U.S. patent application number 16/659460 was filed with the patent office on 2021-04-22 for electric steering assembly for marine craft auxiliary outboard motor.
The applicant listed for this patent is Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation. Invention is credited to Christopher R. Douglas, Brian G. Maust, Rodney M. Sanderson, John E. Weber.
Application Number | 20210114703 16/659460 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004455372 |
Filed Date | 2021-04-22 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210114703 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weber; John E. ; et
al. |
April 22, 2021 |
ELECTRIC STEERING ASSEMBLY FOR MARINE CRAFT AUXILIARY OUTBOARD
MOTOR
Abstract
An auxiliary outboard motor for a marine craft is provided. The
motor includes a stationary portion for housing an engine and a
first portion of a driveshaft operatively coupled to the engine.
The motor also includes a lower unit rotatably coupled to the
stationary portion, the lower unit housing a propeller shaft and a
second portion of the driveshaft, the lower unit being less than
half of an overall height of the auxiliary outboard motor.
Inventors: |
Weber; John E.; (Pinconning,
MI) ; Maust; Brian G.; (Unionville, MI) ;
Sanderson; Rodney M.; (Midland, MI) ; Douglas;
Christopher R.; (Saginaw, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation |
Saginaw |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004455372 |
Appl. No.: |
16/659460 |
Filed: |
October 21, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63H 20/12 20130101;
B63H 2025/028 20130101; B63H 25/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B63H 20/12 20060101
B63H020/12; B63H 25/02 20060101 B63H025/02 |
Claims
1. An auxiliary outboard motor for a marine craft comprising: a
stationary portion for housing an engine and a first portion of a
driveshaft operatively coupled to the engine; and a lower unit
rotatably coupled to the stationary portion, the lower unit housing
a propeller shaft and a second portion of the driveshaft, the lower
unit being less than half of an overall height of the auxiliary
outboard motor.
2. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 1, wherein the lower unit
is less than one-third of the overall height of the auxiliary
outboard motor.
3. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 1, wherein the lower unit
is rotatably coupled to the stationary portion with a bearing and
seal assembly.
4. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 1, further comprising: an
electric motor located within the stationary portion; a motor
driver having a wired connection to the electric motor; a steering
controller in operative communication with the motor driver; and a
gear arrangement driven by the electric motor, the gear arrangement
operatively coupled to the lower unit to control rotation of the
lower unit for steering of the marine craft.
5. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 4, wherein the motor
driver has a wired connection to the steering controller.
6. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 4, wherein the motor
driver has a wireless connection to the steering controller.
7. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 4, wherein the steering
controller comprises a spring centering knob.
8. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 4, wherein the steering
controller comprises a wireless device in wireless communication
with the motor driver.
9. An auxiliary outboard motor for a marine craft comprising: a
stationary portion for housing an engine and a first portion of a
driveshaft operatively coupled to the engine; a lower unit
rotatably coupled to the stationary portion, the lower unit housing
a propeller shaft and a second portion of the driveshaft; and a
steering controller system comprising: an electric motor located
within the stationary portion; a steering controller in operative
communication with the electric motor; and a gear arrangement
driven by the electric motor, the gear arrangement operatively
coupled to the lower unit to control rotation of the lower unit for
steering of the marine craft.
10. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 9, further comprising a
motor driver located in the stationary portion and in operative
communication with the steering controller and in wired connection
with the electric motor.
11. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 10, wherein the motor
driver has a wired connection to the steering controller.
12. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 10, wherein the motor
driver has a wireless connection to the steering controller.
13. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 12, wherein the steering
controller comprises a spring centering knob.
14. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 12, wherein the steering
controller comprises a wireless device in wireless communication
with the motor driver.
15. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 9, the lower unit being
less than half of an overall height of the auxiliary outboard
motor.
16. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 9, wherein the lower unit
is less than one-third of the overall height of the auxiliary
outboard motor.
17. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 9, wherein the lower unit
is rotatably coupled to the stationary portion with a bearing and
seal assembly.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Some boats, such as large fishing boats, are fitted with an
auxiliary outboard motor, which may be referred to as a "kicker"
motor. This engine is much smaller than the main power motor and
its purpose is to save fuel while the boat is moving at a slow
speed (e.g., trolling), as well as to provide a "limp" home mode if
the main engine fails.
[0002] Kicker motors are often mounted on the transom of the boat.
For larger boats, the kicker motor may be mounted to a bracket
bolted to the transom face. The mounting location is important, as
the motors require enough space to tilt, trim and turn. Common
steering methods include a tie-bar coupled to the main engine, as
well as several electric add-on devices. These devices require even
more room to allow proper steering operation. Rigging is often
difficult due to the tight space constraints. Most of these
steering solutions fail to operate consistently.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to one aspect of the disclosure, an auxiliary
outboard motor for a marine craft is provided. The motor includes a
stationary portion for housing an engine and a first portion of a
driveshaft operatively coupled to the engine. The motor also
includes a lower unit rotatably coupled to the stationary portion,
the lower unit housing a propeller shaft and a second portion of
the driveshaft, the lower unit being less than half of an overall
height of the auxiliary outboard motor.
[0004] According to another aspect of the disclosure, an auxiliary
outboard motor for a marine craft is provided. The motor includes a
stationary portion for housing an engine and a first portion of a
driveshaft operatively coupled to the engine. The motor also
includes a lower unit rotatably coupled to the stationary portion,
the lower unit housing a propeller shaft and a second portion of
the driveshaft. The motor further includes a steering controller
system that includes an electric motor located within the
stationary portion. The steering controller system also includes a
steering controller in operative communication with the electric
motor. The steering controller system further includes a gear
arrangement driven by the electric motor, the gear arrangement
operatively coupled to the lower unit to control rotation of the
lower unit for steering of the marine craft.
[0005] These and other advantages and features will become more
apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with
the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is
particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at
the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other
features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a side view of an auxiliary motor for a marine
craft; and
[0008] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the auxiliary
motor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] Referring now to the Figures, the invention will be
described with reference to specific embodiments without limiting
same. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are
merely illustrative of the present disclosure that may be embodied
in various and alternative forms. Various elements of the disclosed
embodiments may be combined or omitted to form further embodiments
of the present disclosure. The Figures are not necessarily to
scale, as some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show
details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted
as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one
skilled in the art to employ the present disclosure.
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, an outboard motor for a marine craft is
illustrated and referenced generally with numeral 10. The outboard
motor 10 includes a powerhead 12, which is comprised of a powering
internal combustion engine that is surrounded by a protective
cowling 14. A driveshaft 15 is driven by the output shaft of the
engine and is rotatably journaled within a driveshaft housing 16
that extends from the powerhead 12.
[0011] The driveshaft 15 extends through a lower unit 17 that
extends from the driveshaft housing 16 and has affixed to its lower
end a driving bevel gear arrangement 19 of a transmission. This
bevel gear arrangement 19 includes is journaled upon a propeller
shaft 23 that is, in turn, journaled in a known manner within the
lower unit 17. A propeller 24 is affixed to the propeller shaft 23
for rotation with it.
[0012] The driveshaft housing 16 is coupled to the marine craft
with a clamp bracket 30 for tilting and/or trimming movement of the
outboard motor 10 about a generally horizontally extending tilt
axis. However, as appreciated from the description herein, the
clamp bracket 30 does not require any components that facilitate
pivoting movement for steering. This is because the driveshaft
housing 16 is stationary (in turning direction) and only the lower
unit 17 is pivotable for turning of the outboard motor 10 and
therefore the marine craft. Restricting pivoting of the outboard
motor 10 that is required for steering to the lower unit 17 greatly
increases the available mounting locations of the outboard motor 10
to the marine craft and improves the turning capability of the
outboard motor 10. The lower unit 17 has a height that is less than
half of the overall height H (FIG. 1) of the outboard motor 10. In
some embodiments, only the lower third (or less) of the outboard
motor 10 pivots.
[0013] As can be appreciated from the disclosure, the lower unit 17
may be referred to herein as a rotatable portion of the overall
outboard motor 10, while the driveshaft housing 16 and the
powerhead 12 may be collectively referred to herein as a stationary
portion of the overall outboard motor 10.
[0014] Referring now to FIG. 2, with continued reference to FIG. 1,
the lower unit 17 and the components contained therein are
illustrated in greater detail. The outboard motor includes a power
wire 32 that extends from the powerhead 12 to an electric motor 34.
The electric motor 34 has a pinion gear 36 mounted to an output
shaft 38 of the electric motor 34. The pinion gear 36 is in meshed
connection with a driven gear 40 that rotates about the driveshaft
15 to cause rotation of the lower unit 17, as represented with
arrows Z. Rotation of the lower unit 17 directs thrust and turns
the marine craft. A bearing and seal assembly 42 is disposed
between the driveshaft housing 16 and the lower unit 17.
[0015] By allowing the majority of the outboard motor 10 to remain
stationary (during steering maneuvers), and restricting rotation to
the lower unit 17, increased turning angles are available. For
example, turning angles greater than 90 degrees are available. In
some embodiments, 360 degree rotation of the lower unit 17 is
provided.
[0016] In addition to the more flexible mounting capabilities of
the outboard motor 10 and the enhanced turning angles provided,
some embodiments of the outboard motor 10 include a steering
control system, as shown in FIG. 1. The steering control system
includes a steering controller 50 that is in operative
communication with a motor driver 52 located in the powerhead 12.
The communication between the steering controller 50 and the motor
driver 52 may be wired or wireless. In the illustrated example, the
communication is wireless, such as via Bluetooth technology. The
motor driver 52 is in communication with the power wire 32 that
provides a signal to the electric motor 34 that actuates the pinion
gear 36 for rotation of the lower unit 17.
[0017] The steering controller 50 includes a spring-centered knob
54 at the helm of the marine craft for manually turning the marine
craft in some embodiments. Electronics located within the steering
controller 50 include a 9-axis compass, GPS components and software
in some embodiments. Additional or fewer electronic components may
be provided in other embodiments. The steering controller 50
enables a heading hold feature that maintains a heading when the
knob 54 is released. The heading hold feature may be engaged or
disengaged, as desired by an operator.
[0018] Although the rotary knob 54 is described above as the manual
interface of the steering controller 50, it is to be appreciated
that alternative interfaces are contemplated. For example, a
wireless device may be utilized as the interface to initiate
steering control of the auxiliary outboard motor 10 via the
electric motor 34 (i.e., steering motor).
[0019] The embodiments disclosed herein reduce mounting restraints
of the outboard motor 10. Marine crafts that previously did not
have room for a "kicker" motor now have such an option. The
clamp(s) required for tilting, trimming and turning is cheaper and
simpler because it no longer needs to pivot. Additionally, extreme
lower unit turning angles are possible, when compared to motors
that require most or all of the motor to turn. Finally, an
autopilot-type feature (e.g., heading hold) is a provided, built-in
feature of the overall outboard motor 10.
[0020] While the invention has been described in detail in
connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be
readily understood that the invention is not limited to such
disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to
incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or
equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are
commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention.
Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been
described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may
include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the
invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing
description.
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