Inertial instrument with cup-shaped inertial mass
AssigneeIncosym, Inc.
InventorsRobert J. G. Craig, James J. Imbault, John E. Fitzgerald
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inertial instruments uses a suspension structure that is exterior to and surrounds a cup shaped inertial mass which carries torquing magnets within the cup. Torquer coils are also located within the cup. In a preferred embodiment, axially magnetized disc magnets within the cup cooperate with toroidal torquer coils. In other embodiments segmented or bar magnets are used. The instrument can be used either as a gyroscope by coupling the suspension to a rotor, or as an accelerometer.
Claims44
An inertial instrument having a central axis and including:
- (1) an inertial mass element having a substantially cup shape, coaxial with the central axis;
- (2) suspension means direct coupled to said mass element exterior to the outside of said cup shape;
- (3) flexure means symmetrically coupling said suspension means to a support structure for permitting limited rotation of said inertial mass element about a first axis orthogonal to the central axis;
- (4) pickoff means adjacent said inertial mass element for detecting and signalling rotational motion about said first axis;
- and
- (5) torquer means for imparting to said inertial element a rotational motion about said first axis.
In an improved accelerator including a frame, and an insensitive axis, the combination comprising:
- (a) a cup shaped inertial mass element coaxially aligned with the insensitive axis;
- (b) flexural mounting means having a cylindrical opening adapted to receive said inertial mass element at the peripheral edge of said mass element and permitting said mass element limited rotational movement about at least a first axis orthogonal to the insensitive axis;
- (c) magnetic means disposed in the interior of the cup of said cup shaped mass element;
- and
- (d) torquer coil means fixed to a reference frame but extending into the cup interior adjacent to said magnetic means and co-operable therewith for maintaining said mass element in a plane orthogonal to the insensitive axis,
- whereby said flexural mounting means is accessible for balancing and adjusting with the instrument otherwise assembled and operable.
An improved dynamically tuned gyroscope including a frame, motor means fixed to the frame and including a shaft, rotatable about a spin axis, the combination comprising:
- (1) an open interior cup shaped rotor coaxially aligned with the rotatable shaft;
- (2) flexural mounting means attached at one end to the shaft and rotatable therewith, and having a cylindrical opening at the other end adapted to receive said rotor;
- (3) connecting means joining the peripheral edge of said rotor to said other end of said mounting means permitting said rotor limited rotational movement about a first axis orthogonal to the spin axis;
- (4) magnetic means disposed in the interior of the cup of said cup shaped rotor;
- and
- (5) torquer coil means fixed to the frame but extending into the cup interior adjacent to said magnetic means and operable therewith for maintaining rotor rotation in a plane orthogonal to the spin axis,
- whereby said flexural mounting means is accessible for balancing and adjusting means with the instrument otherwise assembled and operable.
In an improved, dynamically tuned gyroscope including a housing, motor means fixed to the housing, a shaft coupled to the motor and rotatable about a spin axis, means for sensing attitude of a rotor and means for torquing a rotor:
- (a) a cup shaped rotor coaxially aligned with the rotatable shaft;
- and
- (b) suspension means external to said cup shaped rotor for symmetrically connecting said rotor to the shaft.
In an improved accelerometer including a housing, a means for sensing the attitude of an inertial mass element, means of torquing the inertial mass element, and a central axis:
- (a) a cup shaped inertial mass element coaxially aligned with the central axis of the accelerometer;
- and
- (b) suspension means external to said cup shaped inertial mass element, and symmetrically connected thereto for permitting rotation about an axis orthogonal to the central axis, the center of gravity of said inertial mass element being displaced axially from center of said suspension means.
In an improved single axis accelerometer including a housing, a central axis, means for sensing the attitude of an inertial mass element and means for torquing an inertial mass element:
- (a) a cup shaped inertial mass element coaxially aligned with the central axis;
- and
- (b) suspension means external to said cup shaped inertial means element and symmetrically mounted thereto for enabling rotation about an axis orthogonal to the central axis, the center of gravity of said inertial mass element being displaced radially from the center of said suspension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.