Quote:
| Originally Posted by CODOG Its basically a very large version of the sort of toy gyroscope you may have had as a child. The essence of a gyro stabiliser is a very large and heavy flywheel that rotates at considerable speed around a transverse axis. Utilising the principles of angular momentum, the properties that enable gyroscopes to resist external torque can be used to minimise transverse roll on a yacht when the gyro is fixed solidly to the vessels structure. The larger the gyro / the faster it rotates, the more pronounced the roll dampening effect. Due to economies of scale and packaging, more than one unit may be necessary depending on the size and roll characteristics of the vessel. |
...and...in the case of the Seakeeper gyro, it is also actively 'tilted' in its support foundation, in response to roll angle and rate, to gain additional damping forces when needed over what is achieved with a fixed-mount gyro like the Mitsubishi. Though the Seakeeper is reportedly more effective on a 'size for size' basis, I've not yet seen any hard data that compares the performance of the two types for the same vessel size/hull type. What I have seen is that both types do work...quite well in some cases, dependent on hull form and gyro size.