Steering system of outboard motor

• US 20050215131A1
• Filed: 03/25/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Mizutani, Makoto, Oguma, Takahiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,267,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 440/58
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/12 Means enabling steering

Abstract

A swivel bracket can be attached to a transom plate of a watercraft by means of a clamp bracket. A steering bracket can be rotationally provided in a swivel shaft of the swivel bracket. An outboard motor body can be secured to the steering bracket. An electric motor can be housed in the outboard motor and engaged with a stationary gear secured to the swivel bracket by way of a reduction gear. Driven by the electric motor, the steering bracket turns relative to the swivel bracket, causing the outboard motor body to turn.

Claims

1. An outboard motor steering system comprising a swivel bracket attached to a transom plate of a watercraft, an outboard motor rotationally attached to a swivel shaft of the swivel bracket, and a drive device configured to rotate the outboard motor about the swivel shaft, the drive device being mounted in the outboard motor.

2. The outboard motor steering system according to claim 1, wherein the outboard motor includes an outboard motor body and a steering bracket secured to the outboard motor body and attached to the swivel bracket to rotate about the swivel shaft, and wherein the drive device is housed in the shaft portion of the steering bracket.

3. The outboard motor steering system according to claim 2, wherein the drive device includes a rotary drive shaft and a drive gear at an end thereof, the swivel bracket including a stationary gear configured to mesh with the drive gear.

4. The outboard motor steering system according to claim 1, wherein the outboard motor includes an outboard motor body having a cowling, the drive device being disposed within the cowling.

5. The outboard motor steering system according to claim 4, wherein the drive device includes a rotary drive shaft and a drive gear at an end thereof, and wherein a swivel shaft of the swivel bracket is provided with a stationary gear configured to mesh with the drive gear.

6. The outboard motor steering system according to claim 1, wherein the drive device includes an electric actuator.

7. The outboard motor steering system according to claim 2, wherein the drive device includes an electric actuator.

8. The outboard motor steering system according to claim 3, wherein the drive device includes an electric actuator.

9. The outboard motor steering system according to claim 4, wherein the drive device includes an electric actuator.

10. The outboard motor steering system according to claim 5, wherein the drive device includes an electric actuator.

11. An outboard motor steering system comprising a swivel bracket attached to a transom plate of a watercraft, an outboard motor rotationally attached to a swivel shaft of the swivel bracket, and drive means for driving the outboard motor to rotate about the swivel shaft, the drive means being mounted in the outboard motor.

12. An outboard motor comprising an outboard motor body including an engine and a cowling covering the engine, a steering system comprising a swivel bracket configured to be attached to a transom plate of a watercraft so as to support the outboard motor body, the swivel bracket including a swivel shaft, and a drive device configured to generate torque to rotate the outboard motor body about the swivel shaft, the entire drive device being mounted in the outboard motor.