A gyrocompass is one of the most essential marine equipment on board now. Working under a simple physics law, it has changed how mariners navigate. Gyroscope needs to be maintained correctly for yielding accurate and precise results.
What is a Gyrocompass?
Gyrocompasses are devices installed on ships to detect the true north. True north is different from magnetic north. They work on the principle of simple physical laws of gravity and Earth’s rotation.
They are widely installed on all ships to guide them in the proper channel and have become one of the indispensable instruments.
Working Principle
The gyroscope inside a gyrocompass is made to flow freely over three mutually perpendicular axes. The compass is controlled to enable the axis of spin to settle parallel with the true meridian.
The external magnetic field doesn’t affect a gyrocompass. When a ship changes its course, an independently driven mechanism called ‘Phantom’ moves along while the rotor system continues to follow the northward direction.
This difference in direction sends a signal to the driving motor, which moves the phantom step into the rotor system. As soon as they are aligned, electrical impulses are sent by the phantom to the repeater compasses for each degree it traverses.
Characteristics of Gyrocompass System
The Gyrocompass system works on two fundamental characteristics:
Gyroscopic Inertia
The tendency of any object to continue in the state of rotation on its plane.
Precession
Precession causes the gyroscope to move when a couple is applied. It moves at right angles to the axis of the applied couple and also the spinning wheel.
These two characteristics, along with Earth’s natural forces (rotation and gravity), enable the gyrocompass to seek the true north. Once settled on the true meridian, the rotor will remain there indefinitely as long as the ship’s electrical supply remains constant and unaffected by external forces.
Applications and Errors
Ships use gyrocompass services in Dubai to detect the true north, steer, find the position, and record the navigational course.
However, the ship’s course, speed, and latitude may cause errors in the gyrocompass:
On a northern course, the compass deflects slightly to the west of the meridian.
On a southern course, it is deflected to the east.
Error Correction
Modern ships have advanced GPS systems installed that feed data to the gyrocompass for correcting the error.
Fiber optic triads and ring laser gyroscopes apply optical path principles to determine the rate of rotation.
These eliminate mechanical flaws and provide accurate detection of true north.
Maritronics Expertise
Maritronics, one of the leading marine service providers, has factory-trained professionals capable of fixing gyrocompass errors. Their expert engineers are equipped to handle your maritime service needs.
Maintenance Tips from Maritronics Engineers
Check repeater with the master compass to ensure accuracy; reset if power fails.
Check compass error with azimuth.
Reset speed and latitude as necessary.
Inspect the compass for any physical damage.
Test the alarm buzzer once a month.
Clean the equipment and follow the manual instructions.
Conduct regular check-ups and repairs.
Any major concern needs to be addressed by an expert engineer. You can contact Maritronics engineers at +971 50 4561474 and seek assistance.
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