gyrocompass
gy·ro·com·pass
G0330200 (jī′rō-kŭm′pəs, -kŏm′-)gyrocompass
(ˈdʒaɪrəʊˌkʌmpəs)gy•ro•com•pass
(ˈdʒaɪ roʊˌkʌm pəs)n.
| Noun | 1. |  gyrocompass - a compass that does not depend on magnetism but uses a gyroscope instead |
n.
gyrocompass
gyrocompass:
see gyroscopegyroscope, symmetrical mass, usually a wheel, mounted so that it can spin about an axis in any direction. When spinning, the gyroscope has special properties. Many spinning objects exhibit some of these properties; the rotation of the earth about its axis gives it the
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Gyrocompass
a mechanical indicator of the direction of the true (geographic) meridian, designed for determining the course of an object, as well as the azimuth (bearing) of the direction of orientation. The advantages of the gyrocompass as compared to a magnetic compass are that it indicates the direction of the geographic (rather than magnetic) meridian, its readings are affected considerably less by moving metallic masses (iron and steel) and by magnetic fields than those of a magnetic compass, and its accuracy is higher under conditions of maneuvering and oscillation of the object. The principle of operation of the gyrocompass is based on the utilization of the properties of a gyroscope and of the earth’s daily rotation. This idea was proposed by the French scientist J. Foucault.
The Foucault gyrocompass is a one-axis astatic gyroscope whose axis is movable in the horizontal plane. Because of the gyroscopic moment generated by the earth’s rotation, its axis tends to coincide with the plane of the meridian. Foucault’s gyrocompass was not used on moving objects that were subject to oscillations, but its basic idea was utilized in the development of some types of stationary gyrocompasses.
One- and two-rotor gyrocompasses based on the use of free gyroscopes are widely used on moving objects.
The single-rotor naval gyrocompass utilizes a free gyroscope whose center of gravity shifts in its equatorial plane below the suspension point—that is, a positional gyroscope. Depending on the method of generation of the pendulum effect, a distinction is made among gyrocompasses with a pendulum, with mercury vessels, and with indirect correction. In the pendulum gyrocompass (Figure 1), the rotor is enclosed in a chamber, with a weight attached to its lower part. The chamber is mounted in the outer gimbal suspension ring (not shown in Figure 1), whose axis of rotation is vertical. When the axis AB of the rotor is not in the plane of the meridian (when it is deflected to the east or west), it will deviate from the plane of the horizon because of the earth’s rotation, since the rotor, in accordance with the properties of a free gyroscope, tends to maintain its orientation relative to the stars. For example, if its end B deviates toward the east, it will rise, as if following the rise of the stars. Together with the axis AB, the chamber and weight will deviate with respect to the plane of the horizon. As a result, a moment of the force of gravity will be generated with respect to the suspension point, which will cause the precession of the axis AB toward the plane of the meridian. In its motion, the axis AB passes through the plane of the meridian, whereupon it begins to precess in the opposite direction under the influence of the gravity moment, and so on. After these oscillations have been extinguished by a special damping device, the axis AB becomes fixed in the plane of the meridian.
In a mercury-vessel gyrocompass (Figure 2), the rotor and the chamber are balanced in such a way that their common center of gravity coincides with the point of suspension. A system of interconnected vessels that are partially filled with mercury is attached to the chamber. A so-called foot connecting the vessels with the chamber is attached to the right-hand vessel. Upon deviation of the gyroscope’s axis from the plane of the horizon, an excess of mercury in one of the vessels causes the application to the gyrocompass of a gravity force moment analogous to the moment in the pendulum gyrocompass.
A gyrocompass with an indirect correction utilizes a free astatic gyroscope with a pendulum (accelerometer) installed in its chamber to record the angle of deviation of the gyroscope axis from the plane of the horizon. On the basis of the information concerning this angle, the instrument generates correction-moment signals, which are applied to the gyroscope by the corresponding moment transducers mounted on the axes of the gyroscope’s gimbal suspension. Similar instruments can also operate in the directional gyroscope mode.
The mercury-vessel gyrocompass is the more frequently used type of one-rotor gyrocompass.
The sensing element of the two-rotor gyrocompass (Figure 3)—the gyrosphere, or float—is a hollow sphere. The float contains two gyroscopes and a hydraulic stabilizer to damp the natural oscillations. The axes of the proper rotation of the gyroscopes are horizontal, whereas the axes of precession are vertical and are connected with the swivel mechanism by a coupler, which is connected to the float body by springs. In the initial state (when the rotors are stationary), the gyroscope’s axes form the angles є = 45° with the NS direction of the float. The center of gravity of the float is situated on its vertical axis below its geometric center, which generates the required pendulum moment, as in the one-rotor gyrocompass. The float is submerged in a liquid; therefore, only viscous friction occurs in the suspension. To provide stability of the gyrocompass during acceleration of the object, the parameters of the system are selected in such a way that the period of the float’s precession oscillations in the absence of damping is 84.4 min. The presence of two gyroscopes in the gyrocompass substantially reduces the errors of the instrument during the rolling of a ship. The error of a gyrocompass does not exceed several tenths of a degree of an arc when the ship is on a straight course with a constant speed. Gyrocompasses are widely used on naval vessels.
A variety of the gyrocompass, the azimuth gyrocompass, is designed for determining a ship’s course and its angles of inclination with respect to the plane of the horizon.
A. IU. ISHLINSKII and S. S. RIVKIN
gyrocompass
[′jī·rō‚käm·pəs]gyrocompass
gyrocompass
gyrocompass
- noun
Words related to gyrocompass
noun a compass that does not depend on magnetism but uses a gyroscope instead
Related Words
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- gyroscope
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