Patent GB-190908432-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for Automatically Balancing Aerial Machines and the like.
Inventor: HARGREAVES FREDERICK JAMES
IPC: B64C1/00
Filed: 1909-04-07
Granted: 1910-04-07
Abstract: 8432. Hargreaves, F. J. April 7. Gyroscopic apparatus.-Relates to gyroscopic apparatus for balancing aerial machines and other unstable bodies, such apparatus being connected to a pivoted controlling-lever, which governs the balancing-devices, in such a way as to allow free precession through considerable angles, while maintaining the lever in its angular position in space independently of the tilting of the machine. Figs. 8 and 9 show a preferred form of the apparatus, in which the lever 1 is angularly immovable in all vertical planes. Two gyroscopes are provided, consisting of metal rims 16 connected to hubs 17 and to vertical tubular rods 15 by spokes 18, 19 respectively. The hubs 17 swing about an horizontal axis in cross-shaped bearings 22, Fig. 12, which themselves swing about another horizontal axis at right-angles to the first, upon horizontal extensions 21 provided at the top of the driving-shafts 20. The rods 15 are connected at their upper ends by ball-and-socket joints 23 to tubular lazy-tongs 25, 26, which are mounted at their inner ends upon a sleeve 28. The lever 1 slides in a sleeve 29 pivoted to the sleeve 28, and is formed with a ball 30 mounted in a spherical socket 31, which forms the pivot 2 of the lever. The two gyroscopes are driven in opposite directions through bevel-gearing connected to a shaft 32, which is driven from the propeller shaft and has a clutch for starting, a free-wheel connexion being preferably provided between the motor and propeller shafts so that if the motor should stop, the gyroscopes would be driven from the propellers. Any tendency to turn the lever about its pivot 2 is resisted by the gyroscopes, which precess equally and oppositely, their connexions to the lever 1 being such as to allow them to precess through considerable angles without affecting the angular position of the lever. The friction at the universal joints of the gyroscopes will tend to cause the gyroscope axes to keep up with the earth in its rotation, and if there is slight lagging, the lever 1 could be maintained in its angular position by moving the pivot 2. If, however, the friction is entirely insufficient, couples are applied to the gyroscopes to cause them to keep up with the earth's rotation. These couples are preferably applied by hanging a weight 42 from each of the gyroscopes by a rod 41, connected by a ball joint 43, Fig. 12, to a ring 39 carried in the hub 17. These rods 41 pass through arms 44, 45, Fig. 8, carried on sleeves 46, which are mounted on the shafts 20 and provided with pulleys 47. The weights are adjusted to give the required precession towards the east, being maintained pointing one towards the north and the other towards the south, as shown in Fig. 15, by means of a cord 48, which passes round the pulleys 47 and may be connected to a wheel moved by the driver, or may be controlled by a compass or a gyroscope pivoted universally with its axis parallel to that of the earth. Fig. 14 shows an arrangement adapted for cases where the lever 1 is required to operate only in one plane. Two gyroscopes 55 are mounted in frames 56, which carry electric or other motors 57 driven at the same speed in opposite directions, and are pivoted in gimbal rings 58. The rings 58 are pivoted coaxially, their inner pivots 59 being united by an ordinary differential or balance gear 60. Any tendency to turn the casing 61 of the differential gear about its axis is thus resisted by the gyroscopes. The lever 1 is fixed to the casing 61. According to the Provisional Specification, the controlling-lever may be rendered angularly movable about two axes at right-angles by using two of the devices shown in Fig. 14, or the two gyroscopes shown in this Figure may be further connected by a parallelogram link - work, two opposite corners of which are connected to the gyroscope axes, so that the line joining the other two corners maintains its position in space. It is further stated in the Provisional Specification that the gyroscopes, each consisting of two wheels on one shaft, may be mounted at their centres of gravity by universal joints in two horizontal wheels, which have fixed axes and are geared to run in opposite directions in annular bearings at the same speed; also that the gyroscopes may be mounted in a universallypivoted frame or casing connected to the rudder and constituting a steering-lever.