Nov. 3, 1925. S. G.

MYERS
1,560,428
DRIVING MEANS FOR SHIPS' GYROSCOPES
Filed Sept. ll, i922

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 Patented Nov. 3, 1925. .
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
SHIERFIELD G. MYERs, OF FREEPORT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPERRY GYRO
SCOPE COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.
DRIVING MEANS FOR SHIPS' GYROSCOPEs.
Application filed September 11, 1922. serial No. 587,351.
To all whom, it may concern. . . .
Be it known that I, SHIERFIELD G. MYERs,
a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at Freeport, Long Island, in the
s county of Nassau and State of New York,
have invented certain new and useful lim
provements in Driving Means for Ships'
Gyroscopes, of which the following is a
specification.
10 This invention relates to gyroscopes for
ships of the type shown in Patent No.
1232619, dated July 10th, 1917, to Elmer A.
Sperry for ship stabilizing and rolling ap
paratus. As set forth in said patents, gyro
5 scopes of this type may be used either for
stabilizing a ship or for rolling it. In such
apparatus the precessional movement of the
main gyroscope is controlled by a preces
sion engine or auxiliary gyroscope. When
20 the main gyroscope is employed as a stab
ilizer, its natural precessional movement is
accelerated and retarded at proper times by
the precession motor. However, when the
main gyroscope is employed to roll the ship,
25 it must be precessed in the opposite direct
tion, that is, against its normal precessional
movement, due to the ship's roll. It is ob
vious that with the main gyroscope running
at the same high speed, it would require a
30 great deal more power to roll the ship than
to stabilize it. In fact, it has not hereto
fore been found practical to precess the main
gyroscope oppositely to roll the ship while
the main gyroscope was running at its high
35 speed, owing to the large power required by
the precession motor. It is also the present
practice to supply power for both the spin
ning motor and the precession motor by a
single turbo-generator set, so that in order
40 to obtain full voltage for the precession
imotor, when rolling the ship, full voltage
would also be supplied the spinning motor.
in the past, this condition has been met in
a manner by opening the circuit of the spin
45 ning motor for the main gyro rotor, and
permitting the rotor to coast, and after its
speed has reduced somewhat, precessing it
by means of the precessional motor. It is
of course understood that the main gyro
50 scope rotor commences to decelerate from
the moment the spinning motor circuit is
opened, but this deceleration is further ac
1,560,428
celerated by the unnatural precessional
movement of the main gyroscope when roll
ing the ship, in which case it is, of course, 55
performing the necessary Work to roll the
ship, in other words, the rotor is being re
tarded by its own gyroscopic forces. In
practice, it is found that these factors, to 60
gether with the bearing losses, reduce the
rotor speed several hundred R. P. M. in a
very short time. The result is that in view
of the decreasing speed of the main gyro
Scope rotor, an uneven rolling is obtained, 65
also, the speed of the rotor may be reduced
beyond the necessary or desired limit. The
period during which the main gyro. may so
operate is therefore limited, and it may be
necessary to again close the rotor circuit to
accelerate the rotor, thereby again varying 70
the periodicity of the ship's rolling, While
an even roll is highly desirable in all classes
of marine vessels, it is essential for naval
vessels equipped with modern gun-fire con 75
trol, in which system the angle through
which the ship rolls is a factor considered in
aiming the guns, and their firing is timed
to take place at certain angles. In addition
to these undesirable results, a further loss 80
in power and time is experienced when it is
desired to again operate the main gyroscope
at high speed as a stabilizer.
In order to overcome these objections, I
have provided the main gyroscope with a
multiple speed alternating current induc 85
tion motor, in which while normally the
high speed is employed, either of the speeds
may be employed for stabilizing the ship
and the low speed is employed for rolling
the ship. In the latter case, a fraction of 90
the full speed is preferably employed, say
A, or A thereof.
When supplying power to the system de
scribed by an alternating current turbo-gen
erator, which is the most efficient means and
that generally employed, it is imperative
that the turbo-generator be operated at
three-quarters to full speed, preferably, the
latter, in order that the generator, which
also supplies power for precession, shall de 100
liver current at full voltage to the preces
sion motor. By the arrangement outlined,
current at full voltage may at all times be
Supplied to the precession motor, and at the
 2 1,560,428
same time, the same current and voltage, or windings 6 and 7 may bear any desired rela
a fraction thereof may be Supplied to the tion to each other. Preferably the high
main gyroscope spinning motor. speed winding 6 has a small number of
This arrangement also permits the frac poles, say 4, and the low speed winding 7
is tional speed to be employed when starting has 3 or 4 times that number, say 12 or 16, ()
the main gyro, an obvious advantage. in order that the winding 7 may give a
My invention further permits the use of speed of A, or A of the speed given by
the main gyroscope rotor fly-wheel effect in winding 6. . -
averaging the load on the turbine during The circuit from the turbo-generator 1 to
() precession. At the instant the precession the spinning motor 5 is through leads 8 to a
motor starts, the heavy starting current will double
cause a reduction in the alternating current leads 8 throw
with
switch 9, arranged to connect
either conductors 10, leading
to the spinning motor, and at theid of the to high speed windings 6 of the spinning
precession movement, the precession motor. motor 5 or with conductors, 11, leading to the
5
may be used as a dynamic brake, which will low speed windings I of said motor. Cur
increase the current to the spinning motor, rent is supplied to the precession
that is, I employ the energy utilized in brak from the turbo-generator through amotor 3
circuit
ing the precession of the gyroscope when comprising leads 8 and conductors 12, which
operated to roll the ship to assist in driving
20 the rotor of the main gyroscope, and further circuit is controlled by a pair of relays 13, 85
14 for closing and reversing Said circuit re
utilize the energy of said rotor to aid the spectively.
precession motor whenever the peak load on tively operated The relays 13, 14, are respec
by the energization of oppo
the motor occurs. This of course was not sitely wound coils 13, 14, which are both
25
possible heretofore when the apparatus, was connected at one end to the positive side 15
used to roll the ship, since the circuit to the of
main gyroscope spinning motor was open at theira suitable source of direct current. At 9.
opposite ends the coils 13, 14 are con
such times.
My invention will be better understood throughtoathe
nected negative side 16 of said source,
circuit controlled by the auxiliary
from the following description taken incon
30 nection with the accompanying drawings, gyroscope 4. This gyro is diagrammatically
and its scope will be pointed out in the ap illustrated the construction and operation 9.
of such a device now being well known and
pended claims. shown in the patents above referred to.
In the drawings, illustrating what I now The circuit of said coils is further controlled
35
consider a preferred form of my invention, by a reversing switch 9. The switches 9
Fig. 1 shows the several units of the sys and 9 are arranged
tem in elevation, with parts indicated in other by a latch 9 toso, bethatlatched they
to each
may be
dash lines, in operative relation and a Wir operated as a single unit or individually.
ing diagram of the several consections and This type of switch is well known and
40 control devices therefor, and further description of its construction is not
Fig. 2 is
the mainasy
a wiring
gyroscope
diagram
spinning
of one type of believed to be necessary.
. . .'; motor.
Referring now to the drawings in which a suitable train ofmotor
The precession 3 is provided with
. Yny

1 represents an alternating current turbo ter driving a segmental gear gears 17, 18, 19 the lat
generator. 2 the main gyro. 3 the preces gyro. 2. The motor drives20 on the main
45
sional motor and 4 the auxiliary or control through a clutch 21, controlled by an gearssaid
gyro diagrammatically illustrated. The tromagnet 22, connected across the elec
ii)

main gyro 2, is provided with a spinning ductors 12 by conductors 23, 24. The cir
motor, diagrammatically indicated by dash cuit
50 lines 5 in Fig. 1, having two sets of wind
ings 6, 7, diagrammatically illustrated in
Fig. 2. These windings are respectively ar
'anged to give the spinning motor two
speeds, a high and a low speed both of which
lay be employed to spin the main gyro
rotor when it is being used as a stabilizer,
and the latter of which is employed to spin
said roto' when the main gyro is employed
to roll the ship. It is of course understood
60 that the main gyro is mounted in proper
supports crosswise on the ship, as indicated
by the arrow representing the fore, and aft:
line of the ship. The two speed spinning
motor may be of any conventional type, and
65 is not illustrated in detail since this type
of motor is well known in the art. The
con
comprising conductor 23, electromagnet
21 and conductor 24 is controlled by a relay
25, which in turn is controlled by the auxil
iary gyro 4. The construction of the pre
cession motor 3 which is of the A. C. in
duction type, is not shown in detail, as it is
Well known in the art.
Having described the principle elements
of my invention, its operation will be read
ily understood from a brief description.
Assuming that it is desired to start the
main gyro rotor, the switch 9 will be thrown
to connect conductors 8 and 11, in which
case the low speed windings 7 aire con
nected to the source and the rotor is started
at low speed. The switch may now be
thrown to connect conductors 8 with 10, in
which case the high speed windings 6 of the
 i560,428
Spinning motor are connected to the source,
and the rotor is driven at high speed. A
switch 26 has been provided to render the
auxiliary gyro. 4 inoperative, when desired,
which of course must be closed.
Should it now be desired to operate the
Imain gyroscope as a stabilizer, in which
case its rotoi may be driven at either high
or low speed, the switch 9 is thrown to con
nect either the high or low speed wiildings
with turbo-genei'ato' 1, as the case may be,
and the switch 9 is thrown upwardly to
close the circuit controlled by the auxiliary
gyro 4 for stabilizing. Of course, the Switch
26 is now also closed since the main gyro
rotor when stabilizing is normally ruin at
high speed and it is found desirable to con
nect the auxiliary gyro 4 for stabilizing
simultaneously with the starting of the main
gyro roto, the switches 9 and 9 are latched
to each other so that by one novement they
may be thrown upwardly simultaneously to
close the circuit of the high speed winding
of the Spinning motor 5 and to close the
25 circuit of the auxiliary gy to 4 for stabiliz
ing. Assuming that the roll of the ship
is such as to precess the gyroscopes to the
right. In this case, the auxiliary gyro 4
closes the circuit of coil 13 thei'eby actuat
ing relay 13 to close the circuit from the
turbo-generator to precession motor 3, which
drives the gear 19 anti-clock-wise to acceler
ate the piecession of gyro:cope 2. It is un
derstood that the relay 25 has been closed by
the precession of the auxiliary gyro 4, there
by energizing magnet 22 to operate the
clutch 21, in a Well known manner. As the
ship tends to roll in the opposite direction,
the control gyro 4 will piecess to the left,
40 thereby opening the circuits of 'elays 13 and
25, and clutch 21 is released. Continuing
its piecession to the left, the auxiliary gyro
4 closes the circuits of relays 14 and 25.
The latter relay again closes the circuit of
45 magnet 22 to actuate clutch 21 as in the pre
vious case, however, the relay 14, reverses the
circuit from the turbo-generator to preces
sion notor 3, which now Operates to acceler'-
ate the precession of the main gyroscope 2
in the opposite direction. This cycle of op
erations is repeated so long as the main
gyroscope 2 is Óperated as a stabilizer, and
as previously stated, it may be so operated
while the rotor is running at either its high
55 or low speed. - multiple speeds and means whereby the rotor
Should it be desired to employ the appa
ratiis described to roll the ship, the main
gyroscope must be precessed oppositely to
its normal piecession due to the rolling of
the ship, that is, the precession motor 3 must
how precess the main gyroscope exactly op
posite to the direction in which it precessed
when used as a stabilizer. In the latter case,
since the precession motor was precessing
the rain gyroscope in its normal direction
8
of travel, the load on the precession motor
was not so great, and it could operate with
the main gyro rotor running at full speed.
But in the present case, since the precession
in otoi" in ust overcome the gyroscopic forces,
it is necessary to reduce the speed of the
rotor, and it is accordingly run at its low
speed. Since the precession notor 3 must
I}{W Oper: e in the opposite direction, the
operatiig of Irelay: 18 and 14 is 'everged, 5
through the reversing Switch (). The
switches 9 and 9” may be thrown down
wardly similitaneously by a single operation
to reverse the circuit controlled by the aux S.
iliary gyro 4 and to close the low speed cir
cuit of the main gyro. The switches 9 and
9 having thus been moved to make the Bec
(essary Connections for 'olling the ship, the
operation of the several relays and auxiliary
gyro is similar to that described for stabi
lizing the ship. Should the ship be in stabie
equilibritin, the rolling operation may be
commenced by mantially precessing the aux
iliary gyro 4, it will be observed that, dar $30
ing the rolling operation, while a fraction
of the current is continuously supplied to
the main gyro, the full current is simulta
neously supplied to the precession notor 3.
which is now operating under its greatest
load. When the precession motor starts, the
heavy starting current causes : 'eduction in
the current to the spinning motor, without
perceptibly affecting the rotor which con
tinues to spin as a fly-wheel. At the end of O)
the precession movement of the main gyro
2, the piecession motor may be used as a
dynamic brake, thereby increasing the cur
rent, to the spinning motor.
While I have described my invention as
embodied in concrete form in accordance 05
with the provisions of the patent statutes,
it should be understood that I do not limit
iny invention thereto, since various modifi
sations thereof will suggest themselves to
those skilled in the art without departing O
from the spirit of my invention, the Scope
of which is set forth in the annexed claims.
Having described my invention, what I
claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat
ent is:
1. In a gyroscopic stabilizei for ships, the
combination with the rotor of the gyroscope,
of a multiple speed alternating current in
duction motor for spinning said rotor at
may be driven continuously at one speed
for rolling the ship and at a different speed
for stabilizing the ship.
2. in a gyroscope the combination with
the rotor, of a multiple speed induction mo
tor for spinning the Same, means for start
ing said rotor on a low speed winding and
means for running said rotor on a high
speed winding.
3. in combination, a source of electric 30
 1. l,560,428
energy, asaid
whereby gyroscope driven
gyroscope thereby,
may be driven means alternating said
at dif precessing current therefor, a motor for 60
gyroscope driven by said
ferent speeds, a precession motor driven by source and means for Siaultaneously con
said source for precessing said gyroscope, trolling the connection between said mo
S.
5 and means whereby said gyroscope may bc tors and said source.
-

driven at either of its speeds while the pre 10. In combination, a gyroscope having 65
cession motor is diiven at full voltage. a high and low speed spinning motor, a
4. The combination with a ship, of power Source of alternating current therefor, a no
means, a gyroscope driven thereby, ieans tor for precessing said gyroscope driven by
whereby said gyroscope inay be driven at said source and means for simultaneously
different speeds, a motor driven by said closing the high speed circuit of said spin 70
power neans for precessing said gyroscope ning motor and the circuit of said piecession
aither to stabilize or roll the ship, and aeans notor. -
whereby said gyroscope may be driven at 11. In combination, a gyroscope having a
either of its speeds while said motor is high and low speed spinning motor, a source
driven at full speed. of alternating current therefor; a motor for 75
5. in combination with power means, a precessing said gyroscope driven by said
gyroscope driven thereby and means where source and means for simultaneously closing
by said gyroscope may be driven at differ the low speed circuit of said spinning motor
2G
ent speeds, a motor driven by said power and reve'sing the circuit of said precession
means for accelerating the normal preces motor. 80
sion of said gyroscope or for piecessing said 12. In combination, a gyroscope having a
gyroscope oppositely to its normal preces high and a low speed spinning motor, a
sion, and means intermediate said power Source of alternating current therefor, a
means and said gyroscope whereby Said motor for precessing said gyroscope driven
gyro driving lineans may be controlled.
6. In combination, a gyroscope having a by said source and means for simultaneous 85
ly closing the high speed circuit of said spin
multiple speed induction motor, a source of ning motor and the circuit of said preces
alternating current therefor, a motor for sion motor in one position, and simul
precessing said gyroscope driven by said taneously closing the low speed circuit of
source, and means intermediate said source said spinning motor and reversing the cir 90
for controlling the direction of said latter
motor and operating it at full speed while cuit of said precession motor in another
position.
said multiple speed motor is operated at 13. The combination with a ship of power
y
any of its speeds. means, a gyroscope driven thereby, means
7. A rolling device for ships comprising whereby said gyroscope may be driven at 95
in combination a gyroscope having a mul different speeds, a motor driven by said
tiple speed spinning motor mounted on said power means for precessing said gyroscope
ship, a motor for precessing said gyroscope, either to stabilize or to roll the ship and
a source of alternating current for said mo means for simultaneously controlling both
tors, an auxiliary control gyroscope, and of said notors to stabilize the ship or to 00
nieans intermediate said second motor and roll the ship.
said source of current controlled by said 14. The combination with a ship of a
auxiliary gyroscope whereby said second no gyroscope for stabilizing or rolling the same
to may be run in either direction at full having a high and low speed spinning mo
voltage while said spinning motor is run tor, a source of alternating current therefor, 105
at either of its speeds.
8. A rolling device for ships comprising abymotor said
for precessing said gyroscope driven
source and means for simultaneous
in combination a main gyroscope having a
50 high and low speed spinning motor, a motor ly connecting the high speed winding of
for precessing said gyroscope, a source of said first motor and the precession motor to
current for said motors, an auxiliary control ship, source
said in One position to stabilize the 10
and in another position connecting the
gyroscope, and inneans controlled by said
55
auxiliary gyroscope whereby said second low speed winding of said first motor and
reversing the circuit of the precession motor
motor will move the main gyroscope in a to roll the ship.
direction to roll the ship while its spinning In testimony whereof I have affixed my 5
motor is running at low speed. signature.
9. In combination, a gyroscope having a
multiple speed induction motor, a source of SHIERFIELD G. MYERS.