Method for determining true meridian of an unmovable object on the earth and device for its implementation

Abstract

The technical solution provided enables it to determine true meridian of an unmovable object on the Earth, and when moving at constant velocity true track angle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The technical solution provided is explained and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 serves for showing vector components of angular velocity of the Earth rotation,

FIG. 2 a scheme of a device implementing the method provided, in particular, for determining true meridian of an unmovable moving object.

In the drawings the pressure pickups are not shown, and the points wherein determination of pressure is made by said pickups are shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The method provided is based on the fixation of the direction of vector of linear velocity by linear acceleration equal to zero to be determined by zero difference of pressures in the points located symmetrically around the vertical and induced rotating around it.

Said points are located in the similar inner cavities of the vessels similarly on the parallel straight lines located along the vertical.

By way of example, in the application there is provided a solution for determining true meridian of an unmovable object on the Earth. This enables it to determine true track angle when moving with constant velocity.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a plane of true meridian passing through the North Pole P_N and the South Pole P_S.

In the immovable point of the Earth located at the latitude φ, vector of angular velocity ω of the Earth rotation itself is resolved into two components: horizontal ω_ξ located in the direction true meridian and vertical ω_η located along the vertical.

In FIG. 2 there is shown a scheme of one of the possible devices implementing the method provided for determining true meridian of an unmovable object.

Said device comprises an electric motor 1, a device for determining horizontal acceleration 2 [2] and a control circuit 3 interconnected with each other.

The device 2 comprises two sealed miniature vessels filled with the flowing medium (liquid, gas or their mixture, asymmetrical contours 4 and 5 of the cross-sections of similar inner cavities whereof are similar and counter-oriented. Each of said vessels is provided with a pressure pickup, the signals whereof are provided to the differential scheme (differential block) 6, the signal whereof is provided to the control circuit 3.

The contours 4 and 5 comprise parallel straight lines containing upper and lower points (remaining as such, i.e. upper and lower with permissible tilting in the operating condition). On said lines there are similarly located points of determining pressure L₁ and L₂ to be determined by pressure pickups. The contours 4 and 5 are counter-oriented by locating along the horizontal the extreme points (the outermost) points of said counters shown in FIG. 2, they being superposed into one point (marked by the letter C) on either side from the points L₁ and L₂ (on either side from said parallel straight lines).

Said vessels are fastened on the axle of a rotor of an electric motor, it being located along the vertical (in FIG. 2 this axle is passing through the point C). They are fastened in such a way that said straight lines be parallel to the axle of a rotor of an electric motor.

As pressure pickups use can be made of any known pickups of such type, semiconductor type being preferable, whose specific resistance changes under the influence of pressure. Pressure pickups are not shown and there are shown points L₁ and L₂, wherein pressure determination is made by said pickups.

As a differential scheme (differential block) use can be made of an electrical bridge, a magnetic amplifier by the differential scheme or a scheme of difference of electrical parameters (active, capacitance or inductive resistances).

The control circuit comprises a switch-on/off button 7 with a spring 8, an electromagnet 9 and a relay 10.

In case in the plane of determination there acts an acceleration along the line of crossing said plane with the horizontal plane (along the axis of sensitivity ξ), it makes an influence on the horizontal column at length CL₁ and CL₂ in each vessel. Herewith, the pressure in one of the points L₁ and L₂ increases, and in another—either does not change or increases, accordingly. Thus, in this case at the output of the device 2 (at the output of the differential scheme 6) there occurs a signal. Such acceleration occurs with induced rotation of the vessels around the vertical (the plane of determination rotates wherewith as well), since, herewith, there changes a value of linear velocity in the direction of said line of crossing (the axis of sensitivity ξ). In particular, if the plane of determination is directed perpendicularly to true meridian, then said linear velocity is the highest possible, and if it is directed along true meridian, then said velocity is equal to zero.

Centripetal accelerations caused by the rotations with angular velocities ω_ξ and ω_η owing to the similarity of inner cavities of vessels, similarity of the location of the points L₁ and L₂ therein, are not expected to cause changes at the output of the device 2.

Centripetal accelerations caused by the rotations of a rotor of an electric motor are not expected to cause such changes either, since the points of determining pressure are located symmetrically relative to the axle of a rotor of an electric motor.

Thus, the signal at the output of the device 2 is expected to cause only linear acceleration acting along said line of crossing, it caused by the rotation with angular velocity ω_η and the rotation of a rotor of an electric motor.

The operation of the device implementing the method provided (FIG. 2) is given below.

When pushing a button 7, there is provided power supply to an electric motor 1. With rotating its rotor, there occurs linear acceleration acting along said line of crossing (along the axis of sensitivity ξ). Therefore, at the output of the differential scheme 6 there occurs a signal coming to the relay 10. The contacts of said relay close and it is through them that power supply is provided to the electromagnet which is considered to hold the switch-on/off button in “on” position. When in the process of rotating the plane of determination superposes with the direction of vector of linear velocity, said acceleration will become equal to zero, the relay 10 will be de-energized (made dead), its contacts will become broken, the electromagnet 9 will be de-energized, a button 7 under the influence of a spring 8 will return to the initial position, and a rotor of an electric motor will stop. Herewith, the plane of determination is expected to superpose with the direction of vector of linear velocity, thereby true meridian will be determined (it being perpendicular in this case to the plane of determination).

Novel features of the present technical solution are new solution for determining the direction of vector of linear velocity, the position of true meridian of an unmovable object on the Earth and true track angle with a moving object moving with constant velocity.

The main remarkable advantages and merits of the technical solution provided are as follows:

• • compared with the magnetic method there is independence of the operation from the electromagnetic and magnetic fields;
  • compared with the astronomic method there is independence from weather conditions, in particular, from the visibility of heavenly bodies without having any special knowledge of the location coordinates and the time of determinations;
  • compared with the gyroscopic method there is quick determination of the direction of true meridian of an unmovable object, the opportunity of applying on spacecrafts, simplicity, low cost, compactness, low weight, independence from the action of disturbing factors (in particular, vibrations, temperature, transverse accelerations, etc.);
  • an opportunity to use in high latitudes.

Notes

• • 1. In case of necessity, use can be made of amplifiers, correcting units (damping and others), a brake arrangement (in a electric motor) as well as transformation can be made of alternating current into direct current, and vice versa
  • 2. We are applying to you with request to give the names below to the inventions provided:
    • “Naumov, Method for determining true meridian on the Earth”,
    • “Naumov, Device for determining true meridian on the Earth”
  • 3. Due to the declining years of Mr. M. Naumov (born in 1926) we would be very obliged if you could reduce the terms of conducting the expertise of the application for the invention provided.

Claims

1. Method for determining true meridian of an unmovable object on the Earth comprising the following stages: location of the points of determining pressure of a device of horizontal acceleration symmetrically relative to the vertical,induced rotation of said points around the vertical,fixation of true meridian by zero signal of linear acceleration.

2. Device for determining true meridian of an unmovable object on the Earth comprising the following things interconnected with each other: an electric motor, the axis whereof located along the vertical,the device for determining horizontal acceleration, fastened therupon, containing points of determining pressure symmetrically located relative to said axis,a control circuit that realizes the fixation of true meridian by zero signal of linear acceleration received from the above mentioned device,a device for determining horizontal acceleration, the axis of sensitivity whereof, when switching off the rotation of the axle of an electric motor, being superposed with the direction perpendicular true meridian.

3. Device as set forth in claim 2, wherein a device for determining horizontal acceleration comprising: two sealed vessels filled with flowing medium, having in each of asymmetrical counter-oriented counters of the cross-sections of the inner cavities of the vessels, upper and lower points remaining in each of the counters as such within permissible tilting in the operating condition,pressure pickups connected with the vessels, points of determining pressure whereof being chosen similarly located in the inner cavities of the vessels on the parallel straight lines containing said upper and lower points,a differential scheme, said pickups being switched whereto, at the output whereof a signal of acceleration being taken off.

4. Device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the contour of the cross-section of the inner cavity of each vessel being chosen asymmetrical relative to the straight line of said contour, containing upper and lower points.

5. Device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said counter-orientation of asymmetrical contours of the cross-sections of the inner cavities of the vessels being implemented by location of the outermost along the horizontal points of said contours on either side from the points of determining pressure.

6. Device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the vessels being fastened on the axle of an electric motor located along the vertical so that said parallel straight lines be parallel to said axle and located symmetrically relative to it.

7. Device as set forth in claim 2, wherein a control circuit comprising interconnected switch-on/off buttons with a spring, an electromagnet and a relay, broken contacts whereof being switched to the circuit of said electromagnet.