Gas jet control for inertial measurement unit
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorCharles D. Chappell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inertial navigation system is provided. The system includes a gas supported sensor block that is adapted to rotate in three dimensions in a near frictionless environment, a plurality of jet plates adapted to receive two or more pairs of opposing pneumatic nozzles and a plurality of electronically controlled pneumatic valves that provides and controls gas to the opposing pair of pneumatic nozzles. Each pair of opposing pneumatic nozzles is directed at an exterior surface of the sensor block and uses gas flow to move and hold the sensor block in any rotational location without physically touching the sensor block.
Claims45
An inertial navigation system, comprising:
- a gas supported sensor block that is adapted to rotate in three dimensions in a near frictionless environment;
- a plurality of jet plates adapted to receive up to two pairs of opposing pneumatic nozzles;
- and
- a plurality of electronically controlled pneumatic valves that provides and controls gas to the opposing pair of pneumatic nozzles;
- wherein each pair of opposing pneumatic nozzles is directed at an exterior surface of the sensor block and uses gas flow to move and hold the sensor block in any rotational location without physically touching the sensor block.
A gas jet control apparatus, comprising:
- three pairs of opposing pneumatic nozzles, wherein each of the three pairs of opposing pneumatic nozzles operates in axes orthogonal to each other;
- wherein the three pairs of pneumatic nozzles receive gas from electronically controlled pneumatic valves;
- wherein the gas is provided to rotate and hold an inertial measurement unit at any rotational angle without physically contacting the inertial measurement unit;
- wherein the inertial measurement unit is floated in a near frictionless environment;
- a first jet plate adapted to receive two of the pairs of opposing pneumatic nozzles;
- and
- a second jet plate adapted to receive a third pair of opposing pairs of pneumatic nozzles.
A method of controlling rotation of an inertial measurement unit, the method comprising:
- floating an inertial measurement unit in a near frictionless environment;
- directing opposing pairs of pneumatic nozzles at an exterior surface of the inertial measurement unit in three orthogonal axis;
- and
- driving gas through one or more of the opposing pairs of pneumatic nozzles and moving the inertial measurement unit in a desired manner within three dimensions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.