Schuler Tuning

 The Course & Speed error changes whenever the vessel alters course. Due to change in
Course & Speed error the spin axis of the compass has to resettle on a new heading.

 This change in heading is achieved by the spin axis, by tracing a damped spiral path &
not a straight one.

 However Ballistic Deflection Error is also generated when the vessel changes course. It is
possible to use this BD error to make the Spin Axis settle quickly on the new heading.

 The BD is made to deflect the spin axis directly to the new settling position on a straight
line thus obviating the need to execute a damped spiral.

 Consider a vessel steaming North at 20 kts in latitude 60˚, which alters course by 180˚ to
steam South. The course & speed error changes from 2.5˚ W to 2.5˚ E. The axis must
therefore precess 5˚ to the east to achieve new settling position.

 This same manoeuvre will produce a BD precessing North end to east.

 The amount of BD can be made just sufficient for the SA to reach the new settling
position and no more than this. This can be done by carefully choosing the following
I. Size of the pots
II. Their distance from the centre of the rotor
III. Density of the liquid
IV. Angular momentum of the rotor.

 The above factors also determine the period of oscillation of the SA in the controlled
ellipse & if BD is adjusted as stated above the period of oscillation is found to be 84.44
minutes.

 Thus if the undamped period of the compass is made to be 84.44 minutes the BD will be
just sufficient to precess the compass to its new settling position.

 This period is called the Schuler Period & the gyro so designed is said to be Schuler
Tuned.

Capt Sunil Bhabha Page 1

 Transmission to the repeaters
 The Arma Brown compass uses a Synchro transmission system using two Synchro
transmitters.

 These Synchro transmitters are driven through gearing from the master compass
azimuth gear & they transmit the heading information to receiver motors.

 Receiver motors are fitted at each repeater card & they move the repeater as per
the signals received from the transmitter.

 One transmission system has a 1 : 1 gear ratio & the other 36 : 1 ratio.

 The 1 : 1 transmitter is used for transmission to Radar, Autopilot, VDR & ECDIS
like inputs where there is no mechanical load on the receiver.

 The higher gear 36 : 1 transmitter is used to serve compass repeaters. The high
gearing gives smoother & more sensitive operation & less load on the receiver
motor.

 The Sperry Compass uses Inductive Transmitter, switching amplifier & the
receiver step motors which drive the repeater cards.

Capt Sunil Bhabha Page 2