Patent Application
20080015747
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following description and drawings in which:
An outboard motor conversion unit according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the attached drawings.
In
A shift/throttle lever 20 and a plurality of indicator lamps (indicator) 22 are installed near the operator's seat 14 of the boat 12. The shift/throttle lever 20 is freely operated to swing by the operator.
The steering wheel 16 and shift/throttle lever 20 are connected to push-pull cables (wire cables) 24, 26, respectively. Specifically, the boat 12 is installed with a mechanical operation mechanism comprising the steering wheel 16, shift/throttle lever 20, push-pull cables 24, 26 and other components. One ends of the push-pull cables 24, 26 (i.e., ends on the opposite side from the other ends connected to the steering wheel 16 and shift/throttle lever 20) are equipped with movable members (not shown in
As shown in
The upper portion of the swivel case 34 is installed with an electric steering motor (actuator) 42 that drives the shaft 40. The output shaft of the steering motor 42 is freely connectable to the upper end of the mount frame 36 via a speed reduction gear mechanism 44. Specifically, a rotational output generated by driving the steering motor 42 is transmitted via the speed reduction gear mechanism 44 to the mount frame 36 such that the outboard motor 10 is steered about the shaft 40 as a steering axis to the right and left directions (i.e., steered about the vertical axis). Thus the mount frame 36 performs as “the steering mechanism” that uses the steering motor 42 to steer the outboard motor 10 laterally.
The outboard motor 10 is equipped at its upper portion with an internal combustion engine (hereinafter referred to as “engine”) 46. The engine 46 comprises a spark-ignition, water-cooling gasoline engine with a displacement of 2200 cc. The engine 46 is located above the water surface and covered by an engine cover 50.
An intake pipe 52 of the engine 46 is connected to a throttle body 54. The throttle body 54 has a throttle valve 56 installed therein and an electric throttle motor (actuator) 60 is integrally disposed thereto to open and close the throttle valve 56. The output shaft of the throttle motor 60 is freely connectable to the throttle valve 56 via a speed reduction gear mechanism (not shown) disposed near the throttle body 54. Specifically, the throttle motor 60 is driven to open and close the throttle valve 56, thereby regulating the flow rate of the air sucked in the engine 46 to control the engine speed.
The outboard motor 10 is equipped with a drive shaft (vertical shaft) 62 that is installed parallel to the vertical axis and rotatably supported. One end, i.e., the upper end of the drive shaft 62 is connected to a crankshaft (not shown) of the engine 46 and the other end, i.e., the lower end thereof is equipped with a pinion gear 64.
The pinion gear 64 at the lower end of the drive shaft 62 is installed via a shift mechanism 70 with a propeller shaft 66 supported to be freely rotated about the horizontal axis. As shown in
The forward bevel gear 74 and reverse bevel gear 76 are disposed onto the outer periphery of the propeller shaft 66 to be rotatable in opposite directions by engagement with the pinion gear 64. The clutch 80 is installed between the forward bevel gear 74 and reverse bevel gear 76 and is rotated integrally with the propeller shaft 66. The clutch 80 makes the shift rod 84 rotate to displace the shift slider 82 such that the clutch 80 can be freely engaged with one or the other of the forward bevel gear 74 and reverse bevel gear 76.
The rotation of the drive shaft 62 is converted to the rotation about the horizontal axis by the pinion gear 64 and bevel gears 74, 76 and transmitted to the propeller shaft 66 through the clutch 80 engaged with one of the bevel gears 74, 76, thereby rotating the propeller 72 either direction to move the boat 12 forward or backward.
When the shift motor 86 is driven to displace the shift slider 82 to an appropriate position, the engagement of the clutch 80 with one of the bevel gears 74, 76 is released. Specifically, the shift motor 86 is driven to operate the clutch 80 of the shift mechanism, thereby changing the gears (shift position) among the forward, reverse and neutral positions. The shift mechanism 70 shifts the gears to change a moving direction of the boat.
Thus the outboard motor 10 is a so-called electronically-operated outboard motor that is configured to conduct outboard motor steering, shift change or engine speed regulation by controlling the operation of the motors or actuators 42, 60, 86 connected to the steering mechanism, shift mechanism and throttle valve.
As shown in
The motor-side conversion unit 90A comprises the steering motor 42, throttle motor 60, shift motor 86 and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit; actuator controller) 92 that controls the operation of the motors. The ECU 92 constituted as a microcomputer having a CPU, ROM, RAM etc., and installed underneath the engine cover 50 (not shown in
As shown in
A coolant temperature sensor 102 is installed at the engine 46 (not shown in
On the other hand, the boat 12 is disposed with an operation unit 106, the boat-side conversion unit 90B which is a part of the conversion unit 90, and a power source (battery) 110. The operation unit 106 is composed of an operation system and instruments required to operate the outboard motor 10, specifically, in addition to the above-mentioned mechanical operation mechanism having the steering wheel 16, shift/throttle lever 20 etc., an indicator 112 and the like. The indicator 112 comprises a plurality of the foregoing indicator lamps 22.
The boat-side conversion unit 90B comprises an analog signal outputting device (operation system analog sensor switch) 114 that outputs an analog signal in response to displacement generated at the movable members (explained later) of the mechanical operation mechanism, a digital signal converting block (analog data processing block) 116 that converts the outputted analog signal into a digital signal, a digital signal outputting block (CAN communication block) 120 that outputs the converted digital signal to the ECU 92 through a CAN (Controller Area Network) communication, a CPU (Central Processing Unit; main processor) 122 that controls their operation and an operation power source (power source block) 124 that supplies operation power to the CPU 122. The power source 110 is connected to the operation power source 124, ECU 92 of the outboard motor 10 and the like to supply the operation power thereto.
The foregoing elements making up the boat-side conversion unit 90B will be explained. The analog signal outputting device 114 is connected to the movable members 24a, 26a of the push-pull cables 24, 26 connected to the steering wheel 16 and shift/throttle lever 20, as described. The movable members 24a, 26a are moved or displaced in response to manual manipulation of the steering wheel 16 and shift/throttle lever 20.
The analog signal outputting device 114 detects displacement generated at the movable members 24a, 26a and outputs an analog signal, i.e., an electronic signal. It should be noted that the analog signal outputting device 114 is a sensor or switch outputting an analog signal and, for example, composed of a potentiometer, slide volume or the like, which changes in its resistance value in response to manipulated variable of the steering wheel 16 etc. Specifically, the movable member 24a moved by rotational operation of the steering wheel 16 is connected to a potentiometer as the analog signal outputting device 114, while the movable member 26a moved by swinging operation (linear displacement) of the shift/throttle lever 20 is connected to a slide volume as the analog signal outputting device 114.
Thus when displacement is generated at the movable members 24a, 26a of the push-pull cables by manipulating the steering wheel 16 or shift/throttle lever 20, the analog signal outputting device 114 detects the displacement and outputs an analog signal.
The digital signal converting block 116 is inputted with the analog signal outputted from the analog signal outputting device 114, processes the analog signal, i.e., converts it to a digital signal (electronic signal) and send the same to the digital signal outputting block 120 through the CPU 122.
The digital signal outputting block 120 converts the converted digital signal sent from the digital signal converting block 116 into a communication digital signal and outputs (transmits) the converted communication digital signal to the ECU 92 of the motor-side conversion unit 90A through the CAN (digital signal line) 126. The CPU 122 conducts calculation for controlling the operation of the digital signal converting block 116 and other components.
The operation power source 124 is installed at an appropriate location of the power source line 128 connecting the CPU 122 and power source 110. Specifically, the boat-side conversion unit 90B, i.e., the CPU 122 is supplied with operation power from the power source 110 through the operation power source 124.
The boat-side conversion unit 90B is also equipped with an indicator processing block (transmitter) 130 that transmits an output indicative of the operating condition of the outboard motor to the indicator 112 (indicator lamp 22) installed in the boat 12. Specifically, the indicator processing block 130 is inputted via the ECU 92, digital signal outputting block 120 and CPU 122 with an output indicative of the operating condition of the outboard motor 10 sent from the coolant temperature sensor 102, processes the output by converting it into a signal (i.e., control signal) that can make the indicator 112 operate and outputs it.
The operation of the outboard motor 10 and boat 12, which are constituted as described in the foregoing, will be explained with reference to
The operation (rotational operation) of the steering wheel 16 by the operator displaces the movable member 24a of the push-pull cable 24 connected to the steering wheel 16. The analog signal outputting device 114 detects the displacement and outputs an analog signal to the digital signal converting block 116.
The operation (swinging operation) of the shift/throttle lever 20 by the operator displaces the movable member 26a of the push-pull cable 26 connected to the shift/throttle lever 20. The analog signal outputting device 114, similarly to the case of the steering wheel 16, detects the displacement and outputs an analog signal to the digital signal converting block 116.
The analog signal outputted from the analog signal outputting device 114 is converted into a digital signal at the digital signal converting block 116 and sent to the digital signal outputting block 120 through the CPU 122. The digital signal outputting block 120 converts the inputted digital signal into a communication digital signal and outputs (transmits) it to the ECU 92 of the motor-side conversion unit 90A through the CAN communication.
Based on the digital signal sent from the digital signal outputting block 120, the ECU 92 controls the operation of the motors 42, 60, 86. Specifically, based on the digital signal obtained by converting the analog signal corresponding to the displacement of the movable member 24a generated by the manual operation of the steering wheel 16 and the output from the steering angle sensor 94, the ECU 92 controls the operation of the steering motor 42 such that the steering angle of the outboard motor 10 becomes a value corresponding to the digital signal.
Further, based on the digital signal obtained by converting the analog signal corresponding to the displacement of the movable member 26a generated by the manual operation of the shift/throttle lever 20 and the output from the throttle position sensor 96, the ECU 92 controls the operation of the throttle motor 60 such that the throttle opening becomes a value corresponding to the digital signal. Similarly, based on the digital signal obtained by the manual operation of the shift/throttle lever 20 and the output from the shift position sensor 100, the ECU 92 controls the operation of the shift motor 86 so as to establish the shift position corresponding to the digital signal.
The ECU 92 is also inputted with an output indicative of the operating condition of the outboard motor 10 sent from the coolant temperature sensor 102 and the like. The output indicative of the operating condition of the outboard motor 10 is sent to the digital signal outputting block 120 of the boat-side conversion unit 90B through the CAN (digital signal line) 126, and then to the indicator processing block 130 through the CPU 122.
The indicator processing block 130 converts the inputted output indicative of the operating condition of the outboard motor 10 into a control signal for the indicator 112 and transmits (outputs) it to the indicator 112. With this, when engine overheat is detected from, for instance, an output of the coolant temperature sensor 102, the corresponding indicator lamp is lit to inform the operator and to indicate the fact to the operator. Similarly, when abnormality in a component of the outboard motor 10 is detected from an output of a sensor (not illustrated), one of the indicator lamps 22 corresponding thereto is lit to inform the operator.
Thus, it is configured according to the embodiment to have a conversion unit (motor-side conversion unit 90A; boat-side conversion unit 90B) attachable to an outboard motor (10) adapted to be mounted on a boat (12) and having an internal combustion engine (46) that powers a propeller (72), a steering mechanism (mount frame 36) that steers the outboard motor (10), and a shift mechanism (70) that shifts gears to change a moving direction of the boat (12), at least one of which is operable by a mechanical operation mechanism (steering wheel 16, shift/throttle lever 20, push-pull cables 24, 26) installed at the boat (12) to be manually manipulated by an operator, comprising: a boat-side conversion unit (90B) that detects displacement generated at a movable member (24a, 26a) due to the manual manipulation of the mechanical operation mechanism and converts the detected displacement into an electric signal; an actuator (electric steering motor 42, electric throttle motor 60, electric shift motor 86) that is connected to at least one of the steering mechanism, the shift mechanism and a throttle valve (56) of the engine; and an actuator controller (ECU 92) that is connected to the boat-side conversion unit and controls operation of the actuator based on the converted electric signal.
Owing to this configuration, when an outboard motor installed at a boat equipped with a mechanical operation mechanism should be changed to an electronically-operated outboard motor, it becomes possible to have the electronically-operated outboard motor that can conduct outboard motor steering, shift change or engine speed regulation by means of a hitherto-used mechanical operation mechanism, without newly installing a remote control unit or the like designed for the electronic operation mechanism of the outboard motor. In other words, by simply installing the conversion unit at the outboard motor equipped with the mechanical operation mechanism, it can be easily converted to the electronically-operated outboard motor without newly installing a remote control unit or the like.
Further, since it is configured to further includes: an indicator installed at the boat and an indicator processing block that processes and produces an output indicative of operating condition of the outboard motor to be indicated by the indicator, when the outboard motor equipped with the mechanical operation mechanism has changed to the electronically-operated outboard motor, the indicator of the boat used for the mechanical operation mechanism can still indicate the operating condition of the outboard motor, thereby enabling to inform the operator of the operating condition.
Further, since it is configured such that the boat-side conversion unit comprises: an analog signal outputting device (114) that is connected to the movable member and outputs an analog signal in response to the displacement generated at the movable member due to the manual manipulation of the mechanical operation mechanism; a digital signal converting block (116) that inputs the analog signal outputted by the analog signal outputting device and converts the outputted analog signal into a digital signal; a digital signal outputting block (120) that inputs the digital signal converted by the digital signal converting block and outputs the converted digital signal to the actuator controller; a CPU (122) that controls operation of the analog signal outputting device, digital signal converting block and digital signal outputting block; and a power source (operation power source 124, battery 110) that supplies operation power to the CPU, the foregoing effects can be still enhanced.
Further, since it is configured such that the analog signal outputting device (114) is a sensor that is connected to the movable member to output the analog signal in response to the displacement generated at the movable member due to the manual manipulation of the mechanical operation mechanism the foregoing effects can be still enhanced.
Further, since it is configured such that the movable member is a movable member (24a, 26a) of a push-pull cable (24, 26), the foregoing effects can be still enhanced.
It should be noted that, although the potentiometer and slide volume are exemplified as the analog signal outputting device 114 in the foregoing embodiment, it is not a limitation and possible to utilize any sensor or switch that outputs an analog signal (electronic signal) in response to displacement generated at the movable members 24a, 26a of the push-pull cables.
It should further be noted that, although this invention is explained taking as an example the outboard motor equipped with the engine 46 as the power source of the propeller 72, it is applicable to a hybrid outboard motor equipped with both an engine and electric motor.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-193714 filed on Jul. 14, 2006 is incorporated herein in its entirety.
While the invention has thus been shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be noted that the invention is in no way limited to the details of the described arrangements; changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-193714 | Jul 2006 | JP | national |
