Patent US4715984A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3906804A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Speed control for an electrostatically supported ball gyroscope
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1973-12-20
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Granted: 1975-09-23
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Expires: 1993-12-20
Abstract
Abstract The invention is directed to an electrostatically supported ball type gyroscope speed control system for maintaining the rotational speed of a ball, which is mass unbalanced about its spin axis, at a preselected speed. The case enclosing the ball is provided with a set of electrostatic electrodes, arranged in three-dimensional space. Servo means are provided for generating a levitating electric field between the ball and the electrodes. The ball is constructed to be unbalanced about its spin axis so as to modulate the levitating electric field at the ball spin frequency. A sharply tuned phase lag circuit is interposed in the servo means to cause the levitating electric field to exert either an accelerating or a decelerating coupling force on the ball to bring the speed of the ball to the preselected value determined by the resonance or the phase lag circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 James L Atkinson
- 👤 Joseph C Boltinghouse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/02; G01C19/04; G01C19/16; G01C19/24; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/12; Y10T74/1261; Y10T74/1275; Y10T74/1282
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A speed-controlling apparatus for an all-attitudes, electrostatically supported spinning ball gyro comprising: a case; a spinning spherical ball in said case; a set of spherical-surface electrostatic electrodes in the case surrounding said ball and disposed to define a plurality of levitation axes in three orthogonal axes; electrical servo means associated with the electrodes and being responsive to the approach of the ball toward and recession from the electrodes for adjusting the field between electrodes and ball in a manner to urge the ball toward center, the ball being so constructed as to have its center of mass displaced laterally from its spin axis so as to define a moment arm upon which a force radial to the ball can act; and phase lag means interposed in said servo means at substantially the frequency of desired ball speed so as to provide an accelerating moment when the ball drops below desired speed and a decelerating moment when it rises above desired speed for all attitudes of said ball with respect to said case.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A speed-controlling apparatus for an all-attitudes, electrostatically supported spinning ball gyro comprising: a case; a spinning spherical ball in said case; a set of spherical-surface electrostatic electrodes in the case surrounding said ball and disposed to define a plurality of levitation axes in three orthogonal axes; electrical servo means associated with the electrodes and being responsive to the approach of the ball toward and recession from the electrodes for adjusting the field between electrodes and ball in a manner to urge the ball toward center, the ball being so constructed as to have its center of mass displaced laterally from its spin axis so as to define a moment arm upon which a force radial to the ball can act; and phase lag means interposed in said servo means at substantially the frequency of desired ball speed so as to provide an accelerating moment when the ball drops below desired speed and a decelerating moment when it rises above desired speed for all attitudes of said ball with respect to said case.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention according to claim 1 further comprising: means operatively connected to said phase lag means for adjusting the resonant frequency of said phase lag means to achieve a desired rotational speed for said ball.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said phase lag means is a parallel resonant circuit with the resonant frequency of said circuit occurring substantially at the desired ball speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
A speed controlled electrostatic supported gyroscope comprising in combination: a case; a gyroscope rotor with its center of mass laterally displaced from its spin axis; means for levitating said gyroscope rotor with respect to said case; and phase lag means cooperating with said levitating means to form a resonance at the frequency of desired rotor speed so as to provide an accelerating moment to the rotor when the rotor drops below desired speed and a decelerating moment when it rises above desired speed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A speed controlled electrostatic supported gyroscope comprising in combination: a case; a gyroscope rotor with its center of mass laterally displaced from its spin axis; means for levitating said gyroscope rotor with respect to said case; and phase lag means cooperating with said levitating means to form a resonance at the frequency of desired rotor speed so as to provide an accelerating moment to the rotor when the rotor drops below desired speed and a decelerating moment when it rises above desired speed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention according to claim 4 and further comprising: means connected to said phase lag means for adjusting the frequency of resonance of said phase lag means to achieve a desired rotational speed for said rotor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to claim 5 wherein said phase lag means is a parallel resonant circuit with the resonant frequency of said circuit occurring substantially at the desired rotor speed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
A speed controlled levitating ball gyroscope comprising: a case; a gyroscope rotor with its center of mass laterally displaced from its spin axis; levitating means for applying a levitating force to said gyroscope rotor to support said rotor within said case; means for effecting a change in the point of application of the levitating force with respect to the spin axis of said rotor so as to provide a coupling force to said gyroscope rotor which coupling force is positioned to increase the speed of said rotor when the rotor drops below a desired speed and which coupling force is positioned to decrease the rotor''s speed when it rises above a desired speed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
A speed controlled levitating ball gyroscope comprising: a case; a gyroscope rotor with its center of mass laterally displaced from its spin axis; levitating means for applying a levitating force to said gyroscope rotor to support said rotor within said case; means for effecting a change in the point of application of the levitating force with respect to the spin axis of said rotor so as to provide a coupling force to said gyroscope rotor which coupling force is positioned to increase the speed of said rotor when the rotor drops below a desired speed and which coupling force is positioned to decrease the rotor''s speed when it rises above a desired speed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention according to claim 7 wherein said levitating means is a closed loop electrostatic servo mechanism for attracting the gyroscope rotor towards a levitating position with respect to said case, and wherein said means for effecting a change in the point of application of the levitating force is a phase lag means interposed in the closed loop of said electrostatic servo mechanism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention according to claim 8 wherein said phase lag means further comprises means for adjusting the frequency of resonance of said phase lag means to achieve a desired rotational speed for said rotor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to claim 9 wherein said phase lag means is a parallel resonant circuit with the resonant frequency of said circuit occurring substantially at the desired rotor speed.
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) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |