GB425034A - Improvements in or relating to stabilising means for a body subjected to the influence of angular motion - Google Patents

Abstract

425,034. Self - levelling apparatus. VICKERS - ARMSTRONGS, Ltd., and WATSON, J. P., Vickers House, Broadway, Westminster. Aug. 2, 1933, No. 21752. [Class 113 (i)] [See also Groups XX, XIX, and XXXVIII] Mechanism for moving a body to be stabilized relatively to a support, e.g. a ship, subject to angular motion is under the dual control of two gyroscopes or equivalents, e.g. pendulums, responsive respectively to the degree and to the rate of deviation of the support from its mean position. As shown a reversible electric motor 6 is connected to the power mains 7 through two potentiometers 8 and 9 having sliding contacts 10, 11 under the control of the gyros. The contact 10 is moved when the gyro 1 precesses against the tension of springs 2 in accordance with the rate of deviation of the support. The contact 11 is moved by the unconstrained gyro 3 through gearing 14 in accordance with the amount of deviation of the support. The contacts 15 co-operating with the sliding contact 11 are mounted on a disc 19 driven by the step by step motor 18. The motor 6 is geared at 16 to the body 5 to be stabilized and drives a transmitter 17 actuating the motor 18. In a modification, the contact 11 works between two contacts on the disc 19 serving through relays to determine the direction of rotation of a motor which is combined by a differential gear with a second motor connected to the mains through a potentiometer having a sliding contact controlled by the gyro responsive to rate of deviation. The output of the differential gear drives a transmitter serving to actuate two step by step motors for the stabilizing adjustment of the body 5 and the follow up of the disc 19 respectively. In a further modification a differential gear is connected through gearing to the follow-up and the body to be stabilized and is driven by a motor, the direction of rotation of which is under control of the gyro responsive to the amount of deviation and by a shaft driven from a constant speed motor through variable speed gearing under control of the gyro responsive to rate of deviation. The body 5 may be stabilized about two axes at right angles by duplicating the apparatus. The gyroscope 3 responsive to the amount of deviation may be replaced by a pendulum geared by a toothed quadrant and pinion to the contact arm. Fig. 5 shows a device which may replace the gyro 1 responsive to rate of deviation. The pendulum 60 as it moves on the pivot 61 rotates the shaft 65 and disc 66 through gearing 62, 63, 64. A weighted arm 71 fixed on a spindle 67 rotating in bearings on the edge of the disc 66 swings against the tension of spring 72. The spindle 67 is geared to a sleeve 75 having threaded engagement with a screw on shaft 65, the consequent axial movement of the sleeve being caused to operate the contact arm 12.