Electric Steering Apparatus Lock Clutch Manual Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric steering apparatuses for vessel propulsion systems require complex operations and time-consuming adjustments to maintain the steered angle of outboard motors, as they often involve shutting off the driving force transmission path, leading to inefficient manual steering and potential misalignment of the motor's rotation angle.
Innovation Solution
An electric steering apparatus with a lock clutch and rotation stopper mechanism that allows for manual steering without shutting off the driving force transmission path, using a lock clutch that restricts rotation in one direction and enables it in the other, and a friction mechanism to switch between lock and release states, allowing for direct and efficient angle adjustment of the outboard motor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the driving force transmission path is shut off to enable manual steering, then the user can manually steer the outboard motor, but the positional relationship between the motor rotation angle and steered angle changes, requiring restoration operations
Solution Approach 1:
The lock clutch dynamically changes its state between locked and unlocked based on the direction of force applied. When the user manually steers the outboard motor, the clutch unlocks to allow manual operation. When the motor is pushed back by water resistance, the clutch locks to maintain the corrected position, eliminating the need for restoration operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission path is segmented into two independent force transmission directions using the lock clutch. One path transmits motor driving force to the steering shaft, while the other path transmits user manual force to the outboard motor. This segmentation allows each path to operate independently without interfering with the other.
2Ease of operation
If the driving force transmission path is not shut off during manual steering, then the positional relationship is maintained, but the user must rotate the rotating member multiple times due to motor deceleration, making steering troublesome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The lock clutch dynamically engages or disengages based on the direction of applied force. During manual steering, when the user applies force to rotate the rotating member, the clutch disengages to directly transmit this force to the outboard motor without the deceleration effect of the motor's inertia, enabling quick and easy steering operations.
3Reliability
If the lock clutch transmits force from output shaft to casing during reverse input, then the driving force transmission is shut off, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The casing acts as an intermediary element in the force transmission path. When reverse force is applied to the output shaft, the lock clutch redirects this force to the casing instead of allowing it to return to the input shaft. This intermediary structure enables one-way force transmission control without requiring complex additional components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy and quick manual steering of the outboard motor by eliminating the need for post-steering adjustments and maintaining the motor's angle without continuous motor drive, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing user effort.
Implementation Method 1
a lock clutch that transmits a driving force from the input shaft to the output shaft when a forward input in which a driving force is transmitted from the steering motor to the steering shaft is generated, and transmits a driving force from the output shaft to the casing so as to shut off the driving force transmission from the output shaft to the input shaft when a reverse input in which a driving force is transmitted from the steering shaft to the steering motor is generated
Implementation Method 2
a rotation stopper mechanism that is configured to switch between a lock state in which the rotation stopper mechanism restricts rotation of the casing and a release state in which the rotation stopper mechanism releases the rotation restriction of the casing
Data Source
AI summary
An electric steering apparatus for a vessel propulsion apparatus includes a steering motor, a lock clutch, and a rotation stopper mechanism. The steering motor generates a driving force to turn the steering shaft joined to an outboard motor. The lock clutch transmits a driving force from an input shaft to an output shaft when a forward input to transmit a driving force from the steering motor is generated, and shuts off the driving force transmission from the output shaft to the input shaft when a reverse input to transmit a driving force from the steering shaft is generated. The rotation stopper mechanism is configured to switch between a lock state in which the rotation stopper mechanism restricts rotation of the casing and a release state in which the rotation stopper mechanism releases the rotation restriction of the casing.