Ludwig Obry was an Austrian engineer[1] and naval officer of the Austrian Navy[2] who invented a gyroscopic device for steering a torpedo in 1895.[3]
Ludwig Obry
Born
1852
Died
1942
Nationality
Austrian
Occupation
Engineer
Engineering career
Significant design
Developed the first gyroscopic device for steering a torpedo
Ludwig Obry's gyroscopic mechanism for steering a Whitehead torpedo, called the "Obry Gear" by the US Navy
The gyroscope was invented by Leon Foucault in 1851 but industry ignored the device for nearly 50 years. In 1895 or 1896, Obry rediscovered Foucault's device and adapted it into a mechanism for steering a torpedo. This increased the weapon's accuracy from hundreds to thousands of yards. Obry then patented his device and sold the rights to Robert Whitehead, who incorporated the mechanism into the Whitehead torpedo.[4] The device consisted of a bronze wheel weighing less than 1.5 pounds that was spun by an air jet.[5]
Obry's device was notable for solving many problems; how to get the gyroscope to begin rotating as quickly as possible, how to direct the vertical rudders and how to maintain the fast rotation of the rotor.[6]
External linksEdit
Ludwig Obry's US Patent for a "Device For Starting Torpedoes"
ReferencesEdit
^Aczel, Amir D. (2003). Pendulum: Leon Foucault and the Triumph of Science. Simon & Schuster. p. 171. ISBN0-7434-6478-8.
^Bennet, Stuart (1979). A History of Control Engineering: 1800 - 1930. Peter Peregrinus, Ltd. p. 122. ISBN0-86341-047-2.
^Stein, Stephen K. (2007). From Torpedoes to Aviation: Washington Irving Chambers & Technological Innovation in the New Navy 1876 to 1913. University of Alabama Press. p. 123. ISBN978-0-8173-1564-1.
^Range, Shannon K'doah. . Archived from the original on 2015-07-10. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
^"Torpedo of Rijeka: First in the World". Retrieved 2013-05-28.
August 28, 2023
ludwig, obry, austrian, engineer, naval, officer, austrian, navy, invented, gyroscopic, device, steering, torpedo, 1895, born1852died1942nationalityaustrianoccupationengineerengineering, careersignificant, designdeveloped, first, gyroscopic, device, steering, . Ludwig Obry was an Austrian engineer 1 and naval officer of the Austrian Navy 2 who invented a gyroscopic device for steering a torpedo in 1895 3 Ludwig ObryBorn1852Died1942NationalityAustrianOccupationEngineerEngineering careerSignificant designDeveloped the first gyroscopic device for steering a torpedoLudwig Obry s gyroscopic mechanism for steering a Whitehead torpedo called the Obry Gear by the US NavyThe gyroscope was invented by Leon Foucault in 1851 but industry ignored the device for nearly 50 years In 1895 or 1896 Obry rediscovered Foucault s device and adapted it into a mechanism for steering a torpedo This increased the weapon s accuracy from hundreds to thousands of yards Obry then patented his device and sold the rights to Robert Whitehead who incorporated the mechanism into the Whitehead torpedo 4 The device consisted of a bronze wheel weighing less than 1 5 pounds that was spun by an air jet 5 Obry s device was notable for solving many problems how to get the gyroscope to begin rotating as quickly as possible how to direct the vertical rudders and how to maintain the fast rotation of the rotor 6 External links EditLudwig Obry s US Patent for a Device For Starting Torpedoes References Edit Aczel Amir D 2003 Pendulum Leon Foucault and the Triumph of Science Simon amp Schuster p 171 ISBN 0 7434 6478 8 Bennet Stuart 1979 A History of Control Engineering 1800 1930 Peter Peregrinus Ltd p 122 ISBN 0 86341 047 2 Obry gyroscope Stein Stephen K 2007 From Torpedoes to Aviation Washington Irving Chambers amp Technological Innovation in the New Navy 1876 to 1913 University of Alabama Press p 123 ISBN 978 0 8173 1564 1 Range Shannon K doah Brief History of Gyroscopes Archived from the original on 2015 07 10 Retrieved 2013 05 28 Torpedo of Rijeka First in the World Retrieved 2013 05 28 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ludwig Obry amp oldid 1017015420, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
