Outboard engine control system for motorboats

Abstract

A control system for an outboard engine of a powerboat, in which the position of a handlebar (19) is converted into yaw of the engine (11) about a vertical axis via a tube arrangement (1–5), a rotary joint (4), and a support‑and‑bearing assembly (30) fixed to a boat reference structure (31) (transom, gunwales, hull bottom or seat—individually or in combination). A handlebar twist grip (13) actuates the throttle via cables (14). In variant A (tiller engine) throttle actuation is provided in two alternatives: (I) the cables (14) cooperate with a tiller twist grip (15), from which cables (24) run to a throttle lever (23), or (II) after minor modifications the cables (14) are routed directly to the lever (23), bypassing the tiller twist grip (15), analogously to variant B (no tiller). A dual push‑pull cable arrangement is preferred; a single cable with a resilient return is admissible. The assembly (30) provides a stiff rotation axis and a horizontal pass‑through for the third tube (5), facilitating adaptation to various boat types.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The invention relates to a mechanical system for controlling the steering angle and the throttle of an outboard engine (11) of a boat. The position of a handlebar (19) is converted into rotation of the engine (11) about a vertical axis, and a twist grip on the handlebar (13) enables throttle control. The solution is suitable for engines with a tiller as well as for engines without a tiller (with a remote control).

[0004] Background art

[0005] Two approaches are commonly used to control an outboard engine. The first is tiller steering: rotation of the tiller by hand turns the engine, and a twist grip in the tiller regulates the throttle. The second is steering by a handlebar or steering wheel, typically mounted on a column or console; torque is transmitted to the engine by steering cables / rods (for example Bowden cables) and a steering gear (for example rotary or rack-and-pinion). These solutions are widely used on small powerboats.

[0006] Technical problem

[0007] The object was to provide a simple, modular and stiff system which: (I) transfers handlebar motion into engine deflection with low losses, (II) is applicable to engines with and without a tiller, (III) allows quick installation to different structural elements of a boat (transom, gunwales, hull bottom or seat), (IV) in variant A enables the use of an existing tiller twist grip.

[0008] Summary of the invention

[0009] The system comprises a first tube (1) mounted to an engine steering interface element (28), a T-shaped through-connector (2) slidably mounted on the first tube (1), a second tube (3) connected to the connector (2), and a rotary joint (4) connecting the second tube (3) to a third tube (5). The second tube (3) is rotatably supported in at least one of the rotary joint (4) and the T-shaped connector (2), while the third tube (5) is fixed with respect to the joint (4) and extends substantially parallel to the boat bottom. The third tube (5) passes through a support-and-bearing assembly (30) rigidly attached to a reference structure (31) of the boat, providing a vertical axis of rotation and a horizontal through-passage in which the tube (5) is immobilised. The handlebar (19) is connected to the third tube (5) by a tube (21). The handlebar twist grip (13) cooperates with cables (14) for throttle control. In variant A (tiller engine) throttle control can be implemented in two ways: (I) the cables (14) are routed to a tiller twist grip (15), from which cables (24) go to a throttle lever (23), or (II) after minor modifications, the cables (14) are routed directly to the lever (23), bypassing the tiller twist grip (15). In variant B (non-tiller engine) the cables (14) are routed directly to the lever (23). The system also allows an implementation with a single Bowden throttle cable; a two-cable push-pull arrangement is preferred for precision, but not mandatory.

[0010] Brief description of the drawings

[0011] Fig. 1 - Variant A (with tiller), plan view: tube arrangement (1-5); support-and-bearing assembly (30) with a four-way joint (10) mounted to the seat (12) on the reference structure (31); handlebar twist grip (13) with cables (14) to the tiller twist grip (15); cables (24) from (15) to the throttle lever (23); steering interface element (28) on the engine (11).

[0012] Fig. 2 - Variant A (with tiller), side view: as in Fig. 1, with the horizontal passage for tube (5) in assembly (30) and routing of cables (14) and (24).

[0013] Fig. 3 - Variant A (with tiller), enlarged / perspective view: connection of the cables (24) to the lever (23). This figure is selected for the abstract.

[0014] Fig. 4 - Variant B (without tiller), plan view: assembly (30) with a three-way joint (33) mounted simultaneously to the gunwales and the transom; cables (14) from the handlebar twist grip (13) routed directly to the lever (23).

[0015] Fig. 5 - Variant B (without tiller), side view: assembly (30) with a three-way joint (33) mounted simultaneously to the hull bottom and the transom; routing as in Fig. 4.

[0016] Fig. 6 - Variant B (without tiller), enlarged / supplementary view: routing as in Figs. 4-5.

[0017] Drawing conventions

[0018] • Leader lines to reference numerals are drawn with a slightly thinner stroke than construction lines for legibility.

[0019] • Broken lines depict elements hidden from view (covered by cowlings or other parts).

[0020] • Arrows indicate directions of movement during operation.

[0021] • The drawings are monochrome; each sheet contains only reference numerals and the figure caption "Fig. n".

[0022] • Figs. 1-6 illustrate the variant in which the second tube (3) is supported in the rotary joint (4); the variant with support in the T-connector (2), or simultaneous support in (2) and (4), is not illustrated.

[0023] List of reference signs

[0024] 1 - first tube; 2 - T-connector; 3 - second tube; 4 - rotary joint; 5 - third tube; 6, 7 - mounting plates of assembly (30); 8, 9 - bearing holes; 10 - four-way joint; 11 - outboard engine; 12 - seat; 13 - handlebar twist grip; 14 - cables from the handlebar twist grip; 15 - tiller twist grip; 16 - locating plates; 17 - clamp; 19 - handlebar; 20 - cable fixing at tiller; 21 - connecting tube; 23 - throttle lever; 24 - cables from tiller twist grip (15) to lever (23) (variant A only); 28 - engine steering interface element; 30 - support-and-bearing assembly; 31 - reference structure; 33 - three-way joint; 34 - clamping insert; 35 - vibration-damping elements.

[0025] Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

[0026] In variant A the first tube (1) is mounted to the element (28), which preferably is the front handgrip of the engine (11) or an adapter embracing its cowling. A T-shaped through-connector (2) is slidably mounted on the tube (1) and connected to the second tube (3). The second tube (3) is inserted from above into the rotary joint (4) and supported for rotation about its longitudinal axis. The joint (4) is rigidly connected to the third tube (5), which runs parallel to the hull bottom and is immobilised in the assembly (30). The assembly (30) may take the form of a four-way joint (10) with plates (6, 7) and holes (8, 9), or a three-way variant (33) with a clamping insert (34) and vibration-damping elements (35).

[0027] In a tiller-equipped engine, throttle control can be implemented (I) by coupling the cables (14) to the tiller twist grip (15), from which cables (24) lead to the throttle lever (23), or (II) after minor modifications by routing the cables (14) directly to the throttle lever (23), bypassing the tiller twist grip (15), analogously to variant B. Two contra-acting cables (14) are preferred for precise control; a single cable with a resilient return mechanism is also admissible.

[0028] The handlebar twist grip (13) tensions the cables (14). In variant A the cables (14) reach the tiller twist grip (15), where the cable housings are seated in plates (16) clamped by a clamp (17). The cables (14) wrap around the tiller twist grip (15) from both sides and their free ends are anchored in a fixing (20). From the tiller twist grip (15) to the throttle lever (23) run the cables (24). In variant B the cables (14) are routed directly to the lever (23), bypassing the tiller.

[0029] In an alternative embodiment, the rotational support of the second tube (3) is provided in the T-connector (2), for example by a plain bearing sleeve or a bearing insert in the cross-branch of the T; simultaneous support in (2) and (4) is also permissible. In each of these variants, torque transfer from the third tube (5) to the second tube (3) is ensured such that motion of the second tube (3) controls the first tube (1) in the horizontal plane.

[0030] The assembly (30) can be mounted to different elements of the reference structure (31): to the seat (12), to the transom, to the gunwales, or to the hull bottom, and in a preferred implementation simultaneously to at least two of them (for example transom + gunwales, bottom + transom) to improve stiffness and durability of the connection.

[0031] Editorial note: the numbering of reference signs is non-continuous; omitted numbers are not used and do not affect the scope of disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMSClaims1. A steering and throttle control system for an outboard engine (11) of a boat, comprising: a first tube (1) mounted to an engine steering interface element (28) on the engine (11); a T-shaped through-connector (2) slidably mounted on the first tube (1); a second tube (3) connected to the connector (2); a rotary joint (4) connecting the second tube (3) to a third tube (5), wherein the second tube (3) is rotatably supported in at least one of the rotary joint (4) and the T-shaped connector (2), and the third tube (5) is fixed with respect to the joint (4) and extends substantially parallel to the boat bottom; a support-and-bearing assembly (30) rigidly attached to a reference structure (31) of the boat and providing a vertical axis of rotation and a horizontal through-passage in which the third tube (5) is immobilised; and a handlebar (19) connected to the third tube (5) by a tube (21) and equipped with a twist grip (13) cooperating with cables (14) for throttle control.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cables (14) are routed to a tiller twist grip (15) of the engine (11), and from the tiller twist grip (15) cables (24) are routed to a throttle lever (23).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the cables (14) from the handlebar twist grip (13) are routed directly to the throttle lever (23), bypassing the tiller (variant B).

4. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support-and-bearing assembly (30) comprises a four-way joint (10) with mounting plates (6, 7) having bearing holes (8, 9), the third tube (5) extending horizontally through the joint (10).

5. The system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support-and-bearing assembly (30) comprises a three-way joint (33) with a clamping insert (34) configured to immobilise the third tube (5) and vibration-damping elements (35).

6. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support-and-bearing assembly (30) is mounted to the seat (12).

7. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support-and-bearing assembly (30) is mounted to at least one element of the reference structure (31) selected from the group consisting of: transom, gunwales and hull bottom.

8. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the steering interface element (28) is a front handgrip of the engine (11) or an adapter embracing the engine cowling.

9. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second tube (3) is rotatably supported in the joint (4) to decouple tube torsion during handlebar (19) motion.

10. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cables at the tiller twist grip (15) are seated in plates (16) clamped by a clamp (17), and the free cable ends are anchored in a fixing (20).

11. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein for a tiller-equipped engine the cables (14) are routed directly to the throttle lever (23), bypassing the tiller twist grip (15).

12. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein rotational support of the second tube (3) is provided in the T-shaped connector (2).

13. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second tube (3) is simultaneously supported in the T-shaped connector (2) and in the rotary joint (4).

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