ROBERT G HAAGENS
Engineering in Walpole, MA
License number
Massachusetts 18628
Expiration Date
Jun 30, 1984
Type
Mechanical Engineer
Address
Address
Walpole, MA 02081
Professional information
Gyroscopic System And Method Of Determining Direction
US Patent:
3987555, Oct 26, 1976
Filed:
Apr 9, 1971
Appl. No.:
5/132799
Inventors:
Robert G. Haagens - Walpole MA
Argyle Lautzenhiser - Magnolia MA
Argyle Lautzenhiser - Magnolia MA
Assignee:
The Laitram Corporation - New Orleans LA
International Classification:
G01C 1928
US Classification:
33324
Abstract:
A gyroscopic directional reference system comprising a two-degree-of-freedom gyroscope including a tuned single flexible hinge rotor and capacitance sensors for measuring the torsional displacement of the rotor about its hinge. The sensors are arranged to provide two orthogonal signal output axes and the gyroscope is suspended, for the sake of convenience, with the rotor spin axis parallel with the local earth gravity or, in order to provide maximum signal gradient, perpendicular to the earth rotation axis. A signal summing system produces an output signal which is nulled when the input axes are angularly oriented at 45. degree. with respect to the earth rotation axis and a servo system is provided for rotating the gyroscope about its spin axis to null the output signal. Alternatively, a capacitance sensing transducer system produces an output signal representing the angular orientation of the gyro relative to the earth rotation axis.