Gyroscopic reference system

Claim 2

A gyroscopic reference system comprising: a single magnetic core means having a gap defined by horizontally spaced poles and an energizing winding on said core means for establishing an upright levitational magnetic field below said gap; a ferromagnetic body levitationally suspended in and by said magnetic field below said gap, said suspended body comprising a frictionlessly supported rotor; and electrical drive means for spinning said suspended body about a predetermined axis in said field thereby providing a spinning gyroscopic rotor.

Claim 3

A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said body includes a generally annular conductive portion; said drive means comprising at least two electromagnets arranged adjacent said annular portion angularly spaced about said axis and a source of alternating current connected to energize said electromagnets whereby to cause said body to spin as the rotor of an induction motor.

Claim 4

A gyroscopic reference system comprising: magnetic means establishing an upright levitational magnetic field; a ferromagnetic body levitationally suspended in and by said magnetic field, said suspended body comprising a frictionlessly supported rotor; and electrical drive means for spinning said suspended body about a predetermined axis in said field thereby providing a spinning gyroscopic rotor, said body including a generally annular conductive portion; said drive means comprising at least two electromagnets arranged adjacent said annular portion angularly spaced about said axis and a source of alternating current connected to energize said electromagnets whereby to cause said body to spin as the rotor of an induction motor, said body comprising a pair of rings of ferromagnetic electrically conductive mAterial fixedly secured together in mutually perpendicular planes, the centers of said rings being coincident and one of said rings comprising said generally annular conductive portion.

Claim 5

A gyroscopic reference system comprising: magnetic means establishing an upright levitational magnetic field; a ferromagnetic body levitationally suspended in and by said magnetic field, said suspended body comprising a frictionlessly supported rotor; and electrical drive means for spinning said suspended body about a predetermined axis in said field thereby providing a spinning gyroscopic rotor, said body including a generally annular conductive portion; said drive means comprising at least two electromagnets arranged adjacent said annular portion angularly spaced about said axis and a source of alternating current connected to energize said electromagnets whereby to cause said body to spin as the rotor of an induction motor, said body comprising a pair of rings of ferromagnetic electrically conductive mAterial fixedly secured together in mutually perpendicular planes, the centers of said rings being coincident and one of said rings comprising said generally annular conductive portion.

Claim 6

A gyroscopic reference system comprising: magnetic means establishing an upright levitational magnetic field; a ferromagnetic body levitationally suspended in and by said magnetic field, said suspended body comprising a frictionlessly supported rotor; and electrical drive means for spinning said suspended body about a predetermined axis in said field thereby providing a spinning gyroscopic rotor, means including a core member; an energizing winding on said core member; a differential amplifier for supplying electrical energy to said energizing winding; a control winding magnetically coupled to said energizing winding and coupled to an input of said differential amplifier whereby the magnetic coupling between said windings changes in response to changes in the position of said body in said field, to thereby change the output of said differential amplifier to said energizing winding and thereby restore said body to its original position in said field.

Claim 7

A gyroscopic reference system comprising: magnetic means establishing an upright levitational magnetic field; a ferromagnetic body levitationally suspended in and by said magnetic field, said suspended body comprising a frictionlessly supported rotor; and electrical drive means for spinning said suspended body about a predetermined axis in said field thereby providing a spinning gyroscopic rotor, means including a core member; an energizing winding on said core member; a differential amplifier for supplying electrical energy to said energizing winding; a control winding magnetically coupled to said energizing winding and coupled to an input of said differential amplifier whereby the magnetic coupling between said windings changes in response to changes in the position of said body in said field, to thereby change the output of said differential amplifier to said energizing winding and thereby restore said body to its original position in said field.