US3283409A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gyroscopic indicating device
Assignee: ASTRO SPACE LAB Inc
•
Filing: 1962-09-12
•
Granted: 1966-11-08
•
Expires: 1982-09-12
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Rothe Heinrich Carl
- 👤 Mueller Fritz Kurt
- 👤 Rothe Wilhelm Ernst
- 👤 Martin Robert Cherry
- 👤 Moore Alvin Edward
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 07:59
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/02; G01C19/34; G01C19/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
AN INSTRUMENT COMPRISING: A SUPPORT; A FRAME, ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT, AND HAVING A NORTH-SOUTH DATUM LINE; A GYROSCOPE, SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME, COMPRISING: A ROTARY ELEMENT, HAVING A VERTICAL AXIS OF ROTATION AND AN EXTERNAL, CONVEX, SPHERICAL SURFACE; A ROTOR HAVING AN INTERNAL, CONCAVE, SPHERICAL SURFACE; AND MEANS PROVIDING A GASEOUS-FILM BEARING BETWEEN SAID SPHERICAL SURFACES; SAID ROTOR HAVING A SPIN AXIS THAT IS INCLINED TO THE VERTICAL IN THE EAST-WEST PLANE FORMING A LATITUDE-INDICATING LAG ANGLE THAT IS FREE TO CHANGE IN SIZE WITH CHANGING LATITUDE; POSITION-SENSING MEANS, CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME, FOR SENSING AND SUPPLYING A SIGNAL OF ANY AZIMUTHAL ROTATION OF SAID FRAME RELATIVE TO SAID EAST-WEST PLANE; MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID FRAME UNTIL SAID SIGNAL IS ZERO, WHEN SAID NORTH-SOUTH DATUM LINE IS PROPERLY ORIENTED; AND A THEODOLITE, SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME, COMPRISING: A SIGHTING DEVICE; MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SIGHTING DEVICE FOR OBTAINING A LINE OF SIGHT ON AN OBJECT; AND MEANS FOR INDICATING THE BEARING OF SAID LINE OF SIGHT, COMPRISING TWO PARTS, ONE OF SAID PARTS BEING ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME, AND THE OTHER BEING CONNECTED TO AND ROTATABLE WITH SAID SIGHTING DEVICE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
AN INSTRUMENT COMPRISING: A SUPPORT; A FRAME, ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT, AND HAVING A NORTH-SOUTH DATUM LINE; A GYROSCOPE, SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME, COMPRISING: A ROTARY ELEMENT, HAVING A VERTICAL AXIS OF ROTATION AND AN EXTERNAL, CONVEX, SPHERICAL SURFACE; A ROTOR HAVING AN INTERNAL, CONCAVE, SPHERICAL SURFACE; AND MEANS PROVIDING A GASEOUS-FILM BEARING BETWEEN SAID SPHERICAL SURFACES; SAID ROTOR HAVING A SPIN AXIS THAT IS INCLINED TO THE VERTICAL IN THE EAST-WEST PLANE FORMING A LATITUDE-INDICATING LAG ANGLE THAT IS FREE TO CHANGE IN SIZE WITH CHANGING LATITUDE; POSITION-SENSING MEANS, CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME, FOR SENSING AND SUPPLYING A SIGNAL OF ANY AZIMUTHAL ROTATION OF SAID FRAME RELATIVE TO SAID EAST-WEST PLANE; MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID FRAME UNTIL SAID SIGNAL IS ZERO, WHEN SAID NORTH-SOUTH DATUM LINE IS PROPERLY ORIENTED; AND A THEODOLITE, SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME, COMPRISING: A SIGHTING DEVICE; MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SIGHTING DEVICE FOR OBTAINING A LINE OF SIGHT ON AN OBJECT; AND MEANS FOR INDICATING THE BEARING OF SAID LINE OF SIGHT, COMPRISING TWO PARTS, ONE OF SAID PARTS BEING ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME, AND THE OTHER BEING CONNECTED TO AND ROTATABLE WITH SAID SIGHTING DEVICE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
A GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENT COMPRISING: A HOUSING; A DRIVING ELEMENT, ROTATING ON AN AXIS THAT IS FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING; A GYROSCOPIC ROTOR, HAVING A BEARING ON SAID DRIVING ELEMENT THAT PERMITS TILTING MOTION BETWEEN SAID ROTOR AND HOUSING; AND MEANS TO INDICATE SAID TILTING MOTION, COMPRISING MEANS TO PROVIDE LIGHT WITHIN SAID HOUSING, A PERIPHERAL RIM ON SAID ROTOR PROVIDING AN ENDLESS SERIES OF CONNECTED PLANE SURFACES COMPRISING MATERIAL FOR REFLECTING SAID LIGHT; AND MEANS PERMITTING EXIT FROM SAID HOUSING OF LIGHT REFLECTED FROM SAID MATERIAL.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
A GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENT COMPRISING: A HOUSING; A DRIVING ELEMENT, ROTATING ON AN AXIS THAT IS FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING; A GYROSCOPIC ROTOR, HAVING A BEARING ON SAID DRIVING ELEMENT THAT PERMITS TILTING MOTION BETWEEN SAID ROTOR AND HOUSING; AND MEANS TO INDICATE SAID TILTING MOTION, COMPRISING MEANS TO PROVIDE LIGHT WITHIN SAID HOUSING, A PERIPHERAL RIM ON SAID ROTOR PROVIDING AN ENDLESS SERIES OF CONNECTED PLANE SURFACES COMPRISING MATERIAL FOR REFLECTING SAID LIGHT; AND MEANS PERMITTING EXIT FROM SAID HOUSING OF LIGHT REFLECTED FROM SAID MATERIAL.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1890831A
Cited
US2044899A
Cited
US1998948A
Cited
US2577313A
Cited
US2790119A
Cited
GB784693A
Cited
FR1251996A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1969-11-07 | 1970-05-09 | 1970-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1973-11-07 | 1974-05-09 | 1974-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1977-11-07 | 1978-05-09 | 1978-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |