Patent GB-451843-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to gyro control systems for dirigible craft
IPC: G05D1/08
Filed: 1924-03-31
Abstract: 451,843. Fluid-pressure servomotorcontrol systems. SPERRY GYROSCOPE CO., 40, Flatbush Avenue Extension, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.-(Assignees of Sperry, L. B.) March 31, 1924, No. 23808/25. Convention date, March 30, 1923. Divided out of 451,841, [Group XXXVIII]. [Class 135] The control surfaces of aircraft are operated by pneumatic servomotors under the control of two gyroscopes, one having a horizontal spinning axis controlling the vertical or steering rudder, the second or stabilizing gyroscope controlling the elevator and ailerons. The operative point may be adjusted by any suitable or known means as for example wireless control from a distant point as set out in Specification 451,841. Fig. 3 shows the controlling arrangements for the elevator 45 and ailerons 44. The gyroscope is mounted in a casing 110 on a spinning axis 111 and the casing is pivoted in a gimbal ring 46 on an horizontal axis 112, 113, the ring in turn being pivoted on an horizontal axis in brackets 48. A segment 4<1> secured to the gimbal ring is formed with knife edges at each end to co-operate with a pair of nozzles 71, 81 to regulate the air inflow into pipes 17<1>, 18<1> leading to the opposite ends of a cylinder 15<1>. The cylinder is connected to a suction reservoir 11 by pipes 131, 141 so that as the segment moves to cover one nozzle and uncover the other the piston 16<1> is moved in the corresponding direction to operate a piston relay valve 24<1>. This valve, which allows a slight amount of leakage in its neutral position, when moved away from this position connects one or other of the bellows 30<1>, 31<1> to the suction reservoir by way of pipes 281, 25<1> or 291, 251. The bellows are mechanically connected together and to the ailerons so that when one bellows is exhausted they are moved for banking in one direction and when the other bellows is exhausted for banking in the opposite direction. To give a follow-up action the nozzles are carried by a plate 421 pivoted on the axis 114 and having gear teeth meshing with a worm 41<1> mounted in a bracket 38<1> coupled by a rod 37<1>, bell-crank lever and flexible cable 50 to the movable member of the bellows 301, 31<1>. To adjust the control point the worm 41<1> is rotated by a fluid motor 401. A segment 4<11> similar to the segment 41 is operated by the gyroscope casing acting through a bail 47 pivoted in standard 49, 491, to control a second piston operated relay valve and coupled bellows for actuating the elevator. A similar arrangement of nozzles, relay valve and coupled bellows, controlled by a second gyroscope, is used to actuate the steering rudder. The motors effecting the adjustment of the three sets of nozzles are selectively put into operation by the pneumatic mechanism shown in Fig. 4. A series of pipes as 58 are connected to the suction reservoir 11 and to the opposite sides of the motors, the lower ends being normally closed by hinged valves 58<1> selectively opened by a series of cams 5811 mounted on a shaft 69 rotated by a ratchet wheel 70. This wheel is rotated step by step against the action of a spring 70<1> by a pawl 76 operated by a bellows 71 and is held in the adjusted position by a pawl 77 operated by a bellows 72. The bellows 71 is timed to collapse quickly say in <1>/100 of a second, while the bellows 72 has a slower action say <3>/100 of a second. A vent pipe 66 on the manifold supplying the pipes 58 is adapted to be closed by a hinged valve actuated by a bellows 78 provided with a dashpot 671 to make it slow acting say <1>/10 of a second. so that the motors are not operated until the selection is complete. The bellows 71, 72 and 78 are all controlled by a valve 74 actuated by any suitable mechanism as for example a solenoid 80 energized under wireless control. Specification 227,489, [Class 4], also is referred to.