US 12,319,391 B2
Gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer
Grady F. Smith, Greenville, NC (US); David Holden, Davidson, NC (US); and Jeffrey Peterson, Mooresville, NC (US)
Assigned to WAVETAMER LLC, Greenville, NC (US)
Filed by WaveTamer LLC, Greenville, NC (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/411,961.
Application 18/411,961 is a continuation of application No. 18/128,796, filed on Mar. 30, 2023, granted, now 11,873,065.
Application 18/411,961 is a continuation of application No. 18/128,834, filed on Mar. 30, 2023, granted, now 11,891,157.
Application 18/128,796 is a continuation of application No. 16/428,259, filed on May 31, 2019, granted, now 11,649,017, issued on May 16, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/768,356, filed on Nov. 16, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/678,422, filed on May 31, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0149988 A1, May 9, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B63B 39/04 (2006.01); F16C 37/00 (2006.01); F16F 15/30 (2006.01); F16F 15/315 (2006.01); G01C 21/18 (2006.01); G05D 1/08 (2006.01); H02K 7/02 (2006.01); H02K 9/22 (2006.01); F16C 19/52 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/49 (2024.01); G05D 1/69 (2024.01); H05K 7/20 (2006.01)
CPC B63B 39/04 (2013.01) [F16F 15/3153 (2013.01); F16F 15/3156 (2013.01); H02K 7/02 (2013.01); H02K 9/227 (2021.01); F16C 19/525 (2013.01); F16C 37/007 (2013.01); F16F 2222/025 (2013.01); G01C 21/18 (2013.01); G05D 1/0875 (2013.01); G05D 1/49 (2024.01); G05D 1/69 (2024.01); H05K 7/20854 (2013.01); H05K 7/20872 (2013.01); Y10T 74/12 (2015.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gyroscopic roll stabilizer for a boat, said gyroscopic stabilizer comprising:
an enclosure mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure;
a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft, the flywheel assembly configured to precess relative to the gimbal axis, when unlocked, in response to roll of the boat;
one or more bearings for rotatably mounting the flywheel assembly inside the enclosure;
a motor for rotating the flywheel assembly, said motor configured to accelerate the flywheel assembly to a normal operating speed; and
a bearing cooling system effective to cool the one or more bearings;
wherein the gyroscopic roll stabilizer is configured to lock the flywheel assembly at the start of acceleration and to unlock the flywheel assembly before when the speed of the flywheel assembly reaches 75% of its normal operating speed.