Patent Application
20230415875
This application claims the benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-003747 filed on Jan. 13, 2022. The entire contents of this application are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to an outboard motor and a marine vessel, and more particularly, it relates to an outboard motor and a marine vessel each including a steering mechanism including a rotary member that rotates together with an outboard motor body and a linearly moving member that linearly moves to rotate the rotary member, and operable to rotate the outboard motor body about a steering shaft.
An outboard motor including a steering mechanism including a rotary member that rotates together with an outboard motor body and a linearly moving member that linearly moves to rotate the rotary member, and operable to rotate the outboard motor body about a steering shaft is known in general. Such an outboard motor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,800,502, for example.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,800,502 discloses an outboard motor including a steering mechanism to rotate an outboard motor body about a steering shaft. In the outboard motor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,800,502, the steering mechanism includes a rotary member (a pinion, for example) that is located in a central portion of the outboard motor body in a right-left direction and rotates together with the outboard motor body, and a linearly moving member (a rack, for example) that linearly moves along the right-left direction of the outboard motor body to rotate the rotary member.
In the outboard motor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,800,502, the linearly moving member (the rack, for example) is linearly moved to drive the rotary member (the pinion, for example), and thus when an angular range in which the outboard motor body is rotatable about the steering shaft is increased, a distance over which the linearly moving member is linearly moved is relatively increased in a direction in which the linearly moving member moves. In such a case, a relatively large space is required in the direction in which the linearly moving member moves to linearly move the linearly moving member. That is, the size of the outboard motor is increased. Therefore, it is desired to increase the angular range in which the outboard motor body is rotatable about the steering shaft while reducing or preventing an increase in the size of the outboard motor.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide outboard motors and marine vessels that each increase angular ranges in which outboard motor bodies are rotatable about steering shafts while reducing or preventing an increase in the sizes of (the) outboard motors.
An outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an outboard motor body, and a steering mechanism to rotate the outboard motor body about a steering shaft. The steering mechanism includes a pinion located in a central portion of the outboard motor body in a right-left direction and operable to rotate together with the outboard motor body, a rack operable to linearly move to rotate the pinion, a first drive source to drive the pinion by linearly moving the rack, a driving force transmission to transmit a driving force to the pinion, and a second drive source to drive the pinion via the driving force transmission. The steering mechanism is switchable between a state in which the pinion is rotated by the first drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within a first steering angle range, and a state in which the pinion is rotated by the second drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within a second steering angle range different from the first steering angle range.
In an outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism is switchable between a state in which the pinion is rotated by the first drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within the first steering angle range, and a state in which the pinion is rotated by the second drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within the second steering angle range different from the first steering angle range. Accordingly, the pinion is rotated by the second drive source such that the outboard motor body is steered in an angular range different from the first steering angle range without the pinion being rotated by the first drive source. That is, when the pinion is rotated by the second drive source and transmission of a driving force between the pinion and the rack is canceled, an angular range in which the outboard motor body is rotatable about the steering shaft is increased without changing a distance over which the rack is linearly moved in a direction in which the rack moves as compared with a case in which the pinion is rotated only by the first drive source. Consequently, the angular range in which the outboard motor body is rotatable about the steering shaft is increased while an increase in the size of the outboard motor is reduced or prevented.
In an outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism is preferably switchable between a state in which the pinion is rotated by a hydraulic actuator corresponding to the first drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within the first steering angle range, and a state in which the pinion is rotated by an electric motor corresponding to the second drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within the second steering angle range having an upper limit larger than an upper limit of the first steering angle range. When a marine vessel navigates at a relatively high speed, a relatively large load is applied to a drive source, and thus an angle at which the outboard motor body is steered is limited within a relatively small angular range. On the other hand, when the marine vessel navigates at a relatively low speed, only a relatively small load is applied to the drive source, and thus the outboard motor body may be steered at a relatively large angle. Therefore, when the marine vessel navigates at a relatively high speed, the pinion is rotated by the hydraulic actuator to steer the outboard motor body within the first steering angle range, as described above, such that a relatively large load to be applied to the drive source is easily received by a hydraulic pressure. When the marine vessel navigates at a relatively low speed, the pinion is rotated by the electric motor to steer the outboard motor body within the second steering angle range having an upper limit larger than the upper limit of the first steering angle range, as described above, such that the outboard motor body is easily steered at a relatively large angle. That is, the two drive sources are appropriately used to steer the outboard motor body.
An outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention preferably further includes a steering controller configured or programmed to control the steering mechanism, and the steering controller is preferably configured or programmed to control the first drive source to generate a driving force from the first drive source when the pinion is rotated by the first drive source, and to control the second drive source to generate a driving force from the second drive source when the pinion is rotated by the second drive source. Accordingly, under the control of the steering controller, the steering mechanism easily switches between a state in which the pinion is rotated by the first drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within the first steering angle range, and a state in which the pinion is rotated by the second drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within the second steering angle range.
In an outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism is preferably operable to engage the rack with the pinion when the pinion is rotated by the first drive source, and is preferably operable to not engage the rack with the pinion when the pinion is not rotated by the first drive source. Accordingly, when the pinion is rotated by the first drive source, the rack is engaged with the pinion, and thus the pinion is appropriately rotated by the first drive source. When the pinion is not rotated by the first drive source, the rack is not engaged with the pinion, and thus interference with rotation of the pinion by the second drive source due to engagement of the rack with the pinion is prevented when the pinion is rotated by the second drive source. In other words, switching between the two drive sources to steer the outboard motor body is structurally performed with ease.
In such a case, the rack preferably includes teeth to engage with the pinion, and the teeth are preferably in a predetermined range in a longitudinal direction of the rack such that the rack engages with the pinion when the pinion is rotated by the first drive source, and the rack does not engage with the pinion when the pinion is not rotated by the first drive source. Accordingly, the rack linearly moves, and thus the range in which the teeth of the rack that engage with the pinion are provided is adjusted such that the steering mechanism is easily configured such that the rack engages with the pinion when the pinion is rotated by the first drive source, and the rack does not engage with the pinion when the pinion is not rotated by the first drive source.
In an outboard motor in which the teeth of the rack that engage with the pinion are in the predetermined range in the longitudinal direction of the rack, the rack preferably includes a toothed portion on a pinion side and including the teeth to engage with the pinion when the pinion is rotated by the first drive source, and a non-toothed portion on the pinion side, adjacent to the toothed portion, and not including the teeth so as to not engage with or contact the pinion when the pinion is not rotated by the first drive source. Accordingly, a structure in which the teeth of the rack that engage with the pinion are in the predetermined range in the longitudinal direction of the rack is easily achieved.
In an outboard motor in which the rack engages with the pinion when the pinion is rotated by the first drive source and the rack does not engage with the pinion when the pinion is not rotated by the first drive source, the steering mechanism preferably further includes a rack position detector to detect a position of the rack, and a pinion position detector to detect a rotational position of the pinion. Accordingly, the rack position detector and the pinion position detector detect the position of the rack and the rotational position of the pinion, respectively, and thus when a state in which the rack does not engage with the pinion is switched to a state in which the rack engages with the pinion, the rack and the pinion are engaged with each other at a preset, predetermined position.
In an outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the driving force transmission preferably includes a clutch switchable between a state in which a driving force is transmitted from an electric motor corresponding to the second drive source to the pinion when the pinion is rotated by the electric motor, and a state in which a driving force is not transmitted from the electric motor to the pinion when the pinion is not rotated by the electric motor. Accordingly, when the pinion is rotated by the electric motor, a driving force is transmitted from the electric motor to the pinion, and thus the pinion is appropriately rotated by the electric motor. When the pinion is not rotated by the electric motor, a driving force is not transmitted from the electric motor to the pinion, and thus interference with rotation of the pinion by the first drive source due to transmission of a driving force from the electric motor to the pinion is prevented when the pinion is rotated by the first drive source.
In such a case, the clutch preferably includes a first gear to be rotated by the electric motor, a second gear operable to rotate integrally with the pinion, and a switching gear operable to rotate integrally with the second gear and switchable between a state in which the switching gear engages with the first gear, and a state in which the switching gear does not engage with the first gear. Accordingly, switching between a state in which a driving force is transmitted from the electric motor to the pinion and a state in which a driving force is not transmitted from the electric motor to the pinion is easily performed by the switching gear.
In an outboard motor including the clutch including the first gear, the second gear, and the switching gear, the steering mechanism is preferably operable to engage the first gear with the switching gear while rotating the first gear with the electric motor in a state in which the rack is engaged with the pinion and linear movement of the rack by a hydraulic actuator corresponding to the first drive source is stopped to stop rotation of the switching gear when a state in which the pinion is rotated by the hydraulic actuator is switched to a state in which the pinion is rotated by the electric motor. Accordingly, when the first gear and the switching gear are engaged with each other, a hydraulic pressure reliably stops rotation of the switching gear, and thus the first gear and the switching gear are easily engaged with each other.
In an outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first steering angle range preferably has a lower limit of about 0 degrees and an upper limit of about 30 degrees or more and about 45 degrees or less, and the second steering angle range preferably has a lower limit of about 0 degrees and an upper limit set to an angle larger than the upper limit of the first steering angle range. Accordingly, the pinion is rotated by the first drive source such that the outboard motor body is steered at an angle between about 0 degrees and an angle between about 30 degrees and about 45 degrees inclusive, and the pinion is rotated by the second drive source such that the outboard motor body is steered at an angle between about 0 degrees and an angle larger than an angle between about 30 degrees and about 45 degrees inclusive.
In an outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outboard motor body preferably includes an upper portion to be attached to a hull via a bracket, and a lower portion located below the upper portion and on which a propeller is provided, and the steering mechanism is preferably operable to rotate the lower portion about the steering shaft with respect to the upper portion. Accordingly, in a structure in which the lower portion is rotated about the steering shaft with respect to the upper portion, the angular range in which the outboard motor body is rotatable about the steering shaft is increased while an increase in the size of the outboard motor body is reduced or prevented.
An outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an outboard motor body, and a steering mechanism to rotate the outboard motor body about a steering shaft. The steering mechanism includes a rotary member located in a central portion of the outboard motor body in a right-left direction and operable to rotate together with the outboard motor body, a linearly moving member operable to linearly move to rotate the rotary member, a first drive source to drive the rotary member by linearly moving the linearly moving member, a driving force transmission to transmit a driving force to the rotary member, and a second drive source to drive the rotary member via the driving force transmission. The steering mechanism is switchable between a state in which the rotary member is rotated by the first drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within a first steering angle range, and a state in which the rotary member is rotated by the second drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within a second steering angle range different from the first steering angle range.
In an outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism is switchable between a state in which the rotary member is rotated by the first drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within the first steering angle range, and a state in which the rotary member is rotated by the second drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within the second steering angle range different from the first steering angle range. Accordingly, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, the rotary member is rotated by the second drive source such that the outboard motor body is steered in an angular range different from the first steering angle range without the rotary member being rotated by the first drive source. That is, when the rotary member is rotated by the second drive source and transmission of a driving force between the rotary member and the linearly moving member is canceled, an angular range in which the outboard motor body is rotatable about the steering shaft is increased without changing a distance over which the linearly moving member is linearly moved in a direction in which the linearly moving member moves as compared with a case in which the rotary member is rotated only by the first drive source. Consequently, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, the angular range in which the outboard motor body is rotatable about the steering shaft is increased while an increase in the size of the outboard motor is reduced or prevented.
An outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an outboard motor body, and a steering mechanism to rotate the outboard motor body about a steering shaft. The steering mechanism includes a rotary member located in a central portion of the outboard motor body in a right-left direction and operable to rotate together with the outboard motor body, a rack operable to linearly move to rotate the rotary member, a first drive source to drive the rotary member by linearly moving the rack, a driving force transmission to transmit a driving force to the rotary member, and a second drive source to drive the rotary member via the driving force transmission. The steering mechanism is switchable between a state in which a marine vessel is navigable within a first speed range while the rotary member is rotated by the second drive source to steer the outboard motor body, and a state in which the marine vessel is navigable within a second speed range including a speed range different from the first speed range while the rotary member is rotated by the first drive source to steer the outboard motor body.
In an outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism is switchable between a state in which the marine vessel is navigable within the first speed range while the rotary member is rotated by the second drive source to steer the outboard motor body, and a state in which the marine vessel is navigable within the second speed range including a speed range different from the first speed range while the rotary member is rotated by the first drive source to steer the outboard motor body. As described above, when the marine vessel navigates at a relatively high speed, a relatively large load is applied to a drive source, and thus an angle at which the outboard motor body is steered is limited within a relatively small angular range. On the other hand, when the marine vessel navigates at a relatively low speed, only a relatively small load is applied to the drive source, and thus the outboard motor body may be steered at a relatively large angle. Therefore, when the marine vessel navigates at a relatively high speed and the angle at which the outboard motor body is steered is limited within a relatively small angular range, the marine vessel is only required to navigate within the first speed range while the rotary member is rotated by the second drive source to steer the outboard motor body, as described above. When the marine vessel navigates at a relatively low speed and the outboard motor body is steered at a relatively large angle, the marine vessel is only required to navigate within the second speed range including a speed range different from the first speed range while the rotary member is rotated by the first drive source to steer the outboard motor body, as described above. In such cases, the steering mechanism switches between a state in which the rotary member is rotated by the first drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within the first steering angle range, and a state in which the rotary member is rotated by the second drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within the second steering angle range different from the first steering angle range. Thus, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, the rotary member is rotated by the second drive source such that the outboard motor body is steered in an angular range different from the first steering angle range without the rotary member being rotated by the first drive source. That is, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, when the rotary member is rotated by the second drive source and transmission of a driving force between the rotary member and the linearly moving member is canceled, an angular range in which the outboard motor body is rotatable about the steering shaft is increased without changing a distance over which the linearly moving member is linearly moved in a direction in which the linearly moving member moves as compared with a case in which the rotary member is rotated only by the first drive source. Consequently, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, the angular range in which the outboard motor body is rotatable about the steering shaft is increased while an increase in the size of the outboard motor is reduced or prevented.
A marine vessel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a hull, and an outboard motor attached to a stern of the hull. The outboard motor includes an outboard motor body, and a steering mechanism to rotate the outboard motor body about a steering shaft. The steering mechanism includes a pinion located in a central portion of the outboard motor body in a right-left direction and operable to rotate together with the outboard motor body, a rack operable to linearly move to rotate the pinion, a first drive source to drive the pinion by linearly moving the rack, a driving force transmission to transmit a driving force to the pinion, and a second drive source to drive the pinion via the driving force transmission. The steering mechanism is switchable between a state in which the pinion is rotated by the first drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within a first steering angle range, and a state in which the pinion is rotated by the second drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within a second steering angle range different from the first steering angle range.
In a marine vessel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism is switchable between a state in which the pinion is rotated by the first drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within the first steering angle range, and a state in which the pinion is rotated by the second drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within the second steering angle range different from the first steering angle range. Accordingly, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, an angular range in which the outboard motor body is rotatable about the steering shaft is increased while an increase in the size of the outboard motor is reduced or prevented.
In a marine vessel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism is preferably switchable between a state in which the pinion is rotated by a hydraulic actuator corresponding to the first drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within the first steering angle range, and a state in which the pinion is rotated by an electric motor corresponding to the second drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within the second steering angle range having an upper limit larger than an upper limit of the first steering angle range. Accordingly, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, the two drive sources are appropriately used.
A marine vessel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention preferably further includes a steering controller configured or programmed to control the steering mechanism, and the steering controller is preferably configured or programmed to control the first drive source to generate a driving force from the first drive source when the pinion is rotated by the first drive source, and to control the second drive source to generate a driving force from the second drive source when the pinion is rotated by the second drive source. Accordingly, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, the steering mechanism easily switches between a state in which the pinion is rotated by the first drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within the first steering angle range, and a state in which the pinion is rotated by the second drive source such that the outboard motor body is steerable within the second steering angle range.
In a marine vessel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism is preferably operable to engage the rack with the pinion when the pinion is rotated by the first drive source, and is preferably operable to not engage the rack with the pinion when the pinion is not rotated by the first drive source. Accordingly, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, switching between the two drive sources to steer the outboard motor body is structurally performed with ease.
In such a case, the rack preferably includes teeth to engage with the pinion, and the teeth are preferably in a predetermined range in a longitudinal direction of the rack such that the rack engages with the pinion when the pinion is rotated by the first drive source, and the rack does not engage with the pinion when the pinion is not rotated by the first drive source. Accordingly, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, the steering mechanism is easily configured such that the rack engages with the pinion when the pinion is rotated by the first drive source, and the rack does not engage with the pinion when the pinion is not rotated by the first drive source.
In a marine vessel in which the teeth of the rack that engage with the pinion are in the predetermined range in the longitudinal direction of the rack, the rack preferably includes a toothed portion on a pinion side and including the teeth to engage with the pinion when the pinion is rotated by the first drive source, and a non-toothed portion on the pinion side, adjacent to the toothed portion, and not including the teeth so as to not engage with or contact the pinion when the pinion is not rotated by the first drive source. Accordingly, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, a structure in which the teeth of the rack that engage with the pinion are in the predetermined range in the longitudinal direction of the rack is easily achieved.
The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the drawings.
The structures of outboard motors 100 and a marine vessel 120 according to preferred embodiments of the present invention are now described with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
The remote control 112a includes a tiltable lever. The lever of the remote control 112a is tilted such that the thrusts (the rotation speeds of propellers 35 (see
The steering wheel 112b is rotatable. The steering wheel 112b is rotated to steer the outboard motors 100 (change the orientations of the propellers 35 (see
The marine vessel 120 (see
The joystick 112c includes a tiltable and rotatable lever. The lever of the joystick 112c is tilted, rotated, or tilted and rotated such that the thrusts of the outboard motors 100 are changed and/or the shift states of the outboard motors 100 are switched, the outboard motors 100 are steered, or the thrusts of the outboard motors 100 are changed and/or the shift states of the outboard motors 100 are switched and the outboard motors 100 are steered, for example.
The lever of the joystick 112c is tilted to translate the marine vessel 120 (see
The joystick 112c includes a joystick mode switch. In the marine vessel 120, the joystick mode switch is pressed to switch an operation mode between a joystick mode and a non-joystick mode. In the joystick mode, the marine vessel 120 does not receive operations on the remote control 112a and the steering wheel 112b, but receives an operation on the joystick 112c. In the non-joystick mode, the marine vessel 120 does not receive an operation on the joystick 112c, but receives operations on the remote control 112a and the steering wheel 112b.
The hull 110 includes a controller 113 to control the outboard motors 100 (engine control units (ECUs) 51, steering control units (SCUs) 52, etc. of the outboard motors 100) based on an operation on the operator 112. The controller 113 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), etc., for example. The SCU 52 is an example of a “steering controller”.
As shown in
Each of the outboard motors 100 is an engine outboard motor including the engine 31 to drive the propeller 35. Specifically, the outboard motor body 102 includes the engine 31, a drive shaft 32, a gearing 33, a propeller shaft 34, and the propeller 35. The engine 31 is an internal combustion engine that generates a driving force. The drive shaft 32 extends in an upward-downward direction across the cowling 11 and the lower case 21. The drive shaft 32 is connected to a crankshaft (not shown) of the engine 31. The gearing 33 is located in the lower case 21. The gearing 33 is connected to a lower end of the drive shaft 32. The propeller shaft 34 is connected to the gearing 33. The propeller shaft 34 extends in a forward-rearward direction behind the gearing 33. The propeller 35 is connected to a rear end of the propeller shaft 34. The propeller 35 is located outside the lower case 21 to be exposed to the outside of the outboard motor body 102. A driving force is transmitted from the engine 31 to the propeller 35 via the drive shaft 32, the gearing 33, and the propeller shaft 34. The propeller 35 generates a thrust by rotating in the water by the driving force transmitted from the engine 31.
The outboard motor body 102 includes a shift actuator 36 to switch the shift state (the forward movement state, the reverse movement state, or the neutral state) of the outboard motor 100. The shift actuator 36 switches the shift state of the outboard motor 100 between the forward movement state, the backward movement state, and the neutral state by switching the meshing of the gearing 33. In the forward movement state of the outboard motor 100, a driving force is transmitted from the engine 31 to the propeller 35 to generate a forward propulsive force from the propeller 35. In the reverse movement state of the outboard motor 100, a driving force is transmitted from the engine 31 to the propeller 35 to generate a reverse propulsive force from the propeller 35. In the neutral state of the outboard motor 100, a driving force is not transmitted from the engine 31 to the propeller 35.
The outboard motor 100 includes a steering mechanism to rotate a portion of the outboard motor body 102 about a steering shaft 41. The steering mechanism 40 rotates the lower portion 20 about the steering shaft 41 with respect to the upper portion 10. That is, in the outboard motor 100, only a portion (the lower portion 20) of the outboard motor body 102 rotates with respect to the hull 110. The steering mechanism 40 is described below in detail.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The steering mechanism 40 includes a rack 43 that linearly moves to rotate the pinion 42, and a hydraulic actuator 44 that linearly moves the rack 43 to drive the pinion 42. That is, the steering mechanism 40 converts linear motion into rotary motion with the rack 43 and the pinion 42. The hydraulic actuator 44 is an example of a “first drive source”.
One rack 43 is provided for the pinion 42. The rack 43 is located on the starboard side of the pinion 42. The rack 43 extends along the forward-rearward direction of the outboard motor body 102. The rack 43 includes teeth 43a that engage with teeth 42a of the pinion 42. The rack 43 is linearly movable along the forward-rearward direction of the outboard motor body 102. When the rack 43 linearly moves along the forward-rearward direction of the outboard motor body 102 while the teeth 43a of the rack 43 engage with the teeth 42a of the pinion 42, the pinion 42 is rotated.
The hydraulic actuator 44 includes a hydraulic cylinder 44a to house the rack 43. The hydraulic cylinder 44a extends along the forward-rearward direction. Two oil chambers 44b are provided inside the hydraulic cylinder 44a. The two oil chambers 44b are provided on a first side and a second side of the rack 43 in a direction (the forward-rearward direction of the outboard motor body 102) in which the rack 43 extends. A hydraulic pump (not shown) is driven by a pump drive motor (not shown) to supply hydraulic oil to one of the two oil chambers 44b and to discharge hydraulic oil from the other of the two oil chambers 44b. The amount of hydraulic oil in the two oil chambers 44b is adjusted such that the rack 43 linearly moves inside the hydraulic cylinder 44a.
The steering mechanism 40 includes a driving force transmission mechanism 60 to transmit a driving force to the pinion 42 and an electric motor 45 to drive the pinion 42 via the driving force transmission mechanism 60. The electric motor 45 is an example of a “second drive source”.
As shown in
As shown in
Therefore, the steering mechanism 40 (see
Specifically, when the operation mode is in the non-joystick mode, the controller 113 (see
On the other hand, when the operation mode is in the joystick mode, the controller 113 (see
The lower limit of the first speed range V10 is set to about 0 (m/s), and the upper limit thereof is set to V1 (m/s). The lower limit of the second speed range V20 is set to about 0 (m/s), and the upper limit thereof is set to V2 (m/s). The speed V1 is lower than the speed V2. The speed V2 corresponds to the maximum speed of the marine vessel 120. That is, the second speed range V20 includes the first speed range V10 and a speed range larger than the upper limit of the first speed range V10.
The lower limit of the first steering angle range A10 is set to about 0 degrees, and the upper limit thereof is set to A1. The lower limit of the second steering angle range A20 is set to about 0 degrees, and the upper limit thereof is set to A2. The angle A1 is smaller than the angle A2. The angle A1 is set to about 30 degrees or more and about 45 degrees or less. That is, the upper limit of the second steering angle range A20 is set to an angle A larger than the upper limit of the first steering angle range A10. The second steering angle range A20 includes the first steering angle range A10 and an angular range having an upper limit larger than the upper limit of the first steering angle range A10.
As shown in
More specifically, the rack 43 includes a toothed portion 43b and a non-toothed portion 43c. The toothed portion 43b and the non-toothed portion 43c are provided on the pinion 42 side. The toothed portion 43b is provided in a central portion of the rack 43 in a direction in which the rack 43 linearly moves. In the toothed portion 43b, the teeth 43a are provided such that the rack 43 engages with the pinion 42 when the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44. The non-toothed portion 43c is provided on the opposite sides of the toothed portion 43b so as to be adjacent to the toothed portion 43b in the direction in which the rack 43 linearly moves. In the non-toothed portion 43c, the teeth 43a are not provided such that the rack 43 does not engage with or contact the pinion 42 when the pinion 42 is not rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44.
The steering mechanism 40 includes a rack position detector 46 to detect the position of the rack 43 and a pinion position detector 47 to detect the rotational position of the pinion 42. The rack position detector 46 is provided on the side opposite to the pinion 42 with respect to the rack 43. The rack position detector 46 includes a rack position detection gear 46a to engage with a detector-side gear portion 43d provided on the rack position detector 46 side of the rack 43. The rack position detector 46 detects the position of the rack 43 by detecting the rotation angle of the rack position detection gear 46a. The pinion position detector 47 includes a pinion position detection gear 47a to engage with the teeth 42a of the pinion 42. The pinion position detector 47 detects the rotational position of the pinion 42 by detecting the rotation angle of the pinion position detection gear 47a.
As shown in
More specifically, the upper portion of the first gear 63a engages with the gear 62. The second gear 63b engages with the gear 64. The first gear 63a, the second gear 63b, and the switching gear 63c rotate about a rotation shaft 63d. The second gear 63b and the switching gear 63c always rotate integrally with the rotation shaft 63d. The switching gear 63c is slid in the upward-downward direction by a clutch actuator 63e. When the switching gear 63c is slid upward and engages with a lower portion of the first gear 63a, the switching gear 63c rotates as the first gear 63a rotates. That is, a driving force is transmitted from the electric motor 45 to the pinion 42. On the other hand, when the switching gear 63c is slid downward and does not engage with the lower portion of the first gear 63a, the switching gear 63c does not rotate even when the first gear 63a rotates. That is, a driving force is not transmitted from the electric motor 45 to the pinion 42.
The steering mechanism 40 engages the first gear 63a with the switching gear 63c while rotating the first gear 63a with the electric motor 45 in a state in which the rack 43 is engaged with the pinion 42 and linear movement of the rack 43 by the hydraulic actuator 44 is stopped to stop rotation of the switching gear 63c when a state in which the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44 (see
According to the various preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, the following advantageous effects are achieved.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism 40 is switchable between a state in which the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44 such that the outboard motor body 102 is steerable within the first steering angle range, and a state in which the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor 45 such that the outboard motor body 102 is steerable within the second steering angle range A20 including at least an angular range different from the first steering angle range A10. Accordingly, the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor 45 such that the outboard motor body 102 is steered in the angular range different from the first steering angle range A10 without the pinion 42 being rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44. That is, when the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor 45 and transmission of a driving force between the pinion 42 and the rack 43 is canceled, the angular range in which the outboard motor body 102 is rotatable about the steering shaft 41 is increased without changing a distance over which the rack 43 is linearly moved in the direction in which the rack 43 moves as compared with a case in which the pinion 42 is rotated only by the hydraulic actuator 44. Consequently, the angular range in which the outboard motor body 102 is rotatable about the steering shaft 41 is increased while an increase in the size of the outboard motor 100 is reduced or prevented.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism 40 is switchable between a state in which the marine vessel 120 is navigable within the first speed range V10 while the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor 45 to steer the outboard motor body 102, and a state in which the marine vessel 120 is navigable within the second speed range V20 including at least a speed range different from the first speed range V10 while the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44 to steer the outboard motor body 102. Accordingly, when the marine vessel 120 navigates at a relatively high speed V and the angle A at which the outboard motor body 102 is steered is limited within a relatively small angular range, the marine vessel 120 is only required to navigate within the first speed range V10 while the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor 45 to steer the outboard motor body 102, as described above. When the marine vessel 120 navigates at a relatively low speed V and the outboard motor body 102 is steered at a relatively large angle A, the marine vessel 120 is only required to navigate within the second speed range V20 including at least a speed range different from the first speed range V10 while the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44 to steer the outboard motor body 102, as described above. In such cases, the steering mechanism 40 switches between a state in which the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44 such that the outboard motor body 102 is steerable within the first steering angle range A10, and a state in which the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor 45 such that the outboard motor body 102 is steerable within the second steering angle range A20 including at least an angular range different from the first steering angle range A10. Thus, as described above, the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor 45 such that the outboard motor body 102 is steered in an angular range different from the first steering angle range A10 without the pinion 42 being rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44. That is, when the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor and transmission of a driving force between the pinion 42 and the rack 43 is canceled, the angular range in which the outboard motor body 102 is rotatable about the steering shaft 41 is increased without changing a distance over which the rack 43 is linearly moved in the direction in which the rack 43 moves as compared with a case in which the pinion 42 is rotated only by the hydraulic actuator 44. Consequently, as described above, the angular range in which the outboard motor body 102 is rotatable about the steering shaft 41 is increased while an increase in the size of the outboard motor 100 is reduced or prevented.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism 40 is switchable between a state in which the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44 such that the outboard motor body 102 is steerable within the first steering angle range A10, and a state in which the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor 45 such that the outboard motor body 102 is steerable within the second steering angle range A20 having an angular range including an upper limit larger than the upper limit of the first steering angle range A10. Accordingly, when the marine vessel 120 navigates at a relatively high speed V, the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44 to steer the outboard motor body 102 within the first steering angle range A10, as described above, such that a relatively large load to be applied to the drive source is easily received by a hydraulic pressure. When the marine vessel 120 navigates at a relatively low speed V, the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor 45 to steer the outboard motor body 102 within the second steering angle range A20 having an angular range including an upper limit larger than the upper limit of the first steering angle range A10, as described above, such that the outboard motor body 102 is easily steered at a relatively large angle A. That is, the two drive sources are appropriately used to steer the outboard motor body 102.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outboard motor 100 includes the SCU 52 configured or programmed to control the steering mechanism 40. The SCU 52 is configured or programmed to control the hydraulic actuator 44 to generate a driving force from the hydraulic actuator 44 when the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44, and to control the electric motor 45 to generate a driving force from the electric motor 45 when the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor 45. Accordingly, under the control of the SCU 52, the steering mechanism 40 easily switches between a state in which the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44 such that the outboard motor body 102 is steerable within the first steering angle range A10, and a state in which the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor 45 such that the outboard motor body 102 is steerable within the second steering angle range A20.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism 40 is operable to engage the rack 43 with the pinion 42 when the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44, and is operable to not engage the rack 43 with the pinion 42 when the pinion 42 is not rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44. Accordingly, when the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44, the rack 43 is engaged with the pinion 42, and thus the pinion 42 is appropriately rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44. When the pinion 42 is not rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44, the rack 43 is not engaged with the pinion 42, and thus interference with rotation of the pinion 42 by the electric motor 45 due to engagement of the rack 43 with the pinion 42 is prevented when the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor 45. In other words, switching between the two drive sources to steer the outboard motor body 102 is structurally performed with ease.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the teeth 43a of the rack 43 that engage with the pinion 42 are provided in the predetermined range R in the longitudinal direction of the rack 43 such that the rack 43 engages with the pinion 42 when the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44, and the rack 43 does not engage with the pinion 42 when the pinion 42 is not rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44. Accordingly, the rack 43 linearly moves, and thus the range in which the teeth 43a of the rack 43 that engage with the pinion 42 are provided is adjusted such that the steering mechanism 40 is easily configured such that the rack 43 engages with the pinion 42 when the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44, and the rack 43 does not engage with the pinion 42 when the pinion 42 is not rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rack 43 includes the toothed portion 43b provided on the pinion 42 side and including the teeth 43a to engage with the pinion 42 when the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44, and the non-toothed portion 43c provided on the pinion 42 side, adjacent to the toothed portion 43b, and not including the teeth 43a so as to not engage with or contact the pinion 42 when the pinion 42 is not rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44. Accordingly, a structure in which the teeth 43a of the rack 43 that engage with the pinion 42 are provided in the predetermined range R in the longitudinal direction of the rack 43 is easily achieved.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism 40 includes the rack position detector 46 to detect the position of the rack 43, and the pinion position detector 47 to detect the rotational position of the pinion 42. Accordingly, the rack position detector 46 and the pinion position detector 47 detect the position of the rack 43 and the rotational position of the pinion 42, respectively, and thus when a state in which the rack 43 does not engage with the pinion 42 is switched to a state in which the rack 43 engages with the pinion 42, the rack 43 and the pinion 42 are engaged with each other at a preset, predetermined position.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the driving force transmission mechanism 60 includes the clutch 63 switchable between a state in which a driving force is transmitted from the electric motor 45 to the pinion 42 when the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor 45, and a state in which a driving force is not transmitted from the electric motor 45 to the pinion 42 when the pinion 42 is not rotated by the electric motor 45. Accordingly, when the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor 45, a driving force is transmitted from the electric motor 45 to the pinion 42, and thus the pinion 42 is appropriately rotated by the electric motor 45. When the pinion 42 is not rotated by the electric motor 45, a driving force is not transmitted from the electric motor 45 to the pinion 42, and thus interference with rotation of the pinion 42 by the hydraulic actuator 44 due to transmission of a driving force from the electric motor 45 to the pinion 42 is prevented when the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clutch 63 includes the first gear 63a rotated by the electric motor 45, the second gear 63b operable to rotate integrally with the pinion 42, and the switching gear 63c operable to rotate integrally with the second gear 63b and switchable between a state in which the switching gear 63c engages with the first gear 63a and a state in which the switching gear 63c does not engage with the first gear 63a. Accordingly, switching between a state in which a driving force is transmitted from the electric motor 45 to the pinion 42 and a state in which a driving force is not transmitted from the electric motor 45 to the pinion 42 is easily performed by the switching gear 63c.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism 40 is operable to engage the first gear 63a with the switching gear 63c while rotating the first gear 63a with the electric motor 45 in a state in which the rack 43 is engaged with the pinion 42 and linear movement of the rack 43 by the hydraulic actuator 44 is stopped to stop rotation of the switching gear 63c when a state in which the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44 is switched to a state in which the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor Accordingly, when the first gear 63a and the switching gear 63c are engaged with each other, a hydraulic pressure reliably stops rotation of the switching gear 63c, and thus the first gear 63a and the switching gear 63c are easily engaged with each other.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first steering angle range A10 has a lower limit of about 0 degrees and an upper limit of about 30 degrees or more and about 45 degrees or less, and the second steering angle range A20 has a lower limit of about 0 degrees and an upper limit set to an angle A larger than the upper limit of the first steering angle range A10. Accordingly, the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44 such that the outboard motor body 102 is steered at an angle A between about 0 degrees and an angle between about 30 degrees and about 45 degrees inclusive, and the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor 45 such that the outboard motor body 102 is steered at an angle A between about 0 degrees and an angle larger than an angle between about degrees and about 45 degrees inclusive.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outboard motor body 102 includes the upper portion 10 attached to the hull 110 via the bracket 101, and a lower portion 20 located below the upper portion 10 and on which the propeller 35 is provided. Furthermore, the steering mechanism 40 is operable to rotate the lower portion 20 about the steering shaft 41 with respect to the upper portion 10. Accordingly, in a structure in which the lower portion 20 is rotated about the steering shaft 41 with respect to the upper portion 10, the angular range in which the outboard motor body 102 is rotatable about the steering shaft 41 is increased while an increase in the size of the outboard motor body 100 is reduced or prevented.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention described above are illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The extent of the present invention is not defined by the above description of the preferred embodiments but by the scope of the claims, and all modifications within the meaning and range equivalent to the scope of the claims are further included.
For example, while the steering mechanism 40 preferably rotates the lower portion 20 about the steering shaft 41 with respect to the upper portion 10 in preferred embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism may alternatively rotate the entire outboard motor body about the steering shaft with respect to the hull.
While the upper limit of the first steering angle range A10 is preferably about 30 degrees or more and about 45 degrees or less in preferred embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper limit of the first steering angle range may alternatively be less than about degrees or more than about 45 degrees.
While the steering mechanism 40 preferably engages the first gear 63a with the switching gear 63c while rotating the first gear 63a with the electric motor 45 in a state in which the rack 43 is engaged with the pinion 42 and linear movement of the rack 43 by the hydraulic actuator 44 is stopped to stop rotation of the switching gear 63c when a state in which the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44 is switched to a state in which the pinion 42 is rotated by the electric motor in preferred embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism may alternatively engage the first gear with the switching gear while rotating the first gear with the electric motor in a state in which the rack is not engaged with the pinion when a state in which the pinion is rotated by the hydraulic actuator is switched to a state in which the pinion is rotated by the electric motor. Alternatively, the steering mechanism may engage the first gear with the switching gear while rotating the first gear with the electric motor in a state in which the rack is engaged with the pinion and the rack is linearly moved by the hydraulic actuator to rotate the switching gear when a state in which the pinion is rotated by the hydraulic actuator is switched to a state in which the pinion is rotated by the electric motor.
While the clutch 63 preferably includes the first gear 63a rotated by the electric motor 45, the second gear 63b operable to rotate integrally with the pinion 42, and the switching gear 63c operable to rotate integrally with the second gear 63b and switchable between a state in which the switching gear 63c engages with the first gear 63a and a state in which the switching gear 63c does not engage with the first gear 63a in preferred embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as long as switching between a state in which a driving force is transmitted from the electric motor to the pinion and a state in which a driving force is not transmitted from the electric motor to the pinion is possible, the clutch may have a structure other than a structure including the first gear, the second gear, and the switching gear.
While the hydraulic actuator 44 and the electric motor 45 preferably correspond to the “first drive source” and the “second drive source”, respectively, in preferred embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a drive source other than the hydraulic actuator may alternatively correspond to the “first drive source”, or a drive source other than the electric motor may alternatively correspond to the “second drive source”.
While the second steering angle range A20 preferably includes an angular range having an upper limit larger than the upper limit of the first steering angle range A10 in preferred embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second steering angle range may not include an angular range having an upper limit larger than the upper limit of the first steering angle range. That is, the second steering angle range may have a lower limit smaller than the lower limit of the first steering angle range.
While one rack 43 is preferably provided for the pinion 42 in preferred embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of racks may alternatively be provided for the pinion.
While the rack 43 is preferably located on the starboard side of the pinion 42 in preferred embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rack may alternatively be located on the port side of the pinion.
While the rack 43 preferably extends along the forward-rearward direction of the outboard motor body 102 in preferred embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as in a first modified example shown in
While the plurality of outboard motors 100 are preferably attached to the stern 111 of the hull 110 so as to be aligned in the right-left direction of the hull 110 in preferred embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, only one outboard motor may alternatively be attached to the stern of the hull.
While the steering mechanism 40 preferably converts linear motion into rotary motion with the rack 43 and the pinion 42 in preferred embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as in a second modified example shown in
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-003747 | Jan 2022 | JP | national |
