Patent GB-135871-A (GB)
IPC: G05D1/02
Abstract: 135,871. Sperry, E. A. Nov. 13, 1914, [Convention date]. Gyroscopic apparatus.- Automatic apparatus for keeping ships, torpedoes, and aircraft on a given course comprises a gyroscopic element which counteracts change in direction and a second element which governs in accordance with the rate of change of direction from the desired course. In a standard 1 is placed a fixed azimuth card 3 and a courseindicating dial 4, the latter being set by the handwheel 5 through balance gearing as shown in Fig. 3. The pilot's wheel can be clutched to a sprocket from which a chain 8 passes to a sprocket 13 geared to the shaft of an electric motor 6. The card 3 is kept in azimuth through a balance gear of the hand-wheel 5 by a repeater motor 16 actuated by a gyroscope. The control of the motor 6 is effected by the dial 4 through a follow-up contact system, the dial being geared to a contact drum 32. The drum is divided, the two parts being insulated, and a trolly contact 33 normally rests on the insulated disk, which is of Z-shape. If the drum rotates, the contact 33 moves on to one of the contact surfaces and causes the motor 6 to shift the helm. The follow-up gear comprises the gears 14, balance gear 47, and a system of parallel links 49, 50, 51 which support the trolly 33 and cause it to follow the movement of the helm. Additive control of the trolly is obtained by the pivoted finger 56, which moves in a spiral groove 53 in the hub of the drum 32 and oscillates the end 55 on which the parallel links are supported. In order to prevent yawing, the shaft 40 gives an extra motion to the epicyclic gearing 43, 44, 47 and is oscillated by links from a block 58 partially loosely mounted on a shaft 17 and with tail-piece 60 restrained by pins 61. These pins are on a lever 62 carried by a pinion 64 which meshes with a pinion 65, having a similar lever 67 engaging the arm of a block 70 similarly partially loosely mounted on the shaft 69. A second arm 68. with dash-pot control having spring connexion 73, is geared by wheel 66 to the first member, Fig. 4. As the ship yaws, the shafts 69, 17 are rotated, and, dependent upon the speed and amplitude of the movement of the ship, the shaft 40 receives a motion in one direction, which j, neutralized as the ship returns to its course. The gyro-compass, corrected for the earth's rotation, comprises two rotors 77, 78, Fig. 8, mounted on horizontal axes and rotated oppositely, the whole being flexibly suspended in a frame 81 from the member 82 in the frame 85. The frame 85 is supported in gimbal rings in the frame 88. A gear 89 on the spindle 83 supports the compass scale 90, and is rotated by a motor 91 and rotates a transmitter. The casings of the rotors 77, 78 are geared by quadrants 93, 94 so that precession is only permitted in opposite directions. Each quadrant carries a roller which moves over contacts, so that on the gyro precessing, contact is made and a motor operates to turn the gyro on a vertical axis and, by causing a reverse precession, brings the gyro backs to its initial setting. To apply correctly a precession for varying latitudes, a weight 102 is pivoted at 103 and, when vertical, is counterbalanced by a weight 104 for conditions at the equator; when fixed on any part of the scale representing degrees of latitude, the control is proportional to the cosine of the angle as required. The transmitter is used to govern the repeater directly or through a relay.