Patent GB-373832-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for the damped stabilisation of bodies
IPC: G01C19/00
Filed: 1931-07-15
Abstract: 373,832. Stabilizing air and watercraft and other bodies. GES. FUR ELEKTRISCHE APPARATE, Marienfelde, Berlin.-(Assignees of Boykow, J. M. ; 2, Fontanestrasse, Lichterfelde, Germany.) July 15, 1931, No. 20362. Convention date July 16, 1930. [Classes 4 and 113 (i).] Apparatus for the damped stabilization of bodies such as air and water craft, or instruments carried on unsteady bases, comprises a control element moved by a gyroscope or other control device co-operating with a movable control member which not only controls a relay for restoring the body towards its normal position but also an independent device for causing the control member to follow up the control element, this movement being damped and subject to an elastic returning device. The control device may, alternatively, be a speed meter or gyroscopic repeater. Fig. 1 shows a gyroscope mounted on an axis 4 about which it precesses on disturbance of equilibrium. The precession is damped by a fluid friction device 18 so that the retardation is proportional to the angular velocity, and a spring device 17 restores the gyroscope to its zero position after deflection. A pointer 2 on the gyroscopic axis has a brush co-operating with two contact segments 3 carried by a spindle 5 coaxial with the spindle 4. The spindle 5 has an armature 6 in a reversible field 7 which is energized when the pointer 2 moves on to either of the segments 3 so as to cause the segments to follow up the pointer, the spindle 5 having damping and restoring means 15, 12 similar to the devices 18, 17. Simultaneously a servomotor is energized to correct the initial disturbance. The damping and restoring forces are so proportioned that disturbances of equilibrium are corrected without hunting and should an unbalancing couple on the body persist a new zero position of the control surface or other balancing means is built up. The elastic restoring means comprises two arms 12, Fig. 2, pressed against an arm 13 by a spring 8 which can be adjusted in tension by set screws 10 acting on pivoted levers 9. A fixed stop 14 determines the zero position. Other corrections may be applied by control elements, e.g. a pendulum, acting on the system 6, 7 through other movable control members. In order that the follow up action may be more energetic during the initial displacement than during the return to zero position, means for varying the strength of the field 7 is provided, the follow up action being adjustable to zero if necessary during the return movement. For this purpose the member carrying the contact segments 3 may carry also contacts 41, 42 co-operating with fixed segments V1, V2, R1, R2, Fig. 4, for switching in variable resistances 23, 24 into the circuits of the field coils 7. For stabilizing a pivoted body the body itself takes the place of the gyroscope 1 and carries with it the arm 2, Fig. 5, of a switching system comprising all the parts 3, 6, 15, 12 shown in Fig. 1. The switch controls through a device 30, 31 similar to the device 6, 7, which has a fluid friction damping device, the arm 33 of a motor control switch 34 whereby a torque is applied to the pivoted body in opposition to any disturbing couple. Regulating resistances 35 .. 38 are provided, and the segments V1, V2, corresponding to those shown in Fig. 4, are subdivided and connected by resistances 39, 40 to graduate the action of the switch more closely in accordance with the disturbance. Hydraulic or pneumatic means may be employed instead of the electromagnet means disclosed.