JP2000335492A - Steering device of outboard engine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve detachability by installing parts such as an oil filter on the front surface lower part of an engine. SOLUTION: A front overhang part 31 of a steering bracket 25 rotatably and integrally provided on a steering shaft 24 is arranged by being offset to the side in relation to the central line C of an outboard engine body in a plan view. Therefore, an empty space 44 is formed in front of the front surface lower part of an engine 2, and parts such as an oil filter 45 can be installed on the front surface lower part of the engine 2 with good detachability.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering apparatus for an outboard motor having a steering handle for steering.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some outboard motors are provided with a manual steering type steering device using a bar-shaped steering handle.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a conventional example of such a steering device. As shown here, a steering bracket 92 is fixed to a front portion of an outboard motor main body (an engine holder is shown in the figure) 91, a steering unit 93 is fixed to a front portion thereof, and a steering handle 94 is forwardly moved from a side surface thereof. Extends to. An engine (not shown) is mounted on an upper portion of an engine holder or the like to which the steering bracket 92 is connected.

[0004] The steering bracket 92 is mounted on the steering shaft 9.
The steering shaft 95 is rotatably supported by a clamp bracket (swivel bracket) (not shown) fixed to the hull side. When the steering handle 94 is rotated left and right, the outboard motor main body 91 is rotated about the steering shaft 95, and the hull is steered.

Conventionally, the steering bracket 92 has been formed in a substantially symmetrical shape about the center line C of the outboard motor main body 91. There is also a steering device in which the steering unit 93 is omitted and the steering handle 94 extends directly from the side of the steering bracket 92.

[0006]

By the way, parts, such as an oil filter, which are provided detachably to the engine of the outboard motor are provided on the front of the engine (crankcase, etc.). Is easy to reach, so attachment / detachment is easy and maintenance is greatly improved. Particularly, in the case of an oil filter, it is necessary to arrange the oil filter near an oil pump installed at the lower part of the engine, and it is ideal to provide the oil filter at the lower part on the front of the engine.

However, as described above, in the conventional steering system, since the steering bracket 92 is formed in a substantially symmetrical shape about the center line C of the outboard motor main body 91, the steering bracket 92 is connected. Even if it is attempted to install other components such as an oil filter below the front of the engine mounted directly above the engine holder or the like, the installation becomes difficult due to the presence of the steering bracket 92, and even if it is installed, it becomes difficult to reach. Therefore, maintainability (removability) was poor.

A steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to the present invention has been invented in order to solve the above problems. A first object of the present invention is to enable installation of other components such as an oil filter at a lower portion of a front surface of an engine. And to improve the detachability thereof.

A second object of the steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to the present invention is to protect other components installed at a lower portion of the front surface of the engine from damage or the like.

A third object of the steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to the present invention is to enable a steering handle and other operating parts to be efficiently arranged on a steering bracket.

A fourth object of the steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to the present invention is to improve maintainability around a steering handle.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to the present invention, wherein a steering bracket is provided integrally with a steering shaft. An outboard motor main body is connected to a rear portion of the steering bracket, and a steering handle is provided at a front portion of the steering bracket. In the steering device for an outboard motor, the steering bracket extends forward from the steering shaft. The front overhang portion for supporting the steering handle is offset laterally with respect to the center line of the outboard motor body in plan view.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the steering handle is configured to be viewed in the front-rear direction. The steering bracket is formed such that the steering bracket is offset from the front overhang portion with respect to the center line.

Further, in order to achieve the third object,
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to the third aspect, a yoke portion extending in a boat width direction is provided at a front end of the front overhang portion. The hang portion and the yoke portion were substantially T-shaped in plan view, the steering handle was provided on one side of the yoke portion, and another operation portion was provided on the other side of the yoke portion.

[0015] To achieve the fourth object,
As set forth in claim 4, in the steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to the present invention, in the configuration of claim 3, the yoke portion is provided detachably with respect to the front overhang portion.

If the front overhang portion of the steering bracket is offset laterally with respect to the center line of the outboard motor main body in plan view, the front overhang portion is positioned from the front of the lower front portion of the engine. Since it is deviated to the side and an empty space is formed in front of the lower part of the front surface of the engine, other parts such as an oil filter can be installed at the lower part of the front surface of the engine, and its detachability is improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the steering handle is offset from the front overhang portion when viewed in the front-rear direction, the other part of the steering handle is provided at the lower part of the front surface of the engine. And guards other parts, so that other parts are protected from damage.

Further, if a yoke portion is provided at the front end of the front overhang portion and a steering handle is provided on one side and another operation portion is provided on the other side, the steering bracket can be attached to the steering bracket. Other operation units can be efficiently arranged.

Further, if the yoke portion is provided detachably with respect to the front overhang portion, the steering handle and other operation portions are unitized with the yoke portion, and this unit is mounted on the front overhang portion. Since it can be attached to and detached from the part, the maintainability around the steering handle is improved.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a left side view showing an example of an outboard motor according to the present invention.

The engine 2 mounted on the uppermost part of the outboard motor 1 is, for example, an in-line three-cylinder four-stroke engine. 4 fixed above. An oil pan 5 is fixed to a lower surface of the engine holder 4, and a drive housing 6 and a gear housing 7 are sequentially fixed to a lower portion of the oil pan 5.

The engine 2 is formed by arranging a crankcase 9, a cylinder block 10, a cylinder head 11, and a head cover 12 in this order from the front. Covered and waterproof.

A drive shaft 15 is rotatably connected to the lower end of the crankshaft 3 of the engine 2. The drive shaft 15 extends downward and passes through the engine holder 4, the oil pan 5, and the drive housing 6, and extends through the gear housing. Reach within 7. A propeller shaft 16 is supported in the gear housing 7 in the horizontal (front-rear) direction, and a screw propeller 17 is integrally provided at the rear end thereof.

A bevel gear mechanism 18 and a clutch shifter 19 are provided at a portion where the drive shaft 15 intersects with the propeller shaft 16.
The screw propeller 17 rotates to generate a propulsive force. In addition, the rotation of the drive shaft 15, which always rotates in a fixed direction, is switched by the clutch shifter 19 in the forward and reverse directions, and the propeller shaft 16
And the forward and backward movements of the outboard motor 1 (hull) are selected.

At the front of the main body of the outboard motor 1 configured as described above, a clamp bracket 21 fixed to the stern plate of the boat is provided. A swivel bracket 23 is provided on the clamp bracket 21 via a tilt shaft 22,
A steering bracket 25 and a lower bracket 26 are integrally provided at the upper and lower ends of a steering shaft 24 rotatably supported vertically and rotatably in the swivel bracket 23, respectively.

A pair of left and right upper mount units 27 provided near the front edge of the engine holder 4 are connected to the upper mount bracket 25, and a pair of lower mount units 28 provided on both left and right sides of the drive housing 6 are provided. It is connected to the bracket 26. Thereby, the main body of the outboard motor 1 rotates (steers) left and right around the steering shaft 24 with respect to the clamp bracket 21.
It is possible, and at the same time, it is possible to tilt upward about the tilt shaft 22.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the steering system showing the engine 2, the engine holder 4, the steering shaft 24, the steering bracket 25, the upper mount unit 27, and the like. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the steering system shown in FIG. It is a front view.

The steering bracket 25 includes the steering shaft 2
4, one front overhang portion 31 extending forward from the position of the steering shaft 24, a pair of left and right rear overhang portions 32 extending rearward from the position of the steering shaft 24, and two fixing bolts 33 at the front end of the front overhang portion 31. And a yoke part 34 (see also FIG. 1) fixed detachably.

The front overhang portion 31 is offset laterally with respect to the center line C of the outboard motor main body in plan view, for example, to the right, so as not to protrude leftward from the center line C. It is shaped. The yoke portion 34 is formed so as to extend to a substantially equal length in the left and right directions (in the width direction of the ship) about the center line C. The front overhang portion 31 and the yoke portion 34 are substantially T-shaped in plan view. It has a shape.

A steering holder 36 is fixed to one end of the yoke part 34 by two fixing bolts 37, and a bar-shaped steering handle 38 is pivotally supported here. The steering handle 38 is rotatable about a horizontal axis S,
It can be flipped upward from a position extending forward as shown in the figure. Further, another operation unit is provided at the other end of the yoke unit 34,
For example, a shift lever 39 is provided (see also FIG. 1). The shift lever 39 is a lever for remotely operating the clutch shifter 19 via a rod 40 (see FIG. 3).

The steering holder 36 provided on the yoke portion 34 is provided with a steering handle 38 as viewed in the front-rear direction.
Are positioned so as to be offset on the opposite side of the front overhang portion 31 with respect to the center line C. That is, when the front overhang portion 31 is offset to the right with respect to the center line C as in this embodiment, the steering holder 36 is offset to the left with respect to the center line C.

On the other hand, a pair of left and right mount insertion portions 41 is formed in the vicinity of the front edge of the engine holder 4 so as to sandwich the drive shaft 15 in a cylindrical hole shape, and the upper mount unit 27 is inserted into the mount insertion portion 41. The center axis 42 of the upper mount unit 27 extends forward and is connected to the rear overhang portion 32 of the steering bracket 25.

In the steering apparatus constructed as described above, when the steering handle 38 is turned in the left-right direction, the outboard motor 1 turns about the steering shaft 24, and the hull is steered.

In this steering device, the front overhang portion 31 of the steering bracket 25 is offset laterally (rightward) with respect to the center line C of the outboard motor main body in plan view. Are largely deviated laterally from the front of the lower front part of the engine 2. For this reason, an empty space 4
4 is formed, so that another component, for example, an oil filter 45 can be installed in the lower part of the front surface of the engine 2.

Since the oil filter 45 needs to be arranged near an oil pump (not shown) installed at the lower part of the engine 2, it is ideal to provide the oil filter 45 at the lower part of the front of the engine 2. . Moreover, since this position can be easily reached by a passenger reaching from the stern, the detachability of the oil filter 45 is very good, and the maintainability of the engine 2 can be dramatically improved.

In this steering device, the steering handle 38 is connected to the front overhang portion 3 when viewed in the front-rear direction.
1 so that the base of the steering handle 38 (the steering holder 36
) Is located in front of an oil filter 45 provided at a lower portion of the front surface of the engine 2 to guard the oil filter 45. Therefore, the oil filter 45 can be protected from damage or the like.

Further, the front overhang portion 31 and the yoke portion 34 are formed in a substantially T shape in plan view, and a steering handle 38 is provided on one side of the yoke portion 34.
Since the shift lever 39 is provided on the other side, the steering handle 38 and the shift lever 39 can be efficiently arranged on the steering bracket 25. Note that an operation unit other than the shift lever 39 (a PTT operation unit, etc.)
May be provided on the yoke portion 34.

Further, since the yoke portion 34 is provided so as to be detachable from the front overhang portion 31, the steering handle 38, the shift lever 39, or another operation portion provided on the yoke portion 34 is integrated with the yoke portion 34. And this unit can be attached to and detached from the front overhang portion 31. Therefore,
The maintainability around the steering handle 38 can be greatly improved.

[0039]

As described above, in the outboard motor steering apparatus according to the present invention, the front overhang portion of the steering bracket on which the steering handle is supported is located on the side with respect to the center line of the outboard motor main body in plan view. Since the components are offset, the other components such as an oil filter can be installed at the lower portion of the front surface of the engine, and the detachability can be improved.

The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to the present invention includes:
The steering bracket is formed such that the steering handle is offset from the front overhang portion with respect to the center line of the outboard motor body when viewed in the front-rear direction. Parts can be guarded by the steering handle to protect them from damage.

Further, in the steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to the present invention, a yoke portion extending in a boat width direction is provided at a front end of the front overhang portion so that the front overhang portion and the yoke portion are substantially T in plan view. Since the steering handle is provided on one side of the yoke portion and another operation portion is provided on the other side of the yoke portion, the steering handle and the other operation portion can be efficiently arranged on the steering bracket.

The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to the present invention includes:
Since the yoke portion is provided so as to be detachable from the front overhang portion, maintainability around a steering handle can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a left side view showing an example of an outboard motor according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a steering device showing an engine, an engine holder, a steering shaft, a steering bracket, an upper mount unit, and the like, showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the steering device as viewed from the arrow III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a conventional steering device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outboard motor 2 Engine 4 Engine holder 5 Oil pan 21 Clamp bracket 22 Tilt axis 23 Swivel bracket 24 Steering axis 25 Steering bracket 27 Upper mount unit 31 Front overhang part 34 Yoke part 36 Steering holder 38 Steering handle 39 Other operating parts Shift lever 44, an empty space 45 oil filter C, center line of the outboard motor

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An outboard motor steering system in which a steering bracket is rotatably provided on a steering shaft, an outboard motor body is connected to a rear portion of the steering bracket, and a steering handle is provided at a front portion of the steering bracket. The steering handle 3 extends forward from the steering shaft 24 of the steering bracket 25.
A steering device for an outboard motor, characterized in that the front overhang portion 31 for supporting the outboard motor 8 is offset laterally with respect to the center line C of the outboard motor main body in plan view. 2. The steering bracket 25 according to claim 1, wherein the steering bracket 25 is formed such that the steering handle 38 is offset on the opposite side of the front overhang portion 31 with respect to the center line C when viewed in the front-rear direction. Outboard motor steering system. 3. A yoke portion 34 extending in the boat width direction is provided at a front end of the front overhang portion 31 so that the front overhang portion 31 and the yoke portion 34 have a substantially T-shape in plan view. 3. The outboard motor steering system according to claim 1, wherein the steering handle is provided on one side of the section and another operation section is provided on the other side of the yoke section. 4. 4. The steering apparatus for an outboard motor according to claim 3, wherein said yoke portion is provided detachably with respect to said front overhang portion.