GB1058755A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,058,755. Gyromagnetic compass systems. FERRANTI Ltd. Nov. 29, 1963 [Dec. 18, 1962], No.47848/62. Heading G1N. A gyromagnetic compass system includes a switch to allow (1) the gyro to be processed in accordance with the magnetic compass reading or (2) the magnetic and gyro headings to be manually aligned, or (3) the magnetic compass to be disconnected. As shown(Fig. 1) the angular position of a main shaft 13 controls a digital heading indicator 20. The shaft 13 carries the receiver rotor winding 30 of a flux-gate compass 27 and, via friction clutch 12 and subsidiary shaft 8, the receiver rotor winding 7 of a directional gyro 1. With selector switch 26 in its first position, any deviation between the heating as measured by the magnetic compass 27 and as indicated by shaft 13 produces an error signal in winding 30 which is amplified at 31 and rectified at 32 to energize precession coil 35 for the gyro 1. The resulting rotation of the gyro is repeated through synchro link 3, 6 so that receiver rotor winding 7 energizes motor 10 to align shafts 8 and 13 with the magnetic heading. With switch 26 in its second position, the system is as above but clutch plate 23 is coupled to control knob 21 by wheel 22 moved by solenoid 24, and shafts 8, 13 can be aligned by hand, as is required e.g. when starting up the gyro, using knob 21. With switch 26 in its third position, the magnetic compass system is disconnected from the gyro 1 and the main shaft 13 follows the directional gyro 1 only. The angular position of shaft 13 may be fed to remote indicators via a differential 14 whose other input by a knob 15 introduces corrections for magnetic variation &c.