GB127830A - Improvements in Gyroscopic Compasses. - Google Patents

Abstract

127,830. Sperry Gyroscope Co., (Assignees of Tanner, H. L.). June 5, 1918, [Convention date]. Gyroscopic compasses.-In compasses having a gravity-controlled gyroscope with a substantially vertical axis, the tilting of which orients a rotatably mounted card or its equivalent, the card &c. and gyroscope are independently mounted, and interconnecting means are provided between them. The compass preferably comprises two gyroscopes 1, 2 rotating in opposite directions, their casings being secured to frames 13, 15 respectively, which are pendulously mounted on normally coincident axes 8-9, 16-17 in gimbal rings 10, 8 carried by a common horizontal axis 11 in a pedestal 50. The frame 15 carries a ring 20 bearing a lubber-line or other reference marks, and a card 24 having a central boss 25 mounted on antifriction bearings 26. Interconnecting means between the card 24 and the gyroscope 1 are. provided by a slot 27 in the under surface of the boss 25, and a projection 30 on the casing of the gyroscope 1 projecting into the slot. The rotation of the earth causes the gyroscopes to precess in opposite directions, so that the projection 30 travels along the slot and orients the card 24. The gyroscopes may be connected by energyabsorbing means to damp oscillations. As shown, the cylinder 42 of a dash-pot is linked to the casing of the gyroscope 2, and the piston 41 thereof is linked to the casing of the gyroscope 1. In a modification, both gyroscopes may rotate in the same direction, one of them being mounted like an inverted pendulum.