GRAVITY CONTROLLED GYROSCOPE

A weighted pendulum or some other device

senses that the north end of the gyroscope is tilted up or down and applies a force to axis to make it precess in the correct direction.

GRAVITY CONTROLLED GYROSCOPE

When the north end of the spin axis is tilted upwards, that is, when it is pointing above the horizontal, a vertical force is applied to it in such a direction so as to make the north end precess to the left. When the north end of the axis is tilted downwards, a vertical force is applied to it in such a direction so as to make the north end precess to the right or east.

GRAVITY CONTROLLED GYROSCOPE

The effect of gravity control is to make the gyroscope move round a central position. The degree of flatness depends upon the amount of precession, which depends on the force applied to the end of the axis.

 The ellipse is always very flat which is why we can say that gyroscope is always nearly horizontal. The vertical direction of the force applied to the north end of a gyroscope depends on which way round the gyroscope is spinning when looked at from a direction facing the north end of the axis or rotor.

 If gyro is turning anticlockwise when viewed from north, then an upward tilt of the north end requires a downward force to be applied to make it precess to the west. If gyro is turning clockwise when viewed from north, then an upward tilt of the north end requires a upward force to be applied to make it precess to the west.

Meridian

The north end of the gyro spin axis is initially pointing at P, which is above the earths horizontal and to the east of the meridian. The gravity control therefore exerts a torque T about the gyros horizontal axis.

Earths Horizontal

Meridian

The Gyro commences to precess towards the west. Because the north end the gyro is east of the meridian, earth rotation results in an upward tilt of the gyro.

Earths Horizontal

Meridian

As the north end of the gyro spin axis passes west of the meridian, the upward tilt due to earth rotation becomes a downward tilt. Gravity control precesses gyro westward until it reaches earths horizon.

Earths Horizontal

Meridian

Below the earths horizontal, the gravity control exerts a torque in opposite direction and precession to the east results. North end still west of meridian,it tilts downward.

Earths Horizontal

Meridian

In the east of meridian, tilt is upwards. Gravity control precesses the gyro towards the east until it reaches earths horizontal, and then again towards west and tilting upwards till point P to complete its ellipse about north .

Earths Horizontal

Gravity Controlled into a Gyro Compass

To turn the gravity controlled Gyro into a Gyro Compass we need to stop the north end of the spin axis from describing a flat elipse and to settle on a meridian. We need a dampening precession.