Active Roll Stabilisation System for Damping a Ship's Motion

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for actively damping a ship's motion, comprising at least one first rotatable stabilisation element extending from the ship's hull, below the water line, on a side of the ship, sensor means for sensing the ship's motion and delivering control signals on the basis thereof to driving means for rotatably driving the stabilisation element for the purpose of damping the ship's motion being sensed, as well as moving means for moving the stabilisation element relative to the ship. According to the invention, the active stabilisation system is to that end characterised in that the moving means are configured to impart a precession motion to the at least one rotatable stabilisation element in dependence on the ship's sailing speed and the control signals being delivered by the sensor means. Imparting a precession movement to the rotating stabilisation elements obviates the need to constantly change the direction of the mass of the stabilisation elements. Instead, only the direction of rotation of the stabilisation elements needs to be constantly reversed and adjusted for speed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.