Improvements in or relating to gyroscopic pendulums for finding the gravitational direction or horizon on vehicles or similarly moved bodies, with an apparatus for compensating the influence of direct or centrifugal accelerations

摘要

382,343. Gyroscopic apparatus. GES. FUR ELEKTRISCHE APPARATE, 44, Wilhelm von Siemensstrasse, Marienfeide, Berlin. Aug. 11, 1931, No. 22717. Convention date, Aug. 12, 1930. [Class 97 (iii).] A gyroscopic pendulum suspended from two horizontal axes in the longitudinal and transverse directions respectively of a vessel and provided with one or more auxiliary gyroscopes which are arranged to produce a transverse angular momentum vector proportional to the speed of the vessel, has equal moments about both axes so that alterations in the direction and magnitude of the angular moment vector correct the pendulum for centrifugal accelerations and alterations in speed. In the form shown in Fig. 1, a main pendulous gyro K with vertical axis is carried by pins q-q in a ring, supported in bearing blocks b1, b2 by the pins l-l which are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of a ship. The auxiliary gyroscope k pivots on pins z-z, parallel to the axis l-l, in a ring r fixed on the casing of the gyro K. The motor m is geared to a sector s fixed to the gyro k and causes the axis of the latter to make such an angle alpha with the vertical that a horizontal component of angular momentum, proportional to the velocity of the ship, lies athwart the apparatus. Fig. 2 shows an arrangement adapted to stabilize about the ship's transverse axis q-q only. The two oppositely running main gyros K1, K2 are mounted in lugs h1, h2 depending from the platform P and are geared together by toothed sectors u1, u2. The platform P is mounted in transverse pivots a-a in a horizontal ring r1 and in longitudinal pivots in a vertical ring r2. The ring r1 is supported in standards b2 by longitudinal pivots and the ring r2 is mounted by vertical pivots z2-z2 in a vertical ring v3 pivoting on a transverse axis z3-z3. The auxiliary gyros k1-k2 are supported on the platform P by lugs t1-t2 and are coupled together by the toothed segment s1 and toothed wheel s2. A motor m engages the wheel s2 and causes the axes of the auxiliary gyros to tilt transversely through an angle alpha, depending on the speed of the ship so that their reaction to the forced movement just balances the distributing forces on the system due to changes in the ship's speed. A similar apparatus to that shown in Fig. 2, but adapted to stabilize only about the ship's longitudinal axis is described.