Dual station rotary cable steering system

Abstract

A steering system comprising a marine propulsion device including a rotatable member connected to a steerable part and effective to cause steering movement of the steerable part upon rotation of the member, a helm housing including a rotatable steering shaft, a first flexible cable including an outer sheath and a rotatable inner core, a first gear box connected to the outer sheath and to the marine propulsion device and including a rotatably mounted gear coupled to the rotatable member for common rotation therewith and a rotatably mounted pinion coupled to the inner core for common rotation therewith and in mesh with the gear, and a second gear box connected to the outer sheath and to the helm housing and including a rotatably mounted gear coupled to the steering shaft for common rotation therewith, and a rotatably mounted pinion coupled to the inner core for common rotation therewith and in mesh with the gear in said second gear box.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to steering systems for marine propulsion devices and, more particularly, to marine steering system which employ flexible rotary cables.

One prior marine steering system employing a flexible rotary cable is disclosed in the U.S. Borst et al Pat. No. 3,774,568 issued Nov. 27, 1973.

The invention also relates to gear boxes and coupling units which are particularly adapted for use with rotary cable marine steering systems.

The invention is particularly adaptable to afford rotary steering of the marine propulsion unit or device shown in the U.S. Shimanckas Pat. No. 3,183,880 issued May 18, 1965, which patent is incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a steering system comprising a marine propulsion device including a rotatable member connected to a steerable part and effective to cause steering movement of the steerable part upon rotation of the member, a helm housing including a rotatable steering shaft, a first flexible cable including an outer sheath and a rotatable inner core, a first gearbox, connected to the outer sheath and to the marine propulsion device and including a rotatably mounted gear coupled to the rotatable member for common rotation therewith and a rotatably mounted pinion coupled to the inner core for common rotation therewith and in mesh with the gear, and a second gear box connected to the outer sheath and to the helm housing and including a rotatably mounted gear coupled to the steering shaft for common rotation therewith and a rotatably mounted pinion coupled to the inner core for common rotation therewith and in mesh with the gear in the second gear box.

The invention also rovides several other marine steering systems which embody the steering system referred to in the preceding paragraph, together with an additional marine propulsion device and connected gear box and/or an additional helm station and connected gear box, and one or more couplings interposed between and connected to the rotary cable and one of the gear boxes and additionally connected to an additional flexible rotary cable coupled to the gear box associated with the additional marine propulsion device and/or helm station.

The invention also provides a gear box which is particularly adapted to be employed in the marine steering systems of the invention and which includes a first housing member including a cup portion, and a transverse wall portion including a central aperture, and an exterior part of non circular cross section, a bearing located axially inwardly of the first housing member from the aperture, a second housing member including a cup portion telescopically engaged with the cup portion of the first housing member and a transverse wall portion spaced from the transverse wall portion of the first housing member and including a central aperture coaxial with the central aperture of the first housing member, and an exterior part of non circular corss section, a bearing located axially inwardly of the second housing member from the apertue of the second housing member, a gear rotatably supported by one of the bearings and including a central opening of non circular cross section, a pinion rotatably mounted in the gear box in mesh with the gear, and means for preventing relative rotation between the first and second housing members.

In further accordance with the invention, the second housing member of the gear box includes a third portion extending radially outwardly from the cup portion and including a central bore communicating with the cup portion, a shaft including a first end with a coupling element and a second end with the pinion thereon, and means supporting the shaft in the bore for rotation therein and for preventing movement therein of said shaft axially of said bore. The third housing portion also includes a tubular section extending from said cup portion and a cover closing the tubular section and including therein a central opening and a tubular nipple part in co axial relation to the central opening and including an external thread.

The invention also includes a coupling unit which is particularly adapted to be employed in the marine steering systems of the invention and which includes a first member rotatably supported in a housing and including first and second coupling elements, a second member rotatably supported in the housing and including a third coupling element and means connecting said first and second members for common rotation.

In further accordance with the invention, the housing includes a first bore including a first portion rotatably supporting one part of the first member and a second portion rotatably supporting a second part of the first member, a second bore extending at an angle to said first bore and rotatably supporting the second member, and the means connecting the first and second members comprises meshed gear means on the first and second members.

One of the principal features of the invention is the provision of a marine steering system which includes a rotary cable and which provides efficient transmission of torque from a steering wheel to a steerable marine propulsion device with a minimum of lost steering motion.

Another of the principal features of the invention is the provision of a marine steering system including a rotary cable which is coupled to a rotary steering shaft in a steering station and to a rotary steering shaft on a marine propulsion device and which rotates at a rate faster than the steering shafts.

Another of the principal features of the invention is the provision of a gear box which is particularly adapted to be connected to a helm station including a steering shaft or to a marine propulsion device including a steering shaft an to the innter core of a rotary cable so as to rotate the inner core at a rate faster than the steering shafts.

Another of the principal features of the invention is the provision of a coupling unit which facilitates operation of one or more propulsion units or devices from one or more helm stations.

Another of the principal features of the invention is the provision of substantially identically constructed gear boxes and coupling units which are interconnectable with other components of a marine steering system so as to reduce the number of different components in the system.

Another of the principal features of the invention is the provision of a rotary cable, marine steering system and, in particular, a multi helm system and/or a multi propulsion unit system which is relatively inexpensive to construct, which will provide reliable service over a long and useful life, and which will efficiently transmit steering torque with a minimum of lost steering motion.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become known by reference to the following description and claims and accompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one marine steering system incorporating various of the features of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a marine steering system embodying various features of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a marine steering system embodying various features of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a marine steering system embodying various features of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a marine steering system embodying various features of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of still another embodiment of a marine propulsion steering system embodying various of the features of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side elevational view, partially in section, of a marine steering system in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the steering system shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, and taken generally along the line 9--9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view, partially in section, of a portion of the steering system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, of a modified construction similar to FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view taken generally along line 12--12 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, and taken at a right angle to FIG. 8.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken generally along line 14--14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view taken generally along line 15--15 of FIG. 10.

Before explaining the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts set forth in the following general description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7 of the drawings is a marine propulsion steering system 11 affording steering of a marine propulsion device 13 from a helm station 15 by means of a rotary cable 17.

The marine propulsion device 13 can be either an outboard motor or a stern drive unit. The construction illustrated in the drawings contemplates a stern drive unit including a housing 21 which is adapted to be supported from the hull of a boat 23, a lower unit 25 which is supported from the housing 21 and which includes a part 27 steerable relative to the housing 21 and to the boat 23, and a rotary steering shaft member 29 (See FIGS. 7, 8 and 13) which is mounted on the housing 21 and which is connected to the steerable part 27 to provide steering movement in response to rotation of the steering shaft member 29 as shown for instance in FIG. 8 of the U.S. Shimanckas Pat. No. 3,183,880 wherein the rotatable shaft member is identified by the numeral 94.

The helm station 15 includes a housing 31 which is adapted to be fixedly mounted to any suitable part of the boat 23, such as for instance, a dash board 24, and which includes (See FIG. 10) a central bore 33 receiving a rotatable steering shaft member 35. Preferably, bearings 37 are provided in the central bore 33 to support the steering shaft member 35. At the end shown to the right in FIG. 10, the bore includes a counterbore portion 39 of non-circular cross section adapted to receive one end of a gear box still to be described. Fixedly connected to a forward portion of the steering shaft member is a steering wheel 43.

Means are also provided for limiting axial movvement of the steering shaft member 35 relative to the helm housing 31. In the illustrated construction, such means comprise a washer 45 seated in a recess 47 surrounding the central bore 33, a snap ring 49 fixed on the steering shaft member with one side engaged against the washer 45, and means in the form of an annular ring 51 fixed to the housing 31 and engaged with the other side of the snap ring 49.

Each of the marine propulsion device 13 and the helm station 15 has associated therewith a gear box 55 (See FIGS. 10, 13 and 14) which supports a gear 57 coupled to the rotatable steering member (either 29 or 35) of the associated marine propulsion device 13 and helm station 15. Each of the gear boxes 55 also rotatably supports (See FIG. 14) a pinion 59 which is in mesh with the gear 57 and includes a coupling element in the form of a female socket 61 adapted for connection to a male prong. Preferably, each gear and pinion set 57 and 59 comprises a hypoid gear set in which the pinion rotates at a considerably faster rate than the gear and in which either the gear or the pinion can be the driver. The gear boxes 55 are substantially identically constructed and accordingly only one of such gear boxes will hereinafter be further described.

In the marine steering system 11 which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, and which involves only one marine propulsion device 13 and one helm station 15, the gear boxes 55 are connected by the flexible rotary cable 17 which includes (See FIG. 13) an outer sheath 63 connected, at its opposite ends, by a rotatable nut 64 to the gear boxes 55 and an inner core 65 which is rotatable relative to the outer sheath 63 and which, at each end, terminates in a coupling element in the form of a male prong 67 which is received in the female socket 61 of the connected gear box 55.

In the event that one or more marine propulsion devices 13 or helm stations 15 are incorporated in the steering system, one or more couplings or coupling units or devices 71 (See FIGS. 2 through 6 and 10) are also employed between a connected flexible rotary cable and gear box. In this regard, each coupling 71 includes a housing 73 together with a first part or member 75 rotatably supported in the housing 73 and including a coupling element in the form of a male prong 76 which is received in the female socket 61 of the associated gear box 55, together with second and third rotatably supported parts or members 77 and 79 which respectively include coupling elements in the form of female sockets 78 and 80 adapted for connection to male prongs, such as the prong 67 at the ends of the flexible rotary cable 17, and means connecting the first and second and third members 75, 77, and 79 for common rotation. If desired, the first and second parts 75 and 77 can be regarded as a single part or member. As the coupling or coupling units 71 are identical in construction only one will hereinafter be described in detail.

Considering the construction of the gear boxes 55 in greater detail, each gear box 55 comprises (See FIG. 10) a first or inner housing member 81 including a generally cylindrical or cup portion 83 and a transverse wall portion 85 extending from one end of the cup portion 83 and including a central aperture 87 and an exterior part 89 of non circular cross section adapted to be received in the non circular counter bore or recess 39 of the helm housing 31 so as to prevent relative rotation between the gear box 55 and the helm housing 31 when the gear box 55 and helm housing 31 are assembled.

Each gear box 55 also includes a second or outer housing member 91 including a cylindrical or cup portion 93 and a transverse wall portion 95 extending from one end of the cup portion 93. The cup portion 93 is dimensioned to be telescopically engaged around the cup portion 83 of the inner housing member 81 with the transverse wall portions 85 and 95 in spaced relation to each other to define a gear chamber 97. A sealing ring 99 is provided between the cup portions 83 and 93 of the first and second housing members 81 and 91. Although other constructions could be employed, in order to maintain the inner and outer housing members 81 and 91 in assembled relation and to prevent relative rotation therebetween, a set screw 101 is employed. In addition, it is preferable that one of the housing members 81 and 91 include a grease fitting 103 communicating with the gear chamber 97.

The transverse wall portion 95 of the outer housing member 91 also includes a central aperture 105 coaxial with the aperture 87 in the transverse wall portion 85 and an exterior part 107 having a non circular cross section adapted to be received in the recess or counter bore 39 of the helm housing 31. Accordingly, the gear box 55 can be assembled to the helm housing 31 in either right or left hand configurations as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

Supported in the outer housing member 91 in the central aperture 105 thereof is a bearing 109 which rotatably supports the gear 57 which includes a hub 111 and a flange 113. The gear hub 111 is provided with a non circular aperture 115 which receives the steering shaft member 35 extending from the helm housing 31 and which mates with a portion 117 on the steering shaft member 35 having a similar non circular configuration so as to couple the gear 57 to the steering shaft member 35 for common rotation. Also provided on the steering shaft member is a portion 118 which mates with the aperture 115 when the components are assembled as shown in FIG. 11.

The inner housing member 81 also supports in the central aperture 87 another bearing 119 which engages a portion 121 of the steering shaft member 35 so as thereby, in cooperation with the bearing 109, to rotatably support the steering shaft member 35 in the gear box 55.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the gear box 55 is retained on the helm housing 31 by means of a sleeve washer 125 which engages a reduced diameter portion 127 of the steering shaft member 35 and a nut 129 which engages the washer 125 and is threaded on the steering shaft member 35 to retain the gear box 55 on the steering shaft member 35 between the nut 129 and the helm housing 31. Seals 128 and 130 are provided between the steering shaft member 35 and each of the inner and outer housing members 81 and 91.

Also included in the outer housing member 91 is a third or cylindrical portion 131 which extends in radially offset relation from the axis of the cup portion 93 and which rotatably supports a stub shaft 133 extending from the pinion 59 and having, at the outer end thereof, the female socket 61 which is adapted for coupling with a male prong member.

More specifically, the third portion 131 includes a sleeve section 135 having a pair of axially spaced radial bearings 137 and 139 supporting the stub shaft 133 for rotation and a first thrust bearing 141 engaged between respective anular shoulders 143 and 145 on the stub shaft 133 and on the sleeve section 135. The outer end of the sleeve section 135 includes a counter bore 147 which is closed (See FIGS. 10 and 14) by a cover 149 including a portion 151 which extends into the counter bore 147 and has a shoulder 153 which supports another thrust bearing 155 against an annular shoulder 157 on the stub shaft 133 so as thereby to prevent axial movement of the stub shaft 133 relative to the gear box 55.

Seals 159 and 161 are provided between the cover 149 and the stub shaft 133 and between the cover 149 and the counter bore 147 of the sleeve section 135. The cover 149 is fixed to the sleeve section 135 (See FIG. 10) by a pair of screws 163 and further includes a projecting nipple 165 having an external thread and a central aperture 167 through which the female socket 61 of the stub shaft 133 is accesible.

The gear box 55 associated with the marine propulsion device 13 is constructed identically to the gear box 55 associated with the helm station 15 and is supported (See FIG. 13) on the bofore mentioned steering shaft member 29. While various constructions are possible, in the illustrated construction, the steering shaft member 29 is supported for rotation in a recess 169 by spaced bearings 171 and 173 supported by the stern drive housing 21 and, at its rearward end, carries a gear 175 which can correspond to the gear 95 shown in FIGS. 8 and 11 of the Shimanckas Patent No. 3,183,880. As in connection with the gear box 55 associated with the helm station 15, the gear box 55 can be assembled to the steering shaft member 29 in either left or right hand configurations.

In this last regard, the steering shaft member 29 includes a gear box portion 177 which is constructed substantially identically to the portion of the steering shaft member 35 in the gear box 55. The outer or right end 179 of the steering shaft member 29, as shown in FIG. 13, is received in the bearing 173 which is housed in a blind hole 181 in the stern drive housing 21. Withdrawal of the steering shaft member 29 from the bearings 171 and 173 supported in the stern drive housing 21 and retention of the gear box 55 on the steering shaft member 29 is provided by a snap ring 183 engaged in an annular groove which is located in the steering shaft member 29 between the adjacent end of the gear box 55 and the adjacent margin of the blind bearing hole 181. In assembly, the gear box 55 is placed in the recess 169 and the steering shaft member 29 is inserted through the bearing 171 and through the gear box 55 and into the beariing 173 and the blind hole 181 after which the snap ring 183 is inserted to prevent withdrawal of the steering shaft member 29 and to retain the steering shaft member 29 and the gear box 55 in assembly relation on the stern drive housing 21. The pinion 175 can then be assembled on the end of the steering shaft member 29 and retained in place by a snap ring 185.

When the gear box 55 is mounted on the stern drive housing 21, means are provided for preventing relative rotation between the gear box 55 and the stern drive housing 21 and for adjusting the angular relation of the gear box 55 to the stern drive housing 21. While other constructions could be employed, in the construction illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, there is provided a bracket 187 which has a first arm 189 connected by a bolt 191 to the stern drive housing 21 and which includes a second arm 193 having an arcuate slot 195 through which a bolt 197 extends into a threaded bore 199 on the sleeve section 135 of the outer housing membeer 91 so as to permit angular adjusment between the gear box 55 and the stern drive housing to facilitate connection of other components of the system to the female socket 61 of the gear box 55 and to thereafter prevent relative rotative movement between the gear box 55 and the stern drive housing 21.

Further in regard to the coupling unit 71, the housing 73 includes a first through bore 201 with opposed end portions 203 and 205 and a second bore 207 communicating with the first bore 201. More specifically, the end portion 203 of the first bore 201 includes a radial bearing 209 which rotatably supports the first member 75. The other end portion 205 of the first bore 201 includes a radial bearing 211 rotatably supporting the second member 77.

The second bore 207 of the housing 73 includes a radial bearing 213 which rotatably supports the third member 79. As already indicated, means are provided for affording common rotation of the members 75, 77 and 79. In this regard, the member 75 is coupled to the member 77 by press fitting a non circular end 215 of the member 75 into a mating non circular socket 217 in the inner end of the member 77. In addition, gear means are provided on the thrid member 79 and on one of the first and second members 75 and 77. In the illustrated construction, as the second and third members 77 and 79 are substantially identically constructed, the members 77 and 79 respectively each include, at the inner ends thereof, pinions 219 and 221 in mesh with each other.

In order to connect the coupling unit 71 to the gear box 55, the end portion 203 of the first bore 201 includes a counter bore 225 which receives a centrally apertured nut or coupler 227 having an internal thread adapted to engage the external thread of the gear box cover nipple 165 and a hub 229 which extends into the counter bore 225. In order to permit rotation of the nut 227 while preventing movement of the nut 227 axially of the housing 73, the hub 229 is provided with an annular groove 231 and a pin or set screw 233 is threaded through the housing 73 so that its inner end enters into the groove 231 to permit rotation while preventing axial displacement.

The other end portion 205 of the first bore 201 and the outer end of the second bore 207 include respectively substantially identical counter bores 235 and 237 which receive respective covers 241 and 243, each including a portion 245 extending into the counter bore to support a thrust bearing 247 preventing outward axial displacement of the associated member 77 or 79. In addition, in each counter bore 241 and 243, respective seals 249 and 251 are provided between the members 77 and 79 and the covers 241 and 243. In addition, respective seals 253 and 255 are provided between the covers and the counter bores 235 and 237. The covers 241 and 243 respectively include projecting nipple portions 261 and 263 having external threads and respective central apertures 265 and 267 to provide access to the respective female sockets 78 and 80 in the same manner as the cover 149 on the gear box 55. The covers 241 and 243 are fixed to the housing 73 by suitable means such as spaced screws 269. One or both of the counter bores 235 and 237 can also be provided with a grease fitting 271.

Means are provided to afford angular adjustment between the coupling unit 71 and the connected gear box 55 and thereafter to prevent relative rotation therebetween. While various constructions could be employed, in the illustrated construction, there is provided a bracket 275 which includes one arm 277 connected to the coupling unit housing 73 by one of the screws 269 and another arm 279 with an arcuate slot 281 through which passes one of the screws 163 connecting the gear box cover 149 to the sleeve section 135. Thus the coupling unit 71 can be angularly adjusted relative to the gear box 55 and thereafter retained against angular movement from the adjusted position.

While the invention contemplates a single marine propulsion device 13 connected by the rotary cable 17 and a single helm station 17, there is shown in FIG. 2 another marine steering system 311 which includes the components of the steering system 11 shown in FIG. 1 and which additionally includes a second marine propulsion device 313 and connected gear box 55, together with a flexible cable 315 having an outer sheath connected between the gear box 55 associated with the second marine propulsion device 313 and a coupling unit 71 interposed between the flexible cable 17 and the gear box associated with the marine propulsion device 13. The flexible cable 315 also includes a rotary inner core coupled, at one end, to the pinion 59 of the gear box 55 associated with the second marine propulsion device 313 and coupled, at the other end, to the coupling unit 71 connected to the gear box 55 associated with the marine propulsion device 13.

Shown in FIG. 3 is another marine propulsion system 351 which includes the component of the steering system 311 shown in FIG. 2 and which additionally includes a second helm station 353 and connected gear box 55, together with a flexible cable 355 having an outer sheath connected between the gear box 55 associated with the second helm station 353 and an additional coupling unit 71 interposed between the flexible cable 17 and the gear box 55 associated with the helm station 15. The flexible cable 355 also includes a rotary inner core coupled, at one end, to the pinion 59 of the gear box 55 associated with the second helm station 352 and coupled, at the other end, to the coupling unit 71 connected to the gear box 55 associated with the helm station 15.

Shown in FIG. 4 is a marine steering system 411 which includes the components of the steering system 311 shown in FIG. 2 and which additionally includes a second helm station 413 and connected gear box 55, together with a flexible cable 415 having an outer sheath connected between the gear box 55 associated with the second helm station 413 and a coupling unit 71 interposed between the flexible cable 315 and the gear box 55 associated with the second marine propulsion device 313. The flexible cable 415 also includes a rotary inner core coupled, at one end, to the pinion 59 of the gear box 55 associated with the second helm station 413 and coupled, at the other end, to the coupling unit 71 connected to the gear box 55 associated with the marine propulsion device 313.

Shown in FIG. 5 is another marine steering system 451 which incorporates the components shown in the marine steering system 11 illustrated in FIG. 1 and which additionally includes a second helm station 453 and connected gear box 55, together with a flexible cable 455, having an outer sheath connected between the gear box 55 associated with the second helm station 453 and a coupling unit 71 interposed between the flexible cable 17 and the gear box 55 associated with the helm station 15. The flexible cable 455 also includes a rotary inner core coupled, at one end, to the pinion 59 of the gear box 55 associated with the second helm station 453 and coupled, at the other end, to the coupling unit 71 connected to the gear box 55 associated with the helm station 15.

Shown in FIG. 6 is a marine steering system 511 which includes the components of the steering system 451 shown in FIG. 5 and which additionally includes a second marine propulsion device 513 and connected gear box 55, together with a flexible cable 515 having an outer sheath connected between the gear box 55 associated with the second marine propulsion device 513 and a coupling 71 interposed between the flexible cable 455 and the gear box 55 associated with the helm station 453. The flexible cable 515 also includes a rotary inner core coupled, at one end, to the pinion 59 of the gear box 55 associated with the second marine propulsion device 513 and coupled, at the other end, to the unit 71 connected to the gear box 55 associated with the helm station 453.

In each of the steering systems 311, 351, 411 and 511 shown respectively in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 6, the marine propulsion devices are simultaneously steered by actuation of any of the connected helm stations. In the system 451 shown in FIG. 5, the single marine propulsion device 13 can be steered from either of the helm stations 15 and 453.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A steering system comprising a marine propulsion device including a steerable part and a rotatable member connected to said steerable part and effective to cause steering movement of said part upon rotation of said member, a helm housing including a rotatable steering shaft, a first flexible cable including an outer sheath and a rotatable inner core, a first gear box including a housing connected to said outer sheath and to said marine propulsion device, said housing including therein a rotatably mounted gear coupled to said rotatable member for common rotation therewith, said housing also including therein a rotatably mounted pinion coupled to said inner core for common rotation therewith and in mesh with said gear, and a second gear box connected to said outer sheath and to said helm housing and including a rotatably mounted gear coupled to said steering shaft for common rotation therewith and a rotatably mounted pinion coupled to said inner core for common rotation therewith and in mesh with said gear in said second gear box.

2. A steering system comprising a marine propulsion device including a steerable part and a rotatable member connected to said steerable part and effective to cause steering movement of said part upon rotation of said member, a helm housing including a rotatable steering shaft, a first flexible cable including an outer sheath and a rotatable inner core, a first gear box connected to said outer sheath and to said marine propulsion device and including a rotatably mounted gear coupled to said rotatable member for common rotation therewith and a rotatably mounted pinion coupled to said inner core for common rotation therewith and in mesh with said gear, a second gearbox connected to said outer sheath and to said helm housing and including a rotatably mounted gear coupled to said steering shaft for common rotation therewith and a rotatably mounted pinion coupled to said inner core for common rotation therewith and in mesh with said gear in said second gear box, a second marine propulsion device including a steerable part and a rotatable member connected to said steerable part and effective to cause steering movement thereof in response to rotation of said member of said second marine propulsion device, a third gear box connected to said second marine propulsion device and including a rotatably mounted gear coupled to said rotatable member of said second marine propulsion device for common rotation therewith and a pinion in mesh with said last mentioned gear, a coupling interposed between said first gear box and said first flexible cable and including a first rotatably supported part coupled to said pinion of said first gear box for common rotation therewith, a second rotatably supported part coupled to said inner core of said first flexible cable for common rotation therewith, a third rotatably supported part, and means connecting said first and second and third parts of said coupling for common rotation, and a second flexible cable including an outer sheath connected to said coupling and to said third gear box and a rotary inner core coupled to said pinion of said third gear box for common rotation therewith and to said third part of said coupling for common rotation therewith.

3. A steering system in accordance with claim 2 and further including a second helm station including a rotatable steering shaft member, a fourth gear box connected to said second helm station and including a rotatably mounted gear coupled to said steering shaft member of said second helm station for common rotation therewith and a pinion in mesh with said last mentioned gear, a second coupling interposed between said second gear box and said first flexible cable and including a first rotatably supported part coupled to said pinion of said second gear box for common rotation therewith, a second rotatably supported part coupled to said first flexible cable for common rotation therewith, a third rotatably supported part, and means connecting said first and second and third parts of said second coupling for common rotation, and a third flexible cable including an outer sheath connected to said second coupling and to said fourth gear box and an inner rotary core coupled to said pinion of said fourth gear box for common rotation therewith and to said third part of said second coupling for common rotation therewith.

4. A steering system in accordance with claim 2 and further including a second helm station including a rotatable steering shaft member, a fourth gear box connected to said second helm station and including a rotatably mounted gear coupled to said steering shaft member of said second helm station for common rotation therewith and a pinion in mesh with said last mentioned gear, a second coupling interposed between said third gear box and said second flexible cable and including a first rotatably supported part coupled to said pinion of said third gear box for common rotation therewith, a second rotatably supported part coupled to said second end of said second flexible cable for common rotation therewith, a third rotatably supported part, and means connecting said first and second and third parts of said second coupling for common rotation, and a third flexible cable including an outer sheath connected to said second coupling and to said fourth gear box and a rotary inner core having one end coupled to said pinion of said fourth gear box for common rotation therewith and a second end connected to said third part of said second coupling for common rotation therewith.

5. A steering system comprising a marine propulsion device including a steerable part and a rotatable member connected to said steerable part and effective to cause steering movement of said part upon rotation of said member, a helm housing including a rotatable steering shaft, a first flexible cable including an outer sheath and a rotatable inner core, a first gear box conencted to said outer sheath and to said marine propulsion device and including a rotatably mounted gear coupled to said rotatable member for common rotation therewith and a rotatably mounted pinion coupled to said inner core for common rotation therewith and in mesh with said gear, a second gear box connected to said outer sheath and to said helm housing and including a rotatably mounted gear coupled to said steering shaft for common rotation therewith and a rotatably mounted pinion coupled to said inner core for common rotation therewith and in mesh with said gear in said second gear box, a second helm station including a rotatable steering shaft member, a third gear box connected to said second helm station and including a rotatably mounted gear coupled to said steering shaft member of said second helm station for common rotation therewith and a pinion in mesh with said last mentioned gear, a coupling interposed between said second gear box and said first flexible cable and including a first rotatably supported part coupled to said pinion of said second gear box for common rotation therewith, a second rotatably supported part coupled to said inner core of said first flexible cable for common rotation therewith, a third rotatably supported part, and means connecting said first and second and third parts of said coupling for common rotation, and a second flexible cable including an outer sheath connected to said coupling and to said third gear box and a rotary inner core coupled to said pinion of said third gear box for common rotation therewith and to said third part of said coupling for common rotation therewith.

6. A steering system in accordance with claim 5 and further including a second marine propulsion device including a steerable part and a rotatable member connected to said steerable part and effective to cause steering movement thereof in response to rotation of said member, a fourth gear box connected to said second marine propulsion device and including a rotatably mounted gear coupled to said rotatable member of said second marine propulsion device for common rotation therewith and a pinion in mesh with said last mentioned gear, a second coupling interposed between said third gear box and said second flexible cable and including a first rotatably supported part coupled to said pinion of said third gear box for common rotation therewith, a second rotatably supported part coupled to said second flexible cable for common rotation therewith, a third rotatably supported part, and means connecting said first and second and third parts of said coupling for common rotation, and a third flexible cable including an outer sheath connected to said second coupling and to said fourth gear box and an inner rotary core coupled to said pinion of said fourth gear box for common rotation therewith and to said third part of said second coupling for common rotation therewith.

7. A steering system comprising a marine propulsion device including a steerable part and a rotatable member connected to said steerable part and effective to cause steering movement of said part upon rotation of said member, a helm housing including a rotatable steering shaft, a first flexible cable including an outer sheath and a rotatable inner core, a first gear box connected to said outer sheath and to said marine propulsion device and including a rotatably mounted gear coupled to said rotatable member for common rotation therewith and a rotatably mounted pinion coupled to said inner core for common rotation therewith and in mesh with said gear, and a second gear box connected to said outer sheath and to said helm housing and including a rotatably mounted gear coupled to said steering shaft for common rotation therewith and a rotatably mounted pinion coupled to said inner core for common rotation therewith and in mesh with said gear in said second gear box, said first and second gear boxes being constructed from substantially identical parts and each including a first housing member including a cup portion and a transverse wall portion with an exterior part of non circular cross section and a central aperture, and a second housing member including a cup portion telescopically engaged with said cup portion of said first housing member and a transverse wall portion spaced from said transverse wall portion of said first housing member and including an exterior part of non circular cross section, and a central aperture coaxial with said central aperture of said first housing member.

8. A steering system in accordance with claim 7 and further including means for preventing relative rotation between said first and second housing members.

9. A steering system in accordance with claim 8 wherein each of said housing members respectively includes a bearing located axially inwardly of said central aperture.

10. A steering system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said gears of said first and second gear boxes are respectively journaled by said bearings in said first and second gear boxes and each of said gears includes a central opening of non circular cross section.

11. A steering system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said second housing members respectively include third portions extending radially outwardly from said cup portions and including respective central bores communicating with said cup portions, respective shafts including respective first ends with female sockets and respective second ends respectively having thereon said pinions, and means respectively supporting said shafts in said bores for rotation therein and for preventing movement therein axially of said bores and with said pinions in respective mesh with said gears.

12. A steering system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said third housing portions respectively include sleeve sections extending from said cup portions and respective covers closing said sleeve sections and each respectively including therein a central opening and a tubular nipple part in co-axial relation to said central opening and including an external thread.