Outboard motor steering system

Abstract

An outboard motor steering system wherein an electric motor is installed inside the outboard motor and the output of the electric motor rotates a swivel shaft to steer the propeller, thereby enhancing steering feel by using an electric motor to enable highly responsive and accurate control. In addition, the configuration is simple and does not lead to an increase in number of components or weight. In another steering system wherein a first hydraulic cylinder for driving a steering system and second hydraulic cylinders for driving a power tilt-trim system are supplied hydraulic oil from the same pump, thereby making a dedicated hydraulic pump for the steering system unnecessary and thus enabling reduction of system size and weight. In still another steering system wherein the outboard motor main unit is swiveled to turn the propeller by extension/contraction of the hydraulic cylinder whose one end is attached to the outboard motor main unit and other end is attached to the boat side of the outboard motor. In a plan view taken in the gravitational direction, moreover, the hydraulic cylinder is located inside the vertical projection plane of the profile of the outboard motor main unit, so that the hydraulic cylinder never projects outside the outboard motor main unit no matter how much it extends or contracts.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.