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Gyro compass
Jan 30, 2020 18:55:08 #
John Sh
Loc: Toronto, Australia
This is the innards of a gyro compass from a PBY5A Catalina.
I have focus stacked each side of the compass and set the two side by side.
P.s. this unit is in original condition and still works perfectly after almost 80 years.
I have focus stacked each side of the compass and set the two side by side.
P.s. this unit is in original condition and still works perfectly after almost 80 years.
Jan 30, 2020 19:19:10 #
Awesome photo! Was it used to drive an indicator on the panel or as part of an autopilot?
Jan 30, 2020 19:24:08 #
Awesome photo! Was it used to drive a heading indicator on the panel or as part of an autopilot?
Jan 30, 2020 19:27:53 #
John Sh
Loc: Toronto, Australia
tonyjag wrote:
Awesome photo! Was it used to drive an indicator on the panel or as part of an autopilot?
The compass rose was mounted directly on the face of this instrument. Normally they were started with the aircraft pointing in a preset direction and a push button on the front panel locked the gyro in position before it started to spin. There's a yellowish line on the left edge of the right photo, this is the sealant over part of the airway that drives the gyro.
Jan 30, 2020 19:37:15 #
So it was driven by air (engine vacuum or pump?) and not an electric motor.
Jan 30, 2020 19:53:12 #
John Sh
Loc: Toronto, Australia
tonyjag wrote:
So it was driven by air (engine vacuum or pump?) and not an electric motor.
Not sure where the air supply originated but I presume a small pump. The gyro was made of a perfectly balanced drum of solid brass with small 'teeth' cut into the centre of the drum and a concentrated air flow directed at the centre of the teeth. While ever the drum was spinning the gyro mechanism remained in the same position and the aircraft effectively moved around the gyro. Hope that helps.
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