Hydraulic steering device for a boat, a vessel, or the like

A hydraulic steering device for a boat, comprising:

• a pump coupled to a drive motor to supply an operating fluid alternatively along two flow directions;
• a hydraulic actuating cylinder that is connected to a delivery and return of the pump;
• and
• a fluid flow distributor that switches a connection of the delivery and suction of the pump alternatively to one of two inlets/outlets of the actuating cylinder, the fluid flow distributor communicating with one of two chambers in the actuating cylinder,
• wherein the actuating cylinder comprises a bar displaceable relative to the cylinder, the bar being mechanically articulated to a direction-changing member, the direction-changing member determining a change of direction by changing orientation relative to an axis of the boat,
• wherein a change in the orientation of the direction-changing member is actuated by the actuating cylinder depending on a supply of the operating fluid to the hydraulic cylinder, caused by operation of the pump,
• wherein the drive motor has inputs for a supply signal to operate the pump at the supply of the fluid flow along one of two flow directions provided,
• wherein the actuating cylinder, the pump, the fluid flow distributor and the drive motor are fixed to each other so as to form an operative unit integrated into a single body by being all mounted on a single frame attached to a transom of the boat, and are translatable together with the actuating cylinder along a rod thereof,
• wherein the pump is provided with an integrated tank for a supply of the operating fluid to the actuating cylinder, and
• wherein the tank comprises a compensation chamber to compensate fluid pressure, the compensation chamber being sealingly separated from a compartment containing operating fluid by a membrane, the compensation chamber being filled with a compressible fluid.