f52 THE GYROSCOPE FOR MARINE PURPOSES. 



naturally small righting movement, and, as is well known, even to structures 

 in unstable equilibrium, it is possible that we are on the eve of even more 

 radical changes in design. Ships may now be designed that are practically 

 free from those ballistic qualities which favor rolling structures to which 

 unequal sea pressures easily impart motion need no longer be employed, 

 as a comparatively small gyroscope which can easily be present in duplicate, 

 may very readily hold them practically free from rolling motions in such a 

 way that ordinary seas will have little or no effect upon them, while an 

 exceptional wave will have only a temporary effect. It has been suggested 

 in connection with such vessels that they need not pitch if of sufficient 

 length; be this latter fact as it may, it is apparent that a point has now 

 been reached and a situation created v/ith reference to the resisting and 

 prevention of rolling and motion of ships at sea that, to say the least, is 

 interesting in many quarters. I heartily commend this subject to those 

 who are interested in providing safety and comfort to passengers at sea, 

 and as also preventing deterioration of certain classes of freight; for instance, 

 live stock is known to suffer heavy depreciation in stormy weather. This 

 is entirely outside naval uses especially as related to gunnery, trimming 

 ships to secure level gun platform, suppression of recoil from broadside 

 firing, and other uses. 



It is evident from what we know that the early workers were hampered 

 by too close adherence to the earlier treatment of statical stability, and 

 the direct effect of wave slope together with some other elementary factors, 

 rather than the more practical considerations of the effect of movements 

 of the ship, stresses involved, etc. 



In 1904 Dr. Schlick presented a paper before the Institute of Naval 

 Architects. Accompanying this paper in the form of an appendix is a 

 mathematical treatise of the theory of the gyroscope and its application 

 to steadying ships. There seems, however, to be little in this treatise 

 which we find useful in the practical application of the gyroscope, especially 

 the active type of gyroscope, to ships. The eminent authority. Captain 

 Taylor, in his report on this subject states of this treatise that it is a 

 very elaborate mathematical theory but that it largely ignores practical 

 considerations. 



The problem is a comparatively simple one, namely, of holding the 

 ship against rolling by neutralizing with the gyroscope each disturbing 

 influence as it reaches the ship while availing ourselves of all the aid possible 

 through the design of the hull and disposition of the masses. With this 

 end in view we do not yet know the best relation between these two 

 factors. V/ith the last adjusted to best fit the new conditions it is 



