Dynamically tuned gimbal suspension with flexural pivots for a two-degree-of-freedom gyro

• US 4,592,242 A
• Filed: 04/12/1983
• Issued: 06/03/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bodenseewerk Gerätetechnik Gmbh
• Original Assignee: Bodenseewerk Gerätetechnik Gmbh
• Inventors: Kempas, Hagen
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonck, Rodney H.
• Application Number:
  US06/484,134
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 74/5 F, 464/78, 308/2 A
• US Class Current: 74/5.00F
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/22 torsional
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32606 Pivoted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1293 Flexure hinges for gyros

Abstract

A gimbal (108) on the driving side and a gimbal (106) on the rotor side and a gimbal arrangement with two gimbals (22,76) are formed by two coaxial, cylindrical rings (10,64) wherein peripheral cuts (12,14,16,18 and 66,68,70,72, respectively), having ends forming angles are provided in the rings. The peripheral cuts separate the portions of the gimbals (108,106) from the gimbals (22,76). The ends form leaf springs (for example 60 and 100), which form flexural pivots. One leaf spring (60) is connected to the gimbal (108) on the driving side and the other leaf spring is connected to the gimbal (106) on the driven side. The cuts are produced by electroerosion.

Claims

1. In a dynamically tuned gimbal suspension for supporting a gyro rotor with two degrees of freedom, comprising

(a) a first generally hollow-cylindrical ring,

(b) a second generally hollow-cylindrical ring arranged coaxially to said first ring with a common axis, said rings defining an axial direction and a peripheral direction and having a first end and a second end,

(c) said first ring having a first and a second pair of axially spaced generally peripheral cuts,

(d) each pair of said generally peripheral cuts of said first ring defining therebetween a pair of diametrically opposite, peripherally extending bending springs,

(e) the pair of bending springs defined by said first pair of cuts of said first ring being angularly offset by 90°

relative to the pair of bending springs defined by said second pair of cuts,

(f) said second ring having a third and a fourth pair of axially spaced, generally peripheral cuts,

(g) each pair of said generally peripheral cuts of said second ring defining therebetween a pair of diametrically opposite, axially extending bending springs,

(h) the pair of bending springs defined by said third pair of cuts of said second ring being angularly offset by 90°

relative to the pair of bending springs defined by said fourth pair of cuts,

(i) said first and second pairs of cuts of said first ring dividing said first ring into a first ring portion adjacent said first end, a second ring portion adjacent said second end and a median first gimbal portion therebetween, said first ring portion being separated from said median first gimbal portion by said first pair of cuts and flexibly connected thereto through the pair of bending springs defined by said first pair of cuts, and said second ring portion being separated from said median first gimbal portion by said second pair of cuts and flexibly connected thereto through the pair of bending springs defined by said second pair of cuts,

(j) said third and fourth pairs of cuts of said second ring dividing said second ring into a third ring portion adjacent said first end, a fourth ring portion adjacent said second end and a median second gimbal portion therebetween, said third ring portion being separated from said median second gimbal portion by said third pair of cuts and flexibly connected thereto through the pair of bending springs defined by said third pair of cuts, and said fourth ring portion being separated from said median second gimbal portion by said fourth pair of cuts and flexibly connected thereto through the pair of bending springs defined by said fourth pair of cuts,

(k) the bending springs defined by said first pair of cuts of said first ring being arranged crosswise to the bending springs defined by said third pair of cuts of said second ring, and the bending springs defined by said second pair of cuts of said first ring being arranged crosswise to the bending springs defined by said fourth pair of cuts of said second ring,

(l) said first ring portion and said third ring portion being interconnected to form a gimbal for connection to a gyro rotor and

(m) said second ring portion and said fourth ring portion being interconnected to form a gimbal for connection to gyro rotor driving means,

the improvement comprising;

(n) the cuts of said first pair of cuts of said first ring being symmetric with respect to a first plane passing through said axis, and being provided on opposite sides of said first ring,

(o) the cuts of said second pair of cuts of said first ring being symmetric with respect to a second plane passing through said axis and orthogonal to said first plane, and being provided on opposite sides of said first ring,

(p) each of said cuts of said first pair comprising a peripheral median portion near said first end, axial portions of equal lengths at both ends of said median portion communicating therewith and extending therefrom in generally axial direction towards said second end, and peripheral end portions communicating with one of said axial portions,

(q) each of said cuts of said second pair comprising a peripheral median portion near said second end, axial portions of equal lengths at both ends of said median portion communicating therewith and extending therefrom in generally axial direction towards said first end, and peripheral end portions communicating with one of said axial portions,

(r) with each pair of said first and second pair of cuts, the ends of the axial portions of one cut being axially offset relative to the ends of the axial portions of the other cut, and the adjacent peripheral end portions of the cuts overlapping in peripheral direction, whereby said peripherally extending bending springs are leaf springs formed between said overlapping peripheral end portions,

(s) the cuts of said third pair of cuts of said second ring being symmetric with respect to said first plane and being provided on opposite sides of said second ring,

(t) the cuts of said fourth pair of cuts of said second ring being symmetric with respect to said second plane and being provided on opposite sides of said second ring,

(u) each of said cuts of said third pair comprising a peripheral median portion, which extends through slightly less than 180°

near said first end, and axial end portions of equal lengths at both ends of said median portion communicating therewith and extending therefrom in an axial direction toward said second end,

(v) each of said cuts of said fourth pair comprising a peripheral median portion, which extends through slightly less than 180°

near said second end, and axial end portions of equal lengths at both ends of said medial portions communicating therewith and extending therefrom in an axial direction toward said first end, and

(w) with each pair of said third and fourth pair of cuts, the axial end portions of one cut being slightly, peripherally spaced from the adjacent axial end portion of the other cut, whereby said axially extending bending springs are leaf springs formed between said adjacent axial end portions.

2. A dynamically tuned gimbal suspension as defined in claim 1, wherein

(a) said peripheral median portions of said first pair of cuts of said first ring are located in a first radial plane,

(b) said peripheral median portions of said second pair of cuts of said first ring are located in a second radial plane axially spaced from said first radial plane,

(c) said peripheral median portions of said third pair of cuts of said second ring are located in said first radial plane and

(d) said peripheral median portions of said fourth pair of cuts of said second ring are located in said second radial plane.

3. In a dynamically tuned gimbal suspension for supporting a gyro rotor with two degrees of freedom, comprising

(a) a first generally hollow-cylindrical ring,

(b) a second generally hollow-cylindrical ring arranged coaxially to said first ring with a common axis, said rings defining an axial direction and a peripheral direction and having a first end and a second end,

(c) said first ring having a first and a second pair of axially spaced generally peripheral cuts,

(d) each pair of said generally peripheral cuts of said first ring defining therebetween a pair of diametrically opposite, peripherally extending bending springs,

(e) the pair of bending springs defined by said first pair of cuts of said first ring being angularly offset 90°

relative to the pair of bending springs defined by said second pair of cuts,

(f) said second ring having a third and a fourth pair of axially spaced, generally peripheral cuts,

(g) each pair of said generally peripheral cuts of said second ring defining therebetween a pair of diametrically opposite, axially extending bending springs,

(h) the pair of bending springs defined by said third pair of cuts of said second ring being angularly offset 90°

relative to the pair of bending springs defined by said fourth pair of cuts,

(i) said first and second pair of cuts of said first ring dividing said first ring into a first ring portion adjacent said first end, a second ring portion adjacent said second end and a median first gimbal portion therebetween, said first ring portion being separated from said median first gimbal portion by said first pair of cuts and flexibly connected thereto through the pair of bending springs defined by said first pair of cuts, and said second ring portion being separated from said median first gimbal portion by said second pair of cuts and flexibly connected thereto through the pair of bending springs defined by said second pair of cuts,

(j) said third and fourth pairs of cuts of said second ring dividing said second ring into a third ring portion adjacent said first end, a fourth ring portion adjacent said second end and a median second gimbal portion therebetween, said third ring portion being separated from said median second gimbal portion by said third pair of cuts and flexibly connected thereto through the pair of bending springs defined by said third pair of cuts, and said fourth ring portion being separated from said median second gimbal portion by said fourth pair of cuts and flexibly connected thereto through the pair of bending springs defined by said fourth pair of cuts,

(k) the bending springs defined by said first pair of cuts of said first ring being arranged crosswise to the bending springs defined by said third pair of cuts of said second ring, and the bending springs defined by said second pair of cuts of said first ring being arranged crosswise to the bending springs defined by said fourth pair of cuts of said second ring,

(l) said first ring portion and said third ring portion being interconnected to form a gimbal for connection to a gyro rotor and

(m) said second ring portion and said fourth ring portion being interconnected to form a gimbal for connection to gyro rotor driving means,

the improvement comprising;

(n) the cuts of said first pair of cuts of said first ring being symmetric with respect to a first plane passing through said axis, and being provided on opposite sides of said first ring,

(o) the cuts of said second pair of cuts of said first ring being symmetric with respect to a second plane passing through said axis and orthogonal to said first plane, and being provided on opposite sides of said first ring,

(p) the cuts of said third pair of cuts of said second ring being symmetric with respect to said first plane and being provided on opposite sides of said second ring,

(q) the cuts of said fourth pair or cuts of said second ring being symmetric with respect to said second plane and being provided on opposite sides of said second ring,

(r) each pair of said cuts having a constant cut width, and

(s) said bending springs being leaf springs defined by adjacent straight end portions of cuts of a respective pair of cuts.