Seakeeper 30HD User manual

Rev 7 OCT 2017

OPERATION MANUAL

*THIS MANUAL ALSO COVERS THE SEAKEEPER 30HD MODEL*

OPERATION

MANUAL

Product:

Document #:

Rev:

SEAKEEPER 35 / 30HD

90269

SEAKEEPER 35 / 30HD

OPERATION MANUAL

OCTOBER 2017

Contents:

Section 1 –System Overview

Section 2 –System Operation

Section 3 –Power Failures, Alarms, and Troubleshooting

Section 4 –Maintenance

Section 5 –Warranty, Limit of Liability, Property Rights

Section 6 –Specs and Summary

44425 PECAN COURT, SUITE 151

CALIFORNIA, MARYLAND, 20619, U.S.A

PHONE: 410-326-1590

FAX: 410-326-1199

E-MAIL: customerservice@seakeeper.com

OPERATION

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Section 1: SYSTEM OVERVIEW

1.0 System Overview

The Seakeeper 35 uses gyroscopic principles to reduce boat roll motions in waves and wakes

independent of boat speed. In multiple Seakeeper installations, the Seakeepers operate

independently of each other and therefore this manual only discusses operation of a single unit.

A Seakeeper 35 consists of a Gyro assembly, a CAN communications cable, and a Display.

Figure 1 illustrates the interconnection of these components and their interface with the boat.

FIGURE 1 –SEAKEEPER 35 STABILIZATION SYSTEM COMPONENTS

Technical specifications provided in Section 6 list the power consumption, total weight, and

dimensions of the major components. Gyroscopic principals that apply to boat roll control are

discussed on Seakeeper’s web site at www.seakeeper.com. The Seakeeper web site also

contains videos of Seakeeper operation and videos of several different boats operating in waves

with the Seakeeper on and off. It is recommended that the reader play these videos prior to

reading the remainder of this manual.

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Section 1: SYSTEM OVERVIEW

The gimbal angle and the rate of rotation about the gimbal axis (termed precession rate) play an

important role in its operation. These parameters are illustrated in Figure 2. At zero degree

gimbal angle, the sphere is vertical; it can precess a maximum of +/- 70 degrees about this

position. The amount of torque that the Seakeeper exerts on a boat’s hull to counter the wave

induced roll is directly proportional to the precession rate. The further the sphere is from vertical

(zero degrees) the lower the anti-roll torque. The vertical arrows in Figure 2 illustrate the direction

of the forces that the Seakeeper exerts on the boat’s hull to damp roll motion.

FIGURE 2 –SEAKEEPER PRECESSION

Seakeeper precession is actively controlled by an electronic controller and a hydraulic brake

throughout each roll cycle so the Seakeeper supplies the maximum anti-roll torque and does not

make mechanical contact with hard stops that limit the maximum gimbal angle travel to +/- 70o.

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Section 1: SYSTEM OVERVIEW

Safety

There is a large torque about the gimbal axis when the Seakeeper is

precessing. Seakeeper cover panels are provided to prevent personnel or

equipment from contacting the Seakeeper while it is in operation. These covers

should not be stepped on, or have anything placed on top. The covers should

always be in place during operation. The cover side panels contain safety shields

as shown below. Do not operate the Seakeeper without these safety shields in

place.

If it is ever necessary to touch the Seakeeper while the flywheel is spinning, the

Seakeeper must be locked at the display to stop the Seakeeper from precessing.

Seakeeper maintenance should not be attempted unless the Seakeeper is locked

and the flywheel has stopped spinning.

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Section 1: SYSTEM OVERVIEW

1.1 Seakeeper Assembly

The Seakeeper assembly consists of a flywheel housed in a cast aluminum vacuum-tight

enclosure. The flywheel spins about a vertical axis and is supported by upper and lower pairs of

bearings. A DC brushless motor mounted inside the enclosure spins the flywheel at high speed.

The enclosure is fastened to two gimbal shafts that are supported by gimbal bearings on either

side. These shafts establish an athwart ship gimbal axis about which the flywheel and enclosure

precess or rotate up to +/- 70 degrees during operation. The gimbal bearings are supported by a

foundation which is attached to the hull structure. This foundation transfers the loads that the

Seakeeper produces to the hull structure.

An active hydraulic brake mechanism is located on the Seakeeper assembly to regulate the

Seakeeper’s precession motions about the gimbal shaft. It includes four hydraulic cylinders and

a hydraulic manifold.

Two coolant pumps, heat exchanger with reservoir, and thermostat are located near the manifold.

The upper pump supplies a glycol/water mix thru a closed loop to the motor drive box and

hydraulic manifold, while the lower pump provides coolant to the water jackets of the enclosure

to remove heat.

FIGURE 3 –SEAKEEPER ASSEMBLY

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Section 1: SYSTEM OVERVIEW

1.2 Display

The display shown below is the user interface to the Seakeeper 35 and should be mounted at the

primary helm station. It is used to start, operate, monitor and shutdown the Seakeeper. Sensors,

alarms and shutdowns are provided to allow unattended operation.

The display provides information in the event of an alarm. Alarms cause precession to stop

(Stabilize Off) and the Seakeeper to start coasting down (Seakeeper Off).

FIGURE 4 –OPERATOR DISPLAY

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Section 1: SYSTEM OVERVIEW

1.3 Drive Box

The glycol/water mix that cools the Seakeeper is also circulated through a cold plate inside the

Drive Box to remove heat from high-power electronic components.

The Drive Box contains hazardous voltage and the cover

should not be removed while the flywheel is spinning and

the AC input voltage is present. This high voltage exists

even if the flywheel is coasting down and the supply

voltage has been shut off. The flywheel must be at Zero

(0000) RPM and AC input power disconnected for at least

10 minutes prior to any service work on the motor drive

box.

FIGURE 5 –DRIVE BOX

1.4 Electronic Control Module

The Electronic Control Module (ECM) monitors all the system sensors andautomaticallyregulates

operation of the Seakeeper.

The controller commands the motor speed and regulates the Seakeeper’s precession rate and

gimbal angle. This is accomplished by commands to a high response flow control valve in the

hydraulic brake circuit that increases or decreases the brake pressure.

DRIVE BOX

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Section 1: SYSTEM OVERVIEW

1.5 Inertia Measurement Unit (IMU)

The motion sensor suite in the IMU contains rate sensors that measure the angular movements

of the vessel and accelerometers that measure the vertical and lateral boat movement. These

signals are communicated to the ECM through the Seakeeper’s wiring harness.

1.6 Brake

The brake mechanism consists of two pair of hydraulic cylinders that attach to a crank arm on the

gimbal shafts. The Seakeeper controller modulates how fast the oil can flow through a control

valve thus controlling the precession rate of the Seakeeper.

The brake hydraulic circuit is a pre-charged closed loop –that is, there is no pump, motor or

reservoir in the circuit. Accumulators are installed in the circuit so the precharge pressure does

not increase as the fluid temperature rises due to the braking action. Locking solenoids are

installed in the circuit to lock the Seakeeper so it cannot precess if there is a leak in the circuit or

a mechanical problem with the Seakeeper.

FIGURE 6 –BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS

Hydraulic Hand Pump Kit, P/N 10384, is required for servicing the brake system. Pressure

should never be relieved unless this tool is available.

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Section 1: SYSTEM OVERVIEW

1.7 Cooling

The cooling circuit is a closed loop that supplies a glycol/water (50% distilled water and 50%

glycol) mix to:

•The motor drive box to remove heat from the drive electronics

•The brake manifold to remove heat from the brake hydraulic circuit

•The enclosure water jackets to remove heat from the flywheel bearings

The heated fluid then passes through a thermostat before bypassing or flowing through a heat

exchanger that has sea water on the cold side. The circuit also contains a coolant reservoir for

coolant expansion and to make filling easy. The reservoir contains a 7 psi (0.5 bar) pressure cap.

The heat exchanger contains zinc anodes that must be inspectedandchangedregularlyto ensure

maximum heat exchanger life.

FIGURE 7 –COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS

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