Gyroscopic roll stabilizer for boats
US6973847B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 2003 |
| Grant date | Dec 13, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 23, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/1254
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A gyroscopic roll stabilizer for a boat. The stabilizer includes a flywheel, a flywheel drive motor configured to spin the flywheel about a spin axis, an enclosure surrounding a portion or all of the flywheel and maintaining a below-ambient pressure or containing a below-ambient density gas, a gimbal structure configured to permit flywheel precession about a gimbal axis, and a device for applying a torque to the flywheel about the gimbal axis. The flywheel, enclosure, and gimbal structure are configured so that when installed in the boat the stabilizer damps roll motion of the boat. Preferably, the flywheel drive motor spins the flywheel at high tip speeds.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.