Steering apparatus of outboard motor and outboard motor boat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016201776-A1
Application number	US-201514872252-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 1, 2015
Priority date	Jan 13, 2015
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A steering apparatus for an outboard motor includes a steering mechanism including a guide arranged forward relative to and parallel or substantially parallel to a tilt shaft, a moving body that is rotatably coupled to an arm through a first pivot shaft parallel or substantially parallel to the tilt shaft and movable along the guide, and a support bracket that supports the guide such that the guide rotates about a second pivot shaft parallel or substantially parallel to the tilt shaft and offset relative to the tilt shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A steering apparatus for an outboard motor, the steering apparatus comprising:
a clamp bracket capable of being fixed to a boat body; a swivel bracket rotatably supported by the clamp bracket through a tilt shaft that extends horizontally or substantially horizontally; a steering arm rotatably supported by the swivel bracket through a steering shaft that is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the tilt shaft; and a steering mechanism coupled to the steering arm; wherein the steering arm includes a mount that supports the outboard motor and an arm that extends from the mount toward the boat body and is coupled to the steering mechanism; and the steering mechanism includes a guide arranged forward relative to, and parallel or substantially parallel to the tilt shaft, a moving body rotatably coupled to the arm through a first pivot shaft parallel or substantially parallel to the tilt shaft and movable along the guide, and a support bracket that supports the guide such that the guide rotates about a second pivot shaft parallel or substantially parallel to the tilt shaft and offset relative to the tilt shaft.

2 . The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to claim 1 , wherein the second pivot shaft is offset downward relative to the tilt shaft.

3 . The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to claim 2 , wherein the second pivot shaft is offset forward and downward relative to the tilt shaft.

4 . The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to claim 1 , wherein the second pivot shaft capable of being fixed to the boat body.

5 . The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to claim 4 , wherein the second pivot shaft is capable of being fixed to the boat body by a fixing member that fixes the clamp bracket to the boat body.

6 . The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to claim 1 , wherein the arm includes a first arm connected to the mount and a second arm rotatably coupled to the first arm through a rotation shaft orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the first pivot shaft and coupled to the moving body through the first pivot shaft.

7 . The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to claim 1 , wherein the moving body includes an arm relief that prevents interference of a tip end of the arm when the moving body is rotated with respect to the arm.

8 . The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to claim 1 , wherein the steering mechanism further includes a hydraulic mechanism that drives the moving body.

9 . The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to claim 1 , wherein the steering mechanism includes an electric actuator that drives the moving body.

10 . The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to claim 9 , wherein an output axis of the electric actuator is coaxial with the guide.

11 . The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to claim 10 , wherein the guide includes a ball screw, and the moving body includes a ball nut.

12 . The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to claim 9 , wherein the electric actuator overlaps with a portion of the outboard motor in a side elevational view when the outboard motor is fully tilted up.

13 . The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to claim 1 , wherein the support bracket is rotatable downward about the second pivot shaft when the outboard motor is fully tilted up.

14 . The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to claim 13 , wherein a rotation angle of the support bracket about the tilt shaft is smaller than a rotation angle of the swivel bracket about the tilt shaft when the outboard motor is fully tilted up.

15 . The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to claim 1 , wherein a rotation radius of the guide about the second pivot shaft is smaller than a length of the arm.

16 . The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to claim 1 , wherein the support bracket includes a pair of support brackets provided on both ends of the guide.

17 . An outboard motor boat comprising:
a boat body; and a steering apparatus for an outboard motor mounted on the boat body; wherein the steering apparatus for the outboard motor includes:
a clamp bracket fixed to the boat body;
a swivel bracket rotatably supported by the clamp bracket through a tilt shaft extends horizontally or substantially horizontally;
a steering arm rotatably supported by the swivel bracket through a steering shaft orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the tilt shaft; and
a steering mechanism coupled to the steering arm; wherein
the steering arm includes a mount that supports the outboard motor and an arm that extends from the mount toward the boat body and is coupled to the steering mechanism; and the steering mechanism includes a guide arranged forward relative to and parallel or substantially parallel to the tilt shaft, a moving body rotatably coupled to the arm through a first pivot shaft parallel or substantially parallel to the tilt shaft and movable along the guide, and a support bracket that supports the guide such that the guide rotates about a second pivot shaft parallel or substantially parallel to the tilt shaft and offset relative to the tilt shaft.

Assignees

• Yamaha Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Takase Hiroaki

Classifications

• F16H25/2204 Primary

  with balls · CPC title

• F16H2025/2043

  Screw mechanisms driving an oscillating lever, e.g. lever with perpendicular pivoting axis · CPC title

• F16H21/44

  for conveying or interconverting oscillating or reciprocating motions · CPC title

• B63H20/12 Primary

  Means enabling steering · CPC title

• B63H25/02

  Initiating means for steering {, for slowing down, otherwise than by use of propulsive elements, or for dynamic anchoring} · CPC title