Patent GB-506352-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to gyroscopic stabilizing devices
IPC: G05D1/08
Filed: 1937-11-25
Abstract: 506,352. Fluid-pressure servomotor-control systems. ASKANIA-WERKE AKT. GES. VORM. CENTRALWERKSTATT DESSAU UND C. BAMBERG-FRIEDENAU. Nov. 25, 1937, No. 32573. Convention date, Nov. 25, 193(t. [Class 135] [Also in Group XXI] A device for stabilizing optical apparatus used on aircraft with respect to a horizontal plane comprises a free gyroscope 16 mounted in neutral equilibrium in a gimbal suspension 14 and having an erecting device 17, 18 to keep the rotor spin axis vertical, and also a housing 10 which encloses the gyroscope and upon which the optical apparatus is carried. The housing is movable about two axes at rightangles or about one axis only by servomotor means 30, the controlling relay or relays 27 of which are so connected to the housing and the gimbal suspension that the housing follows the movements of the gyroscope relative to the craft. As shown in Figs. 1, 3 a platform 11 carried by the housing 10 is stabilized in respect of movements about an axis 1-1. The housing 10 is supported in bearings 12, 13 on a bed plate 9 and contains the outer gimbal 14 which rotates about the axis 1-1. The housing 10 is rigidly connected with a cam disc 35 controlling a jet pipe relay 27, 28, Fig. 3. Air for driving the gyroscope and supplying the jet pipe 27 enters by a pipe 8, a branch conduit 26 leading to the jet pipe and passages 22, 23, 24 beyond the injector 19 leading to the gyroscope. The latter is maintained vertical by four spaced flaps 17 controlling an equal number of slits 18. The jet pipe is connected by a link 38 to a pin moving in the cam track 36, 37 which comprises two concentric arcs 36 of differing radii joined by a part 37 of small angle and substantially radial with respect to the jet pipe pivot 39 so as to avoid reaction on the gyroscope. The receiving nozzles 28 are coupled by flexible pipes 29 to a servomotor cylinder 30 pivoted on the plate 9 and containing a piston which through gearing 33, 34 levels the platform and restores the jet pipe to its mean position following a deviation by the carrier plate 9. Figs. 5, 7 show a modirication in which the platform 11<1> is stabilized with respect to two axes A-A,B-B. The housing 50 is universally mounted by means of a gimbal 59 supported by bearings 12<1>, 13<1> on a plate 9<1>. The relays and the gyroscope mounting are similar to those in the first form. The housing contains two servomotors 30<1>, 30<11> pivoted about axes 41<1>, 41<11> at right-angles. The piston 31<1> of the servomotor 301 is fixed to the gimbal 59 by an arm 57 or to the base plate. To permit movement of the servomotor 30<11> about the axis B-B, its piston rod 32<11> is connected to two levers 53, 54 having rollers 56 at their ends which bear on a fixed rail 51, a spring 55 urging the rollers together. The control impulses actuating the relays are taken from the inner and outer pivots of the gimbal in which the gyroscope 16<1> is mounted and cause movements of the servomotor cylinders 30<1>, 30<11> such as to level the platform 11<1> and restore the relays to their mean position. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 shows the stabilizing device applied to a bombing sight, Fig. 8 (Cancelled). The stabilized housing 10 or the crank 60 by which it is moved is rigidly connected with a pulley 61 coupled with a similar pulley 63 by an endless cable 62. The pulley 63 is mounted on the shaft 64 of a controlling cam 65 which bears on a roller 66 carried by the sighting telescope 67 and rocks the latter about a fixed point 68 on the craft so as to give the bombing sight an angle of advance v dependent upon the inclination of the aircraft. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.