Patent US3780444A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3780444A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gyrocompass
Assignee: Ambac Industries Inc
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Filing: 1971-05-12
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Granted: 1973-12-25
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Expires: 1991-05-12
Abstract
Abstract A pendulous gyrocompass of the type in which the rotor case if floated and the motor for driving the rotor in the rotor case is supplied with electrical power through a pair of speciallyconstructed electrically-conductive azimuth gimbal pivots of the needle-bearing type. The other gimbals in the gimbal support system may be relatively lower-grade bearings, with conventional arrangements for passing the motor current through or around them. The resultant gyrocompass may be of small size and low cost, and does not require servo''s, pickoffs, torquers, sliprings, internal power supplies or other specialized compensating or correcting devices, yet provides an accuracy suitable for many applications.
Inventors
- 👤 M Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/02; G01C19/34; G01C19/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
In a pendulous gyrocompass comprising a floated rotor case containing gyro rotor means and electric motor means for spinning said rotor means about its spin axis, said gyrocompass also comprising azimuth axis gimbal means supporting said rotor case and permitting it to turn about the azimuth axis of the gyrocompass, and a pair of separate current-conductive paths for supplying operating current to said rotor means, the improvement wherein: said azimuth axis gimbal means comprises a pair of azimuth gimbal pivots the bearing surfaces of each of which are electrically conductive and positioned on said azimuth axis, the bearing surfaces of each of said pivots being electrically insulated from those of the other of said pivots, and one of said current-conductive paths extending through the bearing surfaces of one of said pivots and the other of said currentconductive paths extending through the bearing surfaces of the other of said pivots; and means for spring-tensioning the bearing surfaces of each of said pivots against each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
In a pendulous gyrocompass comprising a floated rotor case containing gyro rotor means and electric motor means for spinning said rotor means about its spin axis, said gyrocompass also comprising azimuth axis gimbal means supporting said rotor case and permitting it to turn about the azimuth axis of the gyrocompass, and a pair of separate current-conductive paths for supplying operating current to said rotor means, the improvement wherein: said azimuth axis gimbal means comprises a pair of azimuth gimbal pivots the bearing surfaces of each of which are electrically conductive and positioned on said azimuth axis, the bearing surfaces of each of said pivots being electrically insulated from those of the other of said pivots, and one of said current-conductive paths extending through the bearing surfaces of one of said pivots and the other of said currentconductive paths extending through the bearing surfaces of the other of said pivots; and means for spring-tensioning the bearing surfaces of each of said pivots against each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The gyrocompass of claim 1, in which said means for spring-tensioning comprises a pair of cantilevered leaf springs for urging together said bearing surfaces of said pair of pivots.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
The gyrocompass of claiM 1, wherein said means for spring-tensioning is arranged to spring-bias downwardly the upper pivot of said pair of pivots and to spring-bias upwardly the lower pivot of said pair of pivots, and comprising stop means secured to said outer casing limiting the upward movement of said lower pivot, the upward spring-bias of said lower pivot being sufficient to maintain said lower pivot in its upwardmost position as determined by said stop means during normal operation of said gyrocompass.
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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) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |