Power steering mechanism for marine installations

A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit adapted to be mounted on the transom of a boat for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally vertical steering axis, said propulsion unit including a propeller shaft adapted to rotatably support a propeller, a first link extendible and contractible along a first axis and having a first end adapted to be connected to the boat, and a second end connected to said propulsion unit for causing pivotal movement of said propulsion unit about said steering axis, control means including a first member connected to said second end of said first link, a second member moveable relative to said first member along a second axis generally parallel to said first axis, and means for causing movement of said second end of said first link in one direction along said first axis in response to movement of said second member in said one direction relative to said first member, and for causing movement of said second end of said first link in the opposite direction in response to movement of said second member in said opposite direction relative to said first member, and a second link extendible and contractible along said second axis and having a first end adapted to be connected to the boat, and a second end connected to said second member.

A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit adapted to be mounted on the transom of a boat for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generallY vertical steering axis, said propulsion unit including a propeller shaft adapted to rotatably support a propeller, a first hydraulic assembly extendible and contractible along a first axis and having a first end adapted to be connected to the boat, and a second end connected to said propulsion unit for causing pivotal movement of said propulsion unit about said steering axis, valve means including a first member connected to said second end of said first hydraulic assembly, a second member moveable relative to said first member along a second axis generally parallel to said first axis, and means for causing movement of said second end of said first hydraulic assembly in one direction along said first axis in response to movement of said second member in said one direction relative to said first member, and for causing movement of said second end of said first hydraulic assembly in the opposite direction in response to movement of said second member in said opposite direction relative to said first member, and a second hydraulic assembly extendible and contractible along said second axis and having a first end adapted to be connected to the boat, and a second end connected to said second member.

A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit adapted to be mounted on the transom of a boat for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally vertical steering axis, said propulsion unit including a propeller shaft adapted to rotatably support a propeller, a first hydraulic assembly extendible and contractible along a first axis and having a first end adapted to be connected to the boat, and a second end connected to said propulsion unit for causing pivotal movement of said propulsion unit about said steering axis, and valve means operatively connected to said first hydraulic assembly and including a valve housing having therein a spool bore, first and second ports communicating with said spool bore, a fluid inlet passageway, and a fluid outlet passageway, and said valve housing being connected to said second end of said hydraulic assembly for common movement of said valve housing with said second end, and said valve means also including a spool slideably housed in said spool bore for movement relative to said valve housing along said second axis, and means operable in a first mode for connecting said inlet passageway to said first port and said outlet passageway to said second port, and operable in a second mode for connecting said inlet passageway to said second port and said outlet passageway to said first port.

A valve apparatus comprising a valve housing including a spool bore, said valve housing also including first and second ports communicating directly with said spool bore, said valve housing also including a fluid outlet passageway communicating directly with said spool bore, and said valve housing also including a fluid outlet passageway communicating directing with said spool bore, and a valve spool slideably housed in said spool bore and including means operable in a first mode for connecting said inlet passageway to said first port and said outlet passageway to said second port, and operable in a second mode for connecting said inlet passageway to said second port and said outlet passageway to said first port.

A valve apparatus comprising a valve housing including a spool bore, first and second ports communicating with said spool bore, a fluid inlet passageway communicating with said spool bore, and a fluid outlet passageway communicating with said spool bore, a lever having a first end, a second end, and being pivotally mounted on said valve housing at a point intermediate said first and second ends, and a valve spool slideably housed in said spool bore, pivotally connected to said second end of said lever, including means operable in a first mode for connecting said inlet passageway to said first port and said outlet passageway to said second port, and operable in a second mode for connecting said inlet passageway to said second port and said outlet passageway to said first port, and being adapted to be connected to means operable independently of said lever for moving said spool relative to said valve housing.

A power steering system for a marine propulsion device including mounting means adapted to be mounted on a boat, and a propulsion unit mounted on the mounting means for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal tilt axis and about a generally vertical steering axis, said system comprising a tilt tube extending along said tilt axis, an elongated member slideably housed within said tilt tube for axial movement relative thereto, an extendible and contractible hydraulic assembly having a first end adapted to be connected to the boat, and a second end adapted to be connected to the propulsion unit for causing pivotal movement of the propulsion unit about the steering axis, valve means including a first member fixedly connected to said second end of said hydraulic assembly, and a second member reciprocally movable relative to said first member, and a link member having a first portion pivotally connected to said elongated member, a second portion pivotally connected to said second member, and a third portion pivotally connected to said first member.

A power steering system for a marine propulsion device including a propulsion unit adapted to be mounted on the transom of a boat for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally vertical steering axis, said system comprising a first link extendible and contractible along a first axis and having a first end adapted to be connected to the boat, and a second end adapted to be connected to the propulsion unit for causing pivotal movement of the propulsion unit about the steering axis, control means including a first member connected to said second end of said first link, a second member moveable relative to said first member along a second axis generally parallel to said first axis, and means for causing movement of said second end of said first link in one direction along said first axis in response to movement of said second member in said one direction relative to said first member, and for causing movement of said second end of said first link in the opposite direction in response to movement of said second member in said opposite direction relative to said first member, and a second link extendible and contractible along said second axis and having a first end adapted to be connected to the boat, and a second end connected to said second member.

A power steering system for a marine propulsion device including a propulsion unit adapted to be mounted on the transom of a boat for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally vertical steering axis, said system comprising a first hydraulic assembly extendible and contractible along a first axis and having a first end adapted to be connected to the boat, and a second end adapted to be connected to the propulsion unit for causing pivotal movement of the propulsion unit about the steering axis, valve means including a first member connected to said second end of said first hydraulic assembly, a second member moveable relative to said first member along a second axis generally parallel to said first axis, and means for causing movement of said second end of said first hydraulic assembly in one direction along said first axis in response to movement of said second member in said one direction relative to said first member, and for causing movement of said second end of said first hydraulic assembly in the opposite direction in response to movement of said second member in said opposite direction relative to said first member, and a second hydraulic assembly extendible and contractible along said second axis and having a first end adapted to be connected to the boat, and a second end connected to said second member.

A power steering system for a marine propulsion device including a propulsion unit adapted to be mounted on the transom of a boat for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally vertical steering axis, said system comprising a first hydraulic assembly extendible and contractible along a first axis and having a first end adapted to be connected to the boat, and a second end adapted to be connected to the propulsion unit for causing pivotal movement of the propulsion unit about the steering axis, and valve means operatively connected to said first hydraulic assembly and including a valve housing having therein a spool bore, first and second ports communicating with said spool bore, a fluid inlet passageway, and a fluid outlet passageway, and said valve housing being connected to said second end of said hydraulic assembly for common movement of said valve housing with said second end, and said valve means also including a spool slideably housed in said spool bore for movement relative to said valve housing along said second axis, and means operable in a first mode for connecting said inlet passageway to said first port and said outlet passageway to said second port, and operable in a second mode for connecting said inlet passageway to said second port and said outlet passageway to said first port.

A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit adapted to be mounted on the transom of a boat for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally vertical steering axis, said propulsion unit including a propeller shaft adapted to rotatably support a propeller, an extendible and contractible first link having a first end adapted to be connected to the boat, and a second end connected to said propulsion unit for causing pivotal movement of said propulsion unit about said steering axis, control means including a first member connected to said second end of said first link, a second member moveable relative to said first member, and means for causing movement of said second end of said first link in response to movement of said second member relative to said first member, and an extendible and contractible second link having a first end fixed to said first link, and a second end connected to said second member.

A power steering system for a marine propulsion device including a propulsion unit adapted to be mounted on the transom of a boat for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally vertical steering axis, said system comprising an extendible and contractible first link having a first end adapted to be connected to the boat, and a second end adapted to be connected to the propulsion unit for causing pivotal movement of the propulsion unit about the steering axis, control means including a first member connected to said second end of said first link, a second member moveable relative to said first member, and means for causing movement of said second end of said first link in response to movement of said second member relative to said first member, and an extendible and contractible second link having a first end fixed to said first link, and a second end connected to said second member.