Abstract
MESSRS. ELLIOT BROTHERS, the English cannot rest in the axis is pointing north and south very nearly, and the direction of rotation is in the same direction as that of the earth. For if the axis should be in any other direction the rotation of the earth will, through the elastic constraint, tend to elevate one end of the axis and depress the other, and under this constraint the axis will precess towards the north and south direction. When, however, this direction is reached, the axis will be neither exactly level nor at rest, and the fnotion would, like a pendulum, continue as far to the other side if some system of damping were not introduced. In the Anschiitz gyro compass the gyro wheel is supported by a hollow steel ring immersed in mercury and with the centre of flotation a little above the centre of gravity, thus giving the necessary elastic constraint to the axis. The whole floating system (Fig. i) is located by the compound piece, S, T, the makers of the Anschiitz gyro compass, are to be congratulated on the publication of an admirable account of the principle, construction, and practical use of this, the newest and most marvellous of all applications of the gyrostatic principle to a useful purpose. This book is chiefly translated from the German publication by Anschiitz and Co., but the more mathematical part, due originally to Herr M. Schuler, has been modified by Mr. Harold Crabtree and Mr. Alfred Lodge so as to be more in accord with English mathematical usage. Commander Chetwynd and Commander Marston have also assisted in making those parts which deal with practice as useful as possible. With such skilled collaboration and with so admirable an. original to work upon, it is not surprising that the result is so charming and instructive.
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References
The Anschtz Gyro Compass. History, Description, Theory. Practical Use. Pp. ii + 109. (London: Elliott Brothers, 1910.)
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BOYS, C. The Gyrostatic Compass 1 . Nature 87, 83–84 (1911). https://doi.org/10.1038/087083a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/087083a0