US3747418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluidic inertial platform
Assignee: Kearfott Guidance and Navigation Corp
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Filing: 1971-06-08
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Granted: 1973-07-24
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Expires: 1991-06-08
Abstract
Abstract An improved gyro stabilized inertial platform is provided which employs fluidic concepts in the entirety of its operation. The inertial platform to be described may serve as a mounting base for accelerometers, distance measuring devices, and the like. It may also provide angular read-out signals for pitch, roll and yaw of the vehicle in which it is installed. The fluidic controlled inertial platform of the invention operates at all attitudes, and it is particularly useful in aircraft, missiles and other space vehicles which are subject to abrupt flight maneuvers.
Inventors
- 👤 Cotiis C De
- 👤 J Hoffman
- 👤 R Weber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/10; G01C21/12; G01C21/16; G01C21/18; G01C19/00; G01C19/02; G01C19/04; G01C19/06; G01C19/14; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/12; Y10T74/1229; Y10T74/1232; Y10T74/1239; Y10T74/1261; Y10T74/1268
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
In combination: a central body member; gimbal support means for said central body member for mounting said body member in a vehicle and permitting free angular movement of said central body member about three orthogonal axes; reaction jet torquing means mounted on said central body member for establishing reaction torques about each of said three orthogonal axes; and fluidic gyroscopic means mounted on said central body member for individually controlling said jet torquing means so as to maintain a constant attitude for said central body member in the presence of variations in the attitude of said vehicle, in which said gimbal support means includes an outer gimbal member pivotally mounted for rotation about one of said orthogonal axes and an inner gimbal member pivotally mounted to said outer gimbal member for rotation about a second of said orthogonal axes, and in which said central body member is supported on said inner gimbal member for rotation about a third of said orthogonal axes, and in which said fluidic gyroscopic means includes at least one two-axis free-rotor gyro, said gyro comprising a rotor and a stator and a gas drive means and gas pickoff means and a gas supply means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
In combination: a central body member; gimbal support means for said central body member for mounting said body member in a vehicle and permitting free angular movement of said central body member about three orthogonal axes; reaction jet torquing means mounted on said central body member for establishing reaction torques about each of said three orthogonal axes; and fluidic gyroscopic means mounted on said central body member for individually controlling said jet torquing means so as to maintain a constant attitude for said central body member in the presence of variations in the attitude of said vehicle, in which said gimbal support means includes an outer gimbal member pivotally mounted for rotation about one of said orthogonal axes and an inner gimbal member pivotally mounted to said outer gimbal member for rotation about a second of said orthogonal axes, and in which said central body member is supported on said inner gimbal member for rotation about a third of said orthogonal axes, and in which said fluidic gyroscopic means includes at least one two-axis free-rotor gyro, said gyro comprising a rotor and a stator and a gas drive means and gas pickoff means and a gas supply means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
193 words
In combination: a central body member; gimbal support means for said central body member for mounting said body member in a vehicle and permitting free angular movement of said central body member about three orthogonal axes; reaction jet torquing means mounted on said central body member for establishing reaction torques about each of said three orthogonal axes, and fluidic gyroscopic means mounted on said central body member for individually controlling said jet torquing means so as to maintain a constant attitude for said central body member in the presence of variations in the attitude of said vehicle, in which said gimbal support means includes an outer gimbal member pivotally mounted for rotation about one of said orthogonal axes and an inner gimbal member pivotally mounted to said outer gimbal member for rotation about a second of said orthogonal axes, and in which said central body member is supported on said inner gimbal member for rotation about a third of said orthogonal axes, and which includes fluidic slip ring means intercoupling said outer gimbal to said inner gimbal and defining a fluidic path from an external fluidic pressure source to said central body member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
193 words
In combination: a central body member; gimbal support means for said central body member for mounting said body member in a vehicle and permitting free angular movement of said central body member about three orthogonal axes; reaction jet torquing means mounted on said central body member for establishing reaction torques about each of said three orthogonal axes, and fluidic gyroscopic means mounted on said central body member for individually controlling said jet torquing means so as to maintain a constant attitude for said central body member in the presence of variations in the attitude of said vehicle, in which said gimbal support means includes an outer gimbal member pivotally mounted for rotation about one of said orthogonal axes and an inner gimbal member pivotally mounted to said outer gimbal member for rotation about a second of said orthogonal axes, and in which said central body member is supported on said inner gimbal member for rotation about a third of said orthogonal axes, and which includes fluidic slip ring means intercoupling said outer gimbal to said inner gimbal and defining a fluidic path from an external fluidic pressure source to said central body member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
232 words
In combinatIon: a central body member; gimbal support means for said central body member for mounting said body member in a vehicle and permitting free angular movement of said central body member about three orthogonal axes; reaction jet torquing means mounted on said central body member for establishing reaction torques about each of said three orthogonal axes; and fluidic gyroscopic means mounted on said central body member for individually controlling said jet torquing means so as to maintain a constant attitude for said central body member in the presence of variations in the attitude of said vehicle, in which said gimbal support means includes an outer gimbal member pivotal mounted for rotation about one of said orthogonal axes and an inner gimbal member pivotally mounted to said outer gimbal member for rotation about a second of said orthogonal axes, and in which said central body member is supported on said inner gimbal member for rotation about a third of said orthogonal axes, and which includes a transducer unit mounted on said outer gimbal member and actuated by said inner gimbal member for sensing angular displacement between said inner and outer gimbal members in excess of a predetermined angle, and further reaction jet torquing means coupled to said transducer for establishing reaction torques in one direction or the other about one of the aforesaid orthogonal axes whenever said predetermined angular displacement is exceeded.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
232 words
In combinatIon: a central body member; gimbal support means for said central body member for mounting said body member in a vehicle and permitting free angular movement of said central body member about three orthogonal axes; reaction jet torquing means mounted on said central body member for establishing reaction torques about each of said three orthogonal axes; and fluidic gyroscopic means mounted on said central body member for individually controlling said jet torquing means so as to maintain a constant attitude for said central body member in the presence of variations in the attitude of said vehicle, in which said gimbal support means includes an outer gimbal member pivotal mounted for rotation about one of said orthogonal axes and an inner gimbal member pivotally mounted to said outer gimbal member for rotation about a second of said orthogonal axes, and in which said central body member is supported on said inner gimbal member for rotation about a third of said orthogonal axes, and which includes a transducer unit mounted on said outer gimbal member and actuated by said inner gimbal member for sensing angular displacement between said inner and outer gimbal members in excess of a predetermined angle, and further reaction jet torquing means coupled to said transducer for establishing reaction torques in one direction or the other about one of the aforesaid orthogonal axes whenever said predetermined angular displacement is exceeded.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination defined in claim 3, and which includes a further gimbal member mechanically coupled to said outer gimbal member and supported for rotation about one of the aforesaid orthogonal axes, and in which said further reaction jet torquing means produces rotation of said further gimbal member about said last-mentioned axis in one direction or the other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination defined in claim 3, in which said transducer includes first and second arms coupled to said further jet torquing means to introduce reaction pressure fluid jets thereto, and in which said transducer includes structure defining first and second aspiration ports for selectively venting the aforesaid arms whenever the aforesaid angular displacement exceeds the aforesaid minimum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-23 | 1977-01-22 | 1977-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-23 | 1981-01-22 | 1981-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-23 | 1985-01-22 | 1985-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |