Patents by Inventor Brian John Sohacki
Brian John Sohacki has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240140567Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer includes an enclosure, a flywheel assembly, a bearing, a motor, and a bearing cooling circuit. The enclosure is mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure. The flywheel assembly includes a flywheel and flywheel shaft. The bearing rotatably mounts the flywheel assembly inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The bearing has an inner race and an outer race. The inner race is rotationally fixed relative to the flywheel shaft, and the outer race is held rotationally fixed relative to the enclosure. The motor is operative to rotate the flywheel assembly. The bearing cooling circuit is configured to transfer heat away from the bearing by recirculating coolant along a closed fluid pathway. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer is configured to transfer heat away from the inner and/or outer race of the bearing to the coolant.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2024Publication date: May 2, 2024Inventors: Brian John Sohacki, Aaron P. Powers, Grady F. Smith
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Publication number: 20240025518Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer for a boat includes an enclosure mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure, and a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft, with the flywheel assembly rotatably mounted inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer also includes a motor operative to rotate the flywheel assembly and disposed inside the enclosure. A motor cooling circuit is configured to transfer heat away from the motor. The motor cooling circuit has a closed fluid pathway for recirculating cooling fluid therein. The fluid pathway includes a fluid channel jointly defined by the motor and the enclosure and having the cooling fluid therein. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer is configured to transfer heat away from the motor to the cooling fluid. Related methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: Brian John Sohacki, Aaron Powers, Grady Smith
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Patent number: 11873064Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer includes an enclosure, a flywheel assembly, a bearing, a motor, and a bearing cooling circuit. The enclosure is mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure. The flywheel assembly includes a flywheel and flywheel shaft. The bearing rotatably mounts the flywheel assembly inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The bearing has an inner race and an outer race. The inner race is affixed to the flywheel shaft, and the outer race is held rotationally fixed relative to the enclosure. The motor is operative to rotate the flywheel assembly. The bearing cooling circuit is configured to transfer heat away from the bearing by recirculating cooling fluid along a closed fluid pathway. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer is configured to transfer heat away from the inner and/or outer race of the bearing to the cooling fluid.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2023Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: WAVETAMER LLCInventors: Brian John Sohacki, Aaron P. Powers, Grady F. Smith
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Patent number: 11807344Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer for a boat includes a flywheel shaft having a first end and an opposite second end. The flywheel shaft has first and second open-ended cavities formed on opposing ends. A first uneven seal encloses the first cavity, and a second uneven seal encloses the second cavity. 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. The first side of the second seal faces inward toward the second cavity, and the second side of the first seal faces inward toward the first cavity. The first and second seals are functionally inverted relative to each other. Related methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: WAVETAMER LLCInventor: Brian John Sohacki
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Patent number: 11780542Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer includes an enclosure, a flywheel assembly, and a motor. The enclosure is mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure. The flywheel assembly is rotatably mounted inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The flywheel assembly includes a flywheel and flywheel shaft. The flywheel shaft has a first end and an opposite second end; a first cavity formed in the first end and facing away from the second end; and a second cavity formed in the second end and facing away from the first end. The flywheel shaft has a longitudinal passage connecting the first cavity and the second cavity. This longitudinal passage may be used for inspection of one of the cavities and/or an associated seal, from the direction of the other cavity. Related methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: WAVETAMER LLCInventors: Brian John Sohacki, Andrew Siefert
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Patent number: 11780541Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer for a boat includes an enclosure mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure, and a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft, with the flywheel assembly rotatably mounted inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer also includes a motor operative to rotate the flywheel assembly and disposed inside the enclosure. A motor cooling circuit is configured to transfer heat away from the motor. The motor cooling circuit has a closed fluid pathway for recirculating cooling fluid therein. The fluid pathway includes a fluid channel jointly defined by the motor and the enclosure and having the cooling fluid therein. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer is configured to transfer heat away from the motor to the cooling fluid. Related methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: WAVETAMER LLCInventors: Brian John Sohacki, Aaron Powers, Grady Smith
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Publication number: 20230271680Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer for a boat includes a flywheel shaft having a first end and an opposite second end. The flywheel shaft has first and second open-ended cavities formed on opposing ends. A first uneven seal encloses the first cavity, and a second uneven seal encloses the second cavity. 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. The first side of the second seal faces inward toward the second cavity, and the second side of the first seal faces inward toward the first cavity. The first and second seals are functionally inverted relative to each other. Related methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2021Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventor: Brian John Sohacki
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Publication number: 20230227131Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer includes an enclosure, a flywheel assembly, and a motor. The enclosure is mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure. The flywheel assembly is rotatably mounted inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The flywheel assembly includes a flywheel and flywheel shaft. The flywheel shaft has a first end and an opposite second end; a first cavity formed in the first end and facing away from the second end; and a second cavity formed in the second end and facing away from the first end. The flywheel shaft has a longitudinal passage connecting the first cavity and the second cavity. This longitudinal passage may be used for inspection of one of the cavities and/or an associated seal, from the direction of the other cavity. Related methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2021Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Brian John Sohacki, Andrew Siefert
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Publication number: 20230211858Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer for a boat includes an enclosure mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure, and a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft, with the flywheel assembly rotatably mounted inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer also includes a motor operative to rotate the flywheel assembly and disposed inside the enclosure. A motor cooling circuit is configured to transfer heat away from the motor. The motor cooling circuit has a closed fluid pathway for recirculating cooling fluid therein. The fluid pathway includes a fluid channel jointly defined by the motor and the enclosure and having the cooling fluid therein. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer is configured to transfer heat away from the motor to the cooling fluid. Related methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2021Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: Brian John Sohacki, Aaron Powers, Grady Smith
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Publication number: 20230166818Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer includes an enclosure, a flywheel assembly, a bearing, a motor, and a bearing cooling circuit. The enclosure is mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure. The flywheel assembly includes a flywheel and flywheel shaft. The bearing rotatably mounts the flywheel assembly inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The bearing has an inner race and an outer race. The inner race is affixed to the flywheel shaft, and the outer race is held rotationally fixed relative to the enclosure. The motor is operative to rotate the flywheel assembly. The bearing cooling circuit is configured to transfer heat away from the bearing by recirculating cooling fluid along a closed fluid pathway. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer is configured to transfer heat away from the inner and/or outer race of the bearing to the cooling fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2023Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventors: Brian John Sohacki, Aaron P. Powers, Grady F. Smith
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Patent number: 11591052Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer includes an enclosure, a flywheel assembly, a bearing, a motor, and a bearing cooling circuit. The enclosure is mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure. The flywheel assembly includes a flywheel and flywheel shaft. The bearing rotatably mounts the flywheel assembly inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The bearing has an inner race and an outer race. The inner race is affixed to the flywheel shaft, and the outer race is held rotationally fixed relative to the enclosure. The motor is operative to rotate the flywheel assembly. The bearing cooling circuit is configured to transfer heat away from the bearing by recirculating cooling fluid along a closed fluid pathway. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer is configured to transfer heat away from the inner and/or outer race of the bearing to the cooling fluid.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: WAVETAMER LLCInventors: Brian John Sohacki, Aaron P. Powers, Grady F. Smith
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Publication number: 20210269127Abstract: A gyroscopic roll stabilizer includes an enclosure, a flywheel assembly, a bearing, a motor, and a bearing cooling circuit. The enclosure is mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure. The flywheel assembly includes a flywheel and flywheel shaft. The bearing rotatably mounts the flywheel assembly inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The bearing has an inner race and an outer race. The inner race is affixed to the flywheel shaft, and the outer race is held rotationally fixed relative to the enclosure. The motor is operative to rotate the flywheel assembly. The bearing cooling circuit is configured to transfer heat away from the bearing by recirculating cooling fluid along a closed fluid pathway. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer is configured to transfer heat away from the inner and/or outer race of the bearing to the cooling fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: Brian John Sohacki, Aaron P. Powers, Grady F. Smith