Patent US4380732A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3756262A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power transmission
Assignee: Vickers Inc
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Filing: 1971-04-09
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1991-04-09
Abstract
Abstract A rate gyroscope generates pressure signals in a hydraulic circuit proportional to the rate of turn of the support on which the gyroscope is mounted; for example, a ship having roll stabilization fins. The gyroscope cage is connected to a flapper controlling the escape of fluid from a pair of nozzles, the connection being through a torsionally resilient member which gives a natural frequency of vibration of the flapper many times the highest oscillation rate of the ship or other base for the gyroscope. The gyroscope cage is unrestrained by centering springs or the like, and precession away from a neutral position is resisted solely by the jet reaction forces at the flapper valve. The device is entirely fluid operated, both for rotor spin and for precession read-out.
Inventors
- 👤 W Morrow
- 👤 J Davenport
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 04:05
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/02; G01C19/42; G01C19/04; G01C19/06; G01C19/12; G01C19/28; G01C19/34; G01C19/38; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0753; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86493; Y10T137/86574; Y10T137/86582; Y10T137/8659
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A gyroscopic pressure controller for generating pressure valves in a fluid circuit, the magnitude and sign of which indicate the rate and direction of turn of the object on which the controller is mounted, comprising a main supporting frame, a gyroscope cage journalled in the frame for free and unrestrained motion through a limited angle about a precession axis, a rotor journalled in the cage for rotation about a spin axis perpendicular to the precession axis, a rotor drive nozzle aimed at the periphery of the rotor, means on the frame supporting a pair of valving nozzles, a flapper controlling the nozzles to variably and oppositely restrict the escape of fluid from them, means for directing fluid to and from the three nozzles including pressure dropping restrictors ahead of each valving nozzle, and a torsionally resilient connection between the gyroscope cage and the flapper having a force-displacement rate selected to give the flapper a natural vibration frequency many times higher than the highest frequency of the turning oscillations of the object on which the controller is mounted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A gyroscopic pressure controller for generating pressure valves in a fluid circuit, the magnitude and sign of which indicate the rate and direction of turn of the object on which the controller is mounted, comprising a main supporting frame, a gyroscope cage journalled in the frame for free and unrestrained motion through a limited angle about a precession axis, a rotor journalled in the cage for rotation about a spin axis perpendicular to the precession axis, a rotor drive nozzle aimed at the periphery of the rotor, means on the frame supporting a pair of valving nozzles, a flapper controlling the nozzles to variably and oppositely restrict the escape of fluid from them, means for directing fluid to and from the three nozzles including pressure dropping restrictors ahead of each valving nozzle, and a torsionally resilient connection between the gyroscope cage and the flapper having a force-displacement rate selected to give the flapper a natural vibration frequency many times higher than the highest frequency of the turning oscillations of the object on which the controller is mounted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A controller as defined in claim 1 wherein the torsionally resilient connection comprises a straight rod attached to the cage and extending along the precession axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A controller as defined in claim 2 wherein the rod forms a mounting for the flapper, the flapper extending equally on opposite sides of the rod substantially in a plane containing the precession axis, and the valving nozzles are positioned on opposite sides of the precession axis and facing the flapper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A controller as defined in claim 3 including means abutting the flapper substantially at the precession axis and on the opposite side from the valving nozzles for resisting the combined pressure reaction of the fluid issuing from both nozzles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A controller as defined in claim 4 wherein the last-named means is adjustable toward and away from the precession axis to vary the mean pressure in the valving nozzles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A controller as defined in claim 5 wherein the torsionally resilient rod acts also as a bendable beam to allow the adjustment of the last-named means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR929515A
Cited
US2933269A
Cited
US3054416A
Cited
US3095002A
Cited
US3265335A
Cited
US3389719A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |