time-nuts@lists.febo.com

Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement

View all threads

OT - DC-10 gyros

BE
Bill Ezell
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 8:40 PM

Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :)

I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of
course, I had to buy it.

What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10
that was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag
with tail number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it,
and some other cool stuff.

What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of
electronics in one box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so.
Even better, it's a strapdown system. The actual gyro wheel is about the
size of your thumbnail. I've just started tracing things out, and I've
gotten the gyros to spin up. I really love mechanical gyros for some
reason, too bad there's not a gyro-nuts group. I'm going to have great
fun getting the package traced out and running.

So, to be a bit more topical, the package of course needs 28V 400Hz for
the gyros, 28VDC for something, and +/-15V for most of the electronics.

Question - anyone figured out some clever solution for the 400Hz power?
I faked it with a signal generator and power amp, but that's a bit
bulky. I'm thinking I'll use one of the class-D amp ICs and a simple
op-amp phase-shift sine generator.

Topical in a more abstract way, strapdown systems really are very
interesting. They require precise integration of the rate output over
time to derive velocity and position, and really weren't practical until
the 70's when small enough computers existed to do the requisite
calculations.  (I worked on the nav system for the Trident missile back
in my Draper Labs days).

--
Bill Ezell

They said 'Windows or better'
so I used Linux.

Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :) I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of course, I had to buy it. What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10 that was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag with tail number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it, and some other cool stuff. What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of electronics in one box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so. Even better, it's a strapdown system. The actual gyro wheel is about the size of your thumbnail. I've just started tracing things out, and I've gotten the gyros to spin up. I really love mechanical gyros for some reason, too bad there's not a gyro-nuts group. I'm going to have great fun getting the package traced out and running. So, to be a bit more topical, the package of course needs 28V 400Hz for the gyros, 28VDC for something, and +/-15V for most of the electronics. Question - anyone figured out some clever solution for the 400Hz power? I faked it with a signal generator and power amp, but that's a bit bulky. I'm thinking I'll use one of the class-D amp ICs and a simple op-amp phase-shift sine generator. Topical in a more abstract way, strapdown systems really are very interesting. They require precise integration of the rate output over time to derive velocity and position, and really weren't practical until the 70's when small enough computers existed to do the requisite calculations. (I worked on the nav system for the Trident missile back in my Draper Labs days). -- Bill Ezell ---- They said 'Windows or better' so I used Linux.
SH
steve heidmann
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 9:46 PM

How about one of those 2kw car stereo amps with a 555 input tone ?

--- On Wed, 3/27/13, Bill Ezell wje@quackers.net wrote:

From: Bill Ezell wje@quackers.net
Subject: [time-nuts] OT - DC-10 gyros
To: time-nuts@febo.com
Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2013, 1:40 PM

Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :)

I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of course, I had to buy it.

What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10 that was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag with tail number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it, and some other cool stuff.

What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of electronics in one box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so. Even better, it's a strapdown system. The actual gyro wheel is about the size of your thumbnail. I've just started tracing things out, and I've gotten the gyros to spin up. I really love mechanical gyros for some reason, too bad there's not a gyro-nuts group. I'm going to have great fun getting the package traced out and running.

So, to be a bit more topical, the package of course needs 28V 400Hz for the gyros, 28VDC for something, and +/-15V for most of the electronics.

Question - anyone figured out some clever solution for the 400Hz power? I faked it with a signal generator and power amp, but that's a bit bulky. I'm thinking I'll use one of the class-D amp ICs and a simple op-amp phase-shift sine generator.

Topical in a more abstract way, strapdown systems really are very interesting. They require precise integration of the rate output over time to derive velocity and position, and really weren't practical until the 70's when small enough computers existed to do the requisite calculations.  (I worked on the nav system for the Trident missile back in my Draper Labs days).

-- Bill Ezell

They said 'Windows or better'
so I used Linux.


time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

How about one of those 2kw car stereo amps with a 555 input tone ? --- On Wed, 3/27/13, Bill Ezell <wje@quackers.net> wrote: From: Bill Ezell <wje@quackers.net> Subject: [time-nuts] OT - DC-10 gyros To: time-nuts@febo.com Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2013, 1:40 PM Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :) I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of course, I had to buy it. What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10 that was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag with tail number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it, and some other cool stuff. What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of electronics in one box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so. Even better, it's a strapdown system. The actual gyro wheel is about the size of your thumbnail. I've just started tracing things out, and I've gotten the gyros to spin up. I really love mechanical gyros for some reason, too bad there's not a gyro-nuts group. I'm going to have great fun getting the package traced out and running. So, to be a bit more topical, the package of course needs 28V 400Hz for the gyros, 28VDC for something, and +/-15V for most of the electronics. Question - anyone figured out some clever solution for the 400Hz power? I faked it with a signal generator and power amp, but that's a bit bulky. I'm thinking I'll use one of the class-D amp ICs and a simple op-amp phase-shift sine generator. Topical in a more abstract way, strapdown systems really are very interesting. They require precise integration of the rate output over time to derive velocity and position, and really weren't practical until the 70's when small enough computers existed to do the requisite calculations.  (I worked on the nav system for the Trident missile back in my Draper Labs days). -- Bill Ezell ---- They said 'Windows or better' so I used Linux. _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
JF
J. Forster
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 9:53 PM

Watch eBay for a small static inverter. I got an Abbott one for under $50.
It takes 28 VDC and puts out 115VAC 400 Hz.

-John

===================

How about one of those 2kw car stereo amps with a 555 input tone ?

--- On Wed, 3/27/13, Bill Ezell wje@quackers.net wrote:

From: Bill Ezell wje@quackers.net
Subject: [time-nuts] OT - DC-10 gyros
To: time-nuts@febo.com
Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2013, 1:40 PM

Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :)

I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of course,
I had to buy it.

What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10
that was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag
with tail number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it,
and some other cool stuff.

What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of electronics
in one box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so. Even better,
it's a strapdown system. The actual gyro wheel is about the size of your
thumbnail. I've just started tracing things out, and I've gotten the gyros
to spin up. I really love mechanical gyros for some reason, too bad
there's not a gyro-nuts group. I'm going to have great fun getting the
package traced out and running.

So, to be a bit more topical, the package of course needs 28V 400Hz for
the gyros, 28VDC for something, and +/-15V for most of the electronics.

Question - anyone figured out some clever solution for the 400Hz power? I
faked it with a signal generator and power amp, but that's a bit bulky.
I'm thinking I'll use one of the class-D amp ICs and a simple op-amp
phase-shift sine generator.

Topical in a more abstract way, strapdown systems really are very
interesting. They require precise integration of the rate output over time
to derive velocity and position, and really weren't practical until the
70's when small enough computers existed to do the requisite
calculations.  (I worked on the nav system for the Trident missile back in
my Draper Labs days).

-- Bill Ezell

They said 'Windows or better'
so I used Linux.


time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to
https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to
https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

Watch eBay for a small static inverter. I got an Abbott one for under $50. It takes 28 VDC and puts out 115VAC 400 Hz. -John =================== > How about one of those 2kw car stereo amps with a 555 input tone ? > > --- On Wed, 3/27/13, Bill Ezell <wje@quackers.net> wrote: > > > From: Bill Ezell <wje@quackers.net> > Subject: [time-nuts] OT - DC-10 gyros > To: time-nuts@febo.com > Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2013, 1:40 PM > > > Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :) > > I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of course, > I had to buy it. > > What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10 > that was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag > with tail number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it, > and some other cool stuff. > > What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of electronics > in one box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so. Even better, > it's a strapdown system. The actual gyro wheel is about the size of your > thumbnail. I've just started tracing things out, and I've gotten the gyros > to spin up. I really love mechanical gyros for some reason, too bad > there's not a gyro-nuts group. I'm going to have great fun getting the > package traced out and running. > > So, to be a bit more topical, the package of course needs 28V 400Hz for > the gyros, 28VDC for something, and +/-15V for most of the electronics. > > Question - anyone figured out some clever solution for the 400Hz power? I > faked it with a signal generator and power amp, but that's a bit bulky. > I'm thinking I'll use one of the class-D amp ICs and a simple op-amp > phase-shift sine generator. > > Topical in a more abstract way, strapdown systems really are very > interesting. They require precise integration of the rate output over time > to derive velocity and position, and really weren't practical until the > 70's when small enough computers existed to do the requisite > calculations.  (I worked on the nav system for the Trident missile back in > my Draper Labs days). > > -- Bill Ezell > ---- > They said 'Windows or better' > so I used Linux. > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > >
PK
Poul-Henning Kamp
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 10:04 PM

For "thumbsized" gyros, the power-drain is probably very slight.

A class-D may or may not be a good idea, I'd worry about the
stability faced with a "weird" load like motors.

That said, I have been toturing one of these to no end, and
not managed to kill it yet:

http://classdaudio.com/amplifier-modules/ti-300-amplifier.html

Depending on the actual power-requirement, you can also consider
the NatSemi audio chips, for instance the LM3875 "gainclone".
It is basically a very good high-power op-amp.

--
Poul-Henning Kamp      | UNIX since Zilog Zeus 3.20
phk@FreeBSD.ORG        | TCP/IP since RFC 956
FreeBSD committer      | BSD since 4.3-tahoe
Never attribute to malice what can adequately be explained by incompetence.

For "thumbsized" gyros, the power-drain is probably very slight. A class-D may or may not be a good idea, I'd worry about the stability faced with a "weird" load like motors. That said, I have been toturing one of these to no end, and not managed to kill it yet: http://classdaudio.com/amplifier-modules/ti-300-amplifier.html Depending on the actual power-requirement, you can also consider the NatSemi audio chips, for instance the LM3875 "gainclone". It is basically a very good high-power op-amp. -- Poul-Henning Kamp | UNIX since Zilog Zeus 3.20 phk@FreeBSD.ORG | TCP/IP since RFC 956 FreeBSD committer | BSD since 4.3-tahoe Never attribute to malice what can adequately be explained by incompetence.
BC
Bob Camp
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 10:20 PM

Hi

The first question is "how much 400 Hz power do I need?". Without knowing if it's tens of amps (no, it's not…) or a tenth of an amp, it's a bit though to decide how much to spend on the solution.

Eight ohms at 28 volts would be just a bit under 4 amps. It's also right at 100 watts. I'd be very surprised it you need anywhere near that much current. You probably want a pure sine wave to keep everything happy. A lot of the simple inverters are "sort of" sine waves. I think I'd vote for something like an cheap audio amp driven by a nice clean / stable 400 Hz tone.

Bob

On Mar 27, 2013, at 4:40 PM, Bill Ezell wje@quackers.net wrote:

Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :)

I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of course, I had to buy it.

What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10 that was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag with tail number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it, and some other cool stuff.

What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of electronics in one box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so. Even better, it's a strapdown system. The actual gyro wheel is about the size of your thumbnail. I've just started tracing things out, and I've gotten the gyros to spin up. I really love mechanical gyros for some reason, too bad there's not a gyro-nuts group. I'm going to have great fun getting the package traced out and running.

So, to be a bit more topical, the package of course needs 28V 400Hz for the gyros, 28VDC for something, and +/-15V for most of the electronics.

Question - anyone figured out some clever solution for the 400Hz power? I faked it with a signal generator and power amp, but that's a bit bulky. I'm thinking I'll use one of the class-D amp ICs and a simple op-amp phase-shift sine generator.

Topical in a more abstract way, strapdown systems really are very interesting. They require precise integration of the rate output over time to derive velocity and position, and really weren't practical until the 70's when small enough computers existed to do the requisite calculations.  (I worked on the nav system for the Trident missile back in my Draper Labs days).

--
Bill Ezell

They said 'Windows or better'
so I used Linux.


time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

Hi The first question is "how much 400 Hz power do I need?". Without knowing if it's tens of amps (no, it's not…) or a tenth of an amp, it's a bit though to decide how much to spend on the solution. Eight ohms at 28 volts would be just a bit under 4 amps. It's also right at 100 watts. I'd be very surprised it you need anywhere near that much current. You probably want a pure sine wave to keep everything happy. A lot of the simple inverters are "sort of" sine waves. I think I'd vote for something like an cheap audio amp driven by a nice clean / stable 400 Hz tone. Bob On Mar 27, 2013, at 4:40 PM, Bill Ezell <wje@quackers.net> wrote: > Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :) > > I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of course, I had to buy it. > > What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10 that was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag with tail number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it, and some other cool stuff. > > What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of electronics in one box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so. Even better, it's a strapdown system. The actual gyro wheel is about the size of your thumbnail. I've just started tracing things out, and I've gotten the gyros to spin up. I really love mechanical gyros for some reason, too bad there's not a gyro-nuts group. I'm going to have great fun getting the package traced out and running. > > So, to be a bit more topical, the package of course needs 28V 400Hz for the gyros, 28VDC for something, and +/-15V for most of the electronics. > > Question - anyone figured out some clever solution for the 400Hz power? I faked it with a signal generator and power amp, but that's a bit bulky. I'm thinking I'll use one of the class-D amp ICs and a simple op-amp phase-shift sine generator. > > Topical in a more abstract way, strapdown systems really are very interesting. They require precise integration of the rate output over time to derive velocity and position, and really weren't practical until the 70's when small enough computers existed to do the requisite calculations. (I worked on the nav system for the Trident missile back in my Draper Labs days). > > -- > Bill Ezell > ---- > They said 'Windows or better' > so I used Linux. > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there.
TH
Tom Holmes
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 10:35 PM

Good points, Bob. At 400 Hz and low power, I'd think a decent LC low-pass
filter would be feasible for cleaning up any trash on the inverter output.
LC to minimize the series losses and provide a bit of peaking at 400 Hz.

Tom Holmes, N8ZM
Tipp City, OH
EM79

-----Original Message-----
From: time-nuts-bounces@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces@febo.com] On
Behalf Of Bob Camp
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 6:21 PM
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] OT - DC-10 gyros

Hi

The first question is "how much 400 Hz power do I need?". Without knowing

if it's

tens of amps (no, it's not.) or a tenth of an amp, it's a bit though to

decide how

much to spend on the solution.

Eight ohms at 28 volts would be just a bit under 4 amps. It's also right

at 100

watts. I'd be very surprised it you need anywhere near that much current.

You

probably want a pure sine wave to keep everything happy. A lot of the

simple

inverters are "sort of" sine waves. I think I'd vote for something like an

cheap

audio amp driven by a nice clean / stable 400 Hz tone.

Bob

On Mar 27, 2013, at 4:40 PM, Bill Ezell wje@quackers.net wrote:

Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :)

I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of

course, I had

to buy it.

What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10

that

was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag with

tail

number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it, and some

other

cool stuff.

What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of

electronics in one

box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so. Even better, it's a

strapdown

system. The actual gyro wheel is about the size of your thumbnail. I've

just started

tracing things out, and I've gotten the gyros to spin up. I really love

mechanical

gyros for some reason, too bad there's not a gyro-nuts group. I'm going to

have

great fun getting the package traced out and running.

So, to be a bit more topical, the package of course needs 28V 400Hz for

the

gyros, 28VDC for something, and +/-15V for most of the electronics.

Question - anyone figured out some clever solution for the 400Hz power?

I

faked it with a signal generator and power amp, but that's a bit bulky.

I'm thinking

I'll use one of the class-D amp ICs and a simple op-amp phase-shift sine
generator.

Topical in a more abstract way, strapdown systems really are very

interesting.

They require precise integration of the rate output over time to derive

velocity and

position, and really weren't practical until the 70's when small enough

computers

existed to do the requisite calculations.  (I worked on the nav system for

the

Trident missile back in my Draper Labs days).

--
Bill Ezell

They said 'Windows or better'
so I used Linux.


time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to
https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to
https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

Good points, Bob. At 400 Hz and low power, I'd think a decent LC low-pass filter would be feasible for cleaning up any trash on the inverter output. LC to minimize the series losses and provide a bit of peaking at 400 Hz. Tom Holmes, N8ZM Tipp City, OH EM79 > -----Original Message----- > From: time-nuts-bounces@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces@febo.com] On > Behalf Of Bob Camp > Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 6:21 PM > To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement > Subject: Re: [time-nuts] OT - DC-10 gyros > > Hi > > The first question is "how much 400 Hz power do I need?". Without knowing if it's > tens of amps (no, it's not.) or a tenth of an amp, it's a bit though to decide how > much to spend on the solution. > > Eight ohms at 28 volts would be just a bit under 4 amps. It's also right at 100 > watts. I'd be very surprised it you need anywhere near that much current. You > probably want a pure sine wave to keep everything happy. A lot of the simple > inverters are "sort of" sine waves. I think I'd vote for something like an cheap > audio amp driven by a nice clean / stable 400 Hz tone. > > Bob > > On Mar 27, 2013, at 4:40 PM, Bill Ezell <wje@quackers.net> wrote: > > > Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :) > > > > I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of course, I had > to buy it. > > > > What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10 that > was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag with tail > number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it, and some other > cool stuff. > > > > What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of electronics in one > box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so. Even better, it's a strapdown > system. The actual gyro wheel is about the size of your thumbnail. I've just started > tracing things out, and I've gotten the gyros to spin up. I really love mechanical > gyros for some reason, too bad there's not a gyro-nuts group. I'm going to have > great fun getting the package traced out and running. > > > > So, to be a bit more topical, the package of course needs 28V 400Hz for the > gyros, 28VDC for something, and +/-15V for most of the electronics. > > > > Question - anyone figured out some clever solution for the 400Hz power? I > faked it with a signal generator and power amp, but that's a bit bulky. I'm thinking > I'll use one of the class-D amp ICs and a simple op-amp phase-shift sine > generator. > > > > Topical in a more abstract way, strapdown systems really are very interesting. > They require precise integration of the rate output over time to derive velocity and > position, and really weren't practical until the 70's when small enough computers > existed to do the requisite calculations. (I worked on the nav system for the > Trident missile back in my Draper Labs days). > > > > -- > > Bill Ezell > > ---- > > They said 'Windows or better' > > so I used Linux. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to > > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > > and follow the instructions there. > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there.
LM
Lee Mushel
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 10:43 PM

Great to know there's someone around who loves complex electro-mechanical
systems!  I thought the population had dropped to zero!

Regards,

Lee
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Ezell" wje@quackers.net
To: time-nuts@febo.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 2:40 PM
Subject: [time-nuts] OT - DC-10 gyros

Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :)

I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of course,
I had to buy it.

What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10
that was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag
with tail number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it,
and some other cool stuff.

What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of electronics
in one box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so. Even better,
it's a strapdown system. The actual gyro wheel is about the size of your
thumbnail. I've just started tracing things out, and I've gotten the gyros
to spin up. I really love mechanical gyros for some reason, too bad
there's not a gyro-nuts group. I'm going to have great fun getting the
package traced out and running.

Great to know there's someone around who loves complex electro-mechanical systems! I thought the population had dropped to zero! Regards, Lee ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Ezell" <wje@quackers.net> To: <time-nuts@febo.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 2:40 PM Subject: [time-nuts] OT - DC-10 gyros > Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :) > > I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of course, > I had to buy it. > > What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10 > that was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag > with tail number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it, > and some other cool stuff. > > What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of electronics > in one box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so. Even better, > it's a strapdown system. The actual gyro wheel is about the size of your > thumbnail. I've just started tracing things out, and I've gotten the gyros > to spin up. I really love mechanical gyros for some reason, too bad > there's not a gyro-nuts group. I'm going to have great fun getting the > package traced out and running.
PG
Peter Gottlieb
Wed, Mar 27, 2013 10:47 PM

Yeah I'd join a gyro-nuts group.  I have a shelf full of weird gyros, a stable
platform, other gyro stuff.  I made a little power supply to make 28 volts 3
phase 400 Hz, found it in an app note, for running a set of three tiny rate
gyros I picked up.  I'll go dig it out and let you know.

Peter

On 3/27/2013 4:40 PM, Bill Ezell wrote:

Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :)

I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of course, I
had to buy it.

What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10 that
was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag with tail
number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it, and some other
cool stuff.

What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of electronics in
one box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so. Even better, it's a
strapdown system. The actual gyro wheel is about the size of your thumbnail.
I've just started tracing things out, and I've gotten the gyros to spin up. I
really love mechanical gyros for some reason, too bad there's not a gyro-nuts
group. I'm going to have great fun getting the package traced out and running.

So, to be a bit more topical, the package of course needs 28V 400Hz for the
gyros, 28VDC for something, and +/-15V for most of the electronics.

Question - anyone figured out some clever solution for the 400Hz power? I
faked it with a signal generator and power amp, but that's a bit bulky. I'm
thinking I'll use one of the class-D amp ICs and a simple op-amp phase-shift
sine generator.

Topical in a more abstract way, strapdown systems really are very interesting.
They require precise integration of the rate output over time to derive
velocity and position, and really weren't practical until the 70's when small
enough computers existed to do the requisite calculations.  (I worked on the
nav system for the Trident missile back in my Draper Labs days).

Yeah I'd join a gyro-nuts group. I have a shelf full of weird gyros, a stable platform, other gyro stuff. I made a little power supply to make 28 volts 3 phase 400 Hz, found it in an app note, for running a set of three tiny rate gyros I picked up. I'll go dig it out and let you know. Peter On 3/27/2013 4:40 PM, Bill Ezell wrote: > Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :) > > I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of course, I > had to buy it. > > What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10 that > was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag with tail > number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it, and some other > cool stuff. > > What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of electronics in > one box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so. Even better, it's a > strapdown system. The actual gyro wheel is about the size of your thumbnail. > I've just started tracing things out, and I've gotten the gyros to spin up. I > really love mechanical gyros for some reason, too bad there's not a gyro-nuts > group. I'm going to have great fun getting the package traced out and running. > > So, to be a bit more topical, the package of course needs 28V 400Hz for the > gyros, 28VDC for something, and +/-15V for most of the electronics. > > Question - anyone figured out some clever solution for the 400Hz power? I > faked it with a signal generator and power amp, but that's a bit bulky. I'm > thinking I'll use one of the class-D amp ICs and a simple op-amp phase-shift > sine generator. > > Topical in a more abstract way, strapdown systems really are very interesting. > They require precise integration of the rate output over time to derive > velocity and position, and really weren't practical until the 70's when small > enough computers existed to do the requisite calculations. (I worked on the > nav system for the Trident missile back in my Draper Labs days). >
JF
J. Forster
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 12:18 AM

An appropriate (but small) Group already exists:

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Aerospace_Hardware_Collectors_Group/

-John

=======================

Yeah I'd join a gyro-nuts group.  I have a shelf full of weird gyros, a
stable
platform, other gyro stuff.  I made a little power supply to make 28 volts
3
phase 400 Hz, found it in an app note, for running a set of three tiny
rate
gyros I picked up.  I'll go dig it out and let you know.

Peter

On 3/27/2013 4:40 PM, Bill Ezell wrote:

Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :)

I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of
course, I
had to buy it.

What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10
that
was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag with
tail
number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it, and some
other
cool stuff.

What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of
electronics in
one box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so. Even better,
it's a
strapdown system. The actual gyro wheel is about the size of your
thumbnail.
I've just started tracing things out, and I've gotten the gyros to spin
up. I
really love mechanical gyros for some reason, too bad there's not a
gyro-nuts
group. I'm going to have great fun getting the package traced out and
running.

So, to be a bit more topical, the package of course needs 28V 400Hz for
the
gyros, 28VDC for something, and +/-15V for most of the electronics.

Question - anyone figured out some clever solution for the 400Hz power?
I
faked it with a signal generator and power amp, but that's a bit bulky.
I'm
thinking I'll use one of the class-D amp ICs and a simple op-amp
phase-shift
sine generator.

Topical in a more abstract way, strapdown systems really are very
interesting.
They require precise integration of the rate output over time to derive
velocity and position, and really weren't practical until the 70's when
small
enough computers existed to do the requisite calculations.  (I worked on
the
nav system for the Trident missile back in my Draper Labs days).


time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to
https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

An appropriate (but small) Group already exists: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Aerospace_Hardware_Collectors_Group/ -John ======================= > Yeah I'd join a gyro-nuts group. I have a shelf full of weird gyros, a > stable > platform, other gyro stuff. I made a little power supply to make 28 volts > 3 > phase 400 Hz, found it in an app note, for running a set of three tiny > rate > gyros I picked up. I'll go dig it out and let you know. > > Peter > > On 3/27/2013 4:40 PM, Bill Ezell wrote: >> Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :) >> >> I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of >> course, I >> had to buy it. >> >> What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10 >> that >> was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag with >> tail >> number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it, and some >> other >> cool stuff. >> >> What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of >> electronics in >> one box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so. Even better, >> it's a >> strapdown system. The actual gyro wheel is about the size of your >> thumbnail. >> I've just started tracing things out, and I've gotten the gyros to spin >> up. I >> really love mechanical gyros for some reason, too bad there's not a >> gyro-nuts >> group. I'm going to have great fun getting the package traced out and >> running. >> >> So, to be a bit more topical, the package of course needs 28V 400Hz for >> the >> gyros, 28VDC for something, and +/-15V for most of the electronics. >> >> Question - anyone figured out some clever solution for the 400Hz power? >> I >> faked it with a signal generator and power amp, but that's a bit bulky. >> I'm >> thinking I'll use one of the class-D amp ICs and a simple op-amp >> phase-shift >> sine generator. >> >> Topical in a more abstract way, strapdown systems really are very >> interesting. >> They require precise integration of the rate output over time to derive >> velocity and position, and really weren't practical until the 70's when >> small >> enough computers existed to do the requisite calculations. (I worked on >> the >> nav system for the Trident missile back in my Draper Labs days). >> > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > >
JL
J. L. Trantham
Thu, Mar 28, 2013 1:26 AM

Is this part of an HSI (horizontal situation indicator), ADI (attitude
director indicator), INS (inertial navigation system), or autopilot?  Are
the bearings dust?

Sounds like fun to play with though.  What do you plan to do with it?

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: time-nuts-bounces@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces@febo.com] On
Behalf Of Bill Ezell
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 3:40 PM
To: time-nuts@febo.com
Subject: [time-nuts] OT - DC-10 gyros

Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :)

I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of course, I
had to buy it.

What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10
that was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag with
tail number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it, and some
other cool stuff.

What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of electronics in
one box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so.
Even better, it's a strapdown system. The actual gyro wheel is about the
size of your thumbnail. I've just started tracing things out, and I've
gotten the gyros to spin up. I really love mechanical gyros for some reason,
too bad there's not a gyro-nuts group. I'm going to have great fun getting
the package traced out and running.

So, to be a bit more topical, the package of course needs 28V 400Hz for the
gyros, 28VDC for something, and +/-15V for most of the electronics.

Question - anyone figured out some clever solution for the 400Hz power?
I faked it with a signal generator and power amp, but that's a bit bulky.
I'm thinking I'll use one of the class-D amp ICs and a simple op-amp
phase-shift sine generator.

Topical in a more abstract way, strapdown systems really are very
interesting. They require precise integration of the rate output over time
to derive velocity and position, and really weren't practical until the 70's
when small enough computers existed to do the requisite calculations.  (I
worked on the nav system for the Trident missile back in my Draper Labs
days).

--
Bill Ezell

They said 'Windows or better'
so I used Linux.


time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to
https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

Is this part of an HSI (horizontal situation indicator), ADI (attitude director indicator), INS (inertial navigation system), or autopilot? Are the bearings dust? Sounds like fun to play with though. What do you plan to do with it? Joe -----Original Message----- From: time-nuts-bounces@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces@febo.com] On Behalf Of Bill Ezell Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 3:40 PM To: time-nuts@febo.com Subject: [time-nuts] OT - DC-10 gyros Well, I can come up with something topical, read on. :) I saw a 'Bendix yaw-rate gyro' on FleaBay recently for $14.50. Of course, I had to buy it. What I got was the yaw-rate gyro package from a Northwest Airlines DC-10 that was stripped for parts around 2000. The gyro included the pull tag with tail number, the license number of the A&P mechanic that pulled it, and some other cool stuff. What it turned out to really be is two gyros with two sets of electronics in one box about 6" x 2" x 5" box, all vintage '80s or so. Even better, it's a strapdown system. The actual gyro wheel is about the size of your thumbnail. I've just started tracing things out, and I've gotten the gyros to spin up. I really love mechanical gyros for some reason, too bad there's not a gyro-nuts group. I'm going to have great fun getting the package traced out and running. So, to be a bit more topical, the package of course needs 28V 400Hz for the gyros, 28VDC for something, and +/-15V for most of the electronics. Question - anyone figured out some clever solution for the 400Hz power? I faked it with a signal generator and power amp, but that's a bit bulky. I'm thinking I'll use one of the class-D amp ICs and a simple op-amp phase-shift sine generator. Topical in a more abstract way, strapdown systems really are very interesting. They require precise integration of the rate output over time to derive velocity and position, and really weren't practical until the 70's when small enough computers existed to do the requisite calculations. (I worked on the nav system for the Trident missile back in my Draper Labs days). -- Bill Ezell ---- They said 'Windows or better' so I used Linux. _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.