Systems and steering actuators for steering outboard marine engines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10518858-B1
Application number	US-201715647678-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 12, 2017
Priority date	Jul 12, 2017
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

A steering actuator is for steering an outboard marine engine about a steering axis. The steering actuator has a piston device and a valve device. Hydraulic actuation of the piston device causes the outboard marine engine to pivot about the steering axis. The valve device controls a flow of hydraulic fluid to the piston device to thereby hydraulically actuate the piston device. The valve device comprises a lead screw; a motor configured to rotate the lead screw in a first rotational direction and alternately in an opposite, second rotational direction; and a ball nut coupled to the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw causes the ball nut to axially move along the lead screw, and wherein axial movement of the ball nut along the lead screw actuates the valve device, which thereby actuates the piston device to steer the outboard marine engine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A steering actuator for steering an outboard marine engine about a steering axis, the steering actuator comprising:
a piston device, wherein hydraulic actuation of the piston device causes the outboard marine engine to pivot about the steering axis; and
a valve device, wherein the valve device controls a flow of hydraulic fluid to the piston device to thereby hydraulically actuate the piston device, the valve device comprising a lead screw, a motor configured to rotate the lead screw in a first rotational direction and alternately in an opposite second rotational direction, and a ball nut coupled to the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw causes the ball nut to axially move along the lead screw;
wherein axial movement of the ball nut along the lead screw actuates the valve device, which thereby actuates the piston device to steer the outboard marine engine; and
wherein the motor has an output shaft and wherein the lead screw is not coaxial with the output shaft.

2. The steering actuator according to claim 1 , further comprising a gear set that connects the output shaft to the lead screw such that rotation of the output shaft causes rotation of the lead screw.

3. A steering actuator for steering an outboard marine engine about a steering axis, the steering actuator comprising:
a piston device, wherein hydraulic actuation of the piston device causes the outboard marine engine to pivot about the steering axis; and
a valve device, wherein the valve device controls a flow of hydraulic fluid to the piston device to thereby hydraulically actuate the piston device, the valve device comprising a lead screw, a motor configured to rotate the lead screw in a first rotational direction and alternately in an opposite second rotational direction, and a ball nut coupled to the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw causes the ball nut to axially move along the lead screw;
wherein axial movement of the ball nut along the lead screw actuates the valve device, which thereby actuates the piston device to steer the outboard marine engine; and
wherein valve device is positionable into at least three positions, including a first valve position wherein the valve device directs the flow of hydraulic fluid to a first side of the piston device, a second valve position wherein the valve device directs flow of hydraulic fluid to the second side of the piston device, and a neutral position wherein the valve device directs the flow of hydraulic fluid back to a reservoir.

4. The steering actuator according to claim 3 , wherein rotation of the lead screw in the first rotational direction causes the ball nut to move along the lead screw in a first axial direction and wherein rotation of the lead screw in the opposite, second rotational direction causes the ball nut to move along the lead screw in an opposite, second axial direction; and further wherein movement of the ball nut in the first axial direction causes the valve device to move the piston device in a first piston direction and wherein movement of the ball nut in the second axial direction causes the valve device to move the piston device in an opposite, second piston direction; wherein movement of the piston device in the first piston direction causes the outboard marine engine to pivot in a first pivot direction and wherein movement of the piston device in the second piston direction causes the outboard marine engine to pivot in an opposite, second pivot direction.

5. The steering actuator according to claim 4 , wherein the piston device comprises a first piston coupled to a first side of the piston device and a second piston coupled to an opposite, second side of the piston device, and further comprising a first hydraulic fluid passageway that conveys the flow of hydraulic fluid from the valve device to the first side of the piston device to thereby cause the first piston to move the piston device in the first piston direction and a second hydraulic fluid passageway that conveys the flow of hydraulic fluid from the valve device to the second side of the piston device to thereby cause the second piston to move the piston device in the second piston direction, wherein the flow of hydraulic fluid to the first and second hydraulic fluid passageways is controlled by the valve device.

6. The steering actuator according to claim 5 , wherein the ball nut is coupled to the piston device.

7. The steering actuator according to claim 3 , wherein rotation the lead screw in a first rotational direction moves the valve device into the first valve position and wherein rotation of the lead screw in the second rotation direction moves the valve device into the second valve position.

8. The steering actuator according to claim 7 , further comprising a return spring that returns the valve device into the neutral position.

9. The steering actuator according to claim 3 , further comprising a housing that completely encloses the piston device, valve device, lead screw and ball nut.

10. The steering actuator according to claim 9 , wherein the housing further encloses the motor.

11. The steering actuator according to claim 3 , wherein the further comprising a position sensor coupled to the motor and configured to sense position of the steering actuator.

12. A steering actuator for steering an outboard marine engine about a steering axis, the steering actuator comprising:
a piston device, wherein hydraulic actuation of the piston device causes the outboard marine engine to pivot about the steering axis;
a valve device, wherein the valve device controls a flow of hydraulic fluid to the piston device to thereby hydraulically actuate the piston device, the valve device comprising a lead screw, a motor configured to rotate the lead screw in a first rotational direction and alternately in an opposite second rotational direction, and a ball nut coupled to the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw causes the ball nut to axially move along the lead screw;
wherein axial movement of the ball nut along the lead screw actuates the valve device, which thereby actuates the piston device to steer the outboard marine engine; and
a housing that completely encloses the piston device, valve device, lead screw and ball nut;
wherein the housing has an access port that facilitates access to the lead screw for positional adjustment of the lead screw, motor and valve device.

13. The steering actuator according to claim 12 , wherein the lead screw comprises a first end coupled to the motor and an opposite, second end supported by the housing, wherein the access port is open to the second end such that the second end is accessible from outside the housing.

14. A system for steering an outboard marine engine about a steering axis, the system comprising:
an outboard marine engine;
a steering actuator that comprises
a piston device, wherein hydraulic actuation of the piston device causes the outboard marine engine to pivot about the steering axis;
a valve device, wherein the valve device controls a flow of hydraulic fluid to the piston device to thereby hydraulically actuate the piston device, the valve device comprising a lead screw; a motor configured to rotate the lead screw in a first rotational direction and alternately in an opposite, second rotational direction; and a ball nut coupled to the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw causes the ball nut to move along the lead screw, and wherein movement of the ball nut along the lead screw actuates the valve device, which thereby actuates the piston device to steer the outboard marine engine; and
a controller that controls the motor to thereby a

Assignees

• Brunswick Corp

Inventors

• Klawitter Daniel P
• Langlitz Timothy G
• Wald Benjamin C

Classifications

• B63H20/16 Primary

  allowing movement of the propulsion element in a horizontal plane only, e.g. for steering · CPC title

• B63H20/12 Primary

  Means enabling steering · CPC title