft journaled within said casing and projecting therethrough, an armature and a commutator carried upon said armature shaft, a gimbal joint suspending said casing from said turning support, adrive shaft journaled for rotation in respect to said base membena universal joint connection established between said armature shaft and said drive shaft. and said drive shaft being disposed coneentrically within and through the gimbal joint;
5. An earth inductor compass generator and drive unit comprising in combination. a base member, an adjustablx turning support carried on said base member, a casing. an armature shaft journaled within said casing and projecting therethrough. an armature and a commutator carried upon said armature shaft within said casing, a gimbal joint connection established between said casing and adjustable turning support which gyroscopically suspends the casing and armature from the base member for stabiliza tion of said casing and armature, a drive shaft journaled for rotation in respect to said base member. auniversal joint connection made between said armature shaft and 'said drive shaft and being mounted concencontroller and said generator, anelectrical atively to said base member, said driving shaft being normally co-axial with said armature shaft, a universal joint interposed between said driving shaft and said armature shaft, and the center of said universal joint being insubstantial coincidence with the center of the above mentioned gimbal joint.
7. An earth inductor compass system comprising in combination, a direction controller, a deviation indicating steering meter,
and a generator, said generator embodying a.
' base member, an adjustable turning support adapted to rotate relatively to said base member, means cooperating with said controller for adjustably turning said support, a casing, a gimbal suspension interposed betweensaid rotatable support and said casing, an armature shaft journaled for rotation relatively to said casing, an armature and a commutator carried upon said armature shaft within said casing, a drive shaft journaled for rotation relatively to the adjustable turning support, a universal joint interposed between said armature shaft and said drive shaft, said universal joint being substantially concentric with said gimbal suspension, power means for rotating said drive shaft, current-collecting brushes carried on the casing and cooperating with the commutator, slip rings carried upon said rotatable turning support, electrical connections .made between said brushes and said slip rings, current collecting brushes carried on the base member and bearing against said slip rings, and an electrical connection made between said current collecting brushes and the deviation indicating steering meter.
8. A potential generator element for electrical compass system comprising in com bination, a base member, a stationary tube rising therefrom, power means carried on one end of the tube, an adjustable turning generator support carried on the other end of the tube, a generator armature having current-collecting means suspended for free universal movement beneath the adjustable turning support, a drive shaft within the tube and connected to the power means at one end, a universal connection established between the drive shaft and suspended generator, and means for adjustably turning said support.
9. A potential generator unit for electrical compass systems comprising in combination, a base member, a stationary tube rising therefrom, power means carried on one end of the tube, a gear rotatably carried on the other end of the tube, a generator armature having current collecting means suspended for free universal movement beneath the gear, a drive shaft mounted in the tube and connected to the power means at one end, a universal connection established between the drive shaft and suspended generator, and
shaft and suspended generator, a direction controller disposed remotely from the generator, a compass dial forming part of the direction controller, means connecting the direction controller and aforesaid support adapting said support thereby to be adjustably turned by operating the aforesaid remotely located direction controller, a deviation and steering indicator, and electrical transmission wires connecting the deviation I and steering indicator to the generator.
11. An earth inductor compass generator comprising in combination, a cover housing by which the generator is installed in service position, a case disposed within the housing, an adjustably turned gear supported by the housing, a gimbal connection interposed between the gear and case thereby adapting the case to swing pendulously and universally free in the housing, an armature having a current-collecting means assembly carried within the pendulous case, a drive shaft, a universal joint concentrically disposed within the aforesaid gimbal connection serving to join the drive shaft and armature, power means to drive the shaft, slip rings carried on the gear, a flexible electrical connection established between the aforesaid current-collecting means and the slip rings, an adjusting shaft journaled in the housing, and a gear fixed on the adjusting shaft meshing with the aforesaid adjustably turned gear.
12. A potential generator unit for electrical compass systems comprising a base memher, a casing attached to said base member, a generator armature universally supported for rotation within said casing, a stationary tubular member arising from said base member, power means carried upon said tube, a driving connection established between said power means and said armature, said power means being adjustably secured to said tube,
and means provided to anchor the power means in any fixed position.
13. An earth inductor compass comprising in combination, a potential generating unit having current collecting means, said current collecting means being adjustably turned about a normally vertical axis, a manually operable direction controller located remote from said generating unit, a. mechanical connection established between said generating unit and said controller whereby manual operation of said controller effects turning movement of said current-collecting means, said mechanical connection comprising a plurality of universal joints and intermediate shafts, a galvanometer deviation indicator, and electrical connection established between said current-collecting means and said deviation indicator.
14. A potential generator for electrical compass systems comprising in combination, a casing, an armature carried therein, means universally supporting the armature in the casing, a drive shaft universally connected with the armature, air impeller power means supported on the casing thereabove and connected with the drive shaft, means whereby the power means may be adj ustably rotated to bring the air impeller into the line of air pressure, and means for fixing the power means in said adjusted position.
15. A potential generator for electrical compass systems comprising in combination, an adjustably turned support, an armature having currentfcollecting means suspended universally therefrom and gyroscopically stabilized in relation to the earths field, means for adjustably turning the support for adjusting the current-collecting means to any desired position, means for collecting the potential and transmitting it away from the stabilized armature, a power driving head mounted above the adjustably rotatable support, a universal drive shaft connecting the power head and armature. said shaft extending concentrically through said adjustably rotatable support, and adjusting means adapted to anchor the power head in any desired position.
, 16. A generator for electric compasses comprising an armature and a current-collecting means assembly, means pendulously suspending said assembly, power means for driving the armature, a universal joint connection established between the power means and armature to drive the latter which simultaneously produces potential and gyroscopic force to stabilize itself in relation to the earths field regardless of the position of the power means, and means mounted concentrically with the universal joint and mounted between the power means and armature for adj ustably rotating the armature and the current-collecting means assembly in relation to the earths field.
17. A compass generator adapted to work in the earths field comprising, an armature and driving means therefor, a commutator and current-collecting means, rotary mounting means disposed above the armature and including means carrying the current-collecting means in operative engagement and for orientation about. the commutator, and
controller operating means to rotate the mounting means by which the current-collecting means are oriented at the will of an operator to find a null-potential position for the armature. c
18. A compass generator adapt-ed to work in the earths field comprising, a stationary housing support, a non-stabilized rotatable gear wheel carried with the stationary housjournaled in the housingsupport, and a gear,
fixed on the shaft engaging the gear wheel to turn the non-stabilized gear wheel to orient the current-collecting means about the commutator.
1 19. Amincluctor compass comprising; an earth inductof'generator including an armature, a commutator therefor sbrushes bearing thereon, 'orienta ble-brush mounting means carrying the brushes for orientation-9a.;
deviation indicator and electrical connections running therefrom to the brushes; a compass controller lncludlng a casing, a shaft journaled therein,- a compass dial fiired to the. shaft and mounted to turn in the casing, and
drive means connectedwith the shaft to turn it and the compass dial; and operating means connecting the compass controller with the orientable-brush mounting means whereby the compass dial and the brushes are simultaneously actuated.
20. An inductor compass comprising; a fieldless generator including an armature, a commutator therefor, brushes bearing thereon, orientable-brush mounting means on which the brushes are carried for orientation; a deviation indicatorand electrical connections extending therefrom to the brushes; op- I crating means connected with the orientablebrush mounting means by which the latter is chanically interconnected; and drive means connected with the concentric compass dials and connected with. the operating means by which the dials and brushes are simultaneously operated.
21. An inductor compass comprising; an
inductor generator including an armature, a:
commutator therefor, current collecting means cooperating therewith, and orientable means to which'the current-collecting means are attached and adapted to be oriented about a normally vertical axis; a deviation indicator connected with' the current-collecting means; operating means connected with the orientable means and including sections of .shafting, and universal joints connecting the shaft sections whereby the shaft sections are operatively laid out over an angular course; and a compass controller connected with the operating means and including a casing, a shaft journaled therein, drive means to re volve the shaft, compass-dial means mounted within the casing and fixed on the shaft to revolve therewith, and bevel gears connected with the shaft and connected with the aforesaid operating means whereby the orientable means and the compass-dial means are'simulg taneously actuated by the drive means.
22. An inductor compass comprising; .an. inductor generator adapted to run in the earths field and including an armature, a commutator and brushes,- and gear means to carry the brushes'for orientation about a normally verticalaxis; a deviation indicator connected with the brushes; a compass controller including a shaft, acrank'fixedto one end of the shaft. direction-dial means fixed to shaft adjacent the crank, and bevel gears connected at the other end of the shaft; and operating means including shafting one end of which' is connected with the bevel gears at the controller'and the other end of which is operatively connected with the gear means of the 4 generator whereby the brushes are oriented and the direction-dial means are turned when the crank is actuated.
23. An inductor compass generator comprising a gear wheel, a universally pivoted support. depending therefrom, an armature pendulously suspended from the universal support, a commutator carried with the armature, brushes bearing on the armature and means carrying the brushes for orientation 7 with the gear wheel. a drive shaft extending a through the gearwheel and one end being connected to the armature to rotate the latter in the earths field, motormeans connect ed with the other end of the drive shaft, slip' rings carried with the gear wheel and turning therewith, wire connections made between the slip rings and the brushes,'contact brushes bearing on the sliprings, and means mounting the contactbrushes tion'. v
24. An inductor generator comprising a base plate, a cover anchored theretoto house the generator parts, motor means and a support therefor on the base plate and cover, said support having'one end thereof projecting through the base plate'into the cover, a gear wheel inside' the cover and journaled on the projecting support end. a sleeve on the gear .wheel. slip rings fixed on the sleeve to rotate in a. stationary posirings to the commutator brushes, a gimbal pendulously carrying the assembly with the gear Wheel, a pendulous casing within the cover and the assembly being carried within the casing, the commutator brushes being fixed on the casing, means to connect the aforesaid motor means with the armature to rotate the latter, and operating means journaled in the base and cover and including a drive gear engaging the gear wheel to orient the assembly.
In testimony whereof I affix my signature.
MORRIS M. TITTERINGTON.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US31742A US1770245A (en) | 1925-05-21 | 1925-05-21 | Earth inductor compass |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US31742A US1770245A (en) | 1925-05-21 | 1925-05-21 | Earth inductor compass |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US1770245A true US1770245A (en) | 1930-07-08 |
Family
ID=21861145
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US31742A Expired - Lifetime US1770245A (en) | 1925-05-21 | 1925-05-21 | Earth inductor compass |
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US (1) | US1770245A (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4602173A (en) * | 1984-10-03 | 1986-07-22 | Reginald Briscoe | Magnetic propulsion device |
-
1925
- 1925-05-21 US US31742A patent/US1770245A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4602173A (en) * | 1984-10-03 | 1986-07-22 | Reginald Briscoe | Magnetic propulsion device |
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