Aircraft compass

Abstract

Abstract THIS INVENTION RELATES TO A MAGNETIC COMPASS ESPECIALLY SUITED FOR AIRCRAFT. THE MAGNET IS UNIVERSALLY MOUNTED SO THAT IN CAN ROTATE IN AZIMUTH AND IN DIP AND THE AZIMUTH AXIS IS MADE PENDULOUS SO THAT IT IS NORMALLY VERTICAL. WITH COMPASSES OF THIS KIND THE PENDULOUS AZIMUTH AXIS TENDS TO SWING OUT OF CONTROL TO BEYOND THE 90* DIP POSITION AS THE AIRCRAFT TURNS. IF THE DIP OF THE MAGNET EXCEEDS 90*, THE UNIVERSAL MOUNTING MEANS FOR THE MAGNET OPERATE TO BRING THE MAGNET AROUND INTO THE RESULTANT MAGNETIC FIELD AND AT THE SAME TIME THEY TURN THE COMPASS CARD OF THE MAGNET THROUGH 180*. THE RESULT IS THAT THE COMPASS READS 180* OUT AFTER SUCH A MISALIGNMENT AND IS ENTIRELY UNRELIABLE TO A PILOT. THIS INVEN- TION OVERCOMES THIS DIFFICULTY BY COUNTERACTING THE MAGNET ABOUT ITS DIP AXIS BY MEANS OF A WEIGHT. THE WEIGHT IS DESIGNED TO COUNTERACT DIP AND HAS A MAGNITUDE SUFFICCIENT TO PREVENT THE MAGNET FROM EXCEEDING THE 90* DIP POSITION IN AN AIRCRAFT TURN. A COMPASS CONSTRUCTED ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION IS VERY MUCH MORE STABLE THAN THE STANDARD AIRCRAFT MAGNETIC COMPASS. IT ALSO HAS BETTER CHARACTERISTICS FROM A VIBRATION POINT OF VIEW WHEN USED IN A HEAVY VIBRATION MACHINE, SUCH AS A HELICOPER.

Inventors

• 👤 Edgar John Sharpe

Bibliographic Details