Watercraft Steering Reduction Gear for Low-Turn Emergency Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing propulsion apparatuses for watercraft require cumbersome manual steering in emergencies due to the location of the emergency actuator device on the high-speed end of the steering gear mechanism, necessitating numerous turns to achieve a desired steering angle.
Innovation Solution
A propulsion apparatus with a steering reduction gear mechanism that includes a manual engagement member at the output end, allowing easy manual steering by minimizing the required effort, and a compact design that facilitates lubrication and access to components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the emergency actuator device is provided on the high-speed end of the steering gear mechanism, then the steering system can be actuated manually, but the operator must turn the actuator by a large number of turns which is highly cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The manual engagement member is positioned at the output end (low-speed end) of the steering reduction gear mechanism instead of the input end (high-speed end). This inversion allows the operator to turn the actuator through a small angle directly at the propeller shaft, rather than requiring numerous turns at the motor shaft, thereby dramatically reducing manual steering effort
2Ease of manufacture
If the output end of the steering reduction gear mechanism is positioned in the lower part, then lubrication can be performed efficiently, but the manual engagement member becomes less accessible to the operator
Solution Approach 1:
The steering reduction gear mechanism is arranged vertically with the input end at the lower part for lubrication efficiency, while the output end is positioned at the upper part for operator accessibility. This vertical dimensionality arrangement allows both requirements to be satisfied simultaneously by utilizing the vertical space within the upper case
Data Source
AI summary
A propulsion apparatus for watercraft, including a propulsion motor (M) supported by an upper case (10), a lower case (11) supported by the upper case so as to be rotatable around a steering axis, and rotatably supporting a drive shaft (22) for transmitting power from the propulsion motor to a propulsion device (13), a steering motor (30) received in the upper case, and a steering reduction gear mechanism (37) received in the upper case, wherein an output end (39) of the steering reduction gear mechanism or a part of a path of steering power transmission from the output end to the lower case is provided with a manual engagement member (57) which is configured to be engaged by a turning tool for manually turning the output end of the steering reduction gear mechanism.