US 11,807,344 B2
Gyroscopic roll stabilizer with flywheel cavity seal arrangement
Brian John Sohacki, Livonia, MI (US)
Assigned to WAVETAMER LLC, Greenville, NC (US)
Appl. No. 18/029,319
Filed by WaveTamer LLC, Greenville, NC (US)
PCT Filed Sep. 29, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/052561
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 29, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/072433, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 7, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/085,349, filed on Sep. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0271680 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
Int. Cl. B63B 39/04 (2006.01); F16C 3/02 (2006.01); B63B 3/04 (2006.01)
CPC B63B 3/04 (2013.01) [F16C 3/02 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gyroscopic roll stabilizer for a boat, the gyroscopic roll stabilizer comprising:
an enclosure mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure;
a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft; the flywheel having a first end and an opposite second end; wherein the flywheel assembly is rotatably mounted inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis; the flywheel shaft having:
a first open-ended cavity formed in the first end and facing away from the second end; and
a second open-ended cavity formed in the second end and facing away from the first end;
a motor operative to rotate the flywheel assembly;
a first heat transfer shaft assembly rotationally fixed relative to the flywheel axis and extending from the enclosure into the first cavity;
a second heat transfer shaft assembly rotationally fixed relative to the flywheel axis and extending from the enclosure into the second cavity;
a first uneven seal mounted so as to extend between first heat transfer shaft assembly and the flywheel shaft to enclose the first cavity; the first uneven seal contacting both the first heat transfer shaft assembly and the flywheel shaft;
a second uneven seal mounted so as to extend between second heat transfer shaft assembly and the flywheel shaft to enclose the second cavity; the second uneven seal contacting both the second heat transfer shaft assembly and the flywheel shaft;
wherein the first and second uneven seals each have a respective first side and an opposite second side; wherein the first and second uneven seals are both configured to provide asymmetric sealing such that greater resistance is provided against flow in a primary sealing direction, from a first side toward a second side, than in a secondary sealing direction, from the second side toward the first side;
wherein the first side of the second uneven seal faces inward toward the second cavity; and
wherein the second side of the first uneven seal faces inward toward the first cavity.