US3742769A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gyroscope
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1971-03-25
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1991-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A gyroscopic rotor designed to increase the inertia to weight ratio and which may be defined as an inertial rim supported by two thin walled spherical shells. A thin walled hollow cylindrical shaft separates and supports the shells and provides axial rigidity to prevent oscillation or misalignment of the rim in respect to the axis of rotation.
Inventors
- 👤 J Crutcher
- 👤 L Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:21
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/02; G01C19/04; G01C19/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A gyroscopic device including a housing and a rotor adapted to spin about an axis wherein said rotor comprises an inertial rim, a pair of opposed, convex, thin-walled, shell-like support members of generally resilient material, each of said members being attached at its periphery to said rim, a hollow cylinder disposed between each of said members and secured thereto at their apexes for axially spacing said members from one another, and bearing means at said apexes for mounting said rotor for spinning about said axis in said housing, said convex resilient support members providing high axial rigidity for accurately transferring gyroscopic forces acting on said rotor to said housing but providing radial compliance for permitting radial expansion of said inertial rim under the influence of centrifugal force.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A gyroscopic device including a housing and a rotor adapted to spin about an axis wherein said rotor comprises an inertial rim, a pair of opposed, convex, thin-walled, shell-like support members of generally resilient material, each of said members being attached at its periphery to said rim, a hollow cylinder disposed between each of said members and secured thereto at their apexes for axially spacing said members from one another, and bearing means at said apexes for mounting said rotor for spinning about said axis in said housing, said convex resilient support members providing high axial rigidity for accurately transferring gyroscopic forces acting on said rotor to said housing but providing radial compliance for permitting radial expansion of said inertial rim under the influence of centrifugal force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 1 including a pair of hubs, each said hub being disposed at the apex of said members, and wherein said cylinder and said members are welded to said hub.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said rim, said members and said cylinder are comprised of the same material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said rim, said members, said cylinder and said hubs are welded at their respective points of attachment to form an inteGral structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprises a pair of journal members, each said journal member being attached to one of said hubs, and each said journal member being mounted within said bearing means, whereby said integral structure is supported by said bearing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said members comprise imperforate and generally smooth surfaces whereby the drag due to windage is reduced.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the point of attachment of said rim and said support members is free of any other connecting members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a rim and a second pair of generally shell-like, thin walled members corresponding in shape to said rotor rim support members and having disposed therein a plurality of generally radial depressions for increasing the rigidity of said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said housing rim includes at least one pair of stop means for limiting the axial movement of said rotor to a prescribed distance under high stress conditions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
A gyroscopic device including a housing and a bimetallic rotor wherein said rotor comprises a first rim of high strength high density material, a second rim of different material attached to said first rim, said first rim being thermally fitted on said second rim whereby said second rim is under a compressive force at normal operating temperatures, a pair of convex, thin-walled, shell-like radial support members attached to said second rim for radially and compliantly supporting said second rim, whereby in normal operation said rim may expand to follow any expansion of said first rim, a hollow cylinder disposed between said support members for axially spacing said radial support members from one another, and bearing means for mounting said rotor within said housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
A gyroscopic device including a housing and a bimetallic rotor wherein said rotor comprises a first rim of high strength high density material, a second rim of different material attached to said first rim, said first rim being thermally fitted on said second rim whereby said second rim is under a compressive force at normal operating temperatures, a pair of convex, thin-walled, shell-like radial support members attached to said second rim for radially and compliantly supporting said second rim, whereby in normal operation said rim may expand to follow any expansion of said first rim, a hollow cylinder disposed between said support members for axially spacing said radial support members from one another, and bearing means for mounting said rotor within said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the peripheral edge of said radial support members are welded to said second rim, whereby said radial support members support said first and second rims about the axis of rotation of said rotor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said second rim has a rigid flange on one side for engaging said first rim, and said second rim has a malleable portion about its other side and swaged against said first rim, whereby to cage said first rim between said flange and swaged portion of said second rim.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the point of attachment of said first rim, said second rim and said radial support members is free of any other connecting members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said radial support members have disposed therein an aperture about their respective axial centers, a pair of hubs of material similar to that of said radial support members, and each of said hubs is welded to one of said radial support members at the edge of said apertures.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said cylinder is welded to each of said hubs, whereby said hubs and the centers of said radial support members are axially spaced from one another.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 15 including a pair of shafts, each said shaft being mechanically attached to one of said hubs, and said shafts operably associated with said bearing means, whereby said rotor is free to rotate within said housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said radial support members comprise imperforate and generally smooth surfaces, whereby the drag due to windage is reduced.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said housing includes a pair of generally shell-like means for enclosing said rotor, and said enclosing means is constructed to include a pluraLity of dimple like depressions, whereby the rigidity of the enclosing means is decreased.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The gyroscopic device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said housing includes a set of bearings for mounting said rotor, whereby said rotor is free to rotate within said housing.
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) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |