MARINE POWER STEERING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An assisted marine steering system comprising a manually operated steering control, a watercraft steering device controlling the direction of travel of a watercraft, a manual connection between said manually operated steering control and said watercraft steering device for manually operating said watercraft steering device, a force sensor for sensing the manual force applied to said manually operated steering control, a hydraulic assist motor coupled to said watercraft steering device for applying a hydraulic assist to the steering operation thereof, and a control for varying the amount of hydraulic assist outputted to said watercraft steering device by said hydraulic assist motor in response to the manual force sensed by said force sensor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved and simplified marine power steering device that provides assist by selectively operating an electric motor driven hydraulic motor to provide the assist. This eliminates pumps that are constantly driven by the watercraft engine. Also the entire assist unit is formed as a single assembly to minimize the hydraulic conduits and their assembly.
29 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. An assisted marine steering system comprising a manually operated steering control, a watercraft steering device controlling the direction of travel of a watercraft, a manual connection between said manually operated steering control and said watercraft steering device for manually operating said watercraft steering device, a force sensor for sensing the manual force applied to said manually operated steering control, a hydraulic assist motor coupled to said watercraft steering device for applying a hydraulic assist to the steering operation thereof, and a control for varying the amount of hydraulic assist outputted to said watercraft steering device by said hydraulic assist motor in response to the manual force sensed by said force sensor.
Specification