GYROSCOPES AND SUSPENSIONS THEREFOR

• US 3,702,568 A
• Filed: 07/10/1970
• Issued: 11/14/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwin W. Howe
• Original Assignee: Edwin W. Howe
• Inventors: Howe, Edwin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Antonakas, Manuel A.
• Application Number:
  US05/053,963
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 74/5,5.4 308/2A 64/15 73/505
• US Class Current: 74/5.00F
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/22 torsional
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1229 Gyroscope control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1293 Flexure hinges for gyros

Abstract

A sensitive element support for gyroscopic apparatus including an outer wheel connected to a drive shaft by flat transversely stiff elastic spokes having an effective plans parallel to the wheel, and an intermediate gimbal ring connected to the wheel by diametrically opposite flat, transversely stiff, torsional members having their flat plane normally perpendicular to the plane of the wheel, and connected to the shaft by similar members spaced 90* away from the first torsinal members. Construction is simplified by making all connecting members in a single operation out of a flat sheet so as to leave the spokes and the other flat torsinal members between appropriate portions on which the outer wheel, gimbal ring and driving coupling will be attached. The torsinal members are then twisted to their final configurations, i.e., perpendicular to the sheet from which they were cut, and the flat sheet is sandwiched between two halves of the outer wheel, gimbal ring and hub portion. The completed assembly resembles a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'cartridge'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' which, by its nature, has definite advantages in the initial fabrication and maintenance of the gyroscopic instruments using the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'cartridge'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' to support the gyroscopic rotor.

Claims

1. In a gyroscopic device, a hub, an outer wheel, a gimbal ring, a plurality of ribbon-like spokes extending between said wheel and said hub, the plane of said spokes being parallel to the plane of said wheel, a first pair of flat ribbon members diametrically opposite each other extending radially between said gimbal ring and said hub, a second pair of flat ribbon members diametrical opposite each other extending radially between said gimbal ring and said outer wheel and displaced 90* from said first pair of flat ribbon members, the planes of said first and second pairs of flat ribbon members being substantially perpendicular to the plane of said wheel.

2. The device as described in claim 1 in which said gimbal ring includes a passageway for each of said spokes.

3. A device as described in claim 1 including driving means connected to said hub for rotating said hub and to thereby rotate said wheel.

4. A device as described in claim 3 including an inertia wheel carried by said outer wheel.

5. A device as described in claim 4 wherein said driving means rotates said hub at a speed which minimizes the reaction forces of the suspension on said inertia wheel to thereby minimize the precession of said wheel.

6. In a gyroscope, a suspension including an outer ring, a hub, a gimbal ring, and an integral skeletal disk having an annular rim portion, a central portion, a plurality of spokes connected to said central and rim portions, a plurality of land portions situated between said spokes and interposed between said rim and central portions, first diametrically opposite radially extending members connected to said central portion and two of said land portions, second diametrically opposite radially extending members connected to said annular rim and to two of said land portions and located 90* away from said first pair of members, said outer ring being attached to said annular rim, said gimbal ring being attached to said land portions, and said hub being attached to said central portion .

7. A device as described in claim 6 in which the planes of both pairs of radially extending members are perpendicular to the plane of said disk.

8. A device as described in claim 7 in which the outer ring comprises two similar layers sandwiching the annular rim portion of said disk, the gimbal ring comprises two similar layers sandwiching the land portions of said disk, and the hub comprises two elements Sandwiching the central portion of said disk.

9. A device as described in claim 7 in which the gimbal ring has apertures through which pass the spokes of the skeletal disk.

10. A device as described in claim 8 in which said gimbal ring layers and said hub elements include first aligned transverse slots, the ends of the first of said pairs of radially extending members being held fast in said slots, said gimbal ring layers and said outer ring layers having second aligned transverse slots, the ends of the second of said pairs of radially extending members being held fast in said second slots.

11. A device as described in claim 6 including a heavy wheel mounted on said outer ring to increase the inertia thereof.

12. A device as described in claim 9 including means for driving said hub to thereby rotate said heavy wheel.

13. A device as described in claim 12 wherein the speed of said driving means is maintained at a value which minimizes precession of said heavy wheel.

14. A device as described in claim 6 in which said disk includes a first pair of temporary webs connecting said central portion to said land portions along the diameter defined by said second pair of radially extending members, and a second pair of temporary webs connecting said land portions to said outer annular portion along the diameter defined by said first pair of radially extending members, whereby the outer ring, gimbal ring and hub are held in fixed relationship until said webs are removed.