Abstract: An instrument for monitoring the direction of a borehole comprises an elongate casing having its longitudinal axis coincident, in use, with the axis of the borehole, an outer gimbal pivotally mounted within the casing with its pivot axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the casing, a gyroscope unit mounted in the outer gimbal, a torque motor and a gravity sensor unit. At the beginning of a run the instrument is positioned at the mouth of the borehole. The rate of rotation about an axis transverse to the outer gimbal axis is then sensed by the gyroscope unit, and the outer gimbal is slewed by the torque motor in dependence on the sensed rate so as to align the transverse axis along an East/West direction. The instrument is then moved along the borehole and the rate of rotation about the outer gimbal axis is continually sensed by the gyroscope unit, the outer gimbal being torqued by the motor in dependence on the sensed rate to stabilize the outer gimbal about its axis.

Abstract: An attitude displacement measurement apparatus including a base, primary bearing means retained by the base, auxiliary bearing means mounted for rotation on the primary bearing means on a given axis with respect to the base, a first rotor mounted for rotation on the auxiliary bearing means on the given axis, a second rotor mounted for rotation on the auxiliary bearing means on the given axis, a first drive mechanism coupled to the first rotor and operable to produce rotation thereof on the auxiliary bearing means in one sense on the given axis, and a second drive mechanism coupled to the second rotor and operable to produce rotation thereof on said auxiliary bearing means on the given axis in a sense opposite to the one sense.

Abstract: A vertical shaft system for gyroscopic theodolites with two degrees of freedom for ensuring the vertical alignment of the azimuth determining pendulum system in the apparatus, wherein perforated stones are arranged in two axial points on the housing and on the azimuth determining pendulum system of the apparatus, and wires clamped on both ends are threaded through the perforated stones and tensioned by tensioning elements, furthermore perforated guiding stones are formed for alignment of the tensioned wires, and surfaces of rotation are formed in the vicinity of the axial points between the housing and azimuth determining pendulum system with an air gap about the wires.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing damage to the mechanical components of a borehole inclinometer is disclosed. The inclinometer uses a freely suspended pendulum to align with the vertical at a selected position in the borehole. A compass connected to the pendulum rotates to an orientation defined by the earth's magnetic field. To protect the components which suspend the pendulum, the pendulum is clamped between a timer and a lens as the inclinometer is lowered into the borehole. At a selected time, the pendulum is unclamped and is permitted to reach an equilibrium, measuring position. After a selected interval, the timer urges the pendulum against the lens to clamp the pendulum. The inclinometer is raised from the wellbore, and the orientation of the pendulum relative to the lens is observed to determine the azimuth and inclination of the borehole.

Abstract: A gyroscopic referenced electronically operated grade and slope attitude indicator enabling a heavy equipment operator to build a slope and/or grade by visual readout. It is a system using a gyro output to compute the grade and slope for display thereof on a dual steering bar indicator. An angle calibration along with cancelling switches allows an equipment operator a selection of slope and grade ratios to work to in a work approach making staking and restaking of a slope and/or grade unnecessary other than for a surveyed starting point with a toe-stake or its equivalent.

Abstract: An agricultural tractor having two longitudinally aligned back wheels on each side receiving an endless track of the "caterpillar" type and steerable front wheels which are controlled automatically by a predetermined line of travel whereby the tractor is maintained within margins equidistant from the line of travel defining a path which it is desired the tractor follow to perform agricultural operations such as plowing. The tractors's actual track is monitored and compared with the desired line of travel by programmed steering operating to correct deviations. A single gyroscope which has its axis of rotation parallel to the earth's axis of rotation stabilizes a platform, keeping it perfectly horizontal for two accelerometers, one aligned with the tractor's longitudinal center line and the other at right angles thereto. The accelerometers monitor accelerations by the tractor to establish its position relative to its starting point and to its deviations from the line of travel.

Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for detecting misalignments between various portions of a deformable body, such as an aircraft, are disclosed. Orientation detection devices, such as potentiometric vertical indicators and gyros, are provided at a master module disposed at a predetermined location on the structure and in a remote module located at a predetermined portion of the structure remote from the reference location. The orientation of the remote portion of the structure, as determined from the remote module is compared to the orientation of the master module to thereby determine the orientation of the remote portion of the structure relative to a fixed reference. The orientation detection devices are secured to the various locations through the use of a standardized track and base assembly, whereby virtually all components of the master and remote modules are interchangeable. The remote module may be disposed on a trammel point assembly wherein the orientation of a predetermined surface may be determined.

Abstract: A gyro device arranged to be mounted in a vehicle and operable selectively as a directional gyro or as a gyro compass, which includesa gyro generating signals relative to two measuring directions, an azimuth gimbal mounted with its pivot axis oriented substantially vertically, a drive unit connected to receive the signal from a first position sensor and for pivoting a precession gimbal supported by the azimuth gimbal about a precession axis into a position in which the gyro spin axis is parallel to the pivot axis of said azimuth gimbal, a second position sensor providing a signal representative of the inclination of the precession axis to the horizontal, and a switching member for effecting pivoting of the precession gimbal about the precession axis to bring the spin axis of the gyro into a horizontal orientation for permitting operation of the device as a directional gyro.

Abstract: In an orientation arrangement during journeys in vehicles on land, means are provided for the purpose of ascertaining the distance covered by the vehicle and the changes in the direction of the vehicle. The distance covered by the vehicle and its respective location are ascertained and indicated with the aid of the distance measured and the changes in direction which have been ascertained.

Abstract: A stabilized sighting device for use on a carrier comprises an outer unit mounted for rotation about a bearing axis which may be parallel to the yaw axis of the carrier. An intermediate unit is mounted for rotation on the outer unit about an elevation axis and a sight unit provided with a gyro is mounted on the intermediate unit for rotation within a predetermined angular range about an inner axis located in a plane perpendicular to the elevation axis. First and second motors are provided for driving the intermediate unit and the sight unit about the intermediate and inner axes, respectively and are controlled by first and second servo loop circuits receiving signals from the gyroscope. A detector delivers a signal representative of the deviation of the inner unit from the canonical position and a position reproducing loop controlled by the detector actuates a motor driving the outer unit. The configuration of the outer gimbal is preferably reversed for decreasing the perturbating torques.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave gyroscope which detects a change in the propagation velocity of a surface acoustic wave as a function of the rotational velocity of a medium on whose surface the acoustic wave is propogated, is disclosed. In a first embodiment using a fixed frequency oscillator to generate the surface acoustic wave, the change in the propagation velocity is detected as a phase shift between the generated and detected waves. In an alternate embodiment the detected surface acoustic wave is used as a feedback signal to an amplifier to form an oscillator whose frequency varies as a function of the surface waves propagation velocity. In the preferred embodiment, two surface acoustic waves are generated in opposite directions about the cylindrical surface of a substrate.

Abstract: An improved machining process using electro-erosion to form integral hinges in rods in making flexible and/or electric suspension blades for various industrial devices.The machining process includes repeatedly eroding a rod alternately on two opposite sides to form two curved indentations, one on each side of the rod at a given point along its length, using a curved cylindrical electrode, so that the rod is progressively narrowed at this point until the required thickness of hinge is obtained. The process may also include, using as reference planes, to position the eroding electrode accurately, surfaces of a frame to which the rods have been attached. In this way, the rods are accurately prepositioned and thin hinges are produced with a repeatable high accuracy.Products made by this process include a pendulum-type accelerometer and an elastic support for a gyroscope useful in aeronautical applications.

Abstract: A horizontal situation indicator having a heading card direct-driven by a directional gyro is provided. Relative positioning of the heading card and one or more navigation indicators is determined by sensing an electrical differential between a transducer associated with a heading card and a transducer associated with each navigation indicator. Spring-loaded clutch mechanisms are provided to allow adjustment of the navigation indicators without applying a torque to the heading card and gyro.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices for measuring the azimuth and the slope of drilling line. These devices comprise, in a container 1, a gyroscope 5 having two principal axes of sensitivity X--X and Y--Y and an accelerometer 12 having two principal axes of sensitivity parallel to those of the gyroscope 5; this gyroscope 5 is connected to a circuit to determine the component of the Earth's rotation vector along the axis of the drilling line.

Abstract: A gyroscopic azimuth aiming concept adapted to aim a navigable body such as a drone or missile before its launching and defining an aiming method and system, and a suspension system to pendulously and removably suspend a gyroscope unit from the navigable body such that the gyroscope unit is isolated against pitch and roll displacements to be sensitive only to azimuth deviation of the navigable body. The aiming system and suspension system include a suspension assembly having an upper end removably connectable to the navigable body, a lower end, cables pendulously suspending the lower end from the upper end, and an anchoring base with an upright pivot to laterally restrain the lower end while allowing horizontal pendulous rotation and pivoting thereof, and a gyroscope unit is pendulously suspended to the lower end and its input axis is approximately aligned in the East direction to measure its azimuth deviation from the East direction by the effect of the earth rotation thereon.

Abstract: A gyroscopic device of the type having a short-circuited rotor winding or conductor so shaped so as to produce axial and radial flux components when rotated in the earth's magnetic field is coupled to a coaxial sensing coil coaxial which gyroscopically stabilized thereby, signals induced in the sensing coil due to the axial flux component of the rotor is used to derive magnetic heading information and there is provided at least one further coil on the supporting body and inductively linked to the sensing coil and rotor such that when the sensing coil is gyroscopically stabilized by the rotor, the coil supported on the supporting body in relation to the gyroscopically stabilized sensing coil is such that any changes in angular orientation of the supporting body relative to the gyroscopically stabilized sensing coil introduces changes in the signal voltages induced in the coils.

Abstract: A gyrocompass comprises a gyroscopic element having a stabilizing gyro with a relatively heavy rotor rigidly secured to a driving shaft and a control gyro with a rotor of lower inertia mounted on the same driving shaft as a free rotor gyro. A case enclosing the gyroscopic element and a drive motor is mounted in a vehicle with the spin axis in the north south plane in gimbals with a nominally vertical outer axis and an inner or tilt axis in the east-west plane. The stabilizing gyro is slaved to the control gyro by means of signals from pick-offs associated with the latter so as to zeroise misalignment, and the tilt gimbal is pendulous to provide a gravity reference, so that the azimuth misalignment signal between the gyros generates an opposing tilt torquer current which is a measure of the gyro tilt angle.

Abstract: In a gyro arranged to be mounted in a vehicle and operable selectively as a directional gyro or as a gyro compass, which gyro includes a gyro rotor rotatable about a horizontal spin axis, an inner gimbal supporting the gyro rotor via its spin axis and pivotal about an axis which is maintained vertical when the gyro is operating as a gyro compass, a second gimbal supporting the inner gimbal via its axis and pivotal about an axis normally parallel to the rotor spin axis, an outer gimbal supporting the second gimbal and pivotal about an axis oriented approximately parallel to the vertical axis of the vehicle when the vehicle is upright, and control units for maintaining the desired orientations between the various axes, there is provided an intermediate gimbal disposed between the second gimbal and the outer gimbal, supporting the second gimbal via its axis, and having a pivot axis which is supported by the outer gimbal and which extends orthogonally to the axes of the second and outer gimbals, the second and in

Abstract: An azimuth directional synchro output is provided for a gyroscopic compass, the compass consisting of a pendulous gyrosphere floating within a spherical cavity containing an electrically conductive fluid. By forming one electrode that carries power through the fluid to spin the gyroscope rotor as a band of sinusoidally varying width, four cooperating electrodes equally spaced about the instrument case supply azimuth position data to excite a selsyn data transmitter system. The currents collected by the four cooperating electrodes are proportional to the varying resistances of the respective fluid paths. They generate a vector field within the selsyn system which establishes outputs representing true azimuth bearing within the three selsyn output leads.

Abstract: An instrument for measuring the direction of a borehole in order to carry out a spatial survey thereof comprises a gyro-stabilized single-axis platform having its axis coincident with the axis of the borehole and three gravity sensors for measuring three components of gravity in the direction of the borehole axis and in two mutually perpendicular directions in a plane perpendicular to said axis.

Abstract: Gyroscope instrumentation for providing stabilization of the direction of a ine-of-sight of more than 45.degree. about one or more axes is described utilizing a two axes optical system. An inner gimbal supports a gyro rotor and a first mirror diagonal with a clearance window to admit light. The gyro rotor keeps the first mirror aligned in a fixed direction relative to an inner gimbal axis. The inner gimbal is supported by an outer gimbal. The outer gimbal has a second mirror mounted on it. The gyro rotor keeps the second mirror aligned with the outer gimbal axis. The net effect is that the optical axis at the input has a fixed orientation in space and the optical axis at the output axis has a fixed orientation relative to a platform on which the system is mounted.

Abstract: A multi-axis antenna pedestal with two controlled axes configured with elevation over azimuth on a gravity and gyro stabilized platform. The assembly is suspended with right-angled pivotal axes in substantially the same horizontal plane, and structure pivoted about the upper two controlled axes is statically balanced and the center of gravity of the entire pivotally mounted assembly is on the vertical axis and below the gimbal plane. The platform structure includes at least one gyro motor and rotor system pivotally mounted in the platform structure on an axis parallel to one of the right angled pivotal axes of the platform pivotal mounting. The center of gravity of the one gyro motor and rotor system is below its pivotal mounting in the platform structure, and when two such gyro motor and rotor systems are employed the pivotal mounting axes of each parallels an individual axis of the platform pivotal mounting.

Abstract: A gyro system is disclosed in which the system is brought from an "off" position back to full operating speed and known orientation in a short time without requiring any external signal for orientation verification. A fast start procedure is disclosed in which the last known position is employed as the actual starting position of the gyro as well as an aligned procedure in which the last known position is employed as a reference point for faster alignment.

Abstract: A self-contained gyrocompassing system providing switch means with coarse align and gyrocompass modes of operation. Starting in the coarse align mode, a north bubble sensor output along with an initial vertical error signal output is applied to an east torquer which coarsely levels the east gimbal. Subsequently, the switch means is placed in the gyrocompass mode and the signal from the north sensor is simultaneously applied to the east gyro and the azimuth gyro loops. A voltage threshold detector determines whether the signal from the north sensor requires low or high rate azimuth torquing. If high rate azimuth torquing is required in the azimuth gyro loop, the east gyro loop is either locked or torqued at a high rate.

Abstract: A quick settling, accurate gyrocompass for obtaining an accurate, short reaction time azimuth reference is described. The device preferably comprises a four gimbal configuration supporting a limited angle, two degree of freedom packaged gyroscope. The outer two gimbals of the arrangement are employed to provide a horizontal platform using accelerometers or pendulums as a reference to thereby comprise a stabilized platform. The inner two gimbals are employed to provide rotation about the two input axes of the gyro. The two degrees of freedom gyro and the inner two gimbals of the supporting structure thus comprised are connected to operate in a "North seeking" mode wherein the object is to align the gyro spin axis so that it is parallel to the spin axis of the earth. The gyro rotor is slaved to the gyro case about the gyro input axis so that if the rotor axis is not parallel to the earth axis a gyro error signal results in each input axis due to the rotation of the earth.

Abstract: A system including a highly accurate electronic navigator mounted on a vele and the method of using same. Azimuth or position data from the navigator is repeated by a gyro in a remote head on the vehicle slaved by torque and signal cables to the navigator. If the gyro torque cables are opened, the remote head may be removed from the vehicle and mounted on some other body. The azimuth or position data of the body can then easily be determined from the position of the remote head relative to the navigator references. In particular, the invention is envisioned as usable in laying missiles or guns with the navigator and remote head being carried by a jeep or the like.