Caging mechanism for gyroscopes

In a gyroscope having a frame and inner and outer gimbals mounted for rotation about mutually perpendicular axes, an improved caging mechanism comprising:

• an elongate rod supported on the frame for axial movement between a caging position wherein the inner gimbal is caged to a predetermined orientation and a release position wherein the inner gimbal is released, said rod having one end accessible to effect inward movement of the rod from the release position to the caging position;
• a caging disc supported on the frame to turn and to move generally linearly toward and away from the inner gimbal, said caging disc being turned in response to axial movement of said rod and presenting a plurality of openings each bounded by an edge;
• a plurality of ramps on said frame extending into the respective openings of said caging disc, each ramp having an incline generally planar ramp surface adjacent the edge of the corresponding opening to cause said edges to ride along the ramp surfaces in a manner to move the caging disc toward the inner gimbal when said disc is turned in response to inward movement of said rod;
• cam means for rotating the inner gimbal to said predetermined orientation by caming action in response to movement of said disc toward the inner gimbal, thereby caging the inner gimbal upon inward movement of said rod to the caging position thereof;
• and
• spring means forming part of said rod and acting to cushion the caging force applied to the inner gimbal by said cam means upon movement of the rod to its caging position.

In a gyroscope having a frame and inner and outer gimbals mounted for rotation about mutually perpendicular axes, an improved caging mechanism comprising:

• an elongate rod supported on the frame for axial movement and having one end accessible to effect axial movement of said rod;
• a caging disc supported on the frame to turn and to move generally linearly toward and away from the inner gimbal, said rod engaging said disc in a manner to effect turning movement thereof in a first direction when the rod is moved toward the disc;
• a plurality of uniformly spaced openings in said caging disc each presenting first and second spaced apart edges;
• a plurality of ramps on said frame extending through the respective openings in said caging disc, each ramp having first and second substantially parallel ramp surfaces adjacent the respective first and second edges of the corresponding opening, whereby turning of the caging disc in said first direction moves said first edges along the corresponding first ramp surfaces to effect linear movement of the disc toward the inner gimbal in response to turning of the disc in said first direction;
• yieldable spring means for urging said caging disc to turn in a second direction opposite said first direction to move said second edges along the corresponding second ramp surfaces to effect linear movement of the disc away from the inner gimbal when said rod is released;
• a pair of pin elements supported for generally axial movement toward and away from the inner gimbal, said pin elements each having one end thereof contacted by said disc in a manner to force the pin element toward the inner gimbal in response to movement of the disc toward the inner gimbal;
• and
• cooperating cam means on said pin elements and inner gimbal for effecting rotation of the inner gimbal to a predetermined orientation in response to movement of said pin elements toward the inner gimbal, thereby caging the inner gimbal.