This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Applications No. 2005-119485, filed on Apr. 18, 2005, and No. 2005-119490, filed on Apr. 18, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a control device for a marine propulsion system, and more particularly relates to a remote control device for controlling at least two marine propulsion systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Marine propulsion systems such as, for example, outboard motors are typically used for propelling a small watercraft. Multiple outboard motors can be mounted on a single watercraft for propelling the watercraft more powerfully. Typically, a remote control device is used for controlling operations of those outboard motors. The remote control device can be placed in a cockpit of the watercraft. More specifically, the remote control device is usually fixed to a console in the cockpit.
Such a remote control device has multiple control levers corresponding to the respective outboard motors. Each lever can be connected to the associated outboard motor through a mechanical or electrical system. Typically, a throttle valve opening and a shiftable transmission of each outboard motor are controlled using a single lever of the remote control device.
Japanese Patent Publication JP-A-Hei10-198415 discloses such a remote control device. The remote control device disclosed in this Publication has two control levers corresponding to two outboard motors. Each control lever can change a throttle valve opening of an engine of the associated outboard motor and also can change a condition of a transmission of the same outboard motor among forward, reverse and neutral positions.
The respective levers can pivot about a common axis thereof. Normally, an operator of the watercraft operates both of the levers, although the operator can individually operate the respective levers. Each lever has a grip at its distal end. The respective grips oppose to each other when the levers extend parallel to each other. The grips extend toward the other grip for a certain length so that the reaction force of the respective levers can disperse to a relatively broad area of the operator's palm when the operator holds both of the grips. Thus, the operator can control the operations of the respective outboard motors simultaneously and similarly using one hand.
Operator hand size, however, is multifarious. An operator having a relatively small hand may feel uncomfortable holding both of the levers. Even another operator who has a larger hand may feel uncomfortable if the number of the levers is three or more.
A need thus exists for a control device for a marine propulsion system that has multiple control levers that can be easily held by most operators.
To address such needs, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a control device for a marine propulsion system includes a base and at least two levers. Each lever is supported by the base at a first end for pivotal movement about a common pivotal axis. The lever extends generally normal to the pivot axis ______ has a second end opposite of the first end. The second end has a grip. The grip of one of the levers extends toward the second end of the other one of the levers. The respective grips are nested with each other when the levers extend generally parallel to each other.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a control device for a marine propulsion system includes a base, at least two outer levers, and one intermediate lever interposed between the two outer levers. Each one of the outer and intermediate levers is supported by the base at a first end for pivotal movement about a common pivot axis and extends generally normal to the pivotal axis. Each lever also has a second end opposite of the first end. The second end of each outer lever has a grip extending toward the second end of the intermediate lever. The second end of the intermediate lever has grips extending toward the second ends of the respective outer levers. The respective grips are nested with each other when the levers extend generally parallel to each other.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are now described with reference to the drawings of preferred embodiments, which are intended to illustrate and not to limit the present invention. The drawings include eleven figures in which:
With reference to
Specifically, the marine propulsion system in this embodiment includes three outboard motors mounted on a transom board of a small watercraft. The marine propulsion system can include other number of outboard motors such as, for example, two or four outboard motors. Also the marine propulsion system can include any propulsion devices other than the outboard motors, such as, for example, stern drive units driven by individual prime movers.
As used through this description, the terms “front” and “forward” mean at or to the side where the bow of the associated watercraft is located or a portion of the control device 30 is located closer to the bow of the watercraft, unless indicated otherwise or otherwise readily apparent from the context used. The terms “rear,” “rearward,” “reverse” and “backward” mean at or to the opposite side of the front side. The term “right” and “rightward” means at or to the side where the right hand of an operator locates when the operator looks ahead of the watercraft, while the term “left” and “leftward” means at or to the side where the left hand of the operator locates when the operator looks ahead of the watercraft.
Also, as used in this description, the term “horizontally” means that the subject portions, members or components extend generally parallel to the water surface when the watercraft is substantially stationary with respect to the water surface and when the outboard motors are not tilted. The term “vertically” means that portions, members or components extend generally normal to those that extend horizontally.
The control device 30 is attached to a console 32 disposed in a cockpit of the small watercraft. Preferably, the control device 30 is placed relatively on a starboard side of the console.
The control device 30 can change shift positions of respective transmissions of the outboard motors among forward, reverse and neutral positions. When the transmission of each outboard motor is shifted to the forward position, a propulsion device such as, for example, a propeller of the outboard motor rotates in one direction for generating a forward thrust to propel the watercraft forward. When the transmission is shifted to the reverse position, the associated propulsion device rotates in the other direction (i.e., reverse direction) for generating a backward thrust to propel the watercraft backward. When the transmission is shifted to the neutral position, the propulsion device does not rotate so that the watercraft is not propelled (e.g., is at a standstill or stops).
The control device 30 can also change throttle valve openings of respective engines of the outboard motors between an almost fully closed or idle position and a fully open position. When the throttle valve opening is placed at the almost fully closed position, the associated engine operates in an idle state. With the throttle valve opening approaching the fully open position, the engine operates at a higher engine speed to provide more powerful thrust force to the watercraft. When the throttle valve opening reaches the fully open position, the engine operates at the highest engine speed, and the watercraft can move quickly.
The remote control device 30 preferably includes a base 34 and three control levers 36, 37, 38 extending from the base 34.
As shown in
As shown in
Each control lever 36, 37, 38 is supported by the respective base section 34a, 34b, 34c at a pivot section or first end 50 for pivotal movement about a common pivot axis 48 and extending generally normal to the pivot axis 48 to have a grip section or second end 52 opposing to the pivot section 50.
As shown in
Each base section 34a, 34b, 34c has right and left apertures 56 extending through its right and left walls 41 and 42, respectively. The axis of the apertures 56 is consistent with the pivot axis 48. A pivot member 58 having a boss is enclosed in a space defined by the right and left pieces 40a, 40b of each base section 34a, 34b, 34c. The boss of the pivot member 58 has a recess 58a which cross section has a square shape that is the same as the boss 54 of the pivot section 50. In the illustrated embodiment, another recess 58b is formed oppositely to the recess 58a. The recess 58b has the same shape and the same size as the recess 58a. The structure is useful for interchangeably positioning the control lever 36, 37, 38 at respective sides of the base section 34a, 34b, 34c.
In the illustrated embodiment, the boss of the pivot member 58 is inserted into the left aperture 56 from the interior of the base section 34a, 34b, 34c. The boss 54 of the pivot section 50 of each lever 36, 37, 38 is also inserted into the left aperture 56 to be coupled with the boss of the pivot member 58. More specifically, the boss 54 of the pivot section 50 fits in the recess 58a of the pivot member 58. Under this condition, the pivot section 50 and the pivot member 58 interpose the left wall 42 of the base section 34a, 34b, 34c between them.
A screw 60 joins the boss 54 of the pivot section 50 and the boss of the pivot member 58. Consequently, each lever 36, 37, 38 is pivotable together with the associated pivot member 58 about the pivot axis 48. In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot member 58 is a part of a control linkage 62 connecting the control levers 36, 37, 38 to the transmissions and the engines of the respective outboard motors. The control linkage 62 is movable with the pivotal movement of each control lever 36, 37, 38. The control linkage 62 will be described in greater detail below.
Each control lever 36, 37, 38 is formed with a lever body 43 and a grip unit 64, 66, 68. Preferably, the lever body 43 is a generally straightly extending bar. The lever body 43 has the pivot section 50 at its one end and the grip section at another end. The lever body 43 also has a right surface 44 and a left surface 46. The right and left surfaces 44, 46 preferably extend parallel to each other. The respective lever bodies preferably 43 have generally the same configuration and the same size.
The grip section 52 of the outer lever 36 has the grip unit 64. The grip section 52 of the intermediate lever 37 has the grip unit 66. The grip section 52 of the outer lever 38 has the grip unit 68. As best shown in
The grips 64a, 64b are coupled with each other by a screw 72 under a condition that the respective grips 64a, 64b interpose the grip section 52 of the outer lever 36 between them. Also, the grips 66a, 66b are coupled with each other by a screw 74 under a condition that the respective grips 66a, 66b interpose the grip section 52 of the intermediate lever 37 between them, and the grips 68a, 68b are coupled with each other by a screw 76 under a condition that the respective grips 68a, 68b interpose the grip section 52 of the outer lever 38 between them. Thus, all the grip units 64, 66, 68 are detachably fixed to the associated levers 36, 37, 38.
Preferably, the grips 64a, 68b have the same shape and the same size, while the grips 64b, 68a have the same shape and the same size. A switch member 78 is preferably attached to one of the grips 64a, 68b. In the illustrated embodiment, the switch member 78 is attached to the grip 68 positioned on the left side of the outer lever 38. The switch member 78 is provided for simultaneously changing a trim angle or a tilt angle of the respective outboard motors. When the operator pushes the switch member 78, an electric motor of a hydraulically operable trim and tilt mechanism is activated to operate a hydraulic pump so as to simultaneously raise or lower all the outboard motors. As shown in
With reference to
Each one of the grip 64b of the outer lever 36 and the grip 68a of the outer lever 38 has a basal portion 88 and a projection 90. Preferably, the basal portion 88 of the grip 64b is attached to the left surface 46 of the lever body 43, and the projection 90 of the grip 64b extends leftward from an upper half of the basal portion 88 toward the grip section 52 of the intermediate lever 37. Also, the basal portion 88 of the grip 68a is attached to the right surface 44 of the lever body 43, and the projection 90 of the grip 68a extends rightward from an upper half of the basal portion 88 toward the grip section 52 of the intermediate lever 37.
As thus arranged, the grip 64b of the outer lever 36 and the grip 66a of the intermediate lever 37 are nested with each other when the levers 36, 37 extend generally parallel to each other, i.e., when both the levers 36, 37 have the same pivotal angle relative to the base 34 of the control device 30. Also, the grip 68a of the outer lever 38 and the grip 66b of the intermediate lever 37 are nested with each other when the levers 37, 38 extend generally parallel to each other. That is, in the illustrated embodiment, the respective grips 64b, 66a overlap with each other in a longitudinal direction of each lever 37, 38, i.e., in a normal direction relative to the pivot axis 48, when the levers 36, 37 extend generally parallel to each other, and the respective grips 66b, 68a overlap with each other in a longitudinal direction of each lever 37, 38, i.e., the normal direction relative to the pivot axis 48, when the levers 37, 38 extend generally parallel to each other.
Preferably, as shown in
Each illustrated grip 64b, 66a, 66b, 68a has a generally cylindrical shape. A portion of the cylindrical shape is cut away to form the surface 92. In other words, the projection 86, 90 is formed as a result that almost a half of the cylindrical shape is removed from each grip 64b, 66a, 66b, 68a.
Because of the arrangement discussed above, the levers 36, 37, 38 in the illustrated embodiment can be positioned closer to each other even though the respective grips 64b, 66a, 66b, 68a extend transversely (i.e., in the direction of the pivot axis 48). Thus, every operator, even ones with relatively small hands, can easily hold the grips 64b, 66a, 66b, 68a.
More specifically, an operator can hold the grip 64b generally by one finger that holds the grip 66a while holding the grip 68a generally by another finger that holds the grip 66b. Because the grips 64b, 66a, 66b, 68a extend transversely, the holding force of the operator can be sufficiently given to the respective grips 64b, 66a, 66b, 68a. In addition, the control device 30 in this embodiment can be compact enough because the respective levers 36, 37, 38 can be positioned closer to each other then in prior control devices.
In one variation, the projections 86 of the grips 66a, 66b and the projections 90 of the grips 64b, 68a can be arranged so that the projections 86 are positioned above the projections 90 when the respective control levers 36, 37, 38 extend upward. In another variation, only the projection 86 of the grip 66a can be positioned above the projection 90 of the grip 64b under the condition that the projection 86 of the grip 66b is positioned below the projection 90 of the grip 68a. Also, in a further variation, only the projection 86 of the grip 66b can be positioned above the projection 90 of the grip 68a, and the projection 86 of the grip 66a is positioned below the projection 90 of the grip 64b.
In the illustrated embodiment, the respective base sections 34a, 34b, 34c are coupled with each other to form the base 34 as a unit. In order to complete the base 34, preferably, a right plate 96, a left plate 98 and three spacers 100, 102, 104 are used. The right plate 96 is attached to the right wall 41 of the base section 34a, while the left plate 98 is attached to the left wall 42 of the base section 34c. The spacer 100 is interposed between the base sections 34a, 34b to create a space S1 (
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
With reference to
The drive member 134 fits on the boss of the pivot member 58 to pivot together with the drive member 134. A lever portion of the drive member 134 is connected to the driven member 138 through the intermediate link 136. The driven member 138 is fixed to the base section 34a, 34b, 34c at a fixed portion 140 and can swing about an axis of the fixed portion 140. The intermediate link 136 is pivotally coupled with the lever portion of the drive member 134 and is also pivotally coupled with an end of the driven member 138. An end of a push-pull wire 142 is pivotally coupled with another end of the driven member 138. The fixed portion 140 is positioned between both ends. Another end of the push-pull wire 142 is connected to the transmission and the throttle valve of the engine of the associated outboard motor.
When the operator operates the control lever 36, 37, 38, the associated pivot member 58 pivots about the pivot axis 48. The drive member 134 drives the driven member 138 through the intermediate link 136. The driven member 138 thus swings about the axis of the fixed portion 140 to push or pull the push-pull wire 142. The push-pull wire 142 operates the transmission and the throttle valve of the associated outboard motor, accordingly.
In the illustrated embodiment, when the control lever 36, 37, 38 extends upward or vertically, the transmission is placed at the neutral position and the throttle valve opening is almost fully closed. The associated outboard motor does not generate the thrust force of the watercraft, even though the idling of its engine is allowed. The watercraft does not move, accordingly.
From this neutral state, while the control lever 36, 37, 38 pivots to incline forward with a certain angle, the transmission is shifted to the forward position and the throttle valve opening becomes larger. The associated outboard motor generates the forward thrust of the watercraft to the extent corresponding to the throttle valve opening. The watercraft thus moves forward.
On the other hand, from the neutral state, while the control lever 36, 37, 38 pivots to incline rearward, the transmission is shifted to the reverse position and the throttle valve opening becomes larger. The associated outboard motor generates the backward thrust of the watercraft to the extent corresponding to the throttle valve opening. The watercraft thus moves backward.
With reference to
Each free throttle lever 144 preferably has a pivot shaft 146, a lever body 148 and an operating portion 150. The pivot shaft 146 is positioned adjacent to the pivot member 58. The illustrated lever body 148 is positioned on the right side of each base section 34a, 34b, 34c. That is, the respective free throttle levers 144 extend along the side opposite to the side on which the respective control levers 36, 37, 38 extend. The operating portion 150 extends leftward from an end of each lever body 148. The operating portion 150 is normally positioned at a rear end of the base section 34a, 34b, 34c.
As shown in
As noted above, the remote control device 30 is fixed to the console 32 located in the cockpit of the watercraft. Thus, generally, the control device 30 is protected from water under a normal condition. The cockpit, however, can be exposed to the water under some conditions such as, for example, a stormy condition or a condition that the operator opens windows of the cockpit. In addition, the control device 30 can be mounted on a watercraft that has no cockpit which is covered. Under those exposed conditions, water may accumulate in the spaces S1, S2, S3 above the spacers 100, 102, 103, and may enter the interior of the control device 30.
A seal structure can be provided for protecting the control device 30 from the water. As schematically shown in
With reference to
Preferably, each spacer 100, 102, 104 is generally shaped as the letter Y. More specifically, each spacer 100, 102, 104 has an upper portion 162 and a lower portion 164. The upper portion 162 generally has the same configuration as the corresponding portion of the control lever 36, 37, 38. The lower portion 164 is narrower than the upper portion 162 and generally has a rectangular shape in a side view. Because each control lever 36, 37, 38 has the pivot section 50 generally circularly shaped, a top end of the upper portion 162 is recessed to form a recess 166.
The illustrated recess 162 defines the recess of the drain mechanism 160 in this embodiment. The recess 166 preferably has a corner 168 which is slightly deeper than the rest of the recess 166. The upper portion 162 of each spacer 100, 102, 104 has a through-hole extending generally vertically. A top end of the through-hole opens to the recess 166. A metallic drain pipe 170 fits into the through-hole.
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the drain pipes 170, the joints 176, 178, the rubber hoses 178, 180, rubber connectors 184 and the additional rubber hose together define a drain passage 186 of the drain mechanism 160 together with a top end of the through-hole.
As shown in
Because of the drain mechanism 160, the water accumulating in the recesses 166 is drained to the external location through the drain mechanism 160. The external location can be previously decided. Thus, water hardly enters the interior of the remote control device 30 or further the interior of the console 32.
In addition, the drain mechanism 160 is relatively simple, because the mechanism 160 uses the spacers 100, 102, 104 that are originally provided for creating the spaces S1, S2, S3. The drain mechanism 160 thus does not raise the production cost of the control device 30.
Water entering the interior of the control device 30 can also be inhibited by the spacer design. That is, in a variation of the spacer design described above, the recess 166 of each spacer 100, 102, 104 is not formed, and a top of each spacer 100, 102, 104 is generally flushed with the top surface 122 of the console 32 or is positioned slightly higher than the top surface 122 of the console 32. In this structure, however, the pivot axis 48 is inevitably positioned higher. The operator thus needs to raise his or her arm while operating the control levers 36, 37, 38. It is not comfortable for the operator. Because the recess 166 is preferably provided and the water in the recess 166 is discharged through the drain mechanism 160 in this embodiment, the pivot axis 48 can be sufficiently lowered and can be kept at almost the same level of the top surface 122 of the console 32.
Some of the units of the control lever and the base section can be removed from the arrangement (i.e., three set unit) discussed above. On the other hand, one or more units of the control lever and the base section can be added to the arrangement.
With reference to
First, the screws 120 (
The screw 60 (
Then, the grips 64a, 64b are removed from the right lever 36 and attached to the opposite sides. That is, the grip 64a is attached to the surface 46, which has been located on the left side before. Also, the grip 64b is attached to the surface 44, which has been located on the right side before. The right lever 36 is positioned on the right side of the right base section 34a while the surface 44 faces to the base section 34a. In other wards, the right lever 36 is reversed in comparison with the previous positioning.
The right and left base sections 34a, 34c adjoin with each other. The spacers 100, 104 are attached to the outer sides of the respective base sections 34a, 34c. The right and left plates 96, 98 are attached to the outer sides of the respective spacers 100, 104. Afterwards, the screws 120 fasten up the units to complete the two set unit.
In this arrangement, the drain mechanism 160 preferably employs a T-shaped joint 196 instead of the cross-shaped joint 176 and the L-shaped joints 180. In addition, preferably, rubber hoses 198 which are longer than the rubber hoses 178, 182 replace the rubber hoses 180.
As described above, the respective base sections together with the associated control levers can be easily disassembled and reassembled. Thus, multiple set units such as, for example, four set unit other than the three set unit and two set unit can be readily obtained corresponding to the number of associated outboard motors.
With reference to
Preferably, each grip 64b, 66a, 66b, 68a has generally a cylindrical shape. In this embodiment, however, a distal end of each grip 64b, 66a, 66b, 68a is obliquely cut away and has a surface 200. The surfaces 200 do not extend normal to the pivot axis 48 nor extend parallel to the pivot axis 48. Rather they are skewed relative to the pivot axis. The surface 200 of the grip 64b and the surface 200 of the grip 66a oppose to each other and extend generally parallel to each other. Also, the surface 200 of the grip 66b and the surface 200 of the grip 68a oppose to each other and extend generally parallel to each other. That is, every grip 64b, 66a, 66b, 68a preferably has the same oblique angle.
Each grip 64b, 66a, 66b, 68a has a trapezoidal-like shape in a rear plan view as shown in
As thus arranged, the grip 64b of the outer lever 36 and the grip 66a of the intermediate lever 37 nest with each other when the levers 36, 37 extend generally parallel to each other, i.e., when both the levers 36, 37 have the same pivotal angle relative to the base 34 of the control device 30. Also, the grip 68a of the outer lever 38 and the grip 66b of the intermediate lever 37 nest with each other when the levers 37, 38 extend generally parallel to each other. That is, in the illustrated embodiment, the respective grips 64b, 66a overlap with each other in the longitudinal direction of each lever 37, 38, i.e., in the normal direction relative to the pivot axis 48, when the levers 36, 37 extend generally parallel to each other, and the respective grips 66b, 68a overlap with each other in the longitudinal direction of each lever 37, 38, i.e., the normal direction relative to the pivot axis 48, when the levers 37, 38 extend generally parallel to each other.
The respective grips 64b, 66a, 66b, 68a can take any oblique angles. Also, the grip 66a can be positioned above the grip 64b, or the grip 66b can be positioned above the grip 68a, under the condition shown in
The grips also can take configurations other than a cylindrical shape as long as they can be nested with each other. For example, the respective grips can be a parallelepiped.
Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. It is also contemplated that various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. It should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2005-119485 | Apr 2005 | JP | national |
2005-119490 | Apr 2005 | JP | national |