Outboard engine and vessel

Abstract

To simplify the structure of an outboard engine.SOLUTION: An outboard engine includes: a drive source, a drive shaft, a steering shaft, a case, and an angle detection sensor. The drive shaft is extended in vertical direction and is rotated by drive force of the drive source. The steering shaft in a hollow tube state is arranged to surround the outer periphery of the drive shaft. A case is arranged below the drive source, an oil chamber where oil is pooled is formed, and at least one portion of the steering shaft is stored in the oil chamber. An angle detection sensor is arranged above the oil chamber and rotational angle of the steering shaft is detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to an outboard motor and a watercraft. [Background technology]

[0002] The boat includes a hull and an outboard motor attached to the rear of the hull. The outboard motor is a device that generates thrust to propel the boat.

[0003] The outboard motor includes a drive source, a drive shaft that extends vertically and rotates by the driving force of the drive source, a hollow tubular steering shaft that is arranged to surround the outer periphery of the drive shaft, and a case that is arranged below the drive source. The case has an oil chamber that stores oil, and the oil chamber accommodates at least a portion of the steering shaft.

[0004] Conventionally, an outboard motor has been disclosed that includes an outboard motor body and a steering mechanism that rotates the outboard motor body about a steering shaft. The steering mechanism includes a pinion that is fixed around the steering shaft and rotates together with the outboard motor body, a rack that moves linearly to rotate the pinion, and a rack position detector (angle detection sensor) that detects the position of the rack (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-102979 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] If the angle detection sensor is arranged, for example, in an oil chamber formed in the case, at least a part of the wiring connected to the angle detection sensor will also be arranged in the oil chamber, which may complicate the arrangement of the wiring for the angle detection sensor and complicate the configuration of the outboard motor.

[0007] This specification discloses a technique that can solve the above-mentioned problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The technology disclosed in this specification can be realized, for example, in the following forms.

[0009] (1) The outboard motor disclosed in this specification includes a drive source, a drive shaft, a steering shaft, a case, and an angle detection sensor. The drive shaft extends in a vertical direction and rotates by the driving force of the drive source. The steering shaft is hollow and tubular and is disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the drive shaft. The case is disposed below the drive source and has an oil chamber formed therein for storing oil, and at least a portion of the steering shaft is accommodated in the oil chamber. The angle detection sensor is disposed above the oil chamber and detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft.

[0010] With this outboard motor, the angle detection sensor is disposed outside the oil chamber formed in the case. In other words, since the angle detection sensor is disposed in the air, the arrangement of the wiring connected to the angle detection sensor is simplified, and the configuration of the outboard motor can be simplified.

[0011] (2) In the outboard motor described above, the angle detection sensor may be arranged between the drive source and the oil chamber in the vertical direction. With this arrangement, for example, when a dead space is formed between the drive source and the oil chamber in the vertical direction, the angle detection sensor can be arranged in the dead space, thereby simplifying the structure of the outboard motor.

[0012] (3) The outboard motor may further include a primary reduction gear disposed below the drive source and above the oil chamber, and the angle detection sensor may be disposed between the primary reduction gear and the oil chamber in the vertical direction. With this configuration, for example, when a dead space is formed between the primary reduction gear and the oil chamber in the vertical direction, the angle detection sensor can be disposed in the dead space, simplifying the configuration of the outboard motor.

[0013] (4) The outboard motor may further include a rotor that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the steering shaft and at least a portion of which is located above the oil chamber, and the angle detection sensor detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft by measuring the rotation angle of the rotor. With this configuration, it is possible to detect the rotation angle of the steering shaft even when the angle detection sensor is located above the oil chamber. This simplifies the arrangement of the wiring connected to the angle detection sensor, and simplifies the configuration of the outboard motor.

[0014] Furthermore, with this configuration, the angle detection sensor indirectly detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft by measuring the rotation angle of the rotor, so that an angle detection sensor can be selected according to the size of the rotor, regardless of the size of the steering shaft. Therefore, by using a rotor that is smaller than the steering shaft, the size of which is difficult to change due to the configuration of the outboard motor, the angle detection sensor can be made smaller, and ultimately, an increase in the size of the outboard motor can be prevented.

[0015] (5) In the above outboard motor, a portion of the steering shaft may be located above the oil chamber, and rotation of the steering shaft may be transmitted to the rotor above the oil chamber. With this configuration, it is possible to detect the rotation angle of the steering shaft even when the angle detection sensor is located above the oil chamber. This simplifies the arrangement of the wiring connected to the angle detection sensor, and simplifies the configuration of the outboard motor.

[0016] (6) In the above outboard motor, the rotor may be an offset shaft parallel to the steering shaft, and the outboard motor may further include a transmission mechanism disposed above the oil chamber for transmitting the rotation of the steering shaft to the offset shaft. With this configuration, it is possible to detect the rotation angle of the steering shaft even when the angle detection sensor is disposed above the oil chamber. This simplifies the arrangement of the wiring connected to the angle detection sensor, and simplifies the configuration of the outboard motor.

[0017] (7) In the above outboard motor, the drive source may include an electric motor, and the outboard motor may further include a waterproof case disposed above the oil chamber and housing the electric motor and the angle detection sensor. With this configuration, the angle detection sensor is housed in a waterproof case disposed above the oil chamber, which simplifies the arrangement of wiring connected to the angle detection sensor, thereby simplifying the configuration of the outboard motor and preventing the angle detection sensor from getting wet.

[0018] (8) The above outboard motor may further include a rotor that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the steering shaft and at least a portion of which is located inside the waterproof case, and the angle detection sensor detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft by measuring the rotation angle of the rotor. With this configuration, it is possible to detect the rotation angle of the steering shaft even when the angle detection sensor is disposed inside the waterproof case. This simplifies the arrangement of the wiring connected to the angle detection sensor, simplifies the configuration of the outboard motor, and prevents the angle detection sensor from getting wet.

[0019] Furthermore, with this configuration, the angle detection sensor indirectly detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft by measuring the rotation angle of the rotor, so that an angle detection sensor can be selected according to the size of the rotor, regardless of the size of the steering shaft. Therefore, by using a rotor that is smaller than the steering shaft, the size of which is difficult to change due to the configuration of the outboard motor, the angle detection sensor can be made smaller, and ultimately, an increase in the size of the outboard motor can be prevented.

[0020] (9) In the above outboard motor, a portion of the steering shaft may be located inside the waterproof case, and rotation of the steering shaft may be transmitted to the rotor inside the waterproof case. With this configuration, it is possible to detect the rotation angle of the steering shaft even when the angle detection sensor is disposed inside the waterproof case. This simplifies the arrangement of the wiring connected to the angle detection sensor, simplifies the configuration of the outboard motor, and prevents the angle detection sensor from getting wet.

[0021] (10) In the above outboard motor, the rotor may be an offset shaft parallel to the steering shaft, and the outboard motor may further include a transmission mechanism disposed inside the waterproof case for transmitting rotation of the steering shaft to the offset shaft. With this configuration, it is possible to detect the rotation angle of the steering shaft even when the angle detection sensor is disposed inside the waterproof case. This simplifies the arrangement of the wiring connected to the angle detection sensor, simplifies the configuration of the outboard motor, and prevents the angle detection sensor from getting wet.

[0022] (11) Another outboard motor disclosed in this specification includes a drive source, a drive shaft, a steering shaft, and an angle detection sensor. The drive shaft extends in a vertical direction and rotates by the driving force of the drive source. The steering shaft has a hollow tube shape and is disposed so as to surround an outer periphery of the drive shaft. The angle detection sensor is disposed in the air and detects a rotation angle of the steering shaft.

[0023] According to this outboard motor, since the angle detection sensor is disposed in the air, the layout of the wiring connected to the angle detection sensor can be simplified, and the configuration of the outboard motor can be simplified.

[0024] The technology disclosed in this specification can be realized in various forms, for example, in the form of an outboard motor, a boat equipped with an outboard motor and a hull, etc. Effect of the Invention

[0025] According to this outboard motor, since the angle detection sensor is disposed in the air, the layout of the wiring connected to the angle detection sensor can be simplified, and the configuration of the outboard motor can be simplified. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a ship 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of an outboard motor 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross-sectional configuration of an outboard motor body 110. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a detailed configuration of an angle detection assembly 160. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a detailed configuration of an angle detection assembly 160. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a detailed configuration of an angle detection assembly 160. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] A. Embodiment: A-1. Ship 10 configuration: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a ship 10 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1 and other drawings described later, arrows are shown in each direction based on the position of the ship 10. More specifically, in each drawing, arrows are shown representing the front (FRONT), rear (REAR), left (LEFT), right (RIGHT), upper (UPPER), and lower (LOWER). The front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction are directions perpendicular to each other. In this specification, an axis, member, etc. extending in the front-rear direction does not necessarily have to be parallel to the front-rear direction. An axis or member extending in the front-rear direction includes an axis or member inclined within a range of ±45° with respect to the front-rear direction. Similarly, an axis or member extending in the up-down direction includes an axis or member inclined within a range of ±45° with respect to the up-down direction, and an axis or member extending in the left-right direction includes an axis or member inclined within a range of ±45° with respect to the left-right direction.

[0028] The boat 10 includes a hull 200 and an outboard motor 100. In this embodiment, the boat 10 includes one outboard motor 100, but the boat 10 may include a plurality of outboard motors 100.

[0029] (Configuration of hull 200) The hull 200 is a portion of the vessel 10 on which crew members board. The hull 200 has a hull main body 202 having a living space 204, a cockpit 240 installed in the living space 204, and a steering device 250 installed near the cockpit 240. The steering device 250 is a device for maneuvering the vessel, and has, for example, a steering wheel 252, a shift / throttle lever 254, a joystick 255, a monitor 256, and an input device 258. The hull 200 also has a partition wall 220 that defines the rear end of the living space 204, and a transom 210 located at the rear end of the hull 200. A space 206 exists between the transom 210 and the partition wall 220 in the fore-and-aft direction.

[0030] (Configuration of outboard motor 100) 2 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the outboard motor 100 according to this embodiment. The following describes the outboard motor 100 in the reference position, unless otherwise specified. The reference position is a position in which the rotation axis Ac of the output shaft 123 (described later) extends in the vertical direction, and the rotation axis Ap of the propeller shaft 135 (described later) extends in the front-rear direction. The front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction are each determined based on the outboard motor 100 in the reference position.

[0031] The outboard motor 100 is a device that generates thrust to propel the boat 10. The outboard motor 100 is attached to a transom 210 at the rear of a hull 200. The outboard motor 100 has an outboard motor body 110 and a suspension device 150.

[0032] (Configuration of the outboard engine body 110) The outboard engine body 110 has a waterproof case 112 , a middle case 116 , a lower case 118 , a motor assembly 120 , a control assembly 500 , a transmission mechanism 130 , a propeller 111 , and a steering mechanism 140 .

[0033] The waterproof case 112 is a container arranged on the upper part of the outboard motor main body 110. The waterproof case 112 houses an electric motor 122, electrical components, etc., which will be described later, and protects the electric motor 122 and the electrical components from exposure to seawater. The waterproof case 112 has an upper cover 113 that forms the upper part of the waterproof case 112, and a lower box 114 that forms the lower part of the waterproof case 112. The lower box 114 has a box-like shape with an open top. The upper cover 113 is removably attached to the lower box 114 so as to cover the upper part of the lower box 114.

[0034] The middle case 116 is a housing located below the waterproof case 112 and disposed near the center of the outboard motor body 110 in the vertical direction. The upper part of the middle case 116 is connected to the lower box 114 of the waterproof case 112. The middle case 116 is an example of a case.

[0035] The lower case 118 is located below the middle case 116 and is a housing disposed at the bottom of the outboard motor main body 110.

[0036] The motor assembly 120 is housed inside the waterproof case 112. The motor assembly 120 includes an electric motor 122 as a drive source. The electric motor 122 is a prime mover that generates power. The electric motor 122 has an output shaft 123 that outputs the drive force generated by the electric motor 122. The output shaft 123 is disposed in such a position that its rotation axis Ac extends in the vertical direction. The electric motor 122 is an example of a drive source.

[0037] The control assembly 500 is housed inside the waterproof case 112 and is disposed above the motor assembly 120. The control assembly 500 controls the rotation and the like of the electric motor 122. The control assembly 500 has a control case 502, an MCU (Motor Control Unit) 510, and a power supply line 520 (see FIG. 3). The MCU 510 is a circuit board that controls the rotation and the like of the electric motor 122. The control case 502 houses the MCU 510. The power supply line 520 supplies power to the MCU 510 from, for example, a battery or the like (not shown) disposed in the hull 200.

[0038] The transmission mechanism 130 is a mechanism that transmits the driving force of the electric motor 122 to the propeller 111. The transmission mechanism 130 has a primary reduction gear 300, a drive shaft 133, and a propeller shaft 135.

[0039] The primary reduction gear 300 is housed inside the waterproof case 112 and disposed below the motor assembly 120. The primary reduction gear 300 is coupled to the output shaft 123 of the electric motor 122 and the drive shaft 133. The primary reduction gear 300 reduces the driving force of the electric motor 122 and transmits it to the drive shaft 133. This makes it possible to rotate the propeller 111 with a desired torque.

[0040] The drive shaft 133 is a rod-shaped member that transmits power to the propeller shaft 135, and is disposed in a position extending in the vertical direction. The drive shaft 133 is housed so as to straddle the interior of the waterproof case 112, the interior of the middle case 116, and the interior of the lower case 118.

[0041] The propeller shaft 135 is a rod-shaped member and is disposed relatively below the outboard motor body 110 in a position extending in the fore-and-aft direction. The propeller shaft 135 rotates together with the propeller 111. A front end of the propeller shaft 135 is housed in the lower case 118, and a rear end of the propeller shaft 135 protrudes rearward from the lower case 118.

[0042] A gear is provided on each of the lower end of the drive shaft 133 and the front end of the propeller shaft 135. The gear of the drive shaft 133 and the gear of the propeller shaft 135 mesh with each other, whereby the rotation of the drive shaft 133 is transmitted to the propeller shaft 135.

[0043] The propeller 111 is a rotating body having a plurality of blades, and is attached to the rear end of the propeller shaft 135. The propeller 111 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the propeller shaft 135 about the rotation axis Ap. The propeller 111 generates thrust for propelling the vessel 10 by rotating.

[0044] The steering mechanism 140 is a mechanism that controls changes in the traveling direction of the vessel 10. The steering mechanism 140 has a steering shaft 141. The steering mechanism 140 will be described in detail later.

[0045] (Configuration of Suspension Device 150) The suspension device 150 is a device that suspends the outboard motor body 110 to the hull 200. The suspension device 150 has a pair of left and right clamp brackets 152, a tilt shaft 154, and a swivel bracket 156.

[0046] The pair of left and right clamp brackets 152 are disposed at the rear of the hull 200, spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction, and are fixed to the transom 210 of the hull 200, for example, by bolts.

[0047] The tilt shaft 154 is a rod-shaped member, and is rotatably supported by the clamp bracket 152. A tilt axis At, which is the center line of the tilt shaft 154, constitutes an axis in the horizontal direction (left-right direction) during tilt operation of the outboard motor 100.

[0048] The swivel bracket 156 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between a pair of clamp brackets 152, and is supported by the clamp brackets 152 via a tilt shaft 154 so as to be rotatable about the tilt axis At. The swivel bracket 156 is driven to rotate about the tilt axis At relative to the clamp brackets 152 by a tilt device (not shown) including an actuator such as a hydraulic cylinder.

[0049] When the swivel bracket 156 rotates about the tilt axis At relative to the clamp bracket 152, the outboard motor body 110 supported by the swivel bracket 156 also rotates about the tilt axis At. This achieves a tilt operation that rotates the outboard motor body 110 up and down relative to the hull 200. The tilt operation of the outboard motor 100 makes it possible to change the angle of the outboard motor body 110 about the tilt axis At within a range from a tilt down state in which the propeller 111 is located underwater (a state in which the outboard motor 100 is in a reference position) to a tilt up state in which the propeller 111 is located above the water surface. Note that a trim operation can also be performed to adjust the attitude of the boat 10 while traveling by adjusting the angle of the outboard motor body 110 about the tilt axis At.

[0050] A-2. Detailed configuration of the steering shaft 141 and its surroundings: FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross-sectional configuration of the outboard motor main body 110. As shown in FIG. 3, the steering shaft 141 is a hollow tubular member arranged to surround the outer periphery of the drive shaft 133 at a position not in contact with the drive shaft 133. At least a part of the steering shaft 141 is accommodated in the middle case 116. More specifically, the middle case 116 is formed with an oil chamber 117 in which oil is stored. The middle case 116 accommodates at least a part of the steering shaft 141 (specifically, the middle part of the steering shaft 141 in the up-down direction) in the oil chamber 117. The steering shaft 141 is supported rotatably about the rotation axis As by being attached to a bearing provided in the middle case 116, for example. An upper part of the steering shaft 141 is located above the oil chamber 117 and inside the waterproof case 112 (see FIG. 5). A lower part of the steering shaft 141 protrudes downward from the middle case 116 and is connected to the lower case 118.

[0051] The steering shaft 141 rotates around a rotation axis As by, for example, the driving force of a drive motor (not shown) housed in the middle case 116. When the steering shaft 141 rotates, the lower case 118 connected to the steering shaft 141 also rotates, and the direction of the propeller 111 is changed. As a result, the direction of the thrust generated by the propeller 111 is changed, and the boat 10 is steered.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 3, the outboard motor 100 further includes an angle detection assembly 160 that detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft 141.

[0053] 4 to 6 are explanatory diagrams showing a detailed configuration of the angle detection assembly 160. The angle detection assembly 160 has a potentiometer 168, an offset shaft 164, a transmission mechanism 163, and a cover 166.

[0054] The offset shaft 164 is a shaft member disposed in parallel with the drive shaft 133 and the steering shaft 141. At least a portion of the offset shaft 164 is located above the oil chamber 117 and inside the waterproof case 112. The offset shaft 164 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the steering shaft 141, as will be described in detail later. The offset shaft 164 is an example of a rotating body.

[0055] The transmission mechanism 163 is a mechanism that transmits the rotation of the steering shaft 141 to the offset shaft 164. The transmission mechanism 163 is disposed above the oil chamber 117 and inside the waterproof case 112. More specifically, the transmission mechanism 163 includes a first gear 161 and a second gear 162. The first gear 161 is attached to the outer periphery of a portion of the steering shaft 141 that is located inside the waterproof case 112. The second gear 162 is attached to the outer periphery of a portion of the offset shaft 164 that is located inside the waterproof case 112. The first gear 161 and the second gear 162 are disposed at positions where they mesh with each other. In this embodiment, the gear ratio between the first gear 161 and the second gear 162 is, for example, 1:1.

[0056] The rotation of the steering shaft 141 is transmitted to the offset shaft 164 inside the waterproof case 112, above the oil chamber 117, by the action of the transmission mechanism 163. Specifically, when the steering shaft 141 rotates by the driving force of the driving motor housed in the middle case 116, the rotation of the steering shaft 141 is transmitted to the first gear 161, the rotation of the first gear 161 is transmitted to the second gear 162, and the rotation of the second gear 162 is transmitted to the offset shaft 164. As a result, the offset shaft 164 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the steering shaft 141. In this embodiment, since the gear ratio between the first gear 161 and the second gear 162 is 1:1, the rotation speed of the steering shaft 141 and the rotation speed of the offset shaft 164 are the same.

[0057] As will be described later in detail, the potentiometer 168 is a sensor that detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft 141 by measuring the rotation angle of the offset shaft 164. The potentiometer 168 is disposed above the oil chamber 117, and is therefore not disposed in oil. In other words, the potentiometer 168 is disposed in the air, and is surrounded by air. More specifically, the potentiometer 168 is housed below the primary reduction gear 300 inside the waterproof case 112. That is, the potentiometer 168 is disposed between the electric motor 122 and the oil chamber 117 in the up-down direction, and between the primary reduction gear 300 and the oil chamber 117. Although not shown in the cross section shown in FIG. 3, a pipe for pouring oil into the oil chamber 117 is disposed below the primary reduction gear 300 and above the oil chamber 117, and therefore there is a dead space between the primary reduction gear 300 and the oil chamber 117, and it can be said that the potentiometer 168 is disposed in the dead space. Moreover, the wiring connected to the potentiometer 168 and connecting the potentiometer 168 to electrical components is also housed inside the waterproof case 112, similar to the potentiometer 168. That is, the potentiometer 168 and the wiring connected to the potentiometer 168 are both housed inside the waterproof case 112 and are not arranged across other housings (e.g., the middle case 116) other than the waterproof case 112, simplifying the wiring arrangement. The potentiometer 168 is an example of an angle detection sensor.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 6, the transmission mechanism 163 and the offset shaft 164 are at least partially covered by a cover 166. Furthermore, a potentiometer 168 is attached to the upper part of the offset shaft 164. Specifically, the potentiometer 168 has, for example, a resistor and a wiper (not shown), and is configured so that the displacement amount of the wiper can be measured by the voltage between one terminal of the resistor and the wiper by applying a voltage to both ends of the resistor. Furthermore, the wiper of the potentiometer 168 is configured to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the offset shaft 164. This allows the potentiometer 168 to measure the rotation angle of the offset shaft 164. That is, the potentiometer 168 indirectly detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft 141 by measuring the rotation angle of the offset shaft 164 that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the steering shaft 141.

[0059] A-3. Advantages of this embodiment: As described above, the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment includes the drive source, the drive shaft 133, the steering shaft 141, the middle case 116, and the potentiometer 168. The drive shaft 133 extends in the vertical direction and is rotated by the drive force of the drive source. The hollow tubular steering shaft 141 is disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the drive shaft 133. The middle case 116 is disposed below the drive source and has an oil chamber 117 in which oil is stored, and at least a portion of the steering shaft 141 is accommodated in the oil chamber 117. The potentiometer 168 is disposed above the oil chamber 117 and detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft 141.

[0060] According to the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, the potentiometer 168 is disposed outside the oil chamber 117 formed in the middle case 116. In other words, because the potentiometer 168 is disposed in the air, the arrangement of the wiring connected to the potentiometer 168 is simplified, and the configuration of the outboard motor 100 can be simplified.

[0061] Furthermore, in the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, the potentiometer 168 is disposed in the vertical direction between the drive source and the oil chamber 117. According to the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, when a dead space is formed between the drive source and the oil chamber 117 in the vertical direction, for example, the potentiometer 168 can be disposed in the dead space, and the configuration of the outboard motor 100 can be simplified.

[0062] The outboard motor 100 of this embodiment further includes a primary reduction gear 300 disposed below the drive source and above the oil chamber 117, and the potentiometer 168 is disposed between the primary reduction gear 300 and the oil chamber 117 in the vertical direction. According to the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, when a dead space is formed between the primary reduction gear 300 and the oil chamber 117 in the vertical direction, for example, the potentiometer 168 can be disposed in the dead space, and the configuration of the outboard motor 100 can be simplified.

[0063] The outboard motor 100 of this embodiment further includes a rotor that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the steering shaft 141 and at least a portion of which is located above the oil chamber 117, and the potentiometer 168 detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft 141 by measuring the rotation angle of the rotor. According to the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, it is possible to detect the rotation angle of the steering shaft 141 even when the potentiometer 168 is located above the oil chamber 117. This simplifies the arrangement of the wiring connected to the potentiometer 168, and therefore the configuration of the outboard motor 100.

[0064] Furthermore, according to the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, the potentiometer 168 indirectly detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft 141 by measuring the rotation angle of the rotating body, so that the potentiometer 168 can be selected in accordance with the size of the rotating body, regardless of the size of the steering shaft 141. Therefore, by using a rotating body that is smaller than the steering shaft 141, the size of which is difficult to change due to the configuration of the outboard motor 100, the potentiometer 168 can be made smaller, and ultimately, an increase in the size of the outboard motor 100 can be prevented.

[0065] Furthermore, in the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, a portion of the steering shaft 141 is located above the oil chamber 117, and the rotation of the steering shaft 141 is transmitted to the rotating body above the oil chamber 117. With the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, it is possible to detect the rotation angle of the steering shaft 141 even when the potentiometer 168 is located above the oil chamber 117. This simplifies the arrangement of the wiring connected to the potentiometer 168, and allows the configuration of the outboard motor 100 to be simplified.

[0066] Furthermore, in the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, the rotating body is an offset shaft 164 that is parallel to the steering shaft 141, and the outboard motor 100 further includes a transmission mechanism 163 that is disposed above the oil chamber 117 and transmits the rotation of the steering shaft 141 to the offset shaft 164. With the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, it is possible to detect the rotation angle of the steering shaft 141 even when the potentiometer 168 is disposed above the oil chamber 117. This simplifies the arrangement of the wiring connected to the potentiometer 168, and allows the configuration of the outboard motor 100 to be simplified.

[0067] Furthermore, in the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, the drive source includes the electric motor 122, and the outboard motor 100 further includes a waterproof case 112 that is disposed above the oil chamber 117 and that houses the electric motor 122 and the potentiometer 168. According to the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, the potentiometer 168 is housed in the waterproof case 112 that is disposed above the oil chamber 117, so that the arrangement of the wiring connected to the potentiometer 168 is simplified, the configuration of the outboard motor 100 can be simplified, and the potentiometer 168 can be prevented from getting wet.

[0068] The outboard motor 100 of this embodiment further includes a rotor that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the steering shaft 141 and at least a portion of which is located inside the waterproof case 112, and the potentiometer 168 detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft 141 by measuring the rotation angle of the rotor. According to the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, it is possible to detect the rotation angle of the steering shaft 141 even when the potentiometer 168 is located inside the waterproof case 112. This simplifies the arrangement of the wiring connected to the potentiometer 168, thereby simplifying the configuration of the outboard motor 100 and preventing the potentiometer 168 from getting wet.

[0069] Furthermore, according to the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, the potentiometer 168 indirectly detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft 141 by measuring the rotation angle of the rotating body, so that the potentiometer 168 can be selected in accordance with the size of the rotating body, regardless of the size of the steering shaft 141. Therefore, by using a rotating body that is smaller than the steering shaft 141, the size of which is difficult to change due to the configuration of the outboard motor 100, the potentiometer 168 can be made smaller, and ultimately, an increase in the size of the outboard motor 100 can be prevented.

[0070] Furthermore, in the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, a portion of the steering shaft 141 is located inside the waterproof case 112, and rotation of the steering shaft 141 is transmitted to a rotating body inside the waterproof case 112. With the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, it is possible to detect the rotation angle of the steering shaft 141 even when the potentiometer 168 is disposed inside the waterproof case 112. This simplifies the arrangement of the wiring connected to the potentiometer 168, making it possible to simplify the configuration of the outboard motor 100 and prevent the potentiometer 168 from getting wet.

[0071] Furthermore, in the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, the rotating body is an offset shaft 164 that is parallel to the steering shaft 141, and the outboard motor 100 further includes a transmission mechanism 163 that is disposed inside the waterproof case 112 and transmits the rotation of the steering shaft 141 to the offset shaft 164. With the outboard motor 100 of this embodiment, it is possible to detect the rotation angle of the steering shaft 141 even when the potentiometer 168 is disposed inside the waterproof case 112. This simplifies the arrangement of the wiring connected to the potentiometer 168, thereby simplifying the configuration of the outboard motor 100 and preventing the potentiometer 168 from getting wet.

[0072] B. Variations: The technology disclosed in this specification is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the following modifications are also possible.

[0073] The configurations of the boat 10 and the outboard motor 100 in the above embodiment are merely examples and can be modified in various ways. For example, in the above embodiment, only the electric motor 122 is included as the drive source, but the drive source may include both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine such as an engine, or may be composed of only an internal combustion engine.

[0074] In the above embodiment, the outboard motor 100 is provided with the primary reduction gear 300, but it does not necessarily have to be provided with a primary reduction gear.

[0075] In the above embodiment, the rotation of the steering shaft 141 is transmitted to the offset shaft 164 above the oil chamber 117, but the rotation of the steering shaft may be transmitted to a rotating body inside the oil chamber.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the offset shaft 164 is provided as the rotating body, but the rotating body is not limited to this.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the outboard motor 100 is provided with a waterproof case 112, but the outboard motor does not necessarily have to be provided with a waterproof case.

[0078] In the above embodiment, the transmission mechanism 163 has the first gear 161 and the second gear 162, but the configuration of the transmission mechanism is not limited to this. For example, the transmission mechanism may have a first sprocket attached to the steering shaft, a second sprocket attached to the rotating body, and a chain that meshes with each of the first sprocket and the second sprocket.

[0079] In the above embodiment, the gear ratio between the first gear 161 and the second gear 162 is 1:1, but the gear ratio between the first gear and the second gear is not limited to this.

[0080] In the above embodiment, the potentiometer 168 is used as the angle detection sensor, but other angle detection sensors such as a rotary sensor or a rotary encoder may also be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 10: Boat 100: Outboard motor 110: Outboard motor body 111: Propeller 112: Waterproof case 113: Upper cover 114: Lower box 116: Middle case 117: Oil chamber 118: Lower case 120: Motor assembly 122: Electric motor 123: Output shaft 130: Transmission mechanism 133: Drive shaft 135: Propeller shaft 140: Steering mechanism 141: Steering shaft 150: Suspension device 152: Clamp bracket 154: Tilt shaft 156: Swivel bracket 160: Angle detection assembly 161: First gear 162: Second gear 163: Transmission mechanism 164: Offset shaft 166: Cover 168: Potentiometer 200: Hull 202: Hull body 204: Living space 206: Space 210: Transom 220: Partition wall 240: Cockpit 250: Control device 252: Steering wheel 254: Shift / throttle lever 255: Joystick 256: Monitor 258: Input device 300: Primary reduction gear 500: Control assembly 502: Control case 510: MCU 520: Power line Ac: Rotation axis Ap: Rotation axis As: Rotation axis At: Tilt axis

Claims

1. An outboard motor, A driving source; a drive shaft extending in a vertical direction and rotated by a driving force of the driving source; a hollow tubular steering shaft arranged to surround the outer periphery of the drive shaft; a case disposed below the drive source, the case having an oil chamber formed therein for storing oil, the case housing at least a portion of the steering shaft in the oil chamber; an angle detection sensor disposed above the oil chamber and configured to detect a rotation angle of the steering shaft; An outboard motor.

2. 2. An outboard motor according to claim 1, The angle detection sensor is disposed between the drive source and the oil chamber in the vertical direction.

3. 3. The outboard motor according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a primary reduction gear disposed below the drive source and above the oil chamber; The angle detection sensor is disposed between the primary reduction gear and the oil chamber in the vertical direction.

4. An outboard motor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a rotating body that rotates in conjunction with rotation of the steering shaft and has at least a portion located above the oil chamber, The angle detection sensor detects a rotation angle of the steering shaft by measuring a rotation angle of the rotor.

5. 5. An outboard motor according to claim 4, A portion of the steering shaft is located above the oil chamber, An outboard motor, wherein the rotation of the steering shaft is transmitted to the rotating body above the oil chamber.

6. 6. An outboard motor according to claim 4 or 5, the rotating body is an offset shaft parallel to the steering shaft, The outboard motor further includes a transmission mechanism disposed above the oil chamber and configured to transmit rotation of the steering shaft to the offset shaft.

7. An outboard motor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The drive source includes an electric motor, The outboard motor further includes a waterproof case that is disposed above the oil chamber and that houses the electric motor and the angle detection sensor.

8. 8. An outboard motor according to claim 7, further comprising: a rotor that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the steering shaft and at least a portion of which is located inside the waterproof case; The angle detection sensor detects a rotation angle of the steering shaft by measuring a rotation angle of the rotor.

9. 9. An outboard motor according to claim 8, a portion of the steering shaft is located inside the waterproof case, The rotation of the steering shaft is transmitted to the rotating body inside the waterproof case.

10. 10. An outboard motor according to claim 8 or claim 9, the rotating body is an offset shaft parallel to the steering shaft, The outboard motor further includes a transmission mechanism disposed inside the waterproof case and configured to transmit rotation of the steering shaft to the offset shaft.

11. The hull and an outboard motor according to any one of claims 1 to 10 attached to a rear part of the hull; A vessel comprising:

12. An outboard motor, A driving source; a drive shaft extending in a vertical direction and rotated by a driving force of the driving source; a hollow tubular steering shaft arranged to surround the outer periphery of the drive shaft; an angle detection sensor disposed in the air and configured to detect a rotation angle of the steering shaft; An outboard motor.

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