A method of steering a watercraft propulsion device mounted to a transom plate and having a steering drive unit which allows the watercraft propulsion device to rotationally move about a swivel shaft. The method can include calculating a steering parameter for the steering drive unit in accordance with the degree of operator's steering wheel displacement, and operating the steering drive unit based on the calculated control physical quantity, in which the control physical quantity can be selected from a plurality of preset control physical quantities.

Method and system for steering watercraft

Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion installation comprising a marine propulsion device including a transom bracket having a mounting portion fixed to the rear of a boat transom below the upper edge thereof, and a pair of laterally spaced arms extending upwardly from the mounting portion and including respective upper ends located rearwardly of the boat transom and above the upper edge thereof, a swivel bracket comprising a mounting portion and a pair of laterally spaced arms extending upwardly from the swivel bracket mounting portion and including respective upper ends, a tilt pin connecting the upper ends of the transom bracket and swivel bracket arms to provide for pivotal movement of the swivel bracket relative to the transom bracket about a tilt axis which is horizontally located rearwardly of the transom and above the upper edge thereof, a propulsion unit including an internal combustion engine and a propeller mounted for rotation and driven by the engine, and a king pin connecting the propulsion unit to the swivel bracket mounting portion for pivotal steering movement of the propulsion unit relative to the swivel bracket about a second axis transverse to the tilt axis and for common movement of the propulsion unit with the swivel bracket about the tilt axis and without travel of the propulsion unit over the transom upper edge or into engagement with the transom.

Outboard motor mounting arrangement

The marine propulsion device includes a propulsion unit mounted for tilting movement about a generally horizontal tilt axis and for pivotal steering movement about a vertical steering axis, and a power steering system adapted to operably connect an actuator to the propulsion for increasing the steering force applied to the propulsion unit by the actuator. The power steering system is wholly supported on the propulsion unit and includes a hydraulic cylinder-piston assembly having an axis extending in fixed parallel rotation to the tilt axis and including a cylinder, a piston mounted in the cylinder, and an extendable and retractable piston rod connected to the piston, and a control valve connected to a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for selectively controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the opposite sides of the piston to extend and retract the piston rod. The control valve includes a valve member and valve housing rotatably and axially movable relative to each other. The valve member is connected to the actuator and the valve housing is connected to the piston rod for common movement and is connected to the propulsion unit to affect steering movement thereof in response to movement of the actuator.

Marine propulsion device power steering system

In an outboard motor steering control system having a plurality of outboard motors each adapted to be mounted on a stern of a boat by a shaft to be movable by an actuator relative to the boat and each having an internal combustion engine to power a propeller, a desired steering angle of each outboard motor is determined individually based on detected engine speed and rotation angle of a steering wheel, and the operation of the actuator is controlled based on the determined desired steering angle, thereby improving both straight course-holding performance and turning performance by regulating the relative angles between the outboard motors in response to the cruising conditions of the boat.

Outboard motor steering control system

A hydraulic steering assembly applies a force to a tiller arm of a marine, outboard propulsion unit and rotates the propulsion unit about a steering axis between a center position and hard over positions to each side of the center position. The propulsion unit is supported for arcuate movement about a tilt axis which is generally perpendicular to the steering axis. The steering assembly includes a hydraulic steering cylinder with an elongated piston rod reciprocatingly mounted within the cylinder for movement along a piston rod axis. A pair of support arms are pivotable about the tilt axis and are connected to the piston rod, allowing arcuate movement of the rod about the tilt axis, while maintaining the rod axis parallel to the tilt axis. A member is pivotally mounted on the tiller arm for pivoting about a first axis which is parallel to the steering axis. The cylinder arm is connected to the cylinder and extends radially outwards from the piston rod axis. The cylinder arm is pivotally connected to the member for pivoting about the second link axis which is parallel to the piston rod axis. The cylinder arm moves through a partially rotated position when the propulsion unit rotates from the center position to either hard over position. The second link axis and the rod axes are on a plane parallel to the steering axis at the partially rotated position.

Outboard hydraulic steering assembly with reduced support bracket rotation

Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device comprising a bracket adapted to be fixed relative to a boat transom, a propulsion unit including a steering arm, pivots pivotally connecting the bracket and the propulsion unit for vertical pivotal movement of the propulsion unit about a tilt axis which is substantially horizontal when the bracket is boat mounted, and for swinging movement of the propulsion unit about a steering axis which is generally transverse to the horizontal axis, a support rod fixed in spaced parallel rotation to the bracket and against movement axially of the horizontal axis and for tilting movement in common with the propulsion unit, a member carried by the support rod for movement axially of the support rod, a coupling connecting the member and the steering arm for swinging the propulsion unit about the steering axis in response to movement of the member axially of the support rod, and mechanism for selectively displacing the member axially of the support rod to thereby steer the propulsion unit.

Marine propulsion device steering mechanism

UN DISPOSITIF DE PROPULSION MARIN COMPREND: UNE POTENCE 15 APPELEE A ETRE FIXEE PAR RAPPORT AU TABLEAU ARRIERE 17 D'UN BATEAU 21; UN GROUPE PROPULSEUR 23 COMPRENANT UN BRAS DE GOUVERNE 69; DES BROCHES REUNISSANT A ARTICULATION LA POTENCE AU GROUPE PROPULSEUR, POUR PERMETTRE DES MOUVEMENTS ANGULAIRES DU GROUPE PROPULSEUR DANS LE PLAN VERTICAL AUTOUR D'UN AXE DE BASCULEMENT, LEQUEL EST SENSIBLEMENT HORIZONTAL LORSQUE LA POTENCE EST MONTEE SUR LE BATEAU, AINSI QUE DES MOUVEMENTS DE PIVOTEMENT DU GROUPE PROPULSEUR AUTOUR D'UN AXE DE GOUVERNE QUI EST SENSIBLEMENT TRANSVERSAL A L'AXE HORIZONTAL

Mcbride Edward D

Papers

Marine propulsion device steering mechanism

Mecanisme de gouverne pour un groupe propulseur marin