Seakeeper 6 - Seakeeper Precession

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OPERATION
MANUAL
Product: Document #: Rev: Page:
SEAKEEPER 6 90403 1 2 of 6
Section 1: SYSTEM OVERVIEW
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The Seakeeper’s gimbal angle and the Seakeeper’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 Seakeeper is vertical; it can precess a
maximum of +/- 60 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 Seakeeper 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 +/- 60
o
.
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