This application claims the benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-003771 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, a drive shaft penetrates through a through-hole provided in the rotary member and transmits a driving force from an engine to a propeller. That is, the rotary member and the drive shaft are coaxial with each other.
Although not disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,800,502, in a conventional outboard motor as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,800,502, it is necessary to detect an angle at which an outboard motor body is rotated about a steering shaft in order to perform a control to rotate the outboard motor body about the steering shaft. Therefore, it is conceivable to detect the rotational position of a rotary member (a pinion, for example) that rotates together with the outboard motor body in order to detect the rotation angle of the outboard motor body about the steering shaft. However, in the outboard motor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,800,502, the drive shaft penetrates through the through-hole provided in the rotary member and transmits a driving force from the engine to the propeller, and thus it is difficult to provide coaxially with the rotary member (i.e., coaxially with the steering shaft) a detector to detect the rotational position of the rotary member. Therefore, it is desired to detect an angle at which the outboard motor body is rotated about the steering shaft without providing coaxially with the steering shaft a detector to detect the angle at which the outboard motor body is rotated about the steering shaft.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide outboard motors and marine vessels that each detect angles at which outboard motor bodies are rotated about steering shafts at positions spaced apart from the steering shafts without providing detectors coaxially with the steering shafts to detect the angles at which the outboard motor bodies are rotated about the steering shafts.
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, and a rack position detector on a first side of the rack opposite to the pinion to detect a position of the rack.
In an outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism includes the rack operable to linearly move to rotate the pinion, and the rack position detector to detect the position of the rack. Accordingly, the position of the rack that linearly moves is detected by the rack position detector such that the rotational position of the pinion that rotates together with the outboard motor body is detected. That is, an angle at which the outboard motor body is rotated about the steering shaft is detected. Furthermore, the rack position detector is on the first side of the rack opposite to the pinion. That is, the rack position detector is not coaxial with the pinion and is spaced apart from the pinion. Consequently, the angle at which the outboard motor body is rotated about the steering shaft is detected at a position spaced apart from the sheering shaft without providing coaxially with the steering shaft a detector to detect the angle at which the outboard motor body is rotated about the steering shaft. Furthermore, the rack position detector is on the first side of the rack opposite to the pinion such that when a driving mechanism is provided separately from the rack on a second side (pinion side) of the rack to drive the pinion, the rack position detector does not interfere with the driving mechanism.
In an outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rack position detector preferably includes a detected rotary member operable to rotate as the rack linearly moves. Accordingly, the position of the rack that linearly moves is easily detected by detecting rotation of the detected rotary member.
In such a case, the rack preferably includes a gear portion provided on the first side of the rack, and the rack position detector preferably includes a rack position detection gear corresponding to the detected rotary member operable to engage with the gear portion. Accordingly, the position of the rack that linearly moves is more easily detected by detecting the rotational position of the rack position detection gear that engages with the gear portion of the rack.
In an outboard motor including the rack position detector including the rack position detection gear, the rack position detection gear preferably has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the pinion. Accordingly, when the outer diameter of the pinion is constant, the size of the rack position detection gear is relatively small as compared with a case in which the outer diameter of the rack position detection gear is larger than the outer diameter of the pinion, and thus the rack position detector is provided in the steering mechanism while an increase in the size of the steering mechanism is reduced or prevented.
In such a case, the outer diameter of the rack position detection gear is preferably less than or equal to half of the outer diameter of the pinion. Accordingly, when the outer diameter of the pinion is constant, the size of the rack position detection gear is sufficiently small, and thus the rack position detector is provided in the steering mechanism while an increase in the size of the steering mechanism is reliably reduced or prevented.
In an outboard motor including the rack position detection gear having the outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the pinion, the gear portion and the rack position detection gear preferably have tooth pitches smaller than a tooth pitch of the pinion. Accordingly, when the number of gear teeth is fixed, the outer diameter of the gear becomes smaller as the tooth pitch of the gear becomes smaller. Thus, the outer diameter of the rack position detection gear is easily smaller than the outer diameter of the pinion due to the tooth pitches of the gear portion and the rack position detection gear being smaller than the tooth pitch of the pinion.
In an outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pinion preferably includes a through-hole in a central portion of the pinion as viewed in an upward-downward direction of the outboard motor body, and the outboard motor body preferably includes an engine on an upper side of the outboard motor body, a propeller on a lower side of the outboard motor body, and a drive shaft extending in the upward-downward direction of the outboard motor body, operable to transmit a driving force from the engine to the propeller, and penetrating through the through-hole of the pinion. Accordingly, the drive shaft penetrating through the through-hole of the pinion does not change its position in the outboard motor even when the outboard motor body is rotated about the steering shaft, and thus the outboard motor body is rotated about the steering shaft without preventing the drive shaft from transmitting a driving force from the engine to the propeller.
In an outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism preferably further includes 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 preferably 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. 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. The steering mechanism preferably further includes a pinion position detector to detect a rotational position of the pinion. Accordingly, the pinion position detector detects the rotational position of the pinion, and thus in combination with detection of the position of the rack by the rack position detector, the rack and the pinion are engaged with each other at a preset, predetermined position 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.
In such a case, the pinion position detector preferably includes a pinion position detection gear to engage with the pinion. Accordingly, rotation of the pinion position detection gear that engages with the pinion is detected such that the rotational position of the pinion is easily detected.
In an outboard motor including the pinion position detector including the pinion position detection gear, the pinion position detection gear preferably has a gear ratio of about 1:1 to the pinion. Accordingly, the rotation speed of the pinion position detection gear is equal or substantially equal to the rotation speed of the pinion, and thus the apparatus structure is simplified. For example, when the gear ratio of the pinion position detection gear to the pinion is not about 1:1, one of the pinion position detection gear and the pinion may rotate two or more times while the other of the pinion position detection gear and the pinion rotates once. In such a case, it is necessary to provide a sensor to detect the rotation speed of one of the pinion position detection gear and the pinion.
In an outboard motor including the steering mechanism 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, 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. Accordingly, 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.
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 angle at which the outboard motor body is rotated about the steering shaft is detected at a position spaced apart from the steering shaft without providing coaxially with the steering shaft a detector to detect the angle at which the outboard motor body is rotated about the steering shaft.
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, and a linearly moving member position detector provided on a first side of the linearly moving member opposite to the rotary member to detect a position of the linearly moving member.
In an outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism includes the linearly moving member operable to linearly move to rotate the rotary member, and the linearly moving member position detector to detect the position of the linearly moving member. Accordingly, the position of the linearly moving member that linearly moves is detected by the linearly moving member position detector such that the rotational position of the rotary member that rotates together with the outboard motor body is detected. That is, an angle at which the outboard motor body is rotated about the steering shaft is detected, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above. Furthermore, the linearly moving member position detector is provided on the first side the linearly moving member opposite to the rotary member. That is, the linearly moving member position detector is not coaxial with the rotary member and is spaced apart from the rotary member. Consequently, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, the angle at which the outboard motor body is rotated about the steering shaft is detected at a position spaced apart from the sheering shaft without providing coaxially with the steering shaft a detector to detect the angle at which the outboard motor body is rotated about the steering shaft. Furthermore, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, when a driving mechanism is provided separately from the linearly moving member on the first side of the linearly moving member to drive the rotary member, the linearly moving member position detector does not interfere with the driving mechanism.
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, and a rack position detector provided on a first side of the rack opposite to the pinion to detect a position of the rack.
In a marine vessel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism includes the rack operable to linearly move to rotate the pinion, and the rack position detector to detect the position of the rack. Furthermore, the rack position detector is provided on the first side of the rack opposite to the pinion. Accordingly, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, an angle at which the outboard motor body is rotated about the steering shaft is detected at a position spaced apart from the sheering shaft without providing coaxially with the steering shaft a detector to detect the angle at which the outboard motor body is rotated about the steering shaft. Furthermore, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, when a driving mechanism is provided separately from the rack on a second side (pinion side) of the rack to drive the pinion, the rack position detector does not interfere with the driving mechanism.
In a marine vessel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rack position detector preferably includes a detected rotary member operable to rotate as the rack linearly moves. Accordingly, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, the position of the rack that linearly moves is easily detected.
In such a case, the rack preferably includes a gear portion provided on the first side of the rack, and the rack position detector preferably includes a rack position detection gear corresponding to the detected rotary member operable to engage with the gear portion. Accordingly, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, the position of the rack that linearly moves is more easily detected.
In a marine vessel including the rack position detector including the rack position detection gear, the rack position detection gear preferably has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the pinion. Accordingly, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, the rack position detector is provided in the steering mechanism while an increase in the size of the steering mechanism is reduced or prevented.
In such a case, the outer diameter of the rack position detection gear is preferably less than or equal to half of the outer diameter of the pinion. Accordingly, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, the rack position detector is provided in the steering mechanism while an increase in the size of the steering mechanism is reliably reduced or prevented.
In a marine vessel including the rack position detection gear having the outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the pinion, the gear portion and the rack position detection gear preferably have tooth pitches smaller than a tooth pitch of the pinion. Accordingly, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, the outer diameter of the rack position detection gear is easily made smaller than the outer diameter of the pinion.
In a marine vessel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pinion preferably includes a through-hole in a central portion of the pinion as viewed in an upward-downward direction of the outboard motor body, and the outboard motor body preferably includes an engine on an upper side of the outboard motor body, a propeller on a lower side of the outboard motor body, and a drive shaft extending in the upward-downward direction of the outboard motor body, operable to transmit a driving force from the engine to the propeller, and penetrating through the through-hole of the pinion. Accordingly, similarly to the outboard motors according to preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, the outboard motor body is rotated about the steering shaft without preventing the drive shaft from transmitting a driving force from the engine to the propeller.
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
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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, for example, 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 due to 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 40 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.
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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 42b 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 42b 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 end and a second end 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”.
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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 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 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 having an upper limit larger than the upper limit of the first speed range V10.
The lower limit of the first steering angle range A10 is about 0 degrees, and the upper limit thereof is set to A1. The lower limit of the second steering angle range A20 is 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 about 30 degrees or more and about 45 degrees or less. That is, 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
The steering mechanism 40 includes a rack position detector 46 to detect the position of the rack 43. The rack position detector 46 is provided on the side (first 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 detection gear 46a rotates as the rack 43 linearly moves. 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 rack position detection gear 46a is an example of a “detected rotary member”.
The tooth pitches of the detector-side gear portion 43d and the rack position detection gear 46a are smaller than the tooth pitch of the pinion 42. Along with this, the outer diameter D2 of the rack position detection gear 46a is smaller than the outer diameter D1 of the pinion 42. Specifically, the outer diameter D2 of the rack position detection gear 46a is less than or equal to half of the outer diameter D1 of the pinion 42.
The steering mechanism 40 includes a pinion position detector 47 to detect the rotational position of the pinion 42. 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 detection gear 47a rotates as the pinion 42 rotates. 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.
The gear ratio of the pinion position detection gear 47a to the pinion 42 is about 1:1. That is, the number of teeth of the pinion position detection gear 47a is equal or substantially equal to the number of teeth of the pinion 42. The tooth pitch of the pinion position detection gear 47a is equal or substantially equal to the tooth pitch of the pinion 42. Furthermore, the outer diameter D3 of the pinion position detection gear 47a is equal or substantially equal to the outer diameter D1 of the pinion 42.
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 includes the rack 43 operable to linearly move to rotate the pinion 42, and the rack position detector 46 to detect the position of the rack 43. Accordingly, the position of the rack 43 that linearly moves is detected by the rack position detector 46 such that the rotational position of the pinion 42 that rotates together with the outboard motor body 102 is detected. That is, the angle A at which the outboard motor body 102 is rotated about the steering shaft 41 is detected. Furthermore, as described above, the rack position detector 46 is provided on the side opposite to the pinion 42 with respect to the rack 43. That is, the rack position detector 46 is not coaxial with the pinion 42 and is spaced apart from the pinion 42. Consequently, the angle A at which the outboard motor body 102 is rotated about the steering shaft 41 is detected at a position spaced apart from the sheering shaft 41 without providing coaxially with the steering shaft 41 a detector to detect the angle A at which the outboard motor body 102 is rotated about the steering shaft 41. Furthermore, the rack position detector 46 is provided on the side opposite to the pinion 42 with respect to the rack 43 such that when a driving mechanism (driving force transmission mechanism 60) is provided separately from the rack 43 on the pinion 42 side with respect to the rack 43 to drive the pinion 42, the rack position detector 46 does not interfere with the driving mechanism.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rack position detector 46 includes the rack position detection gear 46a operable to rotate as the rack 43 linearly moves. Accordingly, the position of the rack 43 that linearly moves is easily detected by detecting rotation of the rack position detection gear 46a.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rack 43 includes the detector-side gear portion 43d provided on the rack position detector 46 side of the rack 43. The rack position detector 46 includes the rack position detection gear 46a operable to engage with the detector-side gear portion 43d. Accordingly, the position of the rack 43 that linearly moves is more easily detected by detecting the rotational position of the rack position detection gear 46a that engages with the detector-side gear portion 43d of the rack 43.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer diameter D2 of the rack position detection gear 46a is smaller than the outer diameter D1 of the pinion 42. Accordingly, when the outer diameter D1 of the pinion 42 is constant, the size of the rack position detection gear 46a is relatively small as compared with a case in which the outer diameter D2 of the rack position detection gear 46a is larger than the outer diameter D1 of the pinion 42, and thus the rack position detector 46 is provided in the steering mechanism 40 while an increase in the size of the steering mechanism 40 is reduced or prevented.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer diameter D2 of the rack position detection gear 46a is less than or equal to half of the outer diameter D1 of the pinion 42. Accordingly, when the outer diameter D1 of the pinion 42 is constant, the size of the rack position detection gear 46a is sufficiently small, and thus the rack position detector 46 is provided in the steering mechanism 40 while an increase in the size of the steering mechanism 40 is reliably reduced or prevented.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tooth pitches of the detector-side gear portion 43d and the rack position detection gear 46a are smaller than the tooth pitch of the pinion 42. Accordingly, when the number of gear teeth is fixed, the outer diameter of the gear becomes smaller as the tooth pitch of the gear becomes smaller. Thus, the outer diameter D2 of the rack position detection gear 46a is easily smaller than the outer diameter D1 of the pinion 42 due to the tooth pitches of the detector-side gear portion 43d and the rack position detection gear 46a being smaller than the tooth pitch of the pinion 42.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the through-hole 42a is provided in the central portion of the pinion 42 as viewed in the upward-downward direction of the outboard motor body 102. The outboard motor body 102 includes the engine 31 on the upper side of the outboard motor body 102, the propeller 35 on the lower side of the outboard motor body 102, and the drive shaft 32 extending in the upward-downward direction of the outboard motor body 102 and operable to transmit a driving force from the engine 31 to the propeller 35. The drive shaft 32 penetrates through the through-hole 42a of the pinion 42. Accordingly, the drive shaft 32 penetrating through the through-hole 42a of the pinion 42 does not change its position in the outboard motor 100 even when the outboard motor body 102 is rotated about the steering shaft 41, and thus the outboard motor body 102 is rotated about the steering shaft 41 without preventing the drive shaft 32 from transmitting a driving force from the engine 31 to the propeller 35.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering mechanism 40 includes the hydraulic actuator 44 to drive the pinion 42 by linearly moving the rack 43, the driving force transmission mechanism 60 to transmit a driving force to the pinion 42, and the electric motor 45 to drive the pinion 42 via the driving force transmission mechanism 60. Furthermore, 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 including at least an angular range different from the first steering angle range. Moreover, 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. The steering mechanism 40 further includes the pinion position detector 47 to detect the rotational position of the pinion 42. Accordingly, the pinion position detector 47 detects the rotational position of the pinion 42, and thus in combination with detection of the position of the rack 43 by the rack position detector 46, the rack 43 and the pinion 42 are engaged with each other at a preset, predetermined position 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.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pinion position detector 47 includes the pinion position detection gear 47a to engage with the pinion 42. Accordingly, rotation of the pinion position detection gear 47a that engages with the pinion 42 is detected such that the rotational position of the pinion 42 is easily detected.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the gear ratio of the pinion position detection gear 47a to the pinion 42 is about 1:1. Accordingly, the rotation speed of the pinion position detection gear 47a is equal or substantially equal to the rotation speed of the pinion 42, and thus the apparatus structure is simplified. For example, when the gear ratio of the pinion position detection gear 47a to the pinion 42 is not about 1:1, one of the pinion position detection gear 47a and the pinion 42 may rotate two or more times while the other of the pinion position detection gear 47a and the pinion 42 rotates once. In such a case, it is necessary to provide a sensor to detect the rotation speed of one of the pinion position detection gear 47a and the pinion 42.
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 including an angular range having 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 including an angular range having 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 body 102 includes the upper portion 10 attached to the hull 110 via the bracket 101, and the 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 angle A at which the outboard motor body 102 is rotated about the steering shaft 41 is detected at a position spaced apart from the steering shaft 41 without providing coaxially with the steering shaft 41 a detector to detect the angle A at which the outboard motor body 102 is rotated about the steering shaft 41.
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 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 include an angular range having a lower limit smaller than the lower limit of the first steering angle range.
While the gear ratio of the pinion position detection gear 47a to the pinion 42 is preferably about 1:1 in preferred embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the gear ratio of the pinion position detection gear to the pinion may not be about 1:1.
While the pinion position detector 47 preferably includes the pinion position detection gear 47a to engage with 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 pinion position detector may not include the pinion position detection gear to engage with the pinion.
While the drive shaft 32 preferably penetrates through the through-hole 42a 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 drive shaft may not penetrate through the through-hole of the pinion.
While the tooth pitches of the detector-side gear portion 43d and the rack position detection gear 46a are preferably smaller than the tooth pitch 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 tooth pitches of the detector-side gear portion and the rack position detection gear may alternatively be equal to or larger than the tooth pitch of the pinion.
While the outer diameter D2 of the rack position detection gear 46a is preferably less than or equal to half of the outer diameter D1 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 outer diameter of the rack position detection gear may alternatively be more than half of the outer diameter of the pinion.
While the outer diameter D2 of the rack position detection gear 46a is preferably smaller than the outer diameter D1 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 outer diameter of the rack position detection gear may alternatively be equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the pinion.
While the rack position detection gear 46a that engages with the detector-side gear portion 43d preferably corresponds to the “detected rotary member” in preferred embodiments described above, the present invention is not restricted to this. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a member other than the rack position detection gear that engages with the detector-side gear portion may alternatively correspond to the “detected rotary member” as long as the same rotates with linear movement of the rack.
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 the steering mechanism 40 is preferably switchable between a state in which the pinion 42 is rotated by the hydraulic actuator 44 (first drive source) 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 (second drive source) 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 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 pinion with the first drive source to steer the outboard motor body within the first steering angle range but may not rotate the pinion with the second drive source to steer the outboard motor body within the second steering angle range including at least an angular range different from the first steering angle range. In such a case, as in a third 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 |
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2022-003771 | Jan 2022 | JP | national |