US3638883A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cross-rate axis sensor
Assignee: Dynasciences Corp
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Filing: 1968-05-21
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Granted: 1972-02-01
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Expires: 1988-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A cross-rate axis sensor is provided for use with a moving vehicle, such as an elongated space vehicle, which undergoes both spinning and coning motion. The sensor which may be rotatably mounted about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle continually aligns itself with the instantaneous direction of transverse angular velocity or cross-rate axis of the vehicle due to coning motion, and the angular position of the rotatable sensor relative to the vehicle can be used to phase the torques provided by a thrust-producing nozzle mounted on the vehicle to reduce and eventually eliminate the coning motion. The sensor includes a rotatively driven momentum wheel, the axis of rotation of which continuously follows the cross-rate axis, and a cylindrical member rotatably mounted about an axis parallel to the vehicle axis of the elongation within the vehicle and having a hollow interior within which the momentum wheel is rotatably mounted as a gyroscope element in a balanced single degree of freedom gimbal system.
Inventors
- 👤 Andre Lanzaro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/02; G01C19/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A control system for tracking the radial orientation of the cross-rate axis about the longitudinal spin axis of a spinning vehicle undergoing coning motion comprising: a gyroscope element having its gyrospin axis normal to a longitudinal mounting axis that is parallel to said longitudinal spin axis of the vehicle; mounting means for rotatably journaling said gyroscope element for free balanced rotation of said gyrospin axis about said longitudinal mounting axis; sensing means for detecting the orientation of said gyrospin axis relative to a predetermined radial position on said vehicle to provide an output condition indicative of the orientation of said cross-rate axis relative to said predetermined radial position; and, means responsive to said sensing means for controlling the orientation of said vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A control system for tracking the radial orientation of the cross-rate axis about the longitudinal spin axis of a spinning vehicle undergoing coning motion comprising: a gyroscope element having its gyrospin axis normal to a longitudinal mounting axis that is parallel to said longitudinal spin axis of the vehicle; mounting means for rotatably journaling said gyroscope element for free balanced rotation of said gyrospin axis about said longitudinal mounting axis; sensing means for detecting the orientation of said gyrospin axis relative to a predetermined radial position on said vehicle to provide an output condition indicative of the orientation of said cross-rate axis relative to said predetermined radial position; and, means responsive to said sensing means for controlling the orientation of said vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The sensor system of claim 1 wherein: said mounting means constitutes a balanced single degree of freedom gimbal system; and, said sensing means includes indicator means affixed to said gimbal for rotation about said longitudinal mounting axis with said gyrospin axis, and a sensing element affixed to said vehicle for movement therewith about said longitudinal spin axis and responsive to the orientation of said indicator means at said predetermined radial position for providing said output indication.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
The sensor system of claim 2 wherein: said sensing means includes a commutator segment fixedly mounted within said vehicle adjacent the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, and a wiper arm affixed for rotation with said cylinder to contact said commutator segment whenever said cylinder rotates to a predetermined angular position relative to said commutator segment; and electrical circuit means coupled to said commutator segment and said wiper arm to be interconnected to pass an electrical signal whenever said wiper arm contacts said commutator segment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The sensor system of claim 1 wherein: said mounting means includes a hollow cylinder rotatably mounted with its longitudinal axis parallel to the vehicle spin axis, and said gyroscope element is mounted within said cylinder with its center of mass intersected by the longitudinal axis of said cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The sensor system of claim 1 wherein: said means for controlling the orientation of said vehicle is adapted to generate thrust to change the orientation of its spin axis and said predetermined radial position on said vehicle is determined by the radial direction of said thrust.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
164 words
A control system for an elongated vehicle undergoing spinning about its axis of elongation and coning motion about a central axis of mean heading, comprising: a gyroscope means having a spin axis mounted with a single degree of freedom to provide free balanced rotational movement of said spin axis about a mounting axis parallel to the axis of elongation of said vehicle to maintain said spin axis aligned with the cross-rate axis; thrust means mounted on the vehicle for generating an external thrust upon energization to change the orientation of said axis of elongation; and sensing means including a first member mounted on the vehicle for movement about said spin axis with said thrust means, a second member mounted for rotational movement within said vehicle with the spin axis of said gyroscope means, and circuit means for energizing said thrust means whenever said first member has a predetermined angular relationship relative to said second member so that said external thrust reduces said coning motion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
164 words
A control system for an elongated vehicle undergoing spinning about its axis of elongation and coning motion about a central axis of mean heading, comprising: a gyroscope means having a spin axis mounted with a single degree of freedom to provide free balanced rotational movement of said spin axis about a mounting axis parallel to the axis of elongation of said vehicle to maintain said spin axis aligned with the cross-rate axis; thrust means mounted on the vehicle for generating an external thrust upon energization to change the orientation of said axis of elongation; and sensing means including a first member mounted on the vehicle for movement about said spin axis with said thrust means, a second member mounted for rotational movement within said vehicle with the spin axis of said gyroscope means, and circuit means for energizing said thrust means whenever said first member has a predetermined angular relationship relative to said second member so that said external thrust reduces said coning motion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The control system of claim 6 wherein: said circuit means includes gating means coupled in series between said sensing means and said thrust means for preventing the energization of said thrust means by said sensing means except when the axis of elongation of said vehicle has a predetermined angular relationship relative to A desired heading.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The control system of claim 7 wherein: said gating means includes means responsive to the amplitude of the coning motion for preventing energization of said thrust means whenever said coning motion is smaller than a predetermined amplitude.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The control system of claim 7 wherein: said gating means comprises means responsive to a predetermined angular relationship between said thrust means and said desired heading to prevent energization of said thrust means except when the external thrust generated would tend to move the axis of elongation of said vehicle toward said desired heading.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The control system of claim 6 wherein: said gyroscope element comprises a momentum wheel adapted for high-speed rotation about its spin axis, and a hollow cylindrical means for rotation about said mounting axis, said momentum wheel being centrally mounted for high-speed rotation within said hollow cylindrical mounting means with its spin axis normal to and its center of mass intersected by said mounting axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
The control system of claim 10 wherein: said sensing means comprises a first commutator switch element carried for rotation with said hollow cylindrical mounting means, and a second commutator switching element fixedly mounted within said vehicle relative to said thrust means in a preselected radial segment about said mounting axis to be contacted by said first commutator contact member, and electrically energizing means coupled to said first and second commutator contact members to energize said thrust means whenever said first commutator contact member contacts said second commutator contact member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-31 | 1975-08-02 | 1976-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-31 | 1979-08-02 | 1980-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-31 | 1983-08-02 | 1984-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |