Patent Application
20240109635
The present invention relates to a remote controller for watercraft.
Watercraft equipped with a prime mover such as an outboard motor is sometimes provided with a remote controller (remote control device) for remotely controlling the prime mover. For example, in a remote controller for an outboard motor, an operation lever is supported at its base end by a control box provided on the side of the hull so as to be tiltable around a pivot axis extending in the lateral direction.
The operating lever is connected to the transmission device and the throttle lever of the outboard motor via a control wire in such a manner that the outboard motor may be switched between forward, neutral and reverse by tilting the operating level forward tilted position, an upright position, and a rearward tilted position (forward position, neutral position, and reverse position), respectively.
Furthermore, in order to prevent the operating lever from being inadvertently shifted from the neutral position to the forward or reverse position, a mechanism is provided to prohibit the operation of the operating lever. Typically, the free end of the operating lever is provided with a grip extending laterally, and an lock release button (locking button) that can be selectively retracted is provided on the upper side or the lower side of the grip so that the operating lever can be operated to the forward or backward position only when the grip is gripped by the operator and the lock release button is depressed to the retracted position. For example, JP2015-166225A discloses such a remote controller that can be attached to either the left side or the right side of the hull. Such control levers are widely used in ships using an internal combustion engine as a prime mover, but are also used in electric-powered ships which are becoming increasingly popular in recent years.
The operation lever for watercraft equipped with such a conventional lock release button is known to have some issues regarding the operability of the lock release button, and some improvement may be required. Also, the lock release button tends to spoil the external appearance of the operating lever.
In view of such a problem of the prior art, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a remote controller for watercraft equipped with a lock release button which excels in operability, and provides an improved external appearance. The present invention therefore contributes to enhancement of traffic safety and development of sustainable transport systems.
To achieve such an object, the present invention provides a remote controller (4) for watercraft (6), comprising: a remote controller main body (5) configured to be fixed to a hull (1), a holder (22) fixedly attached to the remote controller main body, a lever (7) having a base end part pivotally attached to the remote controller main body and a free end part (8), the lever being tiltable between in an upright initial position and a tilted operating position; a lock member (31) provided in the base end part of the lever so as to be movable between a lock position for engaging with the holder to prohibit tilting of the lever and a release position for releasing the holder; a rod (21) extending downward from the free end part of the lever along a lengthwise direction of the lever, and having a first end positioned in the free end part and a second end connected to the lock member; a lock release button (14) slidably provided in the free end part so as to be slidable in a first direction different from the lengthwise direction of the lever; and a conversion mechanism provided between the lock release button and the first end of the rod to covert a movement of the lock release button in the first direction to a movement of the rod in a second direction extending along the lengthwise direction of the lever.
Since the direction of operation of the lock release button can be tilted with respect to the vertical direction, and can be ergonomically favorably positioned, the operability of the lock release button can be improved.
Preferably, the free end part of the lever has a laterally extending grip (8), and the lock release button is provided in an obliquely forward position on a lower part of the grip, the first direction being an oblique direction intermediate between downward and forward directions.
Since the lock release button is located on the opposite side of the grip from the line of sight of the user, the lock release button is concealed from the view of the user so that the external appearance of the lever as a whole can be improved.
Preferably, the conversion mechanism consists of a slot cam mechanism which includes a cam member (19) provided integrally with the lock release button, a cam slot (20) formed in the cam member so as to extend in a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction, and a cam pin provided on the first end of the rod so as to engage the slot.
Thus, the first direction can be determined by suitably selecting the third direction along which the cam slot extends. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the lock release button can be increased. Preferably, the cam member is formed on the lock release button while the cam pin is formed on the first end of the rod, but the cam member may also be formed on the first end of the rod while the cam pin is formed on the lock release button.
Preferably, the lever includes a lever main body (10) and a lever cover (11) that covers the lever main body, and the lever main body is provided with a recess (70) in an upper end thereof, an opening (50) provided at an obliquely front part of the grip (8) for receiving the lock release button therein, a serration hole (12) provided in a lower end thereof to be fitted on a serration shaft provided on a side of the remote controller main body, and a window hole (54) for mounting the lock guide member therein.
Thus, a space for positioning various functional parts can be created in the lever, and a mechanical strength necessary for the lever can be ensured in a reliable manner. Also, the lever cover can improve the external appearance of the lever.
Preferably, the lever cover includes a palm rest portion that covers the recess from above, and defines an outer surface that slopes upward toward a front when the lever is at the initial position.
When the forward tilting state of the lever corresponds to the operating position, especially the forward position, the palm rest comfortably supports the user's hand when operating the watercraft, and the operability of the lever can be improved.
Preferably, the rod includes a rod upper end part (62) extending substantially vertically downward from the first end of the rod, a rod intermediate part (63) extending downward from a lower end of the rod upper end part with a rearward slant, and a rod lower end part (64) extending substantially downward from a lower end of the rod intermediate part toward the second end of the rod with a rearward offset relative to the rod upper end part.
Thereby, the lock release button can be ergonomically favorably positioned, and the locking member can be reliably actuated.
Preferably, the lever main body is provided with a rod receiving groove (52) extending on a side surface of the lever main body to receive the rod therein.
Thereby, the rod can be favorably positioned while minimizing the decrease in rigidity of the lever main body.
Preferably, the rod receiving groove includes a first groove (52A) opened toward a side corresponding to an extending direction of the grip to receive the rod upper end part therein, and a second groove (52B) opened toward a side opposite to the side corresponding to the extending direction of the grip to receive at least most of the rod intermediate part therein, and the lever main body is provided with a notch (53) passed laterally through between the first groove and the second groove so as to receive a lower part of the rod upper end part and/or an upper part of the rod intermediate part.
Thereby, the rod can be properly positioned while minimizing reduction in the rigidity of the lever main body.
Preferably, the second groove is substantially wider than the first groove.
Thereby, when the rod intermediate part which is inclined with respect to the vertical direction is displaced in the vertical direction, the rod intermediate part is not interfered by the lever main body.
Preferably, a trim switch (15) for receiving a trim up/down operation is provided on a rear side of the upper end part of the lever, and the lever main body is provided with a wire receiving groove (59A) provided on one side thereof to receive an electric wire connected to the trim switch and an annular groove (59B) provided around the serration hole so as to communicate with the wire receiving groove.
Thereby, the wire receiving groove can be provided separately and isolated from the rod receiving groove so that the wire and the rod can be prevented from interfering with each other. Additionally, by receiving the wire in the annular groove, stress on the wire during lever operation can be minimized.
Preferably, the lever main body includes a lock guide member (44) that guides displacement of the lock member (31) in the second direction.
Thereby, the lock member can be displaced between the release position and the lock position by the lock guide member in a stable manner.
Preferably, the lock member includes a main body made of a plate member, and an engagement piece (33) extending substantially orthogonally to a major plane of the main body so as to engage with an engagement slot (23) of the holder in the lock position, and the lock guide member includes a back plate (45) having a sliding surface slidable on a surface of the main body of the lock member on a side of the engaging piece thereof, a pair of slide plates (46) projecting from either side edge of the back plate so as to slidably guide side edges of the main body, and a front plate (47) extending between free ends of the side plates and having a sliding surface slidable with a surface of the main body of the lock member facing away from the engagement piece thereof, a lower edge of the back plate being higher than an upper edge of the front plate by a distance slightly greater than a vertical direction of the engagement piece.
Thereby, the engaging piece of the locking member can be inserted into an insertion hole (48) defined by the lower edge of the back plate along the upper edge of the front plate. Then, by lowering the lock member in the space defined by the back plate, the front plate and the side plates of the lock guide member, the lock member is positioned so as to be vertically movable between the lock position and the released position in a stable manner. Thus, the lock member can be installed in the lock guide member with ease without requiring any tool.
Preferably, an upper portion of the main body of the engaging piece includes a thick wall portion to define a shoulder surface facing downward, and the lock position is defined by abutting of the shoulder surface against an upper surface of the front plate of the lock guide member.
Thereby, the lock position of the lock member can be defined in a stable manner.
Thus, the present invention provides a remote controller for watercraft equipped with a lock release button which excels in operability, and provides an improved external appearance.
The remote controller 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in the following with reference to the appended drawings.
The remote controller 4 includes a remote controller main body 5 fixed to the operation console 2 and a lever 7 provided at the left end of the remote controller main body 5 so as to be tiltable about a laterally extending pivot axis. The lever 7 has a grip 8 extending rightward from the upper end thereof.
As shown in
A cam plate 19 is integrally connected or formed to the inner end of the lock release button 14 so as to extend toward the inside of the lever 7. The lock release button 14 has a lateral length that occupies most of the lateral length of the grip 8, and the cam plate 19 extends from the left end of the lock release button 14 toward the inside of the lever 7. The cam plate 19 is provided with a slot 20 extending substantially parallel to the surface of the palm rest 16, or in other words, extending in a third direction which is directed forward with an upward inclination. The front end of the slot 20 is located higher than the rear end of the slot 20.
A rod 21 extending substantially vertically is positioned inside the lever 7, and the upper end thereof or the first end 21A is bent laterally and received in the slot 20. A lock member 31 is attached to the lower end of the rod 21 or the second end 21B. The lock member 31 can be selectively inserted into an engagement slot 23 formed in the holder 22 fixedly attached to the remote controller main body 5, as will be described later.
The lever 7 includes a lever main body 10 provided with various functional structures and a lever cover 11 (
A rod receiving groove 52 for receiving the rod 21 is formed in the lever main body 10. More specifically, a first groove 52A that extends vertically and opens rightward is provided in an upper front part of the lever main body 10 slightly below the grip 8. Under the first groove 52A is provided a notch 53 that extend laterally through the lever main body 10. The lower end of the notch 53 communicates with an upper end of a second groove 52B which extends substantially vertically while tilting backward so as to be continuous with the first groove 52A, and opens rightward. The lower end of the second groove 52B communicates with a window hole 54 provided in the lever main body 10. The window hole 54 is substantially rectangular, and the upper part of the window hole 54 is closed by a bottom plate 55 to define a recess facing rightward, and the rest of the window hole 54 extends laterally through the lever main body 10.
The serration hole 12 and the collar 57 are coaxial with the pivot axis of the lever 7. The serration hole 12 is fitted onto a serration shaft (not shown in the drawings) for remote control operation provided on the remote controller main body 5. After the serration shaft is fitted into the serration hole 12, a fixing screw (not shown in the drawings) is screwed into a screw hole (not shown in the drawings) provided in the serration shaft via an opening 58 provided at the center of the collar 57 with the result that the lever main body 10 is attached to the remote controller main body 5 side.
As shown in
As shown in
Next, the procedure for assembling the lock member 31 and the parts associated therewith will be described in the following. First of all, as shown in
As shown in
When assembled in this manner, the second end 21B of the rod 21 is received in the receiving groove 32 of the main body of the lock member 31, and the front surface (right side in
The holder 22 includes a pair of flanges 22A arranged laterally one next to each other, and each having a plate-like shape extending orthogonally to the pivot axis of the lever 7 and configured to be attached to a part of the hull, and an arcuate member 22B extending between the flanges 22A with a convex side facing upward. An engagement slot 23 is provided in a middle or upper part of the arcuate member 22B to receive the lock member 31 with a relatively tight fit.
Next, the mode of operation of the lever 7 will be described in the following. First, when the lever 7 is in the neutral position, as shown in
When the user wants to tilt the lever 7 from the neutral position to the forward tilted position, or the forward position, the user depresses the lock release button 14. The displacement of the lock release button 14 in the retracting direction is transmitted to the cam plate 19, causing a displacement of the cam plate 19 having upward and rearward components of as shown in
In this way, when the lock release button 14 is retracted obliquely upward to the rear, the lock member 31 is pulled up via the rod 21 and takes the release position where the lock member 31 is moved away from the holder 22 with the result that the lever 7 can be tilted to a forward tilted position or forward position. At this time, the upper limit position of the lock member 31, or the release position, is defined by the upper surface of the engagement piece 33 coming into contact with the upper edge of the insertion hole 48.
When the lever 7 is in the forward position, the biasing force of the compression coil spring 18 acts on the lock member 31 via the rod 21, and the lock member 31 is in contact with the upper surface of the arcuate member 22B. When the lever 7 is returned to the neutral position from this state, the lock member 31 is pushed into the engagement slot 23 of the holder 22 under the biasing force of the compression coil spring 18, and the lever 7 occupies and is held at the neutral position. Tilting the lever 7 to the reverse position can be performed in a similar manner as tilting the lever 7 to the forward position.
Although not shown in the drawings, the electric wire connected to the trim switch 15 extends to the lower annular groove 59B via the wire receiving groove 59A, and is wound around the outer circumference of the collar 57 before reaching the remote controller main body 5. Therefore, even when the rod 21 is vertically displaced, the wiring wire does not interfere with the rod 21, and even if the lever 7 is tilted forward or backward, the stress applied to the electric wire is minimized so that the durability of the electric wire can be increased.
In the above embodiment, the conversion mechanism for converting the operation direction of the lock release button 14 containing upward and rearward components into the vertical movement of the rod 21 made use of an interaction between a cam plate 19 formed with a slot 20 and a cam pin formed by the first end 21A of a rod 21. By appropriately selecting the extending direction of the slot 20, the operating direction of the unlock button 14 can be selected so that the freedom in the arrangement of the lock release button 14 can be increased.
The conversion mechanism may also consist of a cam mechanism of a different configuration, a bell crank mechanism or any other per se known mechanism, and the purview of the present invention extends to such variations. In the above embodiment, the grip 8 extended rightward, but the present invention is equally applicable to the case where the grip 8 extends leftward by converting the structures discussed above into a mirror image thereof.
According to the embodiment described above, since the operating direction of the lock release button can be tilted with respect to the vertical direction, the lock release button can be ergonomically favorably positioned so that the operability of the lock release button is improved. Further, if the lock release button is provided in a lower part of the grip at an obliquely forward position, and the first direction is an oblique direction intermediate between downward and forward directions, the lock release button is positioned behind the grip as viewed from the user so that the lock release button is concealed from the view of the user. Therefore, the aesthetic appearance of the entire lever can be improved.
The rod 21 includes a rod upper end part 62 extending substantially vertically downward from the first end 21A, a rod intermediate part 64 extending obliquely downward from the lower end thereof with a rearward slant, and a rod lower end part 63 extending downward from the lower end of the rod intermediate part 64 and connected to the locking member 31. As a result, the lock release button 14 can be positioned in an ergonomically favorable position, or in a lower part of the free end part of the lever 7 with a forward slant so that and the locking member 31 can be comfortably operated.
As shown in
As shown in
The lever main body 10 is provided with a first groove 52A, a notch 53, and a second groove 52B for receiving the rod 21. This arrangement allows the decrease in rigidity of the lever body 10 to be minimized. Further, the second groove 52B that receives the rod intermediate part 64 is provided wider than the first groove 52A that receives the rod upper end portion 62 so that, when the rod intermediate part 64 which is inclined with respect to the vertical direction is displaced in the vertical direction, the rod intermediate part 64 is not interfered by the lever main body 10.
The present invention has been described in terms of a specific embodiment, but the present invention is not limited by such an embodiment and can be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. Moreover, not all of the constituent elements shown in the above embodiments are essential to the broad concept of the present invention, and they can be appropriately selected, omitted and substituted without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For instance, although the remote controller 4 was installed on the console 2 in the foregoing embodiment, it may be installed on the side wall of the hull 1. Also, the holder 22 may be formed with a plurality of engagement slots 23 so that the tilting of the lever 7 can be restricted even at the operating position (forward position, for instance).
The contents of any cited references in this disclosure will be incorporated in the present application by reference.
