Clutch mechanism of outboard engine
AssigneeSuzuki Motor Corporation
InventorTakuya Sato
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clutch mechanism of an outboard engine provides improved feel of shifting operation while allowing a detent mechanism and a stopper to fully perform their functions. The clutch mechanism has a shift cam which is remotely operable through a clutch rod and a shift rod, so as to switch the direction of rotation of a propeller shaft within a gear case. The clutch mechanism has an assist device acting between the clutch rod and the shift rod. The assist device has a rotary drive member connected to the clutch rod, a rotary driven member connected to the shift rod and driven by the drive member, and an elastic member disposed to act between the drive member and the driven member.
Claims7
A clutch mechanism of an outboard engine comprising:
- a remotely-operable shift cam for switching the direction of rotation of a propeller shaft in a gear case of the outboard engine;
- a clutch rod and a shift rod cooperatively operable to remotely operate said shift cam;
- an assist device between said clutch rod and said shift rod;
- said assist device including a drive member connected to said clutch rod and a driven member connected to said shift rod;
- said drive member being operable to drive said driven member;
- an elastic member between said drive member and said driven member;
- said elastic member being compressible during an initial portion of shifting, whereby improved feel is attained during shifting;
- said driven member includes a stopper projecting from the outer peripheral surface thereof;
- a cylindrical hub in said shift housing surrounding and supporting said driven member;
- a cutout portion in said cylindrical hub;
- and
- said cutout portion receives said stopper whereby a range of rotational movement of said stopper is limited by ends of said cutout portion, and thereby a range of rotation of said driven member is limited.
A clutch mechanism of an outboard engine comprising:
- a remotely-operable shift cam for switching the direction of rotation of a propeller shaft in a gear case of the outboard engine;
- a clutch rod and a shift rod cooperatively operable to remotely operate said shift cam;
- an assist device between said clutch rod and said shift rod;
- said assist device including a drive member connected to said clutch rod and a driven member connected to said shift rod;
- said drive member being operable to drive said driven member;
- an elastic member between said drive member and said driven member;
- said elastic member being compressible during an initial portion of shifting, whereby improved feel is attained during shifting
- said drive member and said driven member are rotary members;
- said assist device has a shift housing rotatably supporting and receiving the rotary drive member and the rotary driven member;
- a detent mechanism on said shift housing;
- said detent mechanism including a rigid ball;
- a spring positioned to urge said rigid ball against an outer peripheral surface of said rotary driven member;
- a plurality of recesses in the outer peripheral surface of said rotary driven member;
- said spring urging and pressing said rigid ball into engagement with a selectable one of said recesses
- said driven member includes a stopper projecting from the outer peripheral surface thereof;
- a cylindrical hub in said shift housing surrounding and supporting said driven member;
- a cutout portion in said cylindrical hub;
- and
- said cutout portion receives said stopper whereby a range of rotational movement of said stopper is limited by ends of said cutout portion, and thereby a range of rotation of said driven member is limited.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.