GYRO COMPASS

The Free Gyroscope

This consists of a rotor, supported in such a way that it is free to have its spin axis pointing in
any direction. (the free gyroscope is also referred to as the sensitive element.)
The method of support for the gyroscope must therefore provide three degrees of freedom:

freedom to spin about its own axis;

freedom to tilt about a horizontal axis;

freedom to turn in azimuth about a vertical axis.

A free gyroscope has 2 properties which

are used in the construction of the gyro
compass:

Gyroscopic Inertia;

Precession.

Gyroscopic Inertia (sometimes referred to

as rigidity in space)
The gyro spin axis maintains its direction in space no matter how the support system may be
moved. Hence the spin axis can be considered to be pointing at a fixed star in space and will
experience an apparent motion due to the rotation of the earth, i.e. it will follow the
movement of a star on the celestial sphere.
The inertia of the gyro depends on:

the mass of the spinning rotor - the greater the mass the greater the inertia;

the mass distribution the further the mass from the axis then the greater the inertia;

the rate of spin the faster the spin the greater the inertia.

Precession
This is the resultant motion which is produced by combining the movement of the rotor spin
with that of the applied force.
Precession always acts at 90 to the direction of applied force.
To determine the direction of precession rotate the applied force 90 in the direction of the
rotor spin.

The Effects Of The Earths Motion On A Free Gyroscope

Due to the gyroscopic inertia of a free gyroscope the spin axis will remain pointing in a fixed
direction in space, i.e. towards a star on the celestial sphere. As the earth rotates on its axis
fixed stars in space appear to move. This movement is noticed as a change in altitude and
azimuth, resulting in the star appearing to trace out a circular path. Depending on the
observers latitude and the declination of the star, the circular path traced out by the star may
either wholly be above the horizon or may be carried below the horizon at some stage.

If a star appears to show this movement then the spin axis of a free gyroscope will also trace
out a circular path as it remains pointing at the star.
The movement of a star can be described in terms of altitude and azimuth. The terms used
to describe the same movement of the spin axis of a free gyroscope are tilt and drift.
Controlling The Gyro
The spin axis of a freely suspended gyro traces out a circular path as it remains pointing in a
fixed direction in space, i.e. the apparent movement due to the earths rotation. The
requirements of a gyro compass are that the spin axis should point in a fixed direction, True
North, 000T.
In order for the gyroscope to do this it must be made to:

seek North;

settle and remain pointing North.

North Seeking
Gravity is used to apply a force to make the free gyroscope North seeking.
This method of making the gyroscope North seeking is termed Gravity Control.
The principle may be shown by suspending a weight on the spin axis.

It has the effect of converting the circular path traced out by the spin axis into an elliptical
path. The result is that the spin axis oscillates backwards and forwards across the meridian but
does not settle and point in a fixed direction.

The method of achieving gravity control varies depending on the gyro manufacturer.

North Settling
In order to make the gyro settle and point in a fixed direction, i.e. 000T, it is necessary to
impose a further precession which will damp out the gravity controlled elliptical path traced
out by the spin axis.
This method of making the gyroscope North settling is termed Damping.
There are 2 ways of achieving damping:

Damping in azimuth - when the spin axis moves out of the meridian the damping
precession opposes this movement, bringing the spin axis back to the meridian.

Damping in tilt - when the spin axis moves out of the horizontal the damping precession
opposes this movement, bringing the spin axis back to the horizontal.

Effects Of Gravity Control & Damping

The gyro does not instantaneously settle on North when switched on. The gyro must be
allowed sufficient time to settle on North. Modern gyros require approximately 30 minutes to
become fully operational.

Latitude, Course & Speed Error

The rotation of the earth imposes an apparent force on the free gyroscope. The effect of this
force is dependent on the speed of the earths rotation. The speed of the earths rotation varies
with latitude (900 x cosine latitude).
The movement of the ship also imposes apparent forces on the free gyroscope. These forces
are dependent on the course and speed of the ship. The effect of the ships course is very small
and can be ignored without down grading the accuracy of the gyro.
The overall effect of the these errors can be calculated and applied in the form of a gyro error.
However it is more usual now that the gyro incorporates a torque motor to oppose these
forces, thereby cancelling out the error. The torque motor applies the correct force, dependent
on the latitude and speed of the ship. Some gyros require the latitude and speed of the ship to
be manually entered and adjusted as and when required. Modern gyros have automatic
latitude and speed inputs from the G.P.S.
Follow-up System
The purpose of the Follow-up system is to ensure that the North end of the gyro card remains
aligned to the direction of the spin axis, i.e. it transfers the movement of the free gyroscope
relative to the ships head to the gyro card.
The Follow-up system may also, depending on the free gyroscope suspension system used,
ensure that there is no twisting of the suspension wire, which would result in unwanted forces.

Transmitter System
The Transmitter system relays any changes in heading at the master gyro to the repeaters.
The master gyro feeds information to: