Flexible Connector Assembly for Outboard Motor Shift Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional outboard motors face design limitations due to a rigid shift shaft that restricts the placement of the steering axis and exposes sensitive components to environmental damage and collision, limiting design flexibility and protection for these components.
Innovation Solution
A flexible connector assembly couples the shift actuator to the shift mechanism, allowing for gear changes in the transmission gearset, enabling the steering axis to be located offline with respect to the shift shaft connection point and protecting sensitive components from damage through a sealed powerhead compartment and optional shielding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid shift shaft is used to couple the shift actuator to the shift mechanism, then the structural connection is simple and reliable, but the steering axis placement is restricted and sensitive components are exposed to environmental damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible connector assembly instead of a rigid shift shaft to couple the shift actuator to the shift mechanism. This flexible connector allows the steering axis to be positioned independently from the shift shaft connection point, providing design flexibility while protecting sensitive components through a sealed powerhead compartment.
2Reliability
If a rigid shift shaft is used for component coupling, then the connection structure is simple, but sensitive components are exposed to environmental factors and collision
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible connector assembly provides both the necessary mechanical coupling and environmental protection for sensitive components. The sealed powerhead compartment works in conjunction with the flexible connector to shield components from water and collision, improving reliability without requiring complete structural redesign.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the steering axis is positioned independently from the shift shaft connection point, then design freedom is increased, but the connection between actuator and mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible connector assembly maintains reliable actuation force transmission while allowing independent positioning of the steering axis. The flexible connection preserves the mechanical coupling necessary for reliable force transmission while enabling the steering axis to be positioned optimally for other system requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An outboard motor is for propelling a marine vessel in water. The outboard motor has an upper cowling that covers an internal combustion engine, a driveshaft housing located below the internal combustion engine, and a lower gearcase located below the driveshaft housing. The lower gearcase encloses a transmission gearset configured to transmit power from the internal combustion engine to a propulsor. A shift actuator is covered by the upper cowling and a shift mechanism is located at least partially in the lower gearcase and configured to shift the transmission gearset into and between forward, neutral and reverse gears. A flexible connector assembly operatively couples the shift actuator to the shift mechanism so that actuation of the shift actuator causes the shift mechanism to shift the transmission gearset.