JP4881912B2 - Outboard motor - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an outboard motor in which an engine throttle valve is electrically controlled to be opened and closed.

Conventionally, a mechanical throttle valve is generally employed as a throttle valve for an outboard motor. This mechanical type is for opening and closing the throttle valve via a link mechanism by turning a grip provided at the tip of the steering handle. However, since the mechanical throttle valve uses a link mechanism or a wire, it tends to be relatively large. On the other hand, in recent years, development of an electric control type that electrically controls opening and closing of a throttle valve has been advanced (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2007-297554 A

  The outboard motor known from Patent Document 1 is provided with an electric throttle valve. This electric throttle valve has a throttle valve built in a throttle body, and this throttle valve is driven by an electric actuator (throttle motor).

  By the way, some electric throttle valves have a carburetor provided integrally on a throttle body with a built-in throttle valve. It is conceivable to mount such an electric throttle valve integrated with a carburetor in an outboard motor.

  However, the attitude of the outboard motor changes greatly. For example, the attitude of the outboard motor changes greatly depending on the behavior of the hull during operation. Further, in the stopped state, the outboard motor is flipped up so that the propeller is lifted from the water surface to have a substantially horizontal posture (an inclined posture in which the engine is slightly higher than the propeller). If the electric throttle valve with an integrated carburetor is simply installed in the outboard motor, there is a concern that the fuel dripping from the float chamber will infiltrate the electric parts such as the electric actuator when the attitude of the outboard motor changes greatly. is there. For this reason, it is necessary to protect electrical components from fuel. However, if a large measure is taken, the configuration for protecting the fuel is complicated and large, so there is room for improvement.

  The present invention provides a technology capable of protecting an electrical component such as an electric actuator that drives a throttle valve from fuel drooping from the float chamber in an outboard motor equipped with an electric throttle valve integrated with a carburetor. Is an issue.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the outboard motor that electrically opens and closes the throttle valve of the engine that drives the propeller, the engine is a single cylinder engine, and the throttle valve that includes the throttle valve is disposed in the throttle valve. An electric actuator for driving the electric actuator, a control unit for controlling the electric actuator, and a carburetor. A float chamber for temporarily storing fuel supplied from the carburetor to the air passage of the throttle body is provided in the throttle body. Provided in the lower part, the electric actuator and the control unit are arranged higher than the float chamber , the cylinder axis in the engine is located above the tilt shaft that supports the outboard motor to be able to rotate up and down, And when the outboard motor is viewed from above, the crankshaft of the engine is And the throttle body and the float chamber are on opposite sides of the cylinder axis with respect to the line extending in the front-rear direction. It is arranged on the side of the cylinder head .

The invention according to claim 2, in claim 1, before SL different from the electric actuator and the control unit, and other electrical equipment, and the throttle body, the left and right opposite each other with respect to a line extending in the longitudinal said It is arranged at a position.

  In the invention according to claim 1, an electric actuator that drives the throttle valve, a control unit that controls the electric actuator, and a carburetor are provided in a throttle body that has a built-in throttle valve for an outboard engine. . A float chamber is provided below the throttle body. The electric actuator and the control unit are arranged higher than the float chamber. For this reason, (1) when the hull is shaken greatly, the attitude of the outboard motor changes greatly, or (2) when the outboard motor is flipped up and in a horizontal position in the stopped state, There is no concern that the fuel leaking from the float chamber will drip on the electric actuator and the control unit arranged higher than the float chamber. In this way, regardless of the attitude of the outboard motor, electrical components such as an electric actuator that drives the throttle valve can be protected from the fuel dripping from the float chamber with a simple configuration.

In the invention according to claim 2, the electric dynamic actuator and the control unit different from the electrical component and, a throttle body, and arranged on the left and right opposite positions to each other with respect to a line extending in the front-rear. For this reason, when the attitude of the outboard motor changes greatly, there is no fear that the fuel leaked from the float chamber will drip on other electrical components.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. “Front”, “Rear”, “Left”, “Right”, “Up”, “Down” follow the direction as seen from the hull side (operator) carrying the outboard motor, Fr is the front side, Rr represents the rear side, Le represents the left side, and Ri represents the right side.
FIG. 1 is a side view of an outboard motor according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view around the engine of the outboard motor shown in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outboard motor 10 includes a mount case 11, an extension case 12, a gear case 13, an engine 14, a drive shaft 15, a gear mechanism 16, a propeller shaft 17, a propeller 18, and an outboard motor mounting mechanism. 19 and.

  The mount case 11 is a so-called engine support case in which the engine 14 is attached to the upper surface. The extension case 12 is attached to the lower part of the mount case 11. The gear case 13 is attached to the lower part of the extension case 12.

The engine 14 is a vertical type engine (for example, a single cylinder engine), in which the cylinder 21 is oriented horizontally and the crankshaft 22 is oriented vertically. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the axis line CL (cylinder axis line CL) of the cylinder 21 is a center line of the cylinder 21 and is a substantially horizontal line orthogonal to the crankshaft 22. As shown in FIG. 3, the cylinder axis CL passes through the center of the crankshaft 22 and is slightly inclined to the left with respect to a line Lfr extending in the front-rear direction .

  As a matter of course, the piston 23 connected to the crankshaft 22 reciprocates in the cylinder 21. In the engine 14, a cylinder head 25 is coupled to a coupling surface at the rear end of the cylinder block 24, and a head cover 26 is coupled to a coupling surface at the rear end of the cylinder head 25. The coupling surface between the sideways cylinder block 24 and the cylinder head 25 and the coupling surface between the cylinder head 25 and the head cover 26 are substantially vertical surfaces.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the drive shaft 15 is housed in the extension case 12, extends downward from the crankshaft 22, and transmits the power of the engine 14 to the propeller 18 via the gear mechanism 16 and the propeller shaft 17. It is.

  The engine 14 is covered with a lower undercase 31 and an upper engine cover 32. The engine cover 32 has a fresh air inlet 32a at the top. Outside air is taken into the engine cover 32 from the fresh air inlet 32a.

  The outboard motor mounting mechanism 19 fixes the outboard motor 10 to the hull Si, swings the outboard motor 10 left and right in plan view around the swivel shaft 19a, and swivels around the tilt shaft 19b. The outboard motor 10 including the shaft 19a can be flipped up in the clockwise direction (arrow Up direction).

  Incidentally, the undercase 31 includes a substantially horizontal bar-shaped steering handle 41 on the side of the front portion (the hull Si side). The steering handle 41 (tiller handle 41) can be set to a substantially horizontal use position indicated by a solid line and a substantially vertical storage position by swinging counterclockwise from the use position. The steering handle 41 includes a rotatable grip 42. The boat operator can adjust the opening degree of the throttle valve via an electric actuator described later by further rotating the grip 42 while grasping and steering the grip 42. The grip 42 is also referred to as a throttle grip.

  2 and 3, in the space Sp surrounded by the engine cover 32, an intake silencer 51, an intake pipe 52, a throttle body 53, an intake manifold 54, a plurality of electrical components 55, 56 is arranged. The intake silencer 51 is disposed adjacent to the rear end of the cylinder block 24 in the engine 14. The throttle body 53 is disposed adjacent to the side surface of the cylinder block 24 in the engine 14, adjacent to the side surface of the cylinder head 25, or adjacent to each side surface of these members 24 and 25. Outside air introduced into the engine cover 32 is supplied to an intake port of the engine 14 via an intake silencer 51, an intake pipe 52, a throttle body 53 (specifically, an air passage described later) and an intake manifold 54.

  4 is a cross-sectional view in the direction of the arrow 4 in FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view of the periphery of the throttle body shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view around the throttle body shown in FIG. 3 and shows a configuration with the cover removed. FIG. 7 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow 7 in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the throttle body 53 has an air passage 53a (see FIGS. 4 to 5) through which combustion air passes, and includes a throttle valve 61 (see FIG. 4), an electric actuator 62, and a transmission mechanism. 63, the control part 64, and the carburetor 65 (refer FIG. 4) are provided.

  The air passage 53a is a venturi-like through hole penetrating in the front-rear direction. The throttle valve 61 is a plate that adjusts the opening degree of the air passage 53 a and is built in the throttle body 53. The electric actuator 62 is a drive source that drives the throttle valve 61 via the transmission mechanism 63, and includes an electric motor such as a stepping motor. The control unit 64 is an electrical component that controls the rotation of the electric actuator 62 according to the operation angle when the operator operates the grip 42 (see FIG. 1).

  The carburetor 65 supplies the fuel in the float chamber 66 to the air passage 53a using the negative pressure in the air passage 53a. A float box 67 having a float chamber 66 is detachably attached to the lower end surface of the throttle body 53 by bolting or the like. As a result, the float chamber 66 is provided in the lower part of the throttle body 53. The float chamber 66 is a space for temporarily storing fuel to be supplied from the carburetor 65 to the air passage 53a, and incorporates a float 68 that moves up and down according to the liquid level of the fuel.

  By the way, the throttle valve 61 is attached to a substantially vertical throttle shaft 69 (see FIGS. 4 to 5). The throttle shaft 69 extends upward from the throttle body 53. The throttle body 53 is provided with a flat plate-like horizontal base 71 on the top thereof so as to be removable. An electric actuator 62, a transmission mechanism 63, and a control unit 64 are detachably mounted on the base 71. By covering the base 71 with a waterproof cover 72 so as to be removable, the cover 72 covers the electric actuator 62, the transmission mechanism 63, and the control unit 64.

  The output shaft 62 a of the electric actuator 62 is disposed in parallel to the throttle shaft 69 extending upward of the base 71. The output of the electric actuator 62 is transmitted to the throttle shaft 69 via the transmission mechanism 63 comprising a combination of gears. As a result, the throttle valve 61 (see FIG. 4) is opened and closed.

  Thus, from bottom to top (1) float chamber 66, (2) throttle body 53 and throttle valve 61, (3) base 71, (4) electric actuator 62 and transmission mechanism 63 on base 71 The control unit 64 is arranged in this order. As shown in FIG. 4, the center Pa of the air passage 53a is higher than the substantially horizontal cylinder axis CL by the height Hi. As a result, the float chamber 66 is located at substantially the same height with respect to the upper ends of the cylinder head 25 and the head cover 26.

  As is clear from the above description, the electric actuator 62 and the control unit 64, which are electrical components, are disposed higher than the float chamber 66. For this reason, (1) when the hull Si shown in FIG. 1 is largely shaken, the outboard motor 10 is moved in the direction of the arrow Up in FIG. There is no fear that the fuel leaked from the float chamber 66 droops to the electric actuator 62 and the control unit 64 that are disposed higher than the float chamber 66 when it is flipped up and has a substantially horizontal posture. Thus, regardless of the attitude of the outboard motor 10, electrical components such as the electric actuator 62 that drives the throttle valve 61 can be protected from the fuel dripping from the float chamber 66 with a simple configuration.

  3 and 4, when the outboard motor 10 is viewed from above, the throttle body 53 (including the electric actuator 62 and the control unit 64) is disposed on the right side Ri with respect to the cylinder axis CL. Has been. On the other hand, other electrical components 55 and 56 different from the electric actuator 62 and the control unit 64 are disposed on the left side Le with respect to the cylinder axis CL. One of the other electrical components 55 (first electrical component 55) includes, for example, an igniter, a starter, and a fuse housed in the electrical box 55a. Another electrical component 56 (second electrical component 56) is a spark plug. As described above, the throttle body 53 and the other electrical components 55 and 56 are disposed at positions opposite to each other with respect to the cylinder axis CL. For this reason, when the attitude of the outboard motor 10 is largely changed, there is no fear that the fuel leaked from the float chamber 66 hangs down on other electrical components.

  In the present invention, the operation member for adjusting the opening of the throttle valve is not limited to the grip 42 provided on the steering handle 41. For example, the operation member may be configured by a switch. Further, the operation member may be attached to the outboard motor 10 itself. Moreover, the structure which controls the control part 64 remotely with an operation member (remote control) may be sufficient.

  The outboard motor 10 of the present invention is suitable for use in various types of hull Si from small to relatively large.

1 is a side view of an outboard motor according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view around the engine of the outboard motor shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the direction of the arrow 4 in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a side view around a throttle body shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a plan view with a cover around a throttle body shown in FIG. 3 removed. It is a figure of the 7 arrow line direction of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Outboard motor, 14 ... Engine, 18 ... Propeller, 41 ... Steering handle, 42 ... Grip, 53 ... Throttle body, 53a ... Air passage, 55, 56 ... Other electrical equipment (1st, 2nd electrical equipment) , 61 ... throttle valve, 62 ... electric actuator (electric motor), 64 ... control unit, 65 ... carburetor, 66 ... float chamber, CL ... cylinder axis, Lfr ... line extending in the front-rear direction , Si ... hull.

Claims (2)

In an outboard motor that electrically controls opening and closing of a throttle valve of an engine that drives a propeller,
The engine is a single cylinder engine;
The throttle body incorporating the throttle valve is provided with an electric actuator that drives the throttle valve, a control unit that controls the electric actuator, and a carburetor,
By providing a float chamber in the lower part of the throttle body for temporarily storing fuel supplied from the carburetor to the air passage of the throttle body,
The electric actuator and the control unit are arranged higher than the float chamber ,
The cylinder axis of the engine is positioned above a tilt shaft that supports the outboard motor so as to be rotatable up and down, and passes through the crankshaft of the engine when the outboard motor is viewed from above. Inclined with respect to the line extending forward and backward of the outboard motor,
The outboard motor, wherein the throttle body and the float chamber are disposed on a side opposite to an inclination of the cylinder axis with respect to a line extending in the front-rear direction and on a side of a cylinder head of the engine . Differs from the previous SL electric actuator and the control unit, and other electrical equipment, and the throttle body, the claims and characterized in that it is arranged to the left and right opposite positions to each other with respect to a line extending in the longitudinal said The outboard motor according to 1.

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