Michael P Albertson

US Patent:

42903165, Sep 22, 1981

Filed:

Jun 13, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/048301

Inventors:

Raymond Noar - Bellflower CA
Stanley L. Zedekar - Huntington Beach CA
Michael D. Albertson - Tustin CA
Carl W. Pointer - Placentia CA
Chester E. Gall - Long Beach CA
Alfred B. Fuller - Anaheim CA

Assignee:

Rockwell International Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

G01C 1930

US Classification:

74 546

Abstract:

A two degree-of-freedom, free-rotor, gas-bearing gyroscope having greatly reduced sensitivity to acceleration-induced and other disturbances. An electromagnetic forcer acts on the rotor to keep the axial component of bearing deflection negligible. Closed-loop control circuitry for energizing the axial forcer responds to a linear displacement signal. The circuitry also provides an output signal proportional to the component of acceleration along the spin axis. This signal may be used to replace an accelerometer output signal in navigation equipment. In addition to be being functional during normal operation, the control functions during start-up and shut-down to center the rotor over the support ball. The functions of forcer and torquer are combined in a single structure. A dual motor arrangement and a dual forcer-torquer arrangement provide cancellation of bias variations due to housing, shaft, and bearing deflections.