Gyroscopic Anti-Roll System ("Active Suspension") For Medium Sized Boats And Yachts

My Idea serial ID: 00523

My invention is a computer governed active ballast system that does not significantly overweight the ship. I am confident that a track guided weight or weights, actuated by a worm gear spindle can negate even sudden changes in attitude, if a gyroscopic input device is paired with properly adjusted software logistics, and at minimal cost. Most passengers on boats between 25 and 80 feet and larger that experience sea sickness complain of discomfort primarily while at anchor, or drifting: even in persons not suffering from motion sickness, stability at anchor, etc, is highly desireable. The problem stems from the loss of stability (roll)once the boat is no longer in motion. While underway, trim tabs can fairly effectively adjust the attitude of the vessel by utilising hydrodynamics by adjusting displacement over the planing surfaces in displacement hulls. In non-displacement designs, generally a heavy keel or center board serves to stabilise lateral movement. However, their effectivness is greatly reduced while the boat is motionless relative to the sea. My experience with motorboats in approximately the 8 meter class has been that an experienced helmsman of even moderate weight can greatly deaden the roll of the boat simply by shifting their weight relative to the beam in anticipation of forces that tend to rotate the vessel along its fore and aft center of gravity by leaning sharply into against the motion of the boat. The classic compromise between speed and tracking stability - the ability to cut into the prevailing sea - is to adjust the depth of the "vee" and the "deadrise" until overall handling is desireable within current limits. With a system that senses, and to a degree anticipates roll, and that directs the weight into the motion of the hull by turning a worm geared shaft appropriately will enable the use of narrower, faster hull designs, without sacrificing stability when not underway. The acceleration of the mass greatly increases the inertial mass of the mechanism. The additional weight, in the context of the overall mass of the boat, should not be any impairment. As for the logistics, a flat plate of iron, lead, or some combination of dense material, could be installed directly under the deck on a track as wide as the beam and the practical considerations permit, and as high relative to the waterline could be actuated from side-to-side and to great effect. If space permits, an even higher location would be better. Donzi, Venture Yachts, Sea Craft, Mako, Wahoo, Viking, Luhrs, Bass Pro Shops, Cabella's and basically any manufacturer could offer this as an option. As the technology is refined, even PWC's such as Sea Doo, Bombardier, Yamaha, and others could benefit, even with relatively small weights.

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