A device and control circuit for protecting an outboard motor water cooling system

Abstract

The application discloses a device and control circuit for protecting a water cooling system of an outboard motor, relates to the technical field of outboard motors, and comprises a supporting shaft, the outer surface of the supporting shaft is provided with an adapter, one end of the adapter is hingedly installed with a hinged plate, one end of the hinged plate is hingedly installed with an electric telescopic actuator, and the bottom end of the hinged plate is provided with two hinged frames. The application is provided with a series of structures, which can prevent the risk of accidental lifting of the outboard motor in sailing due to accidental touch of the lifting switch, ensure the continuous smoothness of the water inlet channel of the water cooling system, effectively avoid the major safety hazard of damage of the engine due to overheating, and guarantee the normal use of the electric lifting function before the start of the engine or when the system is only powered, so that the safety and functionality are perfectly unified, multiple safety protections are provided, and the sailing safety of the ship and the durability of the equipment are ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of outboard motor technology, specifically to a device and control circuit for protecting the water cooling system of an outboard motor. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of marine propulsion, outboard motors, as independent power units suspended outside the stern deck of boats, are widely used due to their convenient installation and compact structure. However, their engines generate a large amount of heat when running at high speeds, and an efficient cooling system is crucial to ensuring reliable operation and extending their service life.

[0003] When the engine is running, the entire outboard motor can still lift off the water. After lifting off the water, the water pump impeller will dry-rub against the water pump housing, burning out the water pump impeller and damaging the water cooling system of the entire motor. This is because the working logic between the engine and the electric lifting device was not considered. Furthermore, traditional outboard motor anti-lift mechanisms mainly rely on mechanical locking devices, such as adjusting rods, locking hooks, and torsion springs. When the outboard motor is in reverse gear, the reverse thrust generated by the propeller rotation will cause the motor to lift backward and upward. At this time, the anti-lift mechanism will prevent the motor from lifting backward and upward. However, these traditional mechanical locking mechanisms have obvious shortcomings: they usually only provide simple locking functions, lack flexible working mode selection, and cannot intelligently switch between one-way self-locking and fully locked modes according to navigation conditions. When the ship needs to avoid obstacles in shallow waters or at high speeds, traditional anti-lift mechanisms cannot simultaneously meet the requirements of flexibility and stability. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a device and control circuit for protecting the water cooling system of an outboard engine, so as to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a device for protecting the water cooling system of an outboard engine, comprising a support shaft, an adapter on the outer surface of the support shaft, a hinge plate hinged to one end of the adapter, an electric telescopic actuator hinged to one end of the hinge plate, two hinge frames at the bottom of the hinge plate, an L-shaped frame hinged between the two hinge frames, the bottom opposite ends of the two hinge frames passing through the L-shaped frame, a toothed ring connected to the extended ends of the two hinge frames, a transmission gear meshing at the bottom of the toothed ring, a ratchet mounted at the middle position of the transmission gear, a clamping block on one side of the transmission gear, a pawl on one side of the ratchet, and toothed posts on one side of both the pawl and the clamping block, the two toothed posts being positioned opposite each other and meshing with a drive gear.

[0006] Preferably, each of the two toothed columns is equipped with a supporting sliding member on its surface, and each of the two supporting sliding members is equipped with a positioning guide rail at its bottom. The bottom ends of the two positioning guide rails are connected to a sliding base plate. The positioning guide rails limit the movement of the supporting sliding members, ensuring that the two toothed columns can only move strictly in a straight line to prevent jamming. The sliding base plate is the mounting platform for the entire locking control mechanism.

[0007] Preferably, a fixed base plate is slidably connected to the bottom end of the sliding base plate, and an electric push rod is connected to the top end of the fixed base plate and the sliding base plate. The fixed base plate is fixed on the L-shaped frame. The extension and retraction of the electric push rod can push the entire sliding base plate and its locking mechanism to move laterally. When the sliding base plate moves away from the toothed ring, the clamping block or pawl cannot contact the transmission gear and ratchet, so locking or one-way locking is not possible. When one-way locking is required, the electric push rod first drives the sliding base plate to move towards the toothed ring, and then controls the two racks to move linearly relative to each other through the drive gear, so that the pawl contacts the ratchet to achieve one-way locking. When locking is required, the drive gear reverses to make the clamping block contact the transmission gear, thus completing the locking.

[0008] Preferably, the front end of the L-shaped frame is detachably equipped with a protective cover, and the fixed base plate is fixedly installed inside the L-shaped frame. The protective cover is used to protect the complex gears and locking mechanism inside, prevent water droplets, mud and other foreign objects from entering, and ensure long-term reliability.

[0009] Preferably, a manual operating handle is installed on the top of the support shaft. In the event of failure of the electric system or when fine-tuning is required, the manual operating handle allows the operator to directly rotate the support shaft by hand force to tilt or lower the outboard motor. This is an important emergency and safety backup function.

[0010] Preferably, the bottom end of the electric telescopic actuator is provided with a pad, and the rear end of the pad is equipped with a hull connector, which is used to securely install the entire outboard motor at the stern.

[0011] A control circuit for a device used to protect the water-cooling system of an outboard engine is provided. The control circuit is located inside the hull connector and specifically includes an electric tilting mechanism, a battery, a starter motor, a normally closed contact relay, and a rectifier.

[0012] Preferably, the battery is electrically connected to the rectifier. Before the engine starts, the battery provides initial power to the entire system (including the control circuit and the electric lifting mechanism). After the engine starts, the rectifier converts the AC power generated by the engine generator into DC power, which powers the system on one hand and charges the battery on the other.

[0013] Preferably, a normally closed contact relay is provided between the rectifier and the electric tilting mechanism. The normally closed contact relay is controlled by the electric tilting device switch. When the machine is only powered on, pressing the electric tilting device switch will allow the machine to tilt normally. When the machine is running normally, pressing the tilting switch will prevent the machine from tilting. When the machine is running in the tilting state, the electric tilting device will not work.

[0014] Preferably, the rectifier is electrically connected to the starter motor. When the engine starts, the huge starting current is supplied to the starter motor by the battery through the starter relay.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: This device and control circuit, designed to protect the outboard motor's water cooling system, incorporates a normally closed contact relay controlled by the engine's operating status. This achieves intelligent safety locking through electromechanical linkage. When the outboard motor is running normally, the relay automatically cuts off the circuit of the electric tilting mechanism, fundamentally eliminating the risk of accidentally raising the outboard motor during navigation due to accidental activation of the tilting switch. This ensures the water cooling system's water inlet channel remains unobstructed, effectively avoiding the major safety hazard of engine damage due to overheating. Furthermore, this circuit design ensures the normal operation of the electric tilting function even before engine startup or when the system is only powered on, achieving a perfect balance between safety and functionality.

[0016] This device and control circuit, designed to protect the outboard motor's water-cooling system, utilizes a multi-stage mechanical locking mechanism consisting of a gear ring, transmission gears, ratchet pawls, and clamping blocks, combined with a sliding base plate driven by an electric push rod. It offers three selectable operating modes: one-way self-locking, complete locking, and free adjustment. One-way self-locking allows the outboard motor to lift upwards to avoid hard impacts when obstructed, and automatically locks itself when lowered. Complete locking ensures absolute stability of the power unit during high-speed navigation or transport. Furthermore, in case of electric system failure, the locking mechanism can be disengaged via the electric push rod, allowing for emergency operation via a manual handle. This multi-layered safety system ensures both navigational safety and equipment durability. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the hinge plate structure of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the toothed ring structure of the present invention; Figure 4 For the present invention Figure 3 Enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point A in the middle; Figure 5 This is the circuit schematic diagram of the present invention; Figure 6For the present invention Figure 5 Enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point B; Figure 7 For the present invention Figure 5 Enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point C; In the diagram: 1. Support shaft; 2. Adapter; 3. Manual operating handle; 4. Hull connector; 5. Electric telescopic actuator; 6. Hinge plate; 7. Pad; 8. L-shaped frame; 9. Hinge frame; 10. Protective cover; 11. Gear ring; 12. Ratchet; 13. Pad; 14. Clamping block; 15. Transmission gear; 16. Sliding base plate; 17. Fixed base plate; 18. Electric push rod; 19. Positioning guide rail; 20. Support sliding component; 21. Gear column; 22. Drive gear; 101. Electric tilting mechanism; 102. Battery; 103. Starter motor; 104. Normally closed contact relay; 105. Rectifier. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "front end," "rear end," "both ends," "one end," and "the other end," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0020] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "equipped with," "connected," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0021] like Figures 1 to 7As shown in the figure, this embodiment discloses a device for protecting the water-cooling system of an outboard engine, including a support shaft 1. The support shaft 1 is the main structure of the outboard engine and contains a drive shaft and a water inlet channel for the water-cooling system. An adapter 2 is provided on the outer surface of the support shaft 1. The adapter 2 is a mounting base fixed to the support shaft 1 and is used to connect and support the subsequent tilting actuator. A hinge plate 6 is hinged to one end of the adapter 2, serving as a primary lever. An electric telescopic actuator 5 is hinged to one end of the hinge plate 6, which is its power source. When the electric telescopic actuator 5 extends or retracts, it pushes the hinge plate 6 to rotate around its hinge point with the adapter 2, thereby providing the initial tilting action. The starting power source consists of two hinged frames 9 at the bottom of the hinged plate 6. An L-shaped frame 8 is hinged between the two hinged frames 9, forming a stable two-stage transmission and support structure. Rotation of the hinged plate 6 is transmitted to the L-shaped frame 8 via the hinged frames 9, thus driving the entire power unit. The bottom ends of the two hinged frames 9 pass through the L-shaped frame 8, and their extended ends are connected to a gear ring 11. The extended ends of the two hinged frames 9 act as a shaft, and their rotation represents the lifting action. The gear ring 11 is fixed to this shaft, and its rotation drives the subsequent gear locking system. A transmission gear 15 is meshed with the bottom of the gear ring 11. The rotational motion of the gear ring 11 is slowed down and the torque is amplified. The ratchet 12 is the core locking element. The ratchet 12 allows the transmission gear 15 to rotate in the upward direction, but prevents it from rotating in the opposite direction through the pawl 13, thus achieving one-way self-locking. The ratchet 12 is installed in the middle position of the transmission gear 15. A clamping block 14 is provided on one side of the transmission gear 15, and a pawl 13 is installed on one side of the ratchet 12. The pawl 13 cooperates with the ratchet 12 to achieve mechanical one-way locking. The clamping block 14 and the transmission... When used in conjunction with gear 15, complete locking can be achieved. Both the pawl 13 and the clamping block 14 have toothed posts 21 on one side. The two toothed posts 21 are set opposite each other and are connected to a drive gear 22 through meshing. The drive gear 22 is driven by a motor. When the drive gear 22 rotates, it will drive the two toothed posts 21 to move towards or away from each other in the opposite direction, thereby controlling the relative movement of the pawl 13 or the clamping block 14, so as to select unidirectional locking or complete locking according to the usage environment.

[0022] Specifically, each of the two toothed pins 21 has a supporting sliding member 20 installed on its surface, and each of the two supporting sliding members 20 has a positioning guide rail 19 installed at its bottom. The bottom ends of the two positioning guide rails 19 are connected to a sliding base plate 16. The positioning guide rails 19 limit the supporting sliding members 20, so that the two toothed pins 21 can only move strictly in a straight line to prevent jamming. The sliding base plate 16 is the mounting platform for the entire locking control mechanism.

[0023] Furthermore, a fixed base plate 17 is slidably connected to the bottom end of the sliding base plate 16. An electric push rod 18 is connected between the top end of the fixed base plate 17 and the sliding base plate 16. The fixed base plate 17 is fixed on the L-shaped frame 8. The extension and retraction of the electric push rod 18 can push the entire sliding base plate 16 and its locking mechanism to move laterally. When the sliding base plate 16 moves away from the toothed ring 11, the clamping block 14 or the pawl 13 cannot contact the transmission gear 15 and the ratchet 12. At this time, locking or one-way locking cannot be performed. When one-way locking is required, the electric push rod 18 first drives the sliding base plate 16 to move towards the toothed ring 11. Then, the two racks are controlled to move linearly relative to each other through the drive gear 22, so that the pawl 13 contacts the ratchet 12 to achieve one-way locking. When locking is required, the drive gear 22 is reversed to make the clamping block 14 contact the transmission gear 15 to complete the locking.

[0024] Furthermore, the front end of the L-shaped frame 8 is detachably equipped with a cover 10, and the fixed base plate 17 is fixedly installed inside the L-shaped frame 8. The cover 10 is used to protect the complex gears and locking mechanism inside, prevent water droplets, mud and other foreign objects from entering, and ensure long-term reliability.

[0025] Furthermore, a manual operating handle 3 is installed on the top of the support shaft 1. In the event of failure of the electric system or when fine-tuning is required, the manual operating handle 3 allows the operator to directly rotate the support shaft 1 by hand force to tilt or lower the outboard motor. This is an important emergency and safety backup function.

[0026] Furthermore, the bottom end of the electric telescopic actuator 5 is provided with a pad 7, and the rear end of the pad 7 is equipped with a hull connector 4, which is used to securely install the entire outboard motor at the stern.

[0027] A control circuit for a device used to protect the water-cooling system of an outboard engine includes an electric tilting mechanism 101, a battery 102, a starter motor 103, a normally closed contact relay 104, and a rectifier 105. The control circuit is located inside the hull connector 4. Figure 5 (As shown).

[0028] Furthermore, the battery 102 is electrically connected to the rectifier 105. Before the engine starts, the battery 102 provides initial power to the entire system (including the control circuit and the electric lifting mechanism 101). After the engine starts, the rectifier 105 converts the AC power generated by the generator into DC power, which supplies power to the system on the one hand and charges the battery 102 on the other.

[0029] Furthermore, a normally closed contact relay 104 is provided between the rectifier 105 and the electric tilting mechanism 101. The normally closed contact relay 104 is controlled by the electric tilting device switch. When the machine is only powered on, pressing the electric tilting device switch will allow the machine to tilt normally. When the machine is running normally, pressing the tilting switch will prevent the machine from tilting. When the machine is running in the tilting state, the electric tilting device will not work.

[0030] Furthermore, the rectifier 105 is electrically connected to the starter motor 103. When the engine starts, the huge starting current is supplied to the starter motor by the battery 103 through the starter relay.

[0031] The usage method of this embodiment is as follows: When it is necessary to lift the outboard motor to avoid underwater obstacles or for maintenance, the electric telescopic actuator 5 extends, pushing the hinge plate 6 to rotate around its hinge point. The power is transmitted to the L-shaped frame 8 through the hinge frame 9, causing the outboard motor body to tilt around the support shaft 1. At this time, the gear ring 11 rotates synchronously with the hinge frame 9, driving the transmission gear 15 to rotate. The ratchet 12 and the pawl 13 cooperate to achieve one-way self-locking, preventing the outboard motor from falling back unexpectedly. If complete locking is required (such as during transportation or high-speed navigation), the drive gear 22 drives the two gear columns 21 to move towards each other, causing the clamping block 14 to clamp the transmission gear 15, increasing the locking force. When it is necessary to directly adjust the tilting angle by operating the manual handle, the locking can be released by sliding the base plate 16 away from the gear ring 11. The system allows for manual adjustment. In terms of circuitry, the system uses a normally closed contact relay 104 to achieve safety interlocking during operation. When the outboard motor is not running, the battery 102 provides power. Pressing the tilt switch activates the electric telescopic actuator 5. Once the engine starts, the rectifier 105 outputs DC power, and the normally closed contact relay 104 disconnects the tilt circuit under the action of the operating signal. At this time, even if the tilt switch is accidentally pressed, the electric mechanism will not operate, preventing abnormal tilting during operation from causing water cooling interruption. If the engine is started in the tilt state, the relay will also cut off the circuit to ensure that the device remains locked. This electromechanical linkage design not only ensures the continuous operation of the water cooling system during navigation but also provides redundancy for emergency manual operation, comprehensively taking into account both automation and safety.

[0032] Finally, it should be noted that the above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for protecting the water-cooling system of an outboard engine, comprising a support shaft (1), characterized in that: The outer surface of the support shaft (1) is provided with a connector (2), one end of which is hinged to a hinge plate (6), and one end of which is hinged to an electric telescopic actuator (5). The bottom end of the hinge plate (6) is provided with two hinge frames (9), and an L-shaped frame (8) is hinged between the two hinge frames (9). The bottom opposite ends of the two hinge frames (9) pass through the L-shaped frame (8), and the extended ends of the two hinge frames (9) are connected to a toothed ring (11). The bottom of the toothed ring (11) is meshed with a transmission gear (15), a ratchet (12) is installed in the middle of the transmission gear (15), a clamping block (14) is provided on one side of the transmission gear (15), a pawl (13) is installed on one side of the ratchet (12), and a toothed column (21) is provided on one side of both the pawl (13) and the clamping block (14). The two toothed columns (21) are set opposite to each other, and a drive gear (22) meshes between the two toothed columns (21).

2. The device for protecting the water-cooling system of an outboard engine according to claim 1, characterized in that: Supporting sliding members (20) are installed on the surfaces of both toothed columns (21), and positioning guide rails (19) are installed at the bottom of both supporting sliding members (20). The bottom ends of the two positioning guide rails (19) are connected to a sliding base plate (16).

3. The device for protecting the water-cooling system of an outboard engine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom end of the sliding base plate (16) is slidably connected to a fixed base plate (17), and the top end of the fixed base plate (17) and the sliding base plate (16) are connected together by an electric push rod (18).

4. The device for protecting the water-cooling system of an outboard engine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The front end of the L-shaped frame (8) is detachably fitted with a cover (10), and the fixed base plate (17) is fixedly installed inside the L-shaped frame (8).

5. The device for protecting the water-cooling system of an outboard engine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The top of the support shaft (1) is equipped with a manual operation handle (3).

6. The device for protecting the water-cooling system of an outboard engine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom end of the electric telescopic actuator (5) is provided with a pad (7), and the rear end of the pad (7) is equipped with a hull connector (4).

7. A control circuit for a device for protecting an outboard engine water-cooling system as described in claim 6, characterized in that; The control circuit is located inside the hull connector (4) and specifically includes an electric tilting mechanism (101), a battery (102), a starter motor (103), a normally closed contact relay (104), and a rectifier (105); the battery (102) is electrically connected to the rectifier (105); a normally closed contact relay (104) is provided between the rectifier (105) and the electric tilting mechanism (101); the rectifier (105) is electrically connected to the starter motor (103).

Images