Steering system for a marine propulsion device
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorRodney M. Caldwell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A steering system for a marine propulsion device eliminates the need for two support pins and provides a hydraulic cylinder with a protuberance and an opening which cooperate with each other to allow a hydraulic cylinder's system to be supported by a single pin for rotation about a pivot axis. The single pin allows the hydraulic cylinder to be supported by an inner transom plate in a manner that allows it to rotate in conformance with movement of a steering arm of a marine propulsion device.
Claims20
A steering system for a marine vessel, comprising:
- a hydraulic cylinder;
- a piston disposed within said hydraulic cylinder;
- a piston rod attached to said piston, said piston rod being attachable to a steering arm of a marine propulsion device;
- a protuberance extending from said hydraulic cylinder in a direction which is generally perpendicular to a central axis of said piston rod;
- and
- an opening formed in said hydraulic cylinder, said opening being shaped to receive a pin, said protuberance and said opening being disposed at generally opposite sides of said hydraulic cylinder to define a pivot axis extending through said hydraulic cylinder.
A steering system for a marine vessel, comprising:
- a first support member attached to a transom of said marine vessel;
- a second support member attached to said transom of said marine vessel;
- a steering arm of a marine propulsion drive;
- a hydraulic cylinder comprising a housing and an internal cavity;
- a piston disposed within said internal cavity;
- a piston rod attached to said piston, said piston rod being attached to said steering arm;
- a protuberance extending from said housing in a direction which is generally perpendicular to a central axis of said piston rod;
- an opening formed in said housing, said protuberance and said opening being disposed at opposite sides of said hydraulic cylinder to define a pivot axis extending through said hydraulic cylinder;
- and
- a pin, said protuberance being disposed in a first hole formed in said first support member, said pin extending through a second hole formed in said second support member, an end of said pin being disposed within said opening.
A steering system for a marine vessel, comprising:
- a hydraulic cylinder;
- a piston disposed within said hydraulic cylinder;
- a piston rod attached to said piston, said piston rod being attachable to a steering arm of a marine propulsion device;
- a pivot insert extending from said hydraulic cylinder in a direction which is generally perpendicular to a central axis of said piston rod;
- and
- a receptacle formed in said hydraulic cylinder, said receptacle being shaped to receive a pin, said pivot insert and said receptacle being disposed at generally opposite sides of said hydraulic cylinder to define a pivot axis extending through said hydraulic cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.