US4225818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cryogenic nuclear gyroscope
Assignee: National Research Development Corp UK
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Filing: 1978-11-07
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Granted: 1980-09-30
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Expires: 1998-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope comprises a cylinder of niobium cooled within a helium cryostat so as to be superconducting and to provide a trapped, substantially homogeneous magnetic field, a helium-3 sample contained within a spherical pyrex cell having nuclei possessing a net magnetic moment, coils provided to polarize the sample to provide that net magnetic moment, a SQUID magnetometer coupled to the sample by a pick-up coil of a transformer and frequency sensitive means coupled to the SQUID to detect changes in the precession of the nuclear moments of the sample caused by rotation of the gyroscope about an axis parallel to the direction of the homogeneous magnetic field. A superconducting lead shield isolates the helium-3 sample from external magnetic fields.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Gallop
- 👤 Susan P. Potts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/02; G01R33/035; G01R33/0354; G01R33/0358; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/58; G01C19/60; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/842; Y10S505/843; Y10S505/845; Y10S505/846
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope comprising superconducting means to provide a substantially homogeneous magnetic field, a magnetic field sensitive substance having nuclei possessing a net magnetic moment, means to polarise the said substance to provide said net nuclear magnetic moment, detector means sensitive to the changes in magnetic flux caused by precession of the nuclear moments of said substance when in said homogeneous magnetic field and frequency sensitive means to detect changes in said precession caused by rotation of the gyroscope about an axis parallel to the direction of said homogeneous magnetic field.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope comprising superconducting means to provide a substantially homogeneous magnetic field, a magnetic field sensitive substance having nuclei possessing a net magnetic moment, means to polarise the said substance to provide said net nuclear magnetic moment, detector means sensitive to the changes in magnetic flux caused by precession of the nuclear moments of said substance when in said homogeneous magnetic field and frequency sensitive means to detect changes in said precession caused by rotation of the gyroscope about an axis parallel to the direction of said homogeneous magnetic field.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claim 1 wherein the superconducting means comprises an open-ended cylinder of circular cross-section, the said homogeneous magnetic field being formed within the bore thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cylinder is made of niobium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 3 wherein the magnetic field sensitive substance is helium-3.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 4 wherein the helium-3 is contained within a spherical pyrex cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 5 wherein the detector means comprises a SQUID magnetometer linked to the magnetic field sensitive substance by means of a transformer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 6 wherein the superconducting cylinder, polarising means and detector means are enclosed within a superconducting shield, the shield and contents being located inside a liquid helium cryostat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 7 wherein there is provided coil means to produce a magnetic field axially aligned with the cylinder whereby on cooling the cylinder below its critical temperature the substantially homogeneous magnetic field is trapped in the cylinder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 8 comprising means to move the said substance between a first position within said polarising means and a second position within said homogeneous magnetic field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 9 wherein there is provided a second magnetic field sensitive substance supported such that it is movable between a position within said homogeneous magnetic field and a position within a polarising means, the arrangement being such that when either one substance is in use to detect said changes in precession the other is in position to be polarised.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 10 wherein the second substance is supported such that it is movable with the first substance, a further polarising means being located outside of and adjacent the end of the cylinder remote from the first said polarising means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 8 wherein the polarising means comprises an electrical coil located within the substantially homogeneous magnetic field.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 2 wherein the magnetic field sensitive substance is helium-3.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 13 wherein the helium-3 is contained within a spherical pyrex cell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 14 wherein the detector means comprises a SQUID magnetometer linked to the magnetic field sensitive substance by means of a transformer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 15 wherein the superconducting cylinder, polarising means and detector means are enclosed within a superconducting shield, the shield and contents being located inside a liquid helium cryostat.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 16 wherein there is provided coil means to produce a magnetic field axially aligned with the cylinder whereby on cooling the cylinder below its critical temperature the substantially homogeneous magnetic field is trapped in the cylinder.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 17 comprising means to move the said substance between a first position within said polarising means and a second position within said homogeneous magnetic field.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
66 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 18 wherein there is provided a second magnetic field sensitive substance supported such that it is movable between a position within said homogeneous magnetic field and a position within a polarising means, the arrangement being such that when either one substance is in use to detect said changes in precession the other is in position to be polarised.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 19 wherein the second substance is supported such that it is movable with the first substance, a further polarising means being located outside of and adjacent the end of the cylinder remote from the first said polarising means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 17 wherein the polarising means comprises an electrical coil located within the substantially homogeneous magnetic field.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 13 wherein the detector means comprises a SQUID magnetometer linked to the magnetic field sensitive substance by means of a transformer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 22 wherein the superconducting cylinder, polarising means and detector means are enclosed within a superconducting shield, the shield and contents being located inside a liquid helium cryostat.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 23 wherein there is provided coil means to produce a magnetic field axially aligned with the cylinder whereby on cooling the cylinder below its critical temperature the substantially homogeneous magnetic field is trapped in the cylinder.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 24 comprising means to move the said substance between a first position within said polarising means and a second position within said homogeneous magnetic field.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
66 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 25 wherein there is provided a second magnetic field sensitive substance supported such that it is movable between a position within said homogeneous magnetic field and a position within a polarising means, the arrangement being such that when either one substance is in use to detect said changes in precession the other is in position to be polarised.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 26 wherein the second substance is supported such that it is movable with the first substance, a further polarising means being located outside of and adjacent the end of the cylinder remote from the first said polarising means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 24 wherein the polarising means comprises an electrical coil located within the substantially homogeneous magnetic field.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 4 wherein the detector means comprises a SQUID magnetometer linked to the magnetic field sensitive substance by means of a transformer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 29 wherein the superconducting cylinder, polarising means and detector means are enclosed within a superconducting shield, the shield and contents being located inside a liquid helium cryostat.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
44 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 30 wherein there is provided coil means to produce a magnetic field axially aligned with the cylinder whereby on cooling the cylinder below its critical temperature the substantially homogeneous magnetic field is trapped in the cylinder.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 31 comprising means to move the said substance between a first position within said polarising means and a second position within said homogeneous magnetic field.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
66 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 32 wherein there is provided a second magnetic field sensitive substance supported such that it is movable between a position within said homogeneous magnetic field and a position within a polarising means, the arrangement being such that when either one substance is in use to detect said changes in precession the other is in position to be polarised.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
46 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 33 wherein the second substance is supported such that it is movable with the first substance, a further polarising means being located outside of and adjacent the end of the cylinder remote from the first said polarising means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cryogenic nuclear gyroscope as claimed in claim 31 wherein the polarising means comprises an electrical coil located within the substantially homogeneous magnetic field.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-09-30 | 1984-03-31 | 1984-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-09-30 | 1988-03-31 | 1988-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-09-30 | 1992-03-31 | 1992-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |