JPH06144378A - Steering device for ship propeller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To compactly form a steering device total unit by setting up a manual cylinder unit coaxially with a switching part of an operating fluid switching unit and further inside or outside the switching part. CONSTITUTION:An oil pump is connected to a steering handle, and a manual hydraulic cylinder unit 40 is connected to this oil pump through a pressure oil hose. This manual hydraulic cylinder unit 40 is coaxial with a spool valve 31 of a manual oil switching unit 19 and arranged inside this spool valve. That is, the manual hydraulic cylinder unit 40 has a manual hydraulic cylinder unit 42 formed by screwing manual cylinder caps 41A, 41B to both end parts of the spool valve 31 and a piston 43 slidably housed in this manual hydraulic cylinder unit 42. A piston rod 44, integrally connected to this piston 43, passes through the manual cylinder cap 41B, and a seal ring 45 is mounted on an internal peripheral part of this cap 41B.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering device for a ship propulsion device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are steering devices for ship propulsion devices such as the invention of US Pat. No. 4,892,494 and the invention described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-261798. In this steering device, a tilt bracket is tiltably supported by a fixed bracket fixed to a hull via a tilt shaft, and a propulsion unit is pivotally supported by the tilt bracket through a steering shaft. The piston rod of the steering cylinder device or the steering cylinder itself is connected to the steering arm that allows the propulsion unit to be steered, while the operation of the steering handle installed in the driver's seat of the hull allows the internal hydraulic cylinder device to operate through hydraulic oil. The piston rod of the manual hydraulic cylinder device is connected to the spool valve of the hydraulic oil switching device that switches the flow direction of the hydraulic oil supplied to the steering cylinder device. Therefore, by operating the steering handle device, the spool valve of the hydraulic oil switching device moves via the manual hydraulic cylinder device, the flow of hydraulic oil to the steering cylinder device is switched, and the propulsion unit is operated by the hydraulic pressure of the steering cylinder device. Is steered.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional steering device, the hydraulic oil switching device and the manual hydraulic cylinder device are separate bodies, and these are arranged around the steering cylinder device. The space of the device becomes large.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering device for a marine propulsion device which can make the entire device compact.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a tilt bracket is tiltably supported by a fixed bracket fixed to a hull via a tilt shaft, and a propulsion unit is rotated by a tilt shaft on the tilt bracket. A steering cylinder device is movably supported, and a steering cylinder device is installed on the tilting bracket. A piston rod of the steering cylinder device is connected to a steering arm that enables the propulsion unit to be steered. A working fluid switching device for switching the flow of the working fluid supplied to the device is connected, and
The manual cylinder device is operated via the working fluid by operating the steering handle installed on the hull, and the switching part of the working fluid switching device is slid by the operation of the manual cylinder device and is supplied to the steering cylinder device. In a steering device for a marine propulsion device configured to move the piston rod of the steering cylinder device by switching the flow of working fluid, the manual cylinder device is coaxial with a switching portion of the working fluid switching device, and It is installed inside or outside the switching unit.

[0006]

Therefore, according to the marine vessel propulsion device steering apparatus of the present invention, the manual cylinder device for transmitting the operation of the steering wheel to the switching portion of the hydraulic oil switching device through the working fluid is coaxial with the switching portion. Since it is installed inside or outside, the manual cylinder device can be integrated with the working fluid switching device, and the steering device for a ship propulsion device can be made compact as a whole.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a sectional view showing a part of a first embodiment of a steering device for a marine propulsion device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the steering device of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the steering system 10 steers the propulsion unit 12 of the outboard motor 11 with the hydraulic pressure from the steering cylinder system 13. Here, in the outboard motor 11, a swivel bracket 16 as a tilting bracket is tiltably supported by a clamp bracket 14 as a fixed bracket fixed to the hull via a tilt shaft 15, and the swivel bracket 16 rolls on the swivel bracket 16. A rudder shaft 17 is rotatably supported, and the steering unit 17 is attached to the rudder shaft 17.
Is fixed. A steering arm 18 is integrally fixed to the steered shaft 17 on the hull side opposite to the propulsion unit 12, and the propulsion unit 12 is steered by swinging the steering arm 18.

A steering device housing 20 having a steering cylinder device 13 and a hydraulic oil switching device 19 is attached to the swivel bracket 16. In this steering device housing 20, as shown in FIG. 1, a mounting plate 22 is fixed to the steering device housing 20 using mounting bolts 21, and the mounting plate 22 is fixed to the swivel bracket 16 using mounting bolts 23. It is attached by. In this mounted state, the longitudinal directions of the steering cylinder device 13 and the hydraulic oil switching device 19 are arranged parallel to the tilt shaft 15.

In the steering cylinder device 13, a piston 25 is reciprocally housed in a steering cylinder device 24, and a piston rod 26 is integrally connected to the piston 25. The steering cylinder device 24 is integrally formed with the steering device housing 20, and a steering cylinder device cap 27 is screwed to the end portion where the piston rod 26 is installed. The piston rod 26 is provided so as to project through the inside of the steering cylinder device cap 27, and a seal ring 28 is attached to the inner peripheral portion of the steering cylinder device cap 27. Steering cylinder device 24 configured in a sealed structure by the steering cylinder device cap 27.
The inside is defined by a piston 25 into a left chamber 29A and a right chamber 29B.

The hydraulic oil switching device 19 includes a plurality of oil passages 30 engraved in the steering device housing 20 and a cylindrical spool valve 31 as a switching portion fitted in the steering device housing 20 so as to be slightly slidable. And is configured. The hydraulic oil switching device 19 is arranged in the middle of the hydraulic system path from the pump unit 32 to the steering cylinder device 13 shown in FIG. That is, the pump unit 32 and the oil passage 30 of the hydraulic oil switching device 19 are connected to the hydraulic hoses 33A and 33B.
And the oil passage 30 of the hydraulic oil switching device 19 and the left chamber 29A and the right chamber 29 of the steering cylinder device 13.
B is communicated.

Here, the pump unit 32 is the motor 3
4, a pump 35 and a reserve tank 36. The hydraulic oil switching device 19 switches the flow of hydraulic oil pumped from the pump unit 32 by a minute slide of a spool valve 31 described later, and selects this hydraulic oil to the left chamber 29A or the right chamber 29B of the steering cylinder device 13. To supply

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, a steering wheel 37 is installed in the driver's seat inside the hull. An oil pump 38 such as a swash plate pump is connected to the steering handle 37, and hydraulic hoses 39A and 39 are connected to the oil pump 38.
The manual hydraulic cylinder device 40 is connected via B. By the rotation operation of the steering handle 37, the oil pump 38 selectively feeds the hydraulic oil to the hydraulic hose 39A or 39B.

As shown in FIG. 1, the manual hydraulic cylinder device 40 is arranged coaxially with the spool valve 31 of the hydraulic oil switching device 19 and inside thereof. That is, the manual hydraulic cylinder device 40 is slidably accommodated in the manual hydraulic cylinder device 42, which is formed by screwing the manual cylinder caps 41A and 41B to both ends of the spool valve 31, and the manual hydraulic cylinder device 42. Piston 4
3 and a piston rod 44 is integrally connected to the piston 43. The piston rod 44 penetrates the manual cylinder cap 41B, and the seal ring 45 is attached to the inner peripheral portion of the cap 41B. The inside of the manual cylinder 42 having the sealed structure is divided into a left chamber 46A and a right chamber 46B by the piston 43.

In the manual cylinder cap 41A, the left chamber 46
A left chamber side oil passage 47A communicating with A is formed, and a hydraulic hose 39A shown in FIG. 2 is connected to the left chamber side oil passage 47A. In addition, the manual cylinder cap 41B shown in FIG.
A right chamber side oil passage 47B communicating with the right chamber 46B is formed, and the hydraulic hose 39B shown in FIG. 2 is connected to the right chamber side oil passage 47B.

Therefore, for example, the hydraulic oil is supplied from the hydraulic hose 39B to the right chamber 46B of the manual hydraulic cylinder device 40 via the oil passage 47B on the right chamber side, so that the piston 43 of the manual hydraulic cylinder device 40 is shown in the drawing. While moving to the left, the manual cylinder cap 41B slightly moves to the right. As a result, the manual hydraulic cylinder device 42, that is, the spool valve 31 moves to the right. As a result, the hydraulic oil from the pump unit 32 (FIG. 2) is
It is guided into the right chamber 29B of the steering cylinder device 13.

Piston rod 2 of steering cylinder device 13
6 and the piston rod 44 of the manual hydraulic cylinder device 40
Are screwed together with the clevis 48 and move in the same direction in synchronization. The clevis 48 is connected to the steering arm 18 via a rod ring 49. The clevis 48, the rod ring 49, and the steering arm 18 are connected to each other by a rotating pair with pins or the like. When the piston rods 26 and 44 of the steering cylinder device 13 and the manual hydraulic cylinder device 40 move in the left-right direction in FIG. 1, the steering arm 18 swings in the same direction, and the propulsion unit 12 is steered. In particular, the piston rod 26 of the steering cylinder device 13
Applies a steering assist force to the steering arm 18.

A spool valve return device 50 is installed in the steering device housing 20 for returning a minute slide of the spool valve 31. The spool valve return device 50 is screwed to the steering device housing 20 and is fixed using a lock nut 51.
2, an outer surface groove 53 formed in the spool valve 31 at a position corresponding to the return device housing 52, and a compression spring 54 that is fitted into the outer surface groove 53 in a separated state and locked to the return device housing 52. And a pusher 55. The compression spring 54 is compressed by a slight slide of the spool valve 31 in the left-right direction, and the urging force of the compression spring 54 acts on the spool valve 31 via the pusher 55, and the operating oil pressure disappears from the oil pump 38 of FIG. At the same time, the spool valve 31 returns to the neutral position.

Next, the operation will be described. When the steering handle 37 shown in FIG. 2 is not rotated in either the left or right direction,
Since hydraulic oil is not supplied from the oil pump 38 to the manual hydraulic cylinder device 40 (FIG. 1) via the hydraulic hoses 39A and 39B, the spool valve 3 of the hydraulic oil switching device 19 is not supplied.
1 does not slide, the left chamber 29A of the steering cylinder device 13
And the hydraulic pressure of the right chamber 29B is balanced. Therefore, the piston rod 26 of the steering cylinder device 13 does not move, and the steering assist force does not act on the steering arm 18 from the steering cylinder device 13.

When the steering handle 38 shown in FIG. 2 is rotated leftward, the hydraulic pump 38 causes the hydraulic hose 3 to move.
9B, the hydraulic oil is sent under pressure to the right chamber 46B via the right chamber side oil passage 47B of the manual hydraulic cylinder device 40 (FIG. 1).
Reach inside. As a result, the piston 43 moves leftward in FIG. 1, the manual cylinder cap 41B slightly moves rightward, and the spool valve 31 slightly slides rightward. By the slight rightward slide of the spool valve 31, the hydraulic oil from the pump unit 32 flows into the right chamber 29B of the steering cylinder device 13, the piston 25 and the piston rod 26 move leftward in FIG. 1, and the steering arm moves. A steering assist force for left steering acts on 18.

When the steering handle 37 is rotated rightward, the operation is in the opposite direction to the leftward operation.

According to the first embodiment, in the manual hydraulic cylinder device 40, the manual hydraulic cylinder device 42 uses the spool valve 31 of the hydraulic oil switching device 19, and the spool valve 31 is provided with the manual cylinder caps 41A and 41B. Since it is mounted and has the piston 43 and the piston rod 44 inside, it is installed coaxially with and inside the spool valve 31. Therefore, the manual hydraulic cylinder device 40 can be integrated with the hydraulic oil switching device 19, and the steering device 10 can be made compact as a whole.

Further, since the spool valve 31 of the steering switching device 19 functions as a part of the manual hydraulic cylinder device 42 of the manual hydraulic cylinder device 40, it is made of an iron-based or stainless-based material. Therefore, the spool valve 31 can be configured to be thin and have high strength.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a part of a second embodiment of the steering apparatus for a ship propulsion device according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the piston 43 of the manual hydraulic cylinder device 40 is connected to the piston rod 56 in addition to the piston rod 44. The piston rod 56 is formed of the same material and has the same shape as the piston rod 44, and is installed at a position opposite to the piston rod 44 with respect to the piston 43. Therefore, instead of the manual cylinder cap 41A of the first embodiment, the manual cylinder cap 41B of the same embodiment is screwed to the left end portion of the spool valve 31 in the drawing.

Therefore, due to the existence of the piston rod 56, the same manual cylinder cap 41B is installed at both ends of the spool valve 31, so that the parts can be made common. At the same time, the hydraulic pressures in the left chamber 46A and the right chamber 46B of the manual hydraulic cylinder device 40 equalize the pressures acting on the left and right manual cylinder caps 41B, and the steering assist force in the left and right directions can be balanced. Furthermore, bending of the piston rod 44 can be prevented.

4 and 5 are an overall perspective view and a partial sectional view, respectively, showing different usage states of the steering apparatus of the first and second embodiments. Even in this case, the first
The same parts as those in the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this different mode of use, the steering wheel 3
The operating force acting on the actuator 7 is transmitted to the spool valve 31 of the hydraulic oil switching device 19 via the operating cable 60.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a pinion 61 is formed on the operation handle 37, a rack bar 62 is meshed with the pinion 61, and an inner cable 60A of the operation cable 60 is inserted into the rack bar 62 (FIG. 5). Are connected. The rack bar 62 is a guide housing 63.
It is stored inside. The operation cable 60 is obtained by covering the inner cable 60A with an outer cable 60B, and one end of the outer cable 60B is fixed to the guide housing 63.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, at both ends of the spool valve 31 of the hydraulic oil switching device 19, the spool valve 31 shown in FIGS.
The manual cylinder caps 41A and 41B shown in FIG.
Also, the piston rod 44 is removed, and the cable guide 64 is inserted into the spool valve 31 instead. The cable guide 64 is formed in a cylindrical shape whose outer shape is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the spool valve 31 and whose inner diameter is substantially the same as the outer shape of a cable rod 66 described later. Lock nuts 6 are attached to both ends of the cable guide 64.
5, the cable guide 64 is integrated with the spool valve 31.

Inner cable 6 of the operation cable 60
A rod end 66 is fixed to the other end of 0A, and the inner cable 60A and the rod end 66 are slidably inserted into the cable guide 64. The rod end 66 is screwed into the clevis 48. The other end of the outer cable 60 </ b> B of the operation cable 60 is fixed to the end of the cable guide 64 via the cap nut 67.

In the steering apparatus constructed as described above, when the steering handle 37 is operated, this operation force acts on the steering arm 18 via the inner cable 60A of the operation cable 60 and the clevis 48. At this time, the propulsion unit 12 is operated.
The steering resistance force that acts on the inner cable 60A and the outer cable 60B also acts on the spool valve 31 via the cable guide 64. As a result, the spool valve 31 switches the flow of the hydraulic oil supplied from the pump unit 32 to the steering cylinder device 13, and the piston 25 and the piston rod 26 of the steering cylinder device 13 are switched.
To move. The piston rod 26 applies a steering assist force in the same direction as when the inner cable 60A and the rod end 66 act on the steering arm 18.
Acts on.

As described above, in the steering apparatus 10, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the operating force of the steering handle 37 is transmitted to the hydraulic oil by the oil pump 38, and the manual operation is performed by using this hydraulic oil. A manual hydraulic steering type steering device that operates the hydraulic cylinder device 40 to operate the spool valve 31 of the hydraulic oil switching device 19, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, operates the steering cable 37 by operating the operation cable 60. It is transmitted to the cable guide 64 via the cable guide 64, whereby the cable steering type steering device for operating the spool valve 31 of the hydraulic oil switching device 19 can be easily converted. That is, the manual cylinder caps 41A and 41B shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the piston 43 and the piston rod 44,
By replacing the cable guide 64 and the lock nut 65 shown in FIG. 5, a manual hydraulic steering type steering device and a cable steering type steering device can be converted. Therefore, the manual hydraulic steering type steering device and the cable steering type steering device can be converted very easily by exchanging a small number of parts.

Although the manual hydraulic cylinder device 40 is provided inside the spool valve 31 in the first and second embodiments, the manual hydraulic cylinder device 40 is used with the piston 43 as a ring-shaped piston. It may be arranged outside the spool valve 41.

[0035]

As described above, according to the marine vessel propulsion device steering apparatus of the present invention, the entire apparatus can be made compact.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a part of a first embodiment of a steering device for a marine propulsion device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the steering device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a part of a second embodiment of the steering apparatus for a marine propulsion device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view showing different usage states of the steering devices of the first and second embodiments.

5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the steering device of FIG. 4 in different usage states.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Steering Device 11 Outboard Motor 12 Propulsion Unit 13 Steering Cylinder Device 14 Crank Bracket 15 Tilt Axis 16 Swivel Bracket 17 Steering Axis 18 Steering Arm 19 Hydraulic Oil Switching Device 26 Piston Rod 31 Spool Valve 37 Steering Handle 40 Manual Hydraulic Cylinder Device 44 Piston rod

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A tilting bracket is rotatably supported by a fixed bracket fixed to a hull via a tilt shaft, and a propulsion unit is rotatably supported by the tilting bracket via a steering shaft. A steering cylinder device is installed on the tilting bracket, and a piston rod of the steering cylinder device is connected to a steering arm that allows the propulsion unit to be steered. A working fluid switching device for switching the flow is coupled, and a manual cylinder device is operated via the working fluid by operating a steering handle installed on the hull, and the switching portion of the working fluid switching device is operated by the operation of the manual cylinder device. Slides to switch the flow of the working fluid supplied to the steering cylinder device, and A steering device for a marine propulsion device configured to move a piston rod, characterized in that the manual cylinder device is installed coaxially with a switching portion of the working fluid switching device and inside or outside the switching portion. Steering device for ship propulsion system.