Systems and steering actuators for steering outboard marine engines

A steering actuator for steering an outboard marine engine about a steering axis, the steering actuator comprising:

• a housing;
• a piston device that is disposed in the housing, wherein hydraulic actuation of the piston device causes the outboard marine engine to pivot about the steering axis;
• and
• a valve device that is disposed in the housing, wherein the valve device controls a flow of a hydraulic fluid to a first side of the piston device to move the piston device in a first piston direction in the housing and wherein the valve device alternately controls the flow of the hydraulic fluid to an opposite, second side of the piston device to move the piston device in an opposite, second piston direction in the housing;
• wherein movement of the piston device in the first piston direction causes the outboard marine engine to pivot in a first pivot direction and wherein movement of the piston device in the second piston direction causes the outboard marine engine to pivot in an opposite, second pivot direction;
• wherein the piston device comprises a trunnion that is disposed in the housing, wherein the steering actuator is coupled to the outboard marine engine via the trunnion.

A system for steering an outboard marine engine about a steering axis, the system comprising:

• an outboard marine engine;
• a steering actuator that comprises:
• a housing;
• a piston device that is disposed in the housing, wherein hydraulic actuation of the piston device causes the outboard marine engine to pivot about the steering axis;
• and
• a valve device that is disposed in the housing, wherein the valve device controls a flow of a hydraulic fluid to a first side of the piston device to move the piston device in a first piston direction in the housing and wherein the valve device alternately controls the flow of the hydraulic fluid to an opposite, second side of the piston device to move the piston device in an opposite, second piston direction in the housing;
• wherein movement of the piston device in the first piston direction causes the outboard marine engine to pivot in a first pivot direction and wherein movement of the piston device in the second piston direction causes the outboard marine engine to pivot in an opposite, second pivot direction;
• and
• a controller that controls the valve device;
• a rigid position reference link that rigidly connects the valve device to the piston device, wherein the rigid position reference link is entirely disposed in the housing, wherein the controller is configured to determine a relative position between the outboard marine engine and steering actuator based upon a location of the rigid position reference link;
• wherein the valve device comprises three positions in the second cavity, including a first valve position wherein the valve device directs the flow of the hydraulic fluid to the first side of the piston device, a second valve position wherein the valve device directs the flow of hydraulic fluid to the second side of the piston device, and a neutral position wherein the valve device directs the flow of the hydraulic fluid back to a tank,
• wherein the valve device further comprises a bidirectional motor that causes the valve device to move out of the neutral position and into the first and second valve positions, respectively;
• and
• wherein the controller is configured to control the bidirectional motor to thereby move the valve device out of the neutral position and into the first and second valve positions, respectively;
• wherein the piston device comprises a first piston coupled to a first side of the piston device and a second piston coupled to an opposite, second side of the piston device, and further comprising a first hydraulic fluid passageway that conveys the flow of the hydraulic fluid from the valve device to the first side of the piston device to thereby cause the first piston to move the piston device in the first piston direction and a second hydraulic fluid passageway that conveys the flow of the hydraulic fluid from the valve device to the second side of the piston device to thereby cause the second piston to move the piston device in the second piston direction, wherein the flow of the hydraulic fluid to the first and second hydraulic fluid passageways is controlled by the valve device.