# US 11,440,629 B2 · Braking system for gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,629 B2 - Document ID: US11440629B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/832,510 - Filed: 2020-03-27 - Published: 2020-10-08 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-03 - Assignees: Wavetamer LLC - Applicants: WaveTamer LLC - Inventors: Jeffrey Peterson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440629B2 ## CPC - B63B 39/04: to decrease vessel movements by using gyroscopes directly - G01C 19/28: Pick-offs, i.e. devices for taking-off an indication of the displacement of the rotor axis - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) ## Abstract A gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer for a boat comprises a gimbal, having a gimbal axis, an enclosure mounted to the gimbal and configured to precess about a gimbal axis, a flywheel assembly rotatably mounted inside the enclosure for generating a torque that is applied to counter a rolling motion of the boat, and a braking system for controlling precession of the enclosure. The braking system is configured to enable precession in the first and second directions of up to at least 45 degrees. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer configured to be installed in a boat, comprising: a gimbal including a support frame and enclosure configured to precess about a gimbal axis; a flywheel assembly rotatably mounted inside the enclosure for generating a torque that is applied to counter a rolling motion of the boat; a braking system for controlling precession of the enclosure, the braking system comprising: a first actuator connected between the support frame and the enclosure to resist precession in a first direction about the gimbal axis; a second actuator connected between the support frame and the enclosure to resist precession in a second direction about the gimbal axis; a manifold connected in a fluid flow path between the first and second actuators; the manifold having a main valve; the main valve connected to the first and second actuators by respective fluid lines that allow fluid flow between the main valve and the corresponding actuator; wherein the manifold further comprises first and second hydraulic accumulators operatively connected to the main valve on a low pressure side of the main valve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer of claim 1, wherein the manifold is mounted to remain stationary relative to the support frame while the first and second actuators extend and retract. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer of claim 1, wherein the manifold includes a manifold block; wherein the manifold block comprises coolant passages configured to carry coolant to dissipate heat generated by fluid flow through the main valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer of claim 3, further comprising a cooling circuit configured to dissipate heat generated by movement of fluid through the manifold; wherein the coolant passages form a portion of the cooling circuit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer of claim 1, wherein the first and second actuators each comprise a fluid cylinder and a lockout valve mounted to the fluid cylinder of the actuator, wherein the lockout valve is movable between a locked position preventing precession of the enclosure and an unlocked position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer of claim 1, wherein the main valve has first and second inputs and first and second outputs; wherein the manifold is connected to the first and second actuators by the respective fluid lines that allow fluid flow between the main valve and the corresponding actuator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer of claim 6, wherein the fluid lines connecting the manifold to the first and second actuators include a first line that allows bidirectional flow between first actuator and the manifold, and a second line that allows bidirectional flow between the second actuator and the manifold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer of claim 1: wherein the first actuator comprises a first fluid cylinder; wherein the second actuator comprises a second fluid cylinder; further comprising a first bypass line providing a fluid low path between first and second ends of the first fluid cylinder that bypasses the manifold; further comprising a second bypass line providing a fluid low path between first and second ends of the second fluid cylinder that bypasses the manifold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer of claim 5 wherein the lockout valve for each actuator is integrally formed with a housing of the fluid cylinder. ### Claim 10 A gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer configured to be installed in a boat, comprising: a gimbal including a support frame and enclosure configured to precess about a gimbal axis; a flywheel assembly rotatably mounted inside the enclosure for generating a torque that is applied to counter a rolling motion of the boat; a braking system for controlling precession of the enclosure, the braking system comprising: a first actuator including a first fluid cylinder connected between the support frame and the enclosure to resist precession in a first direction about the gimbal axis; a second actuator including a second fluid cylinder connected between the support frame and the enclosure to resist precession in a second direction about the gimbal axis; a manifold connected in a fluid flow path between the first and second fluid cylinders; a first bypass line providing a fluid low path between first and second ends of the first cylinder that bypasses the manifold; and a second bypass line providing a fluid low path between first and second ends of the first second cylinder that bypasses the manifold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer of claim 10, wherein the first and second actuators each further comprise a lockout valve movable between a locked position preventing precession of the enclosure and an unlocked position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer of claim 11, wherein the lockout valve for each actuator is integrally formed with a housing of the corresponding fluid cylinder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer of claim 10, wherein the manifold comprises a main valve having first and second inputs and first and second outputs; wherein the manifold is connected to the first and second actuators by respective fluid lines that allow fluid flow between the main valve and the corresponding actuator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer of claim 11, wherein the first and second bypass lines move jointly with the first and second actuators, respectively, with respect to the support frame. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The gyroscopic boat roll stabilizer of claim 11, wherein the first bypass line allows bidirectional flow between the first and second ends of the first cylinder; and wherein the second bypass line allows bidirectional flow between the first and second ends of the second cylinder.