US3817508A - Circular connection bands for a suspended body - Google Patents
Circular connection bands for a suspended body Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3817508A US3817508A US00220962A US22096272A US3817508A US 3817508 A US3817508 A US 3817508A US 00220962 A US00220962 A US 00220962A US 22096272 A US22096272 A US 22096272A US 3817508 A US3817508 A US 3817508A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- band
- bands
- pair
- connection
- circular
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
- G01C19/00—Gyroscopes; Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses; Turn-sensitive devices without moving masses; Measuring angular rate using gyroscopic effects
- G01C19/02—Rotary gyroscopes
- G01C19/04—Details
- G01C19/16—Suspensions; Bearings
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
- G01C19/00—Gyroscopes; Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses; Turn-sensitive devices without moving masses; Measuring angular rate using gyroscopic effects
- G01C19/02—Rotary gyroscopes
- G01C19/34—Rotary gyroscopes for indicating a direction in the horizontal plane, e.g. directional gyroscopes
- G01C19/38—Rotary gyroscopes for indicating a direction in the horizontal plane, e.g. directional gyroscopes with north-seeking action by other than magnetic means, e.g. gyrocompasses using earth's rotation
Definitions
- connection band configuration having a minimum spring constant for a suspended body capable of rotating back and forth is disclosed.
- the connection band configuration comprises at least a pair of circular bands which are positioned in a horizontal plane transverse to the vertical plane which contains an axis of rotation about which the suspended body rotates. At least one pair of connection bands are employed with both bands of the pair having their centers substantially coaxial with the vertical rotational axis.
- One end of one band of the pair is mounted at a predetermined point on the suspended body and the other end of that band is mounted at a second point which is fixed relative to a rotational movement of the body.
- the other band and its mountings are a mirror image of the first band.
- the mountings are arranged in such a manner that when the suspended body is at its rest position, both bands of the pair are in an initial circular configuration. As the body rotates about the vertical axis, each band of the pair moves in opposition to the movement of the other band. The movement of each band takes the form of expanded and contracted circular arcs, respectively.
- the field of this invention pertains to connection bands for suspended bodies which are adapted to exhibit rotational movements. More particularly, the field of this invention pertains to gyroscopic instruments and in particular to such gyroscopic instruments known in the art as north seeking instruments.
- Such rotating bodies often require connection bands for various reasons.
- such bands are often employed to conduct electrical signals between the fixed position and electrical equipment which may be located within the rotating body.
- the rotatable body houses a small electrically driven rotor.
- the rotor requires electrical power to spin at desired high speeds.
- the spin axis of the rotor tends to align with the horizontal component of the earths spin velocity.
- Such alignment designates the true north/south meridian of the earth.
- the connection bands present the lowest possible spring constant. Such a low spring constant avoids affecting the bodies normal period of rotation, and does not disturb its normal rest position.
- connection bands are known to the prior art.
- One highly successful connection band assembly is described and claimed in US. Pat. No. 3,512,264, issued May 19, 1970, to the present assignee.
- the connection bands are co-planar with the vertical axis of the meridian seeking gyroscope and are curved in .the form of semi-circles in the longitudinal plane with. the openings of the pair of semi-circular bands facing away from each other.
- connection bands assume the form of semi-helical loops.
- Each band of the pair of semi-helical loops developes forces which are in opposition to a pre-conditioned spring force applied between both ends of each of the connection bands.
- the unique configuration of the referenced bands exhibits an opposed configuration in the longitudinal plane of the north seeking instrument which configuration produces canceling forces with respect to each other as the gyroscopic unit precesses back and forth. It was considered that this particular connection band configuration was nearly optimum in that any paracitic torques normally resulting from such connection bands were eliminated. For a given set of conditions, (as defined further hereinafter) the spring constantof. this connection band assembly was in the order of 16 dyne cm. per radian.
- connection bands are employed for conducting electrical signals from an external sourceto a rotor within the gyroscope body.
- Each of the connection strips are shaped somewhat like a helicon.
- the connection bands are located in a plane horizontal to the suspension band which partially suspends the gyroscopic unit.
- the shape of the Rellensmann connection hands together with the unequal number and their mounting configuration results in unavoidable spring constants which. were unfavorable. These unfavorable spring constants were recognized as such and thus Rellensmann mathematically calculated a compensation equation which attempted to correct for the unavoidable unbalanced torques produced by his connection band assembly.
- connection bands which are positioned one above the other in horizontal planes located transversely to the vertical plane conicident with a vertical axis about which a suspended body rotates.
- the ends of the connection bands are mounted between the suspended body and a relatively fixed point.
- the circular bands of this invention are coaxial in that they share a substantially common center point, which center point is located at the vertical axis of the suspended body.
- Our invention comprises at least one pair of circular connection bands concentrically mounted with their center points located at the vertical axis of a suspended body which is adapted for rotation about the vertical axis.
- Each band of the pair of bands, at one given starting position, is a circle of a given diameter with a circular segment substantially between 270 and 360.
- a pair of mounting posts are provided for each band. One end of one band is mounted on a post positioned at a predetermined point on the suspended body, and the other end of the band is mounted on a post located at a fixed position relative to the suspended body.
- the other band is also provided with a pair of mounting posts and its mounting arrangement is a mirror image of the first band.
- the mounting posts of one band of the pair move towards one another, whereas the mounting posts of the other band move away from one another.
- the band mounted thereon forms a circular arc of slightly larger diameter, referred an an expanded circular arc.
- the second band forms a circular segment of slightly smaller diameter, hereinafter referred to as a contracted circular arc.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suspended body employing the band suspension system of this invention
- FIG. 2 is a top view taken along 22 in FIG. 1 to show the lower connection band
- FIG. 3 is a top view which depicts the opposing movements of both connection bands as the suspended body rotates in one direction.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view in diagramatic form of a band suspended pendulum 10.
- positions 15, 20 and 25 symbolically indicate fixed mounting positions.
- a thin suspension band 11 is connected between fixed position 20 and the suspended pendulum 10.
- the position 20 is often driven electrically so that it follows the rotation of the pendulum in the manner therein described. Movement of position 20 removes any tendency of the suspension band 11 to develope a set amount of twist.
- the positions 15 and 25, as described in the above-referenced patent may also be movable under command of an electrical follow-up system such that as the, pendulum 10 rotates, positions 15 and 25 follow the movement of the pendulum.
- connection band 11 is not necessary.
- the pendulum 10 may assume the form of a sphere which is fully suspended in a liquid much in the manner of the sphere depicted in the aforementioned Rellensmann patent.
- connection bands 50 are depicted in FIG. 1 with both bands sharing a common center point 51.
- the center point 51 is the point of connection for suspension band 11 to pendulum 10.
- Point 51 lies on the vertical axis 48 (shown in dashed lines) about which the pendulum 10 rotates back and forth through an are 60 (shown highly exaggerated) in FIG. 1.
- the upper band 70 is connected to the pendulum 10 by any suitable mounting means, or post, 71.
- Band 70 comprises a circular segment about center point 51 of approximately a minimum of 270 to a maximum of approximately 360 for optimum results in our invention.
- the circular segment as depicted in FIG. 1, is 270 and the other end of the circular band 70 is connected to a fixed (or relatively fixed) point 25 by a second mounting post 72.
- the lower band 75 is also provided with a pair of mounting posts 76 and 77. This lower band 75 is virtually a mirror image of the upper band 70 and it also therefore comprises a circular segment having approximately a 270 arc.
- the bands 70 and 75 of the pair of bands are mounted in opposition.
- This manner of band configuration including mounting each band for movements in opposition to each other, stacking one band above the other, and having both bands share a common center point provides many advantages.
- One advantage of this configuration is that the initial torque which either band may produce substantially cancels itself out by an equal and opposite torque which is present in the opposite band of the pair.
- ambient temperature changes will generally affect both bands in the same manner due to their proximity and location. Again, these temperature changes will occur in opposing directions in the band pair and tend to cancel each other out.
- one of the bands may be subjected to a higher current carrying capacity than the other band; and in such an instance, it may develope a higher temperature than the other band.
- the spring constant for the connection band configuration 50 of this invention is extremely low. This is particularly important because it allows the suspended body to rotate back and forth through its normal period without any unbalanced or parastic torque being present. Such torques would adversely affect the normal periodicity of the rotational movement.
- the suspended body When pendulum I0 is suspended by band 11, the suspended body has a suspension spring constant. That suspension spring constant is arbitrarily designated as Ks. It is known that the total Kt spring constant for the system is the suspension spring constant Ks plus the connection band spring constant which is designated as Kcb. In order to calculate the spring constant for the connection bands alone, one need only calculate the total spring constant, Kt, and subtract from the total spring constant the spring constant Ks, or the spring constant for the suspension band. For explanation purposes, and in order to mathematically derive the extremely low spring constant in equation form for the connection band configuration of this invention, a given exemplitive set of values will be arbitrarily selected.
- any suspended body exhibits a center of gravity and a known moment of inertia of a given mass through a selected axis of rotation.
- a right circular cylinder as depicted in FIG. 1, has a moment of inertia about the axis 48 which is defined as A mr where r is the radius of the cylinder and m is the mass of a homogeneous solid for cylinder 10.
- the moment of inertia Iy-y for the cylinder 10 is (6.39 l0 gram'cm If one subjects body 10 to an initial rotational movement away from its rest position, body 10 will rotate back and forth about that rest position in accordance with a given period that is measurable in time.
- the period for example, in our test was shown to be approximately 96 seconds for a period designated P. It is known that the total spring constant Kt is equal to w lyy wherein m is equal to (21r/P.) Assuming that the period P is 96 seconds then:
- the constant for the suspension system alone applying the same moment of inertia, calculated as above, is 26.2 dyne cm per radian.
- the difference between the two, i.e., between 27.3 dyne cm per radian and 26.2 dyne cm per radian is equal to 1.1 dyne cm per radian.
- the spring constant for a pair of suspension bands configured in accordance with the principles of this invention is approximately 1 dynecm per radian. This is over an order of magnitude less than any spring constant for any other known connection band configuration.
- the spring constant for the suspension band assembly shown in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,512,264 is approximately .16 dyne cm per radian with connection bands in both instances comprising 0.0005 inch by 0.010 inch, 85% Ag Cu hard drawn.
- FIG. 2 depicts a top view of the lower band 75 of the band pair 50 of FIG. 1.
- the solid line in FIG. 2 is the normal circular configuration for band 75.
- the two dashed lines represent the circular changes in band 75 through its entire length as the suspendedbody rotates back and forth past an initial rest position.
- the mounting post 76 moves further away from post 77 and the band forms an expanded circular segment with a center point located approximately at 51A (shown by dashed line 81).
- the mounting post 76 moves closer toward post 77.
- Band 75 throughout its length, forms a contracted circular segment shown, for example, by the inner dashed lines 82 with a center point 51B.
- connection band assembly for a suspended body having a vertical axis about which it rotates back and forth, said assembly comprising:
- each band comprising a circular segment with a portion of a full circle removed so as each band comprises less than a full circle and more than a semi-circle;
- connection band assembly in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising for each band, circular segments, substantially between 270 to 360.
- connection band assembly in accordance with claim 1 and further characterized in that as said body rotates one of said bands assumes the shape of an expanded circular arc and the other band of said pair assumes the shape of a contracted circular arc.
- connection band assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said expanded circular arc has a slightly larger diameter than said concentric circle and said contracted circular arc has a slightly smaller diameter than said concentric circle.
- connection band assembly for a suspended body having a vertical axis through its center of gravity about which it may rotate back and forth relative to fixed positions, said assembly comprising:
- connection band assembly in accordance with claim 5 and further characterized in that as said body rotates one of said bands assumes the shape of an expanded circular arc and the other band of said pair assumes the shape of a contracted circular arc.
- connection band assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said expanded circular arc has a slightly larger diameter than said concentric circle and said contracted circular arc has a slightly smaller diameter than said concentric circle.
Abstract
Description
Claims (9)
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US00220962A US3817508A (en) | 1972-01-26 | 1972-01-26 | Circular connection bands for a suspended body |
US237845A US3863355A (en) | 1972-01-26 | 1972-03-24 | Power transfer assembly |
DE2302549A DE2302549A1 (en) | 1972-01-26 | 1973-01-19 | CONNECTING STRAPS FOR A HANGING BODY |
IT67141/73A IT977677B (en) | 1972-01-26 | 1973-01-25 | CIRCULAR CONNECTION TAPE TO SUPPLY ELECTRICITY TO A PARTICULARLY CIRCULAR PURPOSE SUSPENDED BODY |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US00220962A US3817508A (en) | 1972-01-26 | 1972-01-26 | Circular connection bands for a suspended body |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3817508A true US3817508A (en) | 1974-06-18 |
Family
ID=22825760
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00220962A Expired - Lifetime US3817508A (en) | 1972-01-26 | 1972-01-26 | Circular connection bands for a suspended body |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3817508A (en) |
DE (1) | DE2302549A1 (en) |
IT (1) | IT977677B (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3955809A (en) * | 1974-05-23 | 1976-05-11 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Spiral spring for instruments |
US4671638A (en) * | 1985-10-11 | 1987-06-09 | Eastman Kodak Company | Moving coil electromagnetic actuator and shutter employing same |
EP0742146A1 (en) * | 1995-05-11 | 1996-11-13 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Mechanism for mounting and actuating a momentum wheel with high vibration isolation |
US5820079A (en) * | 1994-04-05 | 1998-10-13 | Hughes Electronics | Mechanism for mounting and actuating a momentum wheel with high vibration isolation |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3126746A (en) * | 1964-03-31 | figure | ||
US3545286A (en) * | 1967-06-07 | 1970-12-08 | Philips Corp | Holder which is displaceable along one axis |
US3648999A (en) * | 1969-12-19 | 1972-03-14 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Suspension spring |
-
1972
- 1972-01-26 US US00220962A patent/US3817508A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1973
- 1973-01-19 DE DE2302549A patent/DE2302549A1/en active Pending
- 1973-01-25 IT IT67141/73A patent/IT977677B/en active
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3126746A (en) * | 1964-03-31 | figure | ||
US3545286A (en) * | 1967-06-07 | 1970-12-08 | Philips Corp | Holder which is displaceable along one axis |
US3648999A (en) * | 1969-12-19 | 1972-03-14 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Suspension spring |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3955809A (en) * | 1974-05-23 | 1976-05-11 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Spiral spring for instruments |
US4671638A (en) * | 1985-10-11 | 1987-06-09 | Eastman Kodak Company | Moving coil electromagnetic actuator and shutter employing same |
US5820079A (en) * | 1994-04-05 | 1998-10-13 | Hughes Electronics | Mechanism for mounting and actuating a momentum wheel with high vibration isolation |
EP0742146A1 (en) * | 1995-05-11 | 1996-11-13 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Mechanism for mounting and actuating a momentum wheel with high vibration isolation |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
IT977677B (en) | 1974-09-20 |
DE2302549A1 (en) | 1973-08-02 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: LEAR ASTRONICS CORP., A CORP. OF DE Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:GEC ASTRONICS CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004998/0855 Effective date: 19871106 Owner name: GEC ASTRONICS CORP., A CORP. OF DE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:LEAR SIEGLER, INC.,;REEL/FRAME:005020/0185 Effective date: 19871119 Owner name: LEAR ASTRONICS CORP., CALIFORNIA Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:GEC ASTRONICS CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004998/0855 Effective date: 19871106 Owner name: GEC ASTRONICS CORP., CALIFORNIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:LEAR SIEGLER, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005020/0185 Effective date: 19871119 |