Power steering system of outboard motor

A power steering system of an outboard motor to be mounted upon a body of a hull and including a steering bracket secured to said body of said hull, a swivel bracket rotatable about a body of said outboard motor, and a pair of clamp brackets supporting said swivel bracket, comprising:

• a manual steering unit, for manually steering a steering element so as to operate said outboard motor, said manual steering unit including a link mechanism connected to said steering element and to said steering bracket;
• a power unit operatively connected to said link mechanism of said manual steering unit and including an electric motor for applying a steering assist force to said manual steering unit, for reducing steering load during steering operations, through said link mechanism;
• electromagnetic clutch means operatively interconnecting said electric motor of said power unit with said manual steering unit;
• rack and pinion means, including a rack and a pinion, interposed between said electromagnetic clutch means and said manual steering unit for transmitting said steering assist force, by converting rotation of said electric motor of said power unit into linear motion, from said power unit, through said electromagnetic clutch means, to said manual steering unit;
• means for detecting an abnormal electric current passing through said electric motor and for terminating electric power to said electromagnetic clutch means upon detection of said abnormal electric current so as to disconnect said power unit from said manual steering unit;
• a first bevel gear rotatably mounted upon a rotary output shaft of said electric motor;
• and
• a second bevel gear disposed about said pinion and engaged with said first bevel gear so as to be rotated by said first bevel gear,
• said electromagnetic clutch means comprising an armature mounted upon said second bevel gear, a rotor fixedly mounted upon said pinion, and an exciter means for electromagnetically energizing said rotor so as to attract said armature into engagement with said rotor, whereby said pinion is able to be rotated through means of said rotor, said armature, said second bevel gear and said first bevel gear.

A power steering system of an outboard motor to be mounted upon a body of a hull and including a pair of clamp brackets for securing said outboard motor to said body of said hull, comprising:

• a manual steering unit for manually steering a steering element so as to operate said outboard motor;
• a power unit operatively connected to said manual steering unit and including an electric motor for applying a steering assist force to said manual steering unit for reducing steering load during steering operations;
• bracket means disposed upon a rear side of said body of said hull for accommodating said power unit, said clamp brackets being secured to said hull body through said bracket means;
• electromagnetic clutch means operatively interconnecting said electric motor of said power unit with said manual steering unit;
• rack and pinion means, including a rack and a pinion, interposed between said electromagnetic clutch means and said manual steering unit for transmitting said steering assist force from said power unit, through said electromagnetic clutch means, to said manual steering unit;
• means for detecting an abnormal electric current passing through said electric motor and for terminating electric power to said electromagnetic clutch means upon detection of said abnormal electric current so as to disconnect said power unit from said manual steering unit;
• a first bevel gear rotatably mounted upon a rotary output shaft of said electric motor;
• and
• a second bevel gear disposed about said pinion and engaged with said first bevel gear so as to be rotated by said first bevel gear,
• said electromagnetic clutch means comprising an armature mounted upon said second bevel gear, a rotor fixedly mounted upon said pinion, and an exciter means for electromagnetically energizing said rotor so as to attract said armature into engagement with said rotor, whereby said pinion is able to be rotated through means of said rotor, said armature, said second bevel gear and said first bevel gear.

A power steering system of an outboard motor to be mounted upon a body of a hull and including a pair of clamp brackets for securing said outboard motor to said body of said hull, comprising:

• a manual steering unit for manually steering a steering element so as to operate said outboard motor;
• a power unit operatively connected to said manual steering unit and including an electric motor for applying a steering assist force to said manual steering unit for reducing steering load during steering operations, said power unit being disposed upon a rear portion of said body of said hull and in front of said clamp brackets of said outboard motor;
• electromagnetic clutch means operatively interconnecting said electric motor of said power unit with said manual steering unit;
• rack and pinion means, including a rack and a pinion interposed between said electromagnetic clutch means and said manual steering unit for transmitting said steering assist force from said power unit, through said electromagnetic clutch means, to said manual steering unit;
• means for detecting an abnormal electric current passing through said electric motor and for terminating electric power to said electromagnetic clutch means upon detection of said abnormal electric current so as to disconnect said power unit from said manual steering unit;
• a first bevel gear rotatably mounted upon a rotary output shaft of said electric motor;
• and
• a second bevel gear disposed about said pinion and engaged with said first bevel gear so as to be rotated by said first bevel gear,
• said electromagnetic clutch means comprising an armature mounted upon said second bevel gear, a rotor fixedly mounted upon said pinion, and an exciter means for electromagnetically energizing said rotor so as to attract said armature into engagement with said rotor, whereby said pinion is able to be rotated through means of said rotor, said armature, said second bevel gear and said first bevel gear.