Rearmable spring caged and energized free gyro
US4788872A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 14, 1986 |
| Grant date | Dec 6, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 14, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/1211
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A rearmable spring caged and energized free gyro which will allow repeated rearming for testing and use without requiring the opening of the main instrument enclosure, or requiring auxiliary sources of energy. The gyro is housed in an approximately cylindrical enclosure with the spin axis perpendicular to the axis thereof. A helical spring substantially coaxial with the enclosure is positioned adjacent one end of the enclosure, and may be wound through that end of the enclosure by an appropriate winding tool. During the winding of the spring a cam moves substantially coaxially along the inside of the enclosure, engaging a roller adjacent the end of the pitch axis which rotates the gimbal assembly around the roll axis to the roll axis caged position, at which time the end of the inner gimbal cooperatively references to the cam to align the spin axis. At the same time an annular gear moves axially in the enclosure to engage a gear on the end of the spin axis, so that upon complete winding of the spring the gyro is caged ready for firing. Upon release of the spring, typically by firing a squib, the annular gear engaging the gear on the end of the spin axis rotates a fraction of a turn…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.