US3630091A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rate and/or acceleration sensor
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1970-06-01
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Granted: 1971-12-28
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Expires: 1990-06-01
Abstract
Abstract The invention is directed to a proof body such as a gyroscope in which the spin axis is constrained to the housing or vehicle by five pairs of orthogonally disposed wire pairs. The tension force each wire exerts on the gyroscope is sensed by determining the frequency of transverse vibration in each wire. The acceleration along three orthogonal axes and the rate of turn about two axes is obtained by processing the vibration-frequency data so as to solve the relationship: Tension K(frequency)2, for each wire. A tension control servo means is utilized for comparing the vibration frequency of the wire opposite a tension transducer with a precision reference frequency. The resulting error signal is used to activate the tension transducer so as to maintain a constant frequency (and tension) in the opposite wire under all acceleration and rate conditions. Consequently, the strain in the opposite wire of each pair will remain constant and the axes orientation of the gyroscope will remain fixed while the other wire of each pair will be vibrating at a frequency which will be proportional to the forces acting on the gyroscope. Means are provided for sensing this frequency and for providing an output signal which is proportional to the acting force. An accelerometer proof mass can be substituted for the gyroscope as a proof body with a resultant loss in rate sensing.
Inventors
- 👤 William M Scarborough
- 👤 Doyle E Wilcox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/18; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/02; G01C19/04; G01C19/16; G01C19/42; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P15/097; G01P15/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
A sensor comprising in combination: a. a reference frame; b. proof body; c. five pairs of string members supporting said proof body with respect to said reference frame along three orthogonal axes, each pair of string members aligned along one of said three orthogonal axes; d. means for exciting a reference frequency vibration in said string members; e. sensing means for sensing the frequency of vibration in a second string member of each of said pair of string members wherein said frequency of vibration is a function of the tension in each of said second string members; f. a reference frequency source g. transducer means interposed between a first string of each one of said pairs of string members and said reference frame for adjusting the tension in the string members oF said pair in response to the difference in frequency between the sensed signal from said sensing means and said reference frequency to maintain the frequency of vibration of said second string at said reference frequency; and h. pickoff means responsive to the frequency of vibration in said first string of each pair of string members to provide output signals proportional to the vibrations of said first string; I. utilization means for receiving the sensed signal from said pickoff means corresponding to the frequency of vibration of said first string and providing therefrom a signal indicative of the forces acting on said proof body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
A sensor comprising in combination: a. a reference frame; b. proof body; c. five pairs of string members supporting said proof body with respect to said reference frame along three orthogonal axes, each pair of string members aligned along one of said three orthogonal axes; d. means for exciting a reference frequency vibration in said string members; e. sensing means for sensing the frequency of vibration in a second string member of each of said pair of string members wherein said frequency of vibration is a function of the tension in each of said second string members; f. a reference frequency source g. transducer means interposed between a first string of each one of said pairs of string members and said reference frame for adjusting the tension in the string members oF said pair in response to the difference in frequency between the sensed signal from said sensing means and said reference frequency to maintain the frequency of vibration of said second string at said reference frequency; and h. pickoff means responsive to the frequency of vibration in said first string of each pair of string members to provide output signals proportional to the vibrations of said first string; I. utilization means for receiving the sensed signal from said pickoff means corresponding to the frequency of vibration of said first string and providing therefrom a signal indicative of the forces acting on said proof body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
183 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said transducer means is comprised of: a. lever members mounted to said reference frame by means of flexible fulcrums, one end of said first string of a pair connected to one end of said lever members; b. electromagnet means attached to the other end of said lever members to draw said lever end toward said reference frame in response to the sensed signal from said sensing means so as to adjust the tension in corresponding string members; and c. said lever member having its center of mass located in the region of said electromagnet means on the opposite side of said fulcrum from the string attachment point, and having a magnitude of mass such that, with an acceleration applied along the axis of the string, the resulting acceleration force component in the string attached to the lever member will be approximately sufficient to balance the force necessary to accelerate said proof mass, thereby requiring only a small electrical input to said electromagnetic means in order to hold constant tension in the second string of the pair.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention according to claim 2 wherein said flexible fulcrums exert coercive force on said lever members of a magnitude sufficient to establish vibrations in said string members at a preselected frequency with no forces acting on said gyroscope.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said proof body is a gyroscope.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention according to claim 4 and further comprising: a rigid member connected between said gyroscope and said reference frame for limiting rotation of said gyroscope in response to rotations of the gyroscope rotor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
258 words
A sensor comprising in combination: a. a reference frame; b. a proof body, said body being a gyroscope having a rotor for rotation at high rates of speed about a spin axis; c. a first and second parallel pair of string members attached at one end to each end of said gyroscope along a first defined axis; d. a third and fourth parallel pair of string members attached at one end to each end of said gyroscope along a second defined axis orthogonal with said first defined axis; e. a fifth pair of string members attached at one end to each end of said gyroscope parallel to the spin axis of said gyroscope and mutually orthogonal to said first and second defined axes; f. a transducer means interposed between a first string of each of said pairs of string members and said reference frame for controlling the tension in said string members; g. sensing means responsive to the frequency of vibration in the second string of each pair of string members to provide a signal to said transducer means which is proportional to said vibrations so as to maintain the vibrations in said second string of each of said pair of string members constant; and h. pickoff means responsive to the frequency of vibration in the first string of each pair of string members to provide output signals proportional to the vibrations of said first string which signals are indicative of the forces acting on said gyroscope along the first and second defined axis and said spin axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
258 words
A sensor comprising in combination: a. a reference frame; b. a proof body, said body being a gyroscope having a rotor for rotation at high rates of speed about a spin axis; c. a first and second parallel pair of string members attached at one end to each end of said gyroscope along a first defined axis; d. a third and fourth parallel pair of string members attached at one end to each end of said gyroscope along a second defined axis orthogonal with said first defined axis; e. a fifth pair of string members attached at one end to each end of said gyroscope parallel to the spin axis of said gyroscope and mutually orthogonal to said first and second defined axes; f. a transducer means interposed between a first string of each of said pairs of string members and said reference frame for controlling the tension in said string members; g. sensing means responsive to the frequency of vibration in the second string of each pair of string members to provide a signal to said transducer means which is proportional to said vibrations so as to maintain the vibrations in said second string of each of said pair of string members constant; and h. pickoff means responsive to the frequency of vibration in the first string of each pair of string members to provide output signals proportional to the vibrations of said first string which signals are indicative of the forces acting on said gyroscope along the first and second defined axis and said spin axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
The invention according to claim 6 wherein said transducer means is comprised of: a. lever members mounted to said reference frame by means of flexible fulcrums, one end of each of said first string oF a pair connected to one end of said lever members; and b. electromagnet means attached to the other end of said lever members to draw said lever end toward said reference frame in response to the sensed signal from said sensing means so as to adjust the tension in corresponding string members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention according to claim 6 and further comprising: means for comparing a reference signal against the pickoff signal from said second string, and for providing a difference signal to said transducer means so as to vary the tension in said string pairs to minimize said difference signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention according to claim 6 and further comprising: a rigid member connected between said gyroscope and said reference frame for limiting rotation of said gyroscope in response to rotations of said gyroscope rotor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention according to claim 6 wherein said flexible fulcrums exert a coercive force on said lever member of a magnitude sufficient to establish vibrations in said string members at a preselected frequency with no forces acting on said gyroscope.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3153351A
Cited
US3071974A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |