Seakeeper 35 GYRO User manual

Rev 3 FEBRUARY 2015

OPERATION MANUAL

SEAKEEPER 35 GYRO

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OPERATION

MANUAL

Product:

Document #:

Rev:

SEAKEEPER 35 GYRO

90269

SEAKEEPER 35 GYRO

OPERATION MANUAL

FEBRUARY 2015

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 – Gyro 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

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Section 1: SYSTEM OVERVIEW

1.0 System Overview

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

independent of boat speed. In multiple gyro installations, the gyros operate independently of each other

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

A Seakeeper 35 Gyro 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 GYRO 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 gyro

operation and videos of several different boats operating in waves with the Gyro 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 gyro’s gimbal angle and the gyro’s 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 gyro is vertical; it can precess a maximum of +/- 70 degrees about this position. The

amount of torque that the gyro exerts on a boat’s hull to counter the wave induced roll is directly

proportional to the precession rate. The further the gyro 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 gyro exerts

on the boat’s hull to damp roll motion.

FIGURE 2 – GYRO PRECESSION

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

throughout each roll cycle so the gyro 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

There is a large torque about the gimbal axis when the gyro is precessing. Gyro cover panels

are provided to prevent personnel or equipment from contacting the gyro 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 gyro without these safety shields in place.

If it is ever necessary to service the gyro while the flywheel is spinning, the gyro must be

locked at the display to stop the gyro from precessing. Gyro maintenance should not be

attempted unless the gyro is locked and the flywheel has stopped spinning.

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Section 1: SYSTEM OVERVIEW

1.1 Gyro Assembly

The gyro 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 athwartship 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 gyro produces to the hull

structure.

An active hydraulic brake mechanism is located on the gyro assembly to regulate the gyro’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 – GYRO ASSEMBLY

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Section 1: SYSTEM OVERVIEW

1.2 Display

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

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

shutdowns are provided to allow unattended operation. However the gyro is a high-speed machine and

special attention should be paid to vibration and noise as this could be the first hint of a mechanical

problem.

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

the gyro to start coasting down (STOP).

FIGURE 4 – OPERATOR DISPLAY

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Section 1: SYSTEM OVERVIEW

1.3 Drive Box

The Drive Box contains the electronic components that take 208-230 VAC at 50/60 Hz from the boat’s

generator or shore power and supply current to the flywheel motor according to commands from the

Electronic Control Module (ECM). The glycol/water mix that cools the gyro 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

has been disconnected for at least 10 minutes. This high voltage

exists even if the flywheel is coasting down and the supply

voltage has been shut off.

FIGURE 5 – DRIVE BOX

1.4 Electronic Control Module

The Electronic Control Module (ECM) monitors all the system sensors and automatically regulates

operation of the gyro.

The controller commands the motor speed and regulates the gyro’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

Table of contents

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