Outboard Motor Cover Structure With Reinforced Grip Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outboard motors require numerous fasteners for attaching the outer shell to the housing main body, compromising mechanical rigidity, strength, and aesthetic appeal, while also being difficult to maintain and service.
Innovation Solution
An outboard motor design featuring a grip portion integrated into the upper cover, which is reinforced with ribs and a shelf, allowing for easy detachment and minimal fasteners, while maintaining high mechanical strength and rigidity, and an outer shell that conceals the fasteners for an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the outer shell is firmly attached to the housing main body with a large number of fasteners, then the mechanical rigidity and strength are improved, but the ease of maintenance and the aesthetic appearance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The outer shell is divided into an upper outer shell and a lower outer shell that can be separately attached to the upper cover and lower case respectively. This segmentation allows each part to be independently maintained and serviced without removing all fasteners, improving ease of maintenance while maintaining overall structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip portion is extracted from the outer shell and integrated into the upper cover instead. This allows the outer shell to have a smoother, more aesthetic appearance without the protruding grip portion, while the upper cover provides the necessary structural strength for tilting the motor.
2Strength
If the outer shell is firmly attached to the housing main body with a large number of fasteners, then the mechanical rigidity and strength are improved, but the number of visible fasteners increases, deteriorating the aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The grip portion is extracted from the outer shell and integrated into the upper cover instead. This allows the outer shell to have a smoother, more aesthetic appearance without the protruding grip portion, while the upper cover provides the necessary structural strength for tilting the motor.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip portion function is merged with the upper cover structure. The upper cover integrates both the motor chamber closure function and the grip portion function, eliminating the need for separate grip portions on the outer shell and allowing for a cleaner aesthetic appearance.
3Ease of repair
If the outer shell is made detachable for ease of maintenance, then the ease of maintenance is improved, but the mechanical rigidity and strength deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The outer shell is divided into an upper outer shell and a lower outer shell that can be separately attached to the upper cover and lower case respectively. This segmentation allows each part to be independently maintained and serviced without removing all fasteners, improving ease of maintenance while maintaining overall structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Different attachment methods are applied to different parts of the outer shell. The upper outer shell uses a snap-fit connection with a retention protrusion and recess for easy maintenance, while the lower outer shell uses conventional fasteners for stronger attachment, allowing each part to have the appropriate attachment method for its function.
4Strength
If the upper cover is made highly rigid to provide adequate mechanical strength, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the number of fasteners required increases
Solution Approach 1:
Ribs are added locally at the grip portion area of the upper cover to provide additional structural strength where needed. This localized reinforcement allows the upper cover to maintain adequate mechanical strength for tilting the motor while using fewer overall fasteners, as the ribs provide internal structural support.
Data Source
AI summary
An outboard motor, comprises a housing main body (34) configured to be attached to a hull (14) of watercraft so as to be tilted upward, a propulsion device (32) attached to a lower part of the housing main body, a lower case (35) provided on an upper part of the housing main body, an upper cover (36) fixed to the lower case and defining a motor chamber jointly with the lower case, a motor (22) received in the motor chamber and configured to drive the propulsion device, and an outer shell (38) at least partly covering the upper cover, wherein the upper cover is provided with a grip portion (72) for the outboard motor, and the outer shell is provided with an opening (86) that permits access to the grip portion.