Tape-Suspended Meridian Gyroscope North-Finding Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tape-suspended meridian gyroscopes are not fully autonomous, require complex mechanics and electronics, and suffer from magnetic and electrical interference, leading to inefficiencies in finding north with low precision.
Innovation Solution
A fully mechanical meridian gyroscope with a one-off energy burst for initial alignment, using pendulum bodies and a damping structure to achieve precise north finding without electronic aids, and designed to be magnetically inert, allowing for classic theodolite readouts with high accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gas or liquid damping, magnetic and electrostatic damping are used, then the damping effect is improved, but the device complexity and susceptibility to interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates all electronic and magnetic damping systems (gas/liquid damping, magnetic damping, electrostatic damping) from the gyroscope, retaining only the purely mechanical centrifugal pendulum damping mechanism. This extraction resolves the contradiction by removing complex and interference-prone systems while preserving the essential damping function through simplified mechanical means.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple mechanical elements (centrifugal pendulums, mechanical contacts, switches) that are inexpensive, robust, and replaceable, replacing complex electronic damping systems. These mechanical components are inherently more reliable and less susceptible to interference, resolving the contradiction between damping effectiveness and system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If electronic aids and complex drives are used, then the north finding capability is enhanced, but production costs and susceptibility to disturbances increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic measurement and control systems with purely mechanical north-finding mechanisms. The centrifugal pendulums, mechanical switches, and analog readout systems provide precise north determination without electronic components, thereby reducing production costs and eliminating susceptibility to electronic disturbances while maintaining measurement precision.
3Productivity
If the gyroscope body is set in rotation with high speed, then the north finding speed is improved, but the energy consumption and mechanical stress increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic centrifugal forces generated by rotating the gyroscope body at high speed to activate the pendulum damping mechanism only during the north-finding process. The one-off energy burst initiates rotation, and the periodic mechanical action of the centrifugal pendulums provides damping during the search, achieving fast north finding with controlled energy consumption and reduced continuous power requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables fast and precise north determination with reduced production costs, eliminating electronic and magnetic interference, and providing complete autonomy for navigation.
Implementation Method 1
Since the gyroscope with its cap has a moment of inertia resulting from the rotational movement, it will move its spin axis beyond north
Implementation Method 2
the gyroscope experiences a disturbance until the spin axis has moved to the earth's axis. He precesses north
Implementation Method 3
n, with n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more, pendulum bodies are used
Implementation Method 4
a damping structure is required. According to the prior art, a large number of designs of tape-suspended meridian gyroscopes are already known. By way of example, reference is made to DE 1 284 549 A, DE 15 48 465 A1, DE 17 98 049 B2, DE 20 07 736 A, DE 40 23 349 A1 and DE 27 34 319 A1. These have different damping systems such as gas or liquid damping, magnetic and electrostatic damping and also mechanical damping systems
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a tape-suspended fully mechanical meridian gyroscope. In the case of the north-seeking gyroscopes known from the prior art, the technical complexity has become greater and greater. Countering this trend, the invention makes it possible to achieve the objective of north seeking significantly more economically than before. From figure 1, it is clear that a gyroscope is started up to the necessary rotational speed at the gyroscope cap thereof by means of an external force source in order to then rotationally move toward north, while suspended on the supporting tape, as a coastdown gryroscope. In order to stop a persisting rotation that goes beyond north, a damping means intervenes until a standstill is reached at north. In order to reliably achieve this, a system that can be finely adjusted with respect to the friction forces is used as the damping means. The north-seeking system according to the invention should be used especially in tunnel construction and in road construction, in azimuth finding, in mountainous terrain, and in many special technical tasks. Failures having electrical or electronic causes do not occur.