Abstract A two axis all pneumatic displacement gyroscope that detects a change of position in pitch and jaw of a missile. The spin axis of the gyro rotor is directed along the longitudinal axis of the missile. The rotor utilizes a hydrostatic air bearing and the gyro pickoff responds to the exhaust from the air bearing. A single air jet provides the rotor exhaust for the pickoff collectors. To provide the air bearing, a gas is introduced into a plenum chamber within the stator about which the rotor spins. The gas is uniformly passed through output passages of the plenum chamber, exiting at the spherical surface of the stator. The inner spherical surface of the rotor is supported by the exhausting gas. In exhausting from the air bearing, the gas passes through a single passage in the rotor that terminates on the surface of the rotor. The single output gas stream periodically impinges on pickoff devices arranged around the circumference of the rotor. The relative position of the pickoffs, with respect to the rotating output jet, controls the period that the gas is accepted by the pickoff. When the rotor and stator are changed in reference to each other, as when a missile changes position or direction, the air jet makes a varying path as it passes across the pickoffs. With variations in pitch and jaw, the period that gas impinges on the pickoffs is also varied, thus providing an output signal in response to the direction of change in trajectory.
A single jet, pneumatic displacement gyro comprising: a gyroscope stator; a rotor disposed for rotation about said stator; a plenum chamber within said stator having an input passageway and a plurality of output passageways for conveying air or gas therethrough, said output passages terminating at the outer spherical surface of said stator; said rotor having an inner spherical surface adjacent the outer surface of said stator providing a chamber therebetween wherein a hydrostatic air bearing is formed in response to gas exhausting from said stator output passages; said rotor having a single air passage connecting said inner surface to the outer surface thereof for exhausting said hydrostatic bearing gas to the outer rotor surface; said rotor having a restricted hole opposite the air jet passage and coaxial therewith to balance said rotor, said restricted hole projecting from the inner surface of said rotor toward the outer surface and terminating before reaching the outer rotor surface; caging means adjacent said rotor for controlling the spin axis direction of said rotor and pickoff means adjacent said rotor for receiving gas exhausted from said rotor air passage, said pickoff means having a spherical sleeve housing, a plurality of triangular sections or pockets evenly spaced within said housing, and a plurality of cylindrical tubular passageway forming members each having one end thereof connected near the center of said triangular sections and projecting through said housing and the outer surface thereof for collecting exhaust gas from said rotor air passage; and said rotor single air passage and restricted hole lying in a plane normal to the rotor spin axis substantially along the equator of said rotor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
A single jet, pneumatic displacement gyro comprising: a gyroscope stator; a rotor disposed for rotation about said stator; a plenum chamber within said stator having an input passageway and a plurality of output passageways for conveying air or gas therethrough, said output passages terminating at the outer spherical surface of said stator; said rotor having an inner spherical surface adjacent the outer surface of said stator providing a chamber therebetween wherein a hydrostatic air bearing is formed in response to gas exhausting from said stator output passages; said rotor having a single air passage connecting said inner surface to the outer surface thereof for exhausting said hydrostatic bearing gas to the outer rotor surface; said rotor having a restricted hole opposite the air jet passage and coaxial therewith to balance said rotor, said restricted hole projecting from the inner surface of said rotor toward the outer surface and terminating before reaching the outer rotor surface; caging means adjacent said rotor for controlling the spin axis direction of said rotor and pickoff means adjacent said rotor for receiving gas exhausted from said rotor air passage, said pickoff means having a spherical sleeve housing, a plurality of triangular sections or pockets evenly spaced within said housing, and a plurality of cylindrical tubular passageway forming members each having one end thereof connected near the center of said triangular sections and projecting through said housing and the outer surface thereof for collecting exhaust gas from said rotor air passage; and said rotor single air passage and restricted hole lying in a plane normal to the rotor spin axis substantially along the equator of said rotor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A single jet displacement gyro as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of triangular sections and passageway forming members comprise at least four pickoffs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
A single jet displacement gyro as set forth in claim 2 wherein said caging means comprises a passageway forming member for conveying gas therethrough and terminating with the distal end thereof adjacent said rotor and coaxial with the spin axis of said rotor, a tapered notch in said rotor adjacent the distal end of said passageway forming member, and a spring loaded piston in the distal end of said passageway forming member for projecting into said rotor notch when gas pressure is supplied though said passageway forming member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A single jet displacement gyro as set forth in claim 3 further comprising first and second series of air buckets uniformly spaced around the periphery of the rotor and spaced an eQual distance on opposite sides of the rotor equator, first and second spin-up nozzles aligned respectively with said buckets and fixed to said caging passageway forming member for conveying gas to said buckets for spinning-up said rotor.