US3704407A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gyro servo control system & structure
Assignee: Sperry Sun Well Surveying Co
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Filing: 1969-11-21
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Granted: 1972-11-28
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Expires: 1989-11-21
Abstract
Abstract In a system for controlling the tilt of a rotor on a gyro, a sensing device for detecting tilt, together with electrical circuit components for providing an error signal are mounted upon the rotor housing. The error signal, which is transmitted by the circuits supplying power to the gyro rotor, is supplied to a control system which in turn provides a signal to a torqueing motor. The torque motor is continuously operated, and normally rotates in a first direction unless a signal is received from the sensing device, which detects tilt in only one direction, whereupon the torque motor is reversed to apply a corrective force to the gyro system. Use of the power supply path to transmit the error signal obviates the use of any frictionproducing physical attachment with the components of the gyro in order to transmit such error signal to the torque motor control system.
Inventors
- 👤 James M Lindsey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 04:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/02; G01C19/04; G01C19/28; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/12; Y10T74/1229; Y10T74/1261; Y10T74/1271
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
In a gyro tilt control system, means for transferring a control signal from the rotor housing of the gyro to a control function exterior to the rotor housing, which means comprises: means on said rotor housing for detecting tilt in a first direction; means on said rotor housing for generating a control signal in response to the detected tilt; means for providing a power signal to the rotor, said power signal and control signal being carried over a common circuit path; means on said rotor housing for superimposing said control signal upon the power signal; means exterior of said rotor housing for deciding said superimposing control signal to provide a usable control signal; means normally operating the control function in a first mode; and means responsive to said control signal for operating the control function in a second mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a gyro tilt control system, means for transferring a control signal from the rotor housing of the gyro to a control function exterior to the rotor housing, which means comprises: means on said rotor housing for detecting tilt in a first direction; means on said rotor housing for generating a control signal in response to the detected tilt; means for providing a power signal to the rotor, said power signal and control signal being carried over a common circuit path; means on said rotor housing for superimposing said control signal upon the power signal; means exterior of said rotor housing for deciding said superimposing control signal to provide a usable control signal; means normally operating the control function in a first mode; and means responsive to said control signal for operating the control function in a second mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control function includes a torque motor responsive to said control signal for applying a precessing force to an axis of the gyro.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a gyro control system for controlling a torque motor for regulating the tilt of a gyro rotor relative to a predetermined attitude: circuit means for supplying a power signal to a rotor motor on a gyro housing; means on said rotor for sensing a change in a first direction of the attitude of the rotor relative to the predetermined attitude; circuit means for detecting said sensed changed and for generating an error signal in response thereto; circuit means for superimposing said error signal on the power signal to form a combined signal for transmission over a common circuit path; means for rejecting the power signal component of said combined signal to provide a control signal for operating said torque motor in a first direction; and means normally operating the torque motor in a second direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a gyro control system for controlling a torque motor for regulating the tilt of a gyro rotor relative to a predetermined attitude: circuit means for supplying a power signal to a rotor motor on a gyro housing; means on said rotor for sensing a change in a first direction of the attitude of the rotor relative to the predetermined attitude; circuit means for detecting said sensed changed and for generating an error signal in response thereto; circuit means for superimposing said error signal on the power signal to form a combined signal for transmission over a common circuit path; means for rejecting the power signal component of said combined signal to provide a control signal for operating said torque motor in a first direction; and means normally operating the torque motor in a second direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a gyro control system for controlling the tilt of a gyro rotor relative to a predetermined attitude: circuit means for supplying a power signal to a rotor motor on a gyro housing; means on said rotor for sensing a change in the attitude of the rotor relative to the predetermined attitude; circuit means for detecting said sensed change and for generating an error signal in response thereto; circuit means for superimposing said error signal on the power signal to form a combined signal; a reversible motor for applying a torque to the vertical axis of the gyro, said reversible motor being driven in a first direction in the absence of an error signal and driven in a second direction when an error signal is generated; control means exterior of said housing for operating said reversible motor; and circuit means for transmitting said combined signal from said gyro housing to said control means exterior of said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a gyro control system for controlling the tilt of a gyro rotor relative to a predetermined attitude: circuit means for supplying a power signal to a rotor motor on a gyro housing; means on said rotor for sensing a change in the attitude of the rotor relative to the predetermined attitude; circuit means for detecting said sensed change and for generating an error signal in response thereto; circuit means for superimposing said error signal on the power signal to form a combined signal; a reversible motor for applying a torque to the vertical axis of the gyro, said reversible motor being driven in a first direction in the absence of an error signal and driven in a second direction when an error signal is generated; control means exterior of said housing for operating said reversible motor; and circuit means for transmitting said combined signal from said gyro housing to said control means exterior of said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said circuit means for transmitting said combined signal to said control means is the same as the circuit means for supplying the power signal to the rotor motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a control system, means for detecting a parameter and transmitting an indication of such parameter over a single circuit path to a control function, which means comprises: means for providing a square wave input signal on the circuit path; means for generating a data pulse in response to the detected parameter; means for superimposing said data pulse on said input signal in a timed relationship with said input signal to from a combined signal; means for substantially rejecting said input signal to leave a data pulse and transient pulses corresponding to the rise and fall of said square wave input signal; means for relating said data signal to the timed relationshIp at which said data signal was superimposed upon said input signal and for rejecting said transient pulses; and means responsive to said data signal for driving a control function.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a control system, means for detecting a parameter and transmitting an indication of such parameter over a single circuit path to a control function, which means comprises: means for providing a square wave input signal on the circuit path; means for generating a data pulse in response to the detected parameter; means for superimposing said data pulse on said input signal in a timed relationship with said input signal to from a combined signal; means for substantially rejecting said input signal to leave a data pulse and transient pulses corresponding to the rise and fall of said square wave input signal; means for relating said data signal to the timed relationshIp at which said data signal was superimposed upon said input signal and for rejecting said transient pulses; and means responsive to said data signal for driving a control function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said square wave input signal is a power supply signal for operating the system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said control function is operated in a first mode in the absence of a data pulse being generated and operated in a second mode when a data pulse is generated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for generating a data pulse is a series of monostable flip flops that cause a pulse to occur in timed relationship with said input signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said superimposing means is a transistor which has a capacitor as its collector load, which capacitor is coupled to the input signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said relating and rejecting means includes gate means operable in response to the data pulse and the input signal for generating a control signal to operate the control function.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 11 and further including a signal converter operable in response to said control signal for generating a direct current signal for operating the control function.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-28 | 1976-05-29 | 1976-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-28 | 1980-05-29 | 1980-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-28 | 1984-05-29 | 1984-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |