SERIES OF OUTBOARD MOTORS AND VESSEL

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an inboard / outboard motor according to the preamble of independent claim 1 and a marine vessel equipped with an inboard / outboard motor. Such a motor is known from 'Understanding Mercury Verado Gearcases' published by Mercury Marine on 'https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=k5OgMpgJWkw&t=2s' with Online Publication Date 2013-09-20.

[0002] In the related art, as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, an outboard motor 80 includes a lower case 82 having a propeller 81 as a propulsor, and an upper case 83 having a drive shaft that transmits a driving force of an engine as a drive source to the propeller (see, for example, JP 2020-29186 A). The lower case 82 and the upper case 83 are manufactured via die-casting aluminum, the lower case 82 being attached to the upper case 83 so that a mating surface 82a of the lower case 82 is connected to a mating surface 83a of the upper case 83.

[0003] Incidentally, since the lower case 82 sinks under a water surface when a marine vessel sails, which significantly affects on sailing performance of the marine vessel. In recent years, the use of the marine vessel has been diversified, and the sailing performance required for the marine vessel has also been diversified, and various types of lower cases corresponding to the sailing performance are manufactured. The lower case is changed (modified) in design in accordance with the required sailing performance, and the changed lower case is attached to the upper case 83.

[0004] Incidentally, when the lower case is changed, shapes of the lower case before and after the change may be different. For example, in a case of a lower case having high-durability, the high-durability lower case 84 is designed by being increased in size in order to accommodate drive components having a lifespan twice or more that of a typical lower case 82, on the assumption of use for a longer period of time than the normal lower case 82 (FIG. 8B). In a case of a high-speed lower case, a high-speed lower case 85 is designed by being miniaturized so as to be smaller than the typical lower case 82 in order to reduce resistance (FIG. 8C). That is, the high-durability lower case 84 and the high-speed lower case 85 are each different in shape from the lower case 82.

[0005] Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the mating surface 83a of the upper case 83 does not match a mating surface 84a of the lower case 84 or a mating surface 85a of the lower case 85, and which may be difficult to attach the high-durability lower case 84 or the high-speed lower case 85 to the upper case 83.

[0006] In this case, it is necessary to newly manufacture an upper case having a mating surface matching the mating surface 84a of the high-durability lower case 84 or the mating surface 85a of the high-speed lower case 85, and therefore there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of reducing the number of components and shortening a development period of the outboard motor. Moreover, prior art document US 2016 / 001867 A1 discloses an outboard motor with a spacer case arranged between an upper case and a lower case. Prior art document EP 3 613 663 A1 discloses a hybrid type vessel propulsion apparatus with an outboard motor including an engine and an electric motor. The outboard motor comprises an upper case and a lower case, wherein the electric motor is disposed inside the lower case. Prior art document US 6 814 635 B1 discloses an outboard motor with a housing unit that comprises a driveshaft housing and a lower unit. A housing extension member is interposed between the driveshaft housing and the lower unit. Prior art document US 2013 / 273792 A1 discloses large outboard motor including a variable gear transfer case. The outboard motor comprises an upper portion, lower portion and a mid portion, wherein a leg lengthening section of the mid portion arranged between the upper portion and the lower portion.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an inboard / outboard motor that can suppress an increase in the number of types of upper cases and to provide and a marine vessel equipped with an inboard / outboard motor.

[0008] According to the present invention said object is solved by an inboard / outboard motor according to the independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments are laid down in the dependent claims. Moreover, according to the present invention said object is solved by a marine vessel equipped with an inboard / outboard motor according to claim 10.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, an outboard motor attached to a hull of a marine vessel, the outboard motor comprising: a lower case that includes a propeller shaft configured to rotate a propeller; and an upper case that includes a drive shaft configured to transmit a power to the propeller shaft, wherein the lower case is selected from among a plurality of types of lower cases, and is configured to be attached to the upper case, and the upper case and the lower case are connected by an intermediate structure.

[0010] According to this configuration, the intermediate structure connects the upper case and the lower case, which makes it possible to attach, by using the intermediate structure connectable to the mating surface having the shape changed when the lower case in which the shape of the mating surface is changed is attached to the upper case, the lower case having the changed shape to the upper case via the intermediate structure without newly manufacturing the upper case. As a result, it is possible to suppress the increase in the number of types of upper cases.

[0011] Further features of the present teaching will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

[0012] The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present teaching will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is an external view schematically illustrating a configuration of an outboard motor according to a preferred embodiment. FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams for describing attachments corresponding to various lower cases. FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams for describing a mechanism for transmitting a propulsive force of a propeller to a hull of a marine vessel. FIGS. 4A and 4B are external views schematically illustrating a configuration of an outboard motor according to a first variation of the preferred embodiment. FIGS. 5A and 5B are external views schematically illustrating a configuration of an outboard motor according to a second variation of the preferred embodiment. FIGS. 6A and 6B are external perspective views schematically illustrating a configuration of an attachment of an outboard motor according to a third variation of the preferred embodiment. FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams for describing an arrangement form of sacrificial anodes in the embodiments and each variation of the present invention. FIGS. 8A to 8C are diagrams for describing a problem associated with a change of a lower case in an outboard motor of the related art. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present teaching will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1 is an external view schematically illustrating a configuration of an outboard motor according to an preferred embodiment. FIG. 1 is an external view schematically illustrating a basic example of an outboard motor of the series of outboard motors according to the present teaching. Referring to FIG. 1, an outboard motor 10 includes, as a casing enclosing various components, a cowl 11, a standard lower case 12, an upper case 13, and an attachment 14 (intermediate structure). The cowl 11 encloses an engine (not illustrated) as a drive source, and the standard lower case 12 includes a propeller 15 as a propulsor and encloses a propeller shaft 40 (propeller shaft) for rotating the propeller 15. The upper case 13 encloses a drive shaft 27 that transmits a driving force (power) of the engine to the propeller shaft 40.

[0016] In addition, the outboard motor 10 includes a suspension mechanism 16 for attaching the outboard motor 10 to a stern (not illustrated) of a hull of the marine vessel, and the suspension mechanism 16 functions as a steering mechanism and a lifting mechanism of the outboard motor 10 and tilts up the outboard motor 10 when the marine vessel is stored.

[0017] The attachment 14 is interposed between the standard lower case 12 and the upper case 13, to connect the standard lower case 12 and the upper case 13. A shape of an upper mating surface 14a of the attachment 14 is formed so as to match a mating surface 13a of the upper case 13, and a shape of a lower mating surface 14b of the attachment 14 is formed so as to match a mating surface 12a of the standard lower case 12.

[0018] Incidentally, in the outboard motor 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in some cases a high-durability lower case 17 or a high-speed lower case 19 is attached instead of the standard lower case 12. In particular, in the outboard motors 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, relates to examples of an outboard motor of the series of outboard motors according to the present teaching. However, since the high-durability lower case 17 and the high-speed lower case 19 are different in shape from the standard lower case 12, neither a mating surface 17a of the high-durability lower case 17 nor a mating surface 19a of the high-speed lower case 19 matches the lower mating surface 14b of the attachment 14.

[0019] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, an attachment 18 (FIG. 2A) having a lower mating surface 18b matching the mating surface 17a of the high-durability lower case 17 is used. An upper mating surface 18a of the attachment 18 is formed in the same shape as the upper mating surface 14a of the attachment 14. Accordingly, the attachment 18 can attach to the high-durability lower case 17 and to the upper case 13, and thus can connect the upper case 13 and the high-durability lower case 17.

[0020] In the present embodiment, an attachment 20 (FIG. 2B) having a lower mating surface 20b matching the mating surface 19a of the high-speed lower case 19 is used. An upper mating surface 20a of the attachment 20 is formed in the same shape as the upper mating surface 14a of the attachment 14. Accordingly, the attachment 20 can attach to the high-speed lower case 19 and to the upper case 13, and thus can connect the upper case 13 and the high-speed lower case 19.

[0021] Further, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the upper case 13 includes a frame body 21 and a resin cover 38 that covers the frame body 21. The frame body 21 is made of metal, for example, aluminum, and is fastened to the attachment 14 and the suspension mechanism 16. A propulsive force generated by the propeller 15 is transmitted to the hull via the standard lower case 12, the attachment 14, the frame body 21, and the suspension mechanism 16. Furthermore, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the upper case 13 may include a case-shaped main body 39 formed by a rigid body made of metal, for example, aluminum, and a cover (not illustrated) that improves an appearance of the main body 39, instead of the frame body 21 and the cover 38, and the case-shaped main body 39 may be fastened to the attachment 14 and the suspension mechanism 16. In this case, instead of the frame body 21, the case-shaped main body 39 transmits the propulsive force generated by the propeller 15 to the hull.

[0022] According to the present embodiment, since the attachment 14 is configured to connect the upper case 13 and the standard lower case 12, when the high-durability lower case 17 or the high-speed lower case 19 are attached to the upper case 13, provided that the attachment 18 connectable to the mating surface 17a of the high-durability lower case 17 or the attachment 20 connectable to the mating surface 19a of the high-speed lower case 19 is used instead of the attachment 14, the high-durability lower case 17 or the high-speed lower case 19 can be attached to the upper case 13. Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate the need to newly manufacture the upper case 13 when the high-durability lower case 17 or the high-speed lower case 19 to be attached is desired, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of types of the upper case 13.

[0023] In addition, in the present embodiment, since the outboard motor 10 has the frame body 21 or the case-shaped main body 39 formed by rigid body, which is fastened to the attachment 14 and the suspension mechanism 16, the propulsive force generated by the propeller 15 can be reliably transmitted to the hull via the attachment 14 and the suspension mechanism 16.

[0024] Incidentally, in typical, the lower case encloses a gearbox that engages with the drive shaft to transmit the rotation of the drive shaft to the propeller shaft, and a link mechanism that switches between rotation directions of the propeller. A shift rod is connected to the link mechanism, and the shift rod is disposed parallel to the drive shaft and is rotated or moved up and down by a shift actuator. The link mechanism moves a dog clutch in the gearbox via a shift slider in accordance with the movement of the shift rod, and thereby the link mechanism switches between the rotation directions of the propeller. The link mechanism, the shift rod, and the shift actuator constitute a shift mechanism.

[0025] In the related art, although a shift actuator is enclosed in an upper case or a cowl, an interval between a link mechanism and a gearbox may vary in accordance with a type of a lower case, and thus, a relative position (pitch) of a shift rod with respect to a drive shaft may change. As a result, when the lower case is changed and attached, it may be necessary to newly manufacture the upper case in order to change the pitch between the shift rod and the drive shaft by changing the position of the shift actuator.

[0026] On the other hand, in a first variation of the preferred embodiment, the shift actuator is disposed in the attachment. FIGS. 4A and 4B are external views schematically illustrating a configuration of an outboard motor according to the first variation of the preferred embodiment. FIGS. 4A and 4B are external views schematically illustrating examples of an outboard motor of the series of outboard motors according to the present teaching. For example, there are some cases where an interval between the enclosed link mechanism 22 and gearbox 23 is different, between the standard lower case 12 and the high-durability lower case 17. The present variation presents attachments 24 and 25 respectively corresponding to the standard lower case 12 and the high-durability lower case 17. A shape of an upper mating surface 24a of the attachment 24 is the same as a shape of an upper mating surface 25a of the attachment 25.

[0027] In the attachment 24, a position of a shift actuator 28 is set such that a pitch between a shift rod 26 and a drive shaft 27 (drive shaft) corresponds to an interval between the link mechanism 22 and the gearbox 23 in the standard lower case 12 (FIG. 4A). Similarly, in the attachment 25, a position of the shift actuator 28 is set such that a pitch between the shift rod 26 and the drive shaft 27 corresponds to an interval between the link mechanism 22 and the gearbox 23 in the high-durability lower case 17 (FIG. 4B). It should be noted that when the interval between the link mechanism 22 and the gearbox 23 enclosed in the high-speed lower case 19 is different from the interval between the link mechanism 22 and the gearbox 23 enclosed in the standard lower case 12 or the high-durability lower case 17, an attachment in which the position of the shift actuator 28 is set such that the pitch between the shift rod 26 and the drive shaft 27 corresponds to the interval between the link mechanism 22 and the gearbox 23 in the high-speed lower case 19 is used.

[0028] Accordingly, even though the interval between the link mechanism and the gearbox is different among different the types of the lower case, the changed lower case can be attached to the same upper case by replacing the attachment. That is, it is possible to eliminate the need to newly manufacture the upper case 13, and to suppress the increase in the number of types of the upper case 13.

[0029] It should be noted that, although a plurality of types of attachments in which the position of the shift actuator 28 is changed in accordance with the type of the lower case is used in the present variation, in a case where the shapes of the mating surfaces of the various lower cases is not changed, the shift actuator 28 may be configured to be movable in the attachment so that the position of the shift actuator 28 can be changed in accordance with the interval between the link mechanism 22 and the gearbox 23 in each lower case. In this case, it is possible to eliminate the need to newly manufacture the attachment, which suppresses the increase in the number of types of attachments.

[0030] In addition, in recent years, it has been studied, in the outboard motor, to drive the propeller not only by the engine which is an internal combustion engine but also by the electric motor, and the present applicant has proposed, for example, a hybrid outboard motor including an engine and an electric motor (see, for example, JP 2020-29186 A).

[0031] Incidentally, the lower case in the hybrid outboard motor encloses a motor gearbox for transmitting a driving force of the electric motor to the propeller shaft in addition to the link mechanism and the gearbox which engages with the drive shaft for transmitting the driving force of the engine. The electric motor is disposed in the lower case in the hybrid outboard motor described in JP 2020-29186 A; however, since the shape of the lower case greatly affects sailing performance of the marine vessel, the electric motor that affects the shape of the lower case is preferably disposed in the upper case. Therefore, when the outboard motor is hybridized, it may be necessary to manufacture not only the lower case but also the upper case and newly dispose the electric motor in the upper case.

[0032] Regarding this matter, in a second variation of the preferred embodiment, the electric motor is disposed in the attachment. FIGS. 5A and 5B are external views schematically illustrating a configuration of an outboard motor according to the second variation of the preferred embodiment. FIGS. 5A and 5B are external views schematically illustrating examples of an outboard motor of the series of outboard motors according to the present teaching.

[0033] In the outboard motor 10 which is not hybridized and in which the propeller 15 is driven only by an engine, as described above, the standard lower case 12 encloses the link mechanism 22 and the gearbox 23 but does not enclose a gearbox for a motor (FIG. 5A). On the other hand, in a hybrid outboard motor 29, a hybrid-compatible lower case 30 encloses not only a link mechanism 22 and a gearbox 23 but also a gearbox for a motor (a motor gearbox 31) (FIG. 5B). In this case, a hybrid-compatible attachment 32 encloses an electric motor 33, and the electric motor 33 is connected to the motor gearbox 31 via a motor drive shaft 34. With this configuration, in the hybrid outboard motor 29 having the hybrid-compatible attachment 32, a propeller 15 is driven by an engine or the electric motor 33. A shape of an upper mating surface 32a of the hybrid-compatible attachment 32 is the same as a shape of an upper mating surface 24a of an attachment 24. In the hybrid-compatible attachment 32, the electric motor 33 is disposed so as to face the motor gearbox 31.

[0034] Accordingly, when the standard lower case 12 is replaced with the hybrid-compatible lower case 30 in order to hybridize the outboard motor, the hybrid-compatible lower case 30 can be attached to the upper case 13 only by replacing the attachment 24 with the hybrid-compatible attachment 32. Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate the need to newly manufacture the upper case 13 in order to hybridized the outboard motor, and it is possible to suppress the increase in the number of types of the upper cases 13.

[0035] In addition, the electric motor 33 is enclosed in the hybrid-compatible attachment 32, and thus, it is possible to eliminate the need to arrange the electric motor 33 in the hybrid-compatible lower case 30, which makes it possible to prevent the shape of the hybrid-compatible lower case 30 from being hydrodynamically disadvantageous. As a result, even though the outboard motor is hybridized, it is possible to suppress significant influence on the sailing performance of the marine vessel.

[0036] Instead of the hybrid-compatible lower case 30, a high-durability hybrid-compatible lower case or a high-speed hybrid-compatible lower case may be used. In this case, the relative position of the motor gearbox 31 with respect to the link mechanism 22 and the gearbox 23 may change. Regarding this matter, the electric motor 33 may be configured to be movable in the hybrid-compatible attachment 32, so that the position of the electric motor 33 may be changed in accordance with the relative position of the motor gearbox 31 with respect to the link mechanism 22 and the gearbox 23 in each lower case. Alternatively, a plurality of hybrid-compatible attachments in which the electric motor 33 is disposed at the position corresponding to the relative position of the motor gearbox 31 with respect to the link mechanism 22 and the gearbox 23 in each lower case may be prepared, and the hybrid-compatible attachment corresponding to each lower case may be used.

[0037] In the outboard motor, since at least a part of the lower case is submerged and makes splashes while the marine vessel sails, a splash plate (anti-splash plate) for preventing the splashes from scattering may be provided in the upper case conventionally.

[0038] Incidentally, a scattering form of the splashes changes in accordance with the shape of the lower case. Thus, for example, when the standard lower case 12 is replaced with the high-durability lower case 17 or the high-speed lower case 19, it may be necessary to change the shape of the splash plate in accordance with the scattering form of the splashes in each case, and it may be necessary to newly manufacture the upper case.

[0039] Regarding this matter, in a third variation of the preferred embodiment, a splash plate is formed on an attachment. FIGS. 6A and 6B are external perspective views schematically illustrating a configuration of an attachment of an outboard motor according to the third variation of the preferred embodiment. FIGS. 6A and 6B are external views schematically illustrating examples of an outboard motor of the series of outboard motors according to the present teaching.

[0040] In the present variation, for example, a splash plate 35 is formed at an upper portion of an attachment 14 attached to a standard lower case 12 (FIG. 6A), and a splash plate 36 is formed at an upper portion of an attachment 20 attached to a high-speed lower case 19 (FIG. 6B). The splash plate 35 and the splash plate 36 have different shapes. Specifically, since the amount of splashes increases when the high-speed lower case 19 is used, the splash plate 36 is formed to be larger than the splash plate 35. The splash plate can be also formed at an upper portion of an attachment 18 attached to a high-durability lower case 17, wherein a shape of this splash plate is also different from shapes of the splash plates 35 and 36.

[0041] Accordingly, even in a case where the lower case is replaced and the scattering form of the splashes changes, the splash plate suitable for the changed scattering form of the splashes can be used by replacing the attachment. That is, it is possible to eliminate the need to replace the upper case in order to change the shape of the splash plate, and thus, it is possible to eliminate the need to newly manufacture the upper case 13.

[0042] Each splash plate may be formed integrally with each attachment, or may be formed to be replaceable with respect to each attachment. In a case where each splash plate is formed to be replaceable with respect to each attachment, provided that the shapes of the mating surfaces of the lower cases are the same, the scattering of the splashes can be prevented by replacing only the splash plate without changing the attachment in accordance with the change of the lower case. Accordingly, it is possible to save a time and an effort for replacing the attachment.

[0043] Conventionally, in order to suppress the progress of corrosion of each part of the outboard motor 10, a sacrificial anode is provided in the suspension mechanism and the lower case. Regarding this matter, in the above-described embodiments / variations, a sacrificial anode 37 is provided in the attachment 14. Specifically, in the attachment 14, the sacrificial anode 37 is provided at a position (FIG. 7A) at which navigation waves or splashes are applied while the marine vessel sails, or a position (FIG. 7B) at which the marine vessel sinks under the water surface even when the outboard motor 10 is tilted up during storage of the marine vessel. With this configuration, the sacrificial anode 37 can be reliably brought into contact with the water, and thus, the progress of the corrosion of each part of the outboard motor 10 can be suppressed.

[0044] According to the embodiment, the present teaching is applied to an outboard motor. However, the present teaching may be applied to the inboard / outboard motor including the upper case and the lower case. Likewise in this case, an inboard / outboard motor includes an attachment, and the attachment connects the lower case and the upper case.

Claims

1. An inboard / outboard motor (10) configured to be attached to a hull of a marine vessel, the inboard / outboard motor (10) comprises an upper case (13) that includes a drive shaft (27) configured to transmit a power to a propeller shaft (40) and the inboard / outboard motor (10) comprises a plurality of lower cases of different types (12, 17, 19) from which one lower case is selected, wherein each of the plurality of lower cases (12, 17, 19) includes the propeller shaft (40) configured to rotate the propeller (15), characterized in that the inboard / outboard motor (10) comprises a plurality of attachments of different types (14, 18, 20) from which one attachment is selected, wherein the selected one attachment (14, 18, 20) is interposed between the selected lower case (12, 17, 19) and the upper case (13), to connect the selected lower case (12, 17, 19) and the upper case (13); the plurality of lower cases of different types (12, 17, 19) have respective mating surfaces (12a, 17a, 19a), shapes of mating surfaces (12a, 17a, 19a) being different from each other; the plurality of types of attachments (14, 18, 20) have respective lower mating surfaces (14b, 18b, 20b), shapes of lower mating surfaces (14b, 18b, 20b) being different from each other; and the selected one attachment (14, 18, 20) is selected such that the lower mating surface (14b, 18b, 20b) thereof matches the mating surface (12a, 17a, 19a) of the selected lower case (12, 17, 19).

2. The inboard / outboard motor (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the attachments (14, 18, 20) includes a shift mechanism that is configured to switch between rotation directions of the propeller (15), and a relative position of the shift mechanism to the drive shaft (27) is changeable.

3. The inboard / outboard motor (10) according to claim 2, wherein the shift mechanism includes at least one of a shift rod (26) for switching between the rotation directions of the propeller (15) and an actuator (28) for moving the shift rod (26), and a relative position of the shift rod (26) to the drive shaft (27) is changeable.

4. The inboard / outboard motor (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the attachments (14, 18, 20) includes an electric motor (33), and the electric motor (33) is configured to drive the propeller (15).

5. The inboard / outboard motor (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a part of the lower case (12, 17, 19) is configured to be submerged and configured to make splashes while the marine vessel sails, each of the attachments (14, 18, 20) includes an anti-splash plate (35, 36) configured for suppressing scattering of the splashes, and a shape of the anti-splash plate (35, 36) is changed in accordance with a shape of the lower case among the plurality of types of lower cases (12, 17, 19).

6. The inboard / outboard motor (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the anti-splash plate (35, 36) is configured to be replaceable with respect to the attachment (14, 18, 20).

7. The inboard / outboard motor (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a part of the attachment (14, 18, 20) is configured to be submerged when the inboard / outboard motor (10) is tilted up, and a sacrificial anode (37) is disposed at the submerged position of the attachment (14, 18, 20).

8. The inboard / outboard motor (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper case (13) includes a frame body (21) and a cover (38) that covers the frame body (21), and the frame body (21) is configured to transmit a propulsive force generated by the propeller (15) to the hull of the marine vessel.

9. The inboard / outboard motor (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper case (13) includes a case-shaped main body (39), and the case-shaped main body (39) is configured to transmit a propulsive force generated by the propeller (15) to the hull of the marine vessel.

10. A marine vessel equipped with an inboard / outboard motor (10) according to at least one of the claims 1 to 9 and attached to a hull of the marine vessel.