Systems and steering actuators for steering outboard marine engines

A steering actuator for steering an outboard marine engine about a steering axis, the steering actuator comprising:

• a piston device, wherein hydraulic actuation of the piston device causes the outboard marine engine to pivot about the steering axis;
• and
• a valve device, wherein the valve device controls a flow of hydraulic fluid to the piston device to thereby hydraulically actuate the piston device, the valve device comprising a lead screw, a motor configured to rotate the lead screw in a first rotational direction and alternately in an opposite second rotational direction, and a ball nut coupled to the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw causes the ball nut to axially move along the lead screw;
• wherein axial movement of the ball nut along the lead screw actuates the valve device, which thereby actuates the piston device to steer the outboard marine engine;
• and
• wherein valve device is positionable into at least three positions, including a first valve position wherein the valve device directs the flow of hydraulic fluid to a first side of the piston device, a second valve position wherein the valve device directs flow of hydraulic fluid to the second side of the piston device, and a neutral position wherein the valve device directs the flow of hydraulic fluid back to a reservoir.

A steering actuator for steering an outboard marine engine about a steering axis, the steering actuator comprising:

• a piston device, wherein hydraulic actuation of the piston device causes the outboard marine engine to pivot about the steering axis;
• a valve device, wherein the valve device controls a flow of hydraulic fluid to the piston device to thereby hydraulically actuate the piston device, the valve device comprising a lead screw, a motor configured to rotate the lead screw in a first rotational direction and alternately in an opposite second rotational direction, and a ball nut coupled to the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw causes the ball nut to axially move along the lead screw;
• wherein axial movement of the ball nut along the lead screw actuates the valve device, which thereby actuates the piston device to steer the outboard marine engine;
• and
• a housing that completely encloses the piston device, valve device, lead screw and ball nut;
• wherein the housing has an access port that facilitates access to the lead screw for positional adjustment of the lead screw, motor and valve device.

A system for steering an outboard marine engine about a steering axis, the system comprising:

• an outboard marine engine;
• a steering actuator that comprises
• a piston device, wherein hydraulic actuation of the piston device causes the outboard marine engine to pivot about the steering axis;
• a valve device, wherein the valve device controls a flow of hydraulic fluid to the piston device to thereby hydraulically actuate the piston device, the valve device comprising a lead screw;
• a motor configured to rotate the lead screw in a first rotational direction and alternately in an opposite, second rotational direction;
• and a ball nut coupled to the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw causes the ball nut to move along the lead screw, and wherein movement of the ball nut along the lead screw actuates the valve device, which thereby actuates the piston device to steer the outboard marine engine;
• and
• a controller that controls the motor to thereby actuate the valve device;
• wherein the valve device is elongated and wherein the lead screw extends parallel to and is spaced apart from the valve device, and wherein the motor has an output shaft and wherein the lead screw is not coaxial with the output shaft.