Crazy Gyroscopic Idea

[butelja]

Surely someone in the past has had this idea before. If anyone knows of any published reports or patents dealing with this or a similar idea, I'm curious for more details.

Here it is: A relatively large gyroscope is rigidly mounted in a vehicle at the vehicle's center of gravity with its spin axis in the horizontal plane perpendicular to the cars longitudinal axis. The gyro's spin rate is proportional to the vehicle's forward speed. When the vehicle is executing a turn, the gyroscope is precessed by the vehicle's yaw rate. The gyroscope in turn exerts a torque via the right hand rule on the chasis that counteracts the lateral load transfer the car would otherwise encounter due to lateral acceleration. Since the load distribution side to side is maintained equally even in a turn, the cornering capability should be improved.

Possible downside would be a huge increase in rotating mass, which would negatively affect acceleration and fuel efficiency. Also, packaging and safety would be concerns. But, has it been tried before?

 

[MichAelThor]

Good Day

concerning your gyroscope idea I recently came across a article published in:
Vehicle System Dynamics Vol 37 2002 pp145-156
entitled:
Tilt Control for Gyro-Stabilized Two-Wheeled Vehicles by Dean Karnopp
You may want to source this article and read it Dean Karnopp is very active in the vehicle dynamics field. I however know of gyro's being used for energy storage for stealth driving applications in military applications.

Not to wild an idea after all

 

[ve7brz]

One comment here; the ultimate cornering ability of a vehicle is a function of the friction between the tires and the pavement, the mass of the vehicle and the angular momentum of the vehicle and is only dependant upon the 'attitude' of the vehicle in regard to the slip angle of the tires.

 

[JBurgess]

In the 70's there was a truck on the show circuit with a gyroscope out of small ship mounted on a gimble in the bed. it could lift the front of the truck off the ground sitting still. The ships use the gyros to keep panengers from getting sea sick. It would certanly prevent the body from leaning, but would this also prevent the tires from leaning and changing camber when the body normally rolls on a car?