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Aviation History
1947
1947 - 0325.PDF
MARCH 13TH, 1947 FLIGHT 207 THE GYROSYNCOMPASS Dead-beat Stabilized Indications Monitored Relative to Earth's Magnetic Lines of Force : No Turning Errors : True Course Readings Given iU NTIL the present decade, directional reference other than celestial bodies had been made possible only by a pole-seeking magnet of one form <3r another. During the war a breakaway from ten if not twenty centuties of traditional navigation practice came MASTER INDICATOR GYRO UNIT Master indicator, showing varia-tion-setting knob and gear train. The slaving-indicator window canbe discerned above the variation- setting lubber references. direction-sensing element is notNorth-seeking and does not rotate, and it is thus quite free of the turningerrors, etc., inherent in a North-seek- ing magnet. In point of fact, the•element—known as a flux-valve—is an electro-magnetic device which sensesthe direction of the lines of force of the earth's magnetic field, and sinceeach of these lines of force is, in effect, a miniature magnetic meridian, thelocation of magnetic North is fixed by denning their direction ; but it mustbe repeated that the flux-valve does not seek North, it merely defines whichway the lines of force run. The flux-valve is usually mountedin the wing-tip, where deviation effects are negligible, although it cannaturally be fitted in any alternative position where appropriate conditionsobtain. A corrective adjustment incor- porated with the unit permits whatlittle deviation is present to be fully neutralized. Briefly, the flux-valveconsists of three radial "spokes" disposed equally about an exciter coil Schematic diagram of Gyrosyn units and wiring circuits. .For understanding of the operational sequence this drawing should be studied in conjunction with the text. with the advent of various types of gyro-stabilized compass.In all of these the basic innovation was in the use of a compass indication stabilized by a gyroscope in order toeliminate the errors inherent in a magnetic needle. Not all of the new compasses, however, were able to eliminate theseinherent vagaries, but in the latest and most highly de- veloped form, the Gyrosyn, made by the Sperry GyroscopeCompany, and briefly described in our issue of October 3rd, I946, dead-beat unfluctuating indication is achieved. In essence, the operation of the Gyrosyn can be sum-marized as a direction-sensing element used to feed informa- tion to a gyroscope which accordingly adjusts the readings°f repeater indicators. It must be emphasized that the Gyro unit with pilot's indicator. Thebevel wheels, levelling torque motor, artd slaving indicator mechanism canbe seen clearly.
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