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EP0153189A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Gyroscopic devices

Assignee: National Research Development Corp UK
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Filing: 1985-02-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-02-19
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Abstract

Abstract A gyroscopic device comprising a resonator in the form of a disc (1), cylinder (30) or like structure of circular outline, of a composition containing piezo-electric material and preferably made of a unitary mass of such material. The resonator is excited into dilatation-type vibration by electric currents applied to exciting electrodes (5-8) electrodeposited in a regular pattern around the circumference of the structure, and these vibrations are sensed by detecting electrodes (9-12) similarly deposited around the wall in a similar but angularly displaced pattern. A measure of any rate of turn which the structure is undergoing about its axis can be derived from the resulting phase shift of the electrical output from the detecting electrodes.

Inventors

  • 👤 James Stonehouse Burdess

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 13:39
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/56; G01C19/567

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 178 words
A gyroscopic device in the form of an axisymmetrically-anchored structure of circular shape (1, 30) and characterised in that that structure is of a composition in which material exhibiting the piezo-electric effect is included without vibration-sensitive bonds, in that first electrodes (5 - 8) are mounted axisymmetrically on the structure and adapted by co-operation with the piezo-electric effect to generate within it a pattern of strain that varies cyclically around the structure in a circumferential direction, in that second electrodes (9 - 12) are mounted on the same structure axisymmetrically but at locations angularly-spaced relative to those of the first electrodes and adapted to emit electrical signals generated by the interaction of the pattern of strain and the piezo-electric effect whereby an angular displacement of the cyclical strain variation caused by an applied rate of turn about the axis of the structure results in a change in the signal emitted by the second electrodes, and in that means (18A) are provided to derive a measure of the applied rate of turn by reference to such change of signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 178 words
A gyroscopic device in the form of an axisymmetrically-anchored structure of circular shape (1, 30) and characterised in that that structure is of a composition in which material exhibiting the piezo-electric effect is included without vibration-sensitive bonds, in that first electrodes (5 - 8) are mounted axisymmetrically on the structure and adapted by co-operation with the piezo-electric effect to generate within it a pattern of strain that varies cyclically around the structure in a circumferential direction, in that second electrodes (9 - 12) are mounted on the same structure axisymmetrically but at locations angularly-spaced relative to those of the first electrodes and adapted to emit electrical signals generated by the interaction of the pattern of strain and the piezo-electric effect whereby an angular displacement of the cyclical strain variation caused by an applied rate of turn about the axis of the structure results in a change in the signal emitted by the second electrodes, and in that means (18A) are provided to derive a measure of the applied rate of turn by reference to such change of signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
A gyroscopic device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the structure is a unitary mass of material exhibiting the piezo-electric effect.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 42 words
A gyroscopic device according to Claim 1 in which the second electrodes (9 - 12) are mounted at locations coinciding, in the absence of any said applied rate of turn, with nodes of the cyclical strain pattern generated by the first electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
A gyroscopic device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the structure is a circular disc (1), and the first and second electrodes are mounted together on the same face (3) of the disc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 39 words
A gyroscopic device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the structure is a hollow cylinder (30) and the first and second electrodes are both mounted on one or other of the inner and outer walls of the cylinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 33 words
A gyroscopic device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the circular structure is anchored to the ground by means of a support (25) connecting the ground to the periphery of the structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
A gyroscopic device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the circular structure is anchored to ground by means of a support (2) connecting the ground to the centre of the structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 48 words
A gyroscopic device according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 characterised in that ground (23, 24) lies to either side of the circular structure axially, and in that separate supports (22) extending away from the structure in opposite axial directions connect the structure to both of these grounds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 46 words
A gyroscopic device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the circular structure consists of sheet-form or laminar material exhibiting the piezo-electric effect, the first and second electrodes being disposed on one face (3, 34) of the sheet with the opposite face (4, 33) being earthed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 19 words
A gyroscopic device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the electrodes are mounted on the structure by electro-deposition.

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