Sperry MkI Gyro Vertical

Let me know if it does turn anything up. 🙂

Thanks for pointing out that document – duly purchased!
Even if it doesn’t cover this particular gyro, I’m sure it will be very interesting.
Andy

Bump.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm//180798048515

Worth a tenner to see if it might yield some info?

Could it also be part of an early autopilot system? Wondering if it’s used to pneumatically actuate linkages to keep the aircraft level.

I don’t think it is Mk XIV (T1) Bombsight since the Roll gyro in the Sighting Head and the pitch Gyro in ther Computor both had mechanical output shafts that controlled the sighting glass in the Sighting Head and the interrupter blade in the computor. And the vacuum connection was next to the large air intake filter.

Never say never Andy,

All that I can say for certain is that it’s not fitted to the Link

….

but as to other airborne use and being specific Lancaster, I would have a good look at T1 bombsights as I’ve seen similar casings in both the computor (short case version) and the sight head (long case version).

I have no real reference material for the T1 components but would give the T1 and bombsights in general a look for use of the Mk.I Vertical Gyro.

Regards
Ross

Ross, thanks for your reply, I was beginning to think that the output must be signalled pneumatically. Not a technology I am familiar with! My aircraft career began with Tornado, and my main interest these days is WW2-era comms and radar systems, particularly as fitted to the Lancaster.
Assuming this gyro wasn’t used in an airborne application, where might it have been used?
Andy

Cheers for the detail photos Andy,

Convinced that it is not Link fit.

Looks like crate or shallow box mounted. Sides of the box extending up to the paint line across the manifold block and with clearance round the bottom filters. Face support via a hoop and possible rear foot. Makes it similar to modern VG fits.

Centre is vacuum connection to spin the gyro up via a jet nozzle fed from the rear sintered filter.

Left and right connections are to internal needle valves (external sintered filters/orifice to atmosphere to prevent full vacuum being drawn when closed down) which gives a transmission signal of casing analogue deviation from gyro initial position to a remote location.

Either both roll and pitch as OneEighthBit suggests or + and – of either roll or pitch.

No requirement to transmit roll and pitch as a vacuum in the Link, different methods are used,

Regards
Ross

Attached are some pictures which show the connections more clearly, and the back which has, under the cardboard, a filter and vent.
Andy

I have never been able to find confirmation that this was fitted to any version of the Link.

The logo and upper section strongly suggest mounting where it can be readily seen but the connections below the display would negate flush mounting on and aircraft type panel except along the extreme bottom edge.

No Air Ministry section reference for an instrument manufactured for a batch in 1943.

Wording suggests that this is one of a two or more instrument package, eg Directional Gyro + Vertical Gyro, but for aircraft the Vertical Gyro is more commonly in the form of an Artificial Horizon.

The US versions of the early mark Link (C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5, E-1, E-2) all show Directional Gyro and AH combinations in period manuals.

The RAF use was a mixture of some US C and E-2 versions and later some home produced D-1 type.

The D-1 type used a pendulum AH c/w oil dash pots, was not gyro operated and had no electrical/vacuum connection.

The Pre War/Early War Sperry flight system for civil airliners conformed to DG and AH combination but combined adjacent to each other in one instrument case.

The instrument in the picture seems to have pneumatic connections but again too many for normal aircraft operation (connection to suction and rear mounted filter vent to atmosphere). The three connections possibly Suction, Atmosphere and ?

Try putting a flexible pipe onto each connection in turn and putting the other end to the nozzle of a domestic hoover. Do not make a seal to the nozzle leave plenty of gap to allow air bleed, then gradually increase the applied vac by putting your hand between flexible pipe and the nozzle, that way you will not damage by applying too much vac and control in easy by opening or closing your fingers.

Try each connection in turn.

Regards
Ross

That’s what is puzzling me – there is no obvious electrical connection, but three connections which I am guessing are pneumatic. The front is dominated by the name, rather than it being easy to see what is behind the glass.
Andy

As I understand it, it’s not a cockpit instrument as such and basically transmits a signal dictating how far of vertical in two axis the unit is. I would imagine, in the context of a link trainer, it therefore provides an electrical indication of the pitch and roll of the link trainer fuselage.

Sorry, that instrument is not included in any of the documentation that I have.
Regards, Terry

Hi Andy,
Send Forumite:- Terry P. a pm, he could well have. I’ll prime him for you.

Bill T.

That’s the one!
What I need now are some details of it, ideally a manual…………….
Andy

Ah, not what I was expecting

One of these? Out of a Link trainer I believe.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]229523[/ATTACH]

I am guessing that the 43 may be the date? A picture would help.