OPERATION
MANUAL
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SEAKEEPER 26 / 20HD
90266
7
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Section 1: SYSTEM OVERVIEW
1.1 Seakeeper Assembly
The Seakeeper assembly consists of a flywheel housed in a cast aluminum vacuum-tight
enclosure. The flywheel spins about a vertical axis and is supported by upper and lower pairs of
bearings. A Permanent Magnet AC motor mounted inside the enclosure spins the flywheel at
high speed.
The enclosure is fastened to two gimbal shafts that are supported by gimbal bearings on either
side. These shafts establish an athwart ship gimbal axis about which the flywheel and enclosure
precess or rotate up to +/- 60 degrees during operation. The gimbal bearings are supported by a
foundation which is attached to the hull structure. This foundation transfers the loads that the
Seakeeper produces to the hull structure.
An active hydraulic brake mechanism is located on the Seakeeper assembly to regulate the
Seakeeper
’s precession motions about the gimbal shaft. It includes four hydraulic cylinders and
a hydraulic manifold.
A coolant pump, heat exchanger with reservoir, and thermostat are located near the manifold. A
glycol/water mix is circulated through a closed loop to the motor drive box, hydraulic manifold,
and the water jackets of the flywheel enclosure to remove heat.
FIGURE 3
– SEAKEEPER ASSEMBLY
