ANGULAR RATE SENSOR

• US 3,604,273 A
• Filed: 11/25/1968
• Issued: 09/14/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clyde Chi Kai Kwok, Theo Guenter Heilmann, Zigmas Juozas Lapinas
• Original Assignee: Clyde Chi Kai Kwok, Theo Guenter Heilmann, Zigmas Juozas Lapinas
• Inventors: Kwok, Clyde Chi Kai, Lapinas, Zigmas Juozas, Heilmann, Theo Guenter
• Primary Examiner(s): Gill, James J.
• Application Number:
  US04/778,727
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 73/505,515,194 137/81.5
• US Class Current: 73/504.17
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/14 Fluid rotors
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/266 by using a vortex chamber

Abstract

This application discloses an angular rate sensor. The sensor comprises a cylindrical chamber adapted to take part in the angular movement to be sensed, fluid discharge means in the peripheral wall of the chamber by which fluid is in use discharged into the chamber with a component of velocity relative to the chamber wall and in a direction tangential to the chamber wall which is determined by the velocity of rotation of the cylindrical chamber about the axis of that chamber, an axial outlet from the chamber for the throughflow of fluid entering the chamber through the peripheral wall, and port means associated with the axial outlet and exposed to the fluid flow through that outlet in such a manner that the pressure developed in the port means is indicative of the direction and the magnitude of the tangential component of the velocity of the fluid passing into the axial outlet, the effective axial outlet from the chamber being annular in form and defined by an outer wall and by an inner boundary which extends axially through the chamber.

Claims

1. In an angular rate sensor comprising:

a. a cylindrical chamber adapted to take part in an angular movement to be sensed;

b. fluid discharge means in the peripheral wall of the chamber by which fluid is in use discharged into the chamber with a velocity which is radial relative to the said wall;

c. axial outlet means leading from the center of the chamber for the throughflow of fluid entering the chamber through the peripheral wall d. port means associated with the said axial outlet means and providing as fluid pressures an indication of the angular direction of flow and angular rate of flow of fluid passing through the axial outlet means;

the improvement comprising;

e. a single axial outlet extends in one direction only away from the said chamber;

f. a circular outer wall, and a concentric circular inner wall, between them define the single axial outlet as an annular passage; and

g. the said port means are disposed within the said annular passage.

2. An angular rate sensor according to claim 1, and in which:

a. the diameter of the said circular inner wall decreases progressively along an initial part of the length of the said outlet in a flow wise direction;

b. the diameter of the said circular outer wall decreases progressively along an initial part of the length of the said outlet in a flow wise direction, and c. the flow area of the said outlet changes progressively to provide a streamline flow of the fluid in the outlet.

3. An angular rate sensor according to claim 1, and in which:

a. the said inner wall extends through the said chamber into the said outlet;

b. the said inner wall over a part of its length within the chamber is of progressively changing diameter to provide a curved guiding surface which will produce in operating a streamline flow of fluid from the chamber into the outlet.

4. An angular rate sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the discharge means in the peripheral wall consist of porous wall sections through which the fluid is discharged.

5. An angular rate sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall is porous in structure and the fluid is discharged through the wall.

6. An angular rate sensor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the peripheral wall is surrounded by an annular plenum chamber to which the fluid is supplied under pressure for discharge through the wall.

7. Angular rate sensor means comprising a first angular rate sensor according to claim 1 and a second angular rate sensor according to claim 1, the port means associated with the first angular rate sensor providing an output fluid pressure which increases with increased angular rate in a first sense, and the port means associated with the second angular rate sensor providing an output fluid pressure which increases with increased angular rate in the second opposite sense.

8. Angular rate sensor means as claimed in claim 7, wherein the chamber of the first sensor and the chamber of the second sensor are formed by the two spaces respectively on opposite sides of a partition which at its periphery abuts a ring forming the chamber wall of the first chamber and the chamber wall of the second chamber.

9. Angular rate sensor means as claimed in claim 8, wherein the ring forming the peripheral wall of each chamber is surrounded by an annular plenum chamber to which the fluid is supplied under pressure for discharge through the wall.

10. Angular rate sensor means as claimed in claim 9 wherein the ring is porous or channelled in structure and the fluid is discharged through the ring.

11. In an angular rate sensor comprising:

a. a cylindrical chamber adapted to take part in an angular movement to be sensed;

b. fluid dischargE means in the peripheral wall of the chamber by which fluid is in use discharged into the chamber with a velocity which is radial relative to the said wall;

c. axial outlet means leading from the center of the chamber for the throughflow of fluid entering the chamber through the peripheral wall;

d. port means associated with the said axial outlet means and providing as fluid pressures an indication of the angular direction of flow and angular rate of flow of fluid passing through the axial outlet means;

the improvement comprising;

e. a single axial outlet extends in one direction only away from the said chamber;

f. a circular outer wall, and a concentric inner wall, between them define the single axial outlet as an annular passage;

g. the said port means are disposed within the said annular passage;

h. a first port, part of the said port means, is directed in a first sense circumferentially of the annular axial outlet; and

i. a second port, part of the said port means, is directed in a second sense circumferentially of the annular axial outlet;

whereby for one direction of rotary flow in the said annular outlet passage a positive pressure is produced in the first port and a negative pressure is produced in the second port;

while for a second opposite direction of rotary flow in the said annular outlet passage a negative pressure is produced in the said first port and a positive pressure is produced in the said second port.

12. In an angular rate sensor comprising:

a. a cylindrical chamber adapted to take part in an angular movement to be sensed;

b. fluid discharge means in the peripheral wall of the chamber by which fluid is in use discharged into the chamber with a velocity which is radial relative to the said wall;

c. axial outlet means leading from the center of the chamber for the throughflow of fluid entering the chamber through the peripheral wall;

d. port means associated with the said axial outlet means and providing as fluid pressures an indication of the angular direction of flow and angular rate of flow of fluid passing through the axial outlet means;

the improvement comprising;

e. a single axial outlet extending in one direction only away from the said chamber;

f. means arranged to exclude said fluid passing through the axial outlet means from a cylindrical central portion of the axial outlet means, to define an annular flow passage for discharged fluid; and

g. a circular outer wall concentric with said cylindrical central portion of the axial outlet means, and defining the periphery of the said annular passage, the said port means being disposed within the said annular passage.