Electric Outboard Motor Tiller Handle Shift Switch Positioning

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric outboard motors require users to twist their body to operate the shift switch with their non-dominant hand, making it difficult to switch between forward and reverse modes efficiently due to the placement of the shift switch relative to the throttle grip.

Innovation Solution

The electric outboard motor design incorporates a tiller handle with an accelerator grip that includes a shift switch closer to the distal end, allowing the user to switch modes with the same hand, and optional features like a shift limiter, accelerator position sensor, and stoppers to ensure accurate mode switching and prevent unintentional changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the shift switch is disposed closer to the outboard motor main body than the throttle grip, then the shift switch can be operated with the remaining hand, but the user is required to twist their body and cannot easily operate the shift switch

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAbility to operate shift switch with remaining handVSAvoidEase of operating shift switch

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shift switch is repositioned from the conventional location near the motor main body to a new location on the tiller handle in a different spatial dimension, specifically closer to the distal end of the accelerator grip. This dimensional repositioning allows the shift switch to be within easy reach of the user's hand while grasping the throttle grip, eliminating the need for body twisting and making operation intuitive and convenient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the shift switch is located far from the accelerator grip, then the switch can be operated with the remaining hand, but the distance from the user's hand to the shift switch is long making operation difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAbility to operate shift switch with remaining handVSAvoidDistance from hand to shift switch

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The shift switch is repositioned from the conventional location near the motor main body to a new location on the tiller handle in a different spatial dimension, specifically closer to the distal end of the accelerator grip. This dimensional repositioning allows the shift switch to be within easy reach of the user's hand while grasping the throttle grip, eliminating the need for body twisting and making operation intuitive and convenient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11433982B2Electric outboard motor

Publication Date: 2022.09.06 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An electric outboard motor includes an outboard motor main body that includes an electric motor and a tiller handle that turns together with the outboard motor main body with respect to a hull. The tiller handle includes a handle bar that turns together with the outboard motor main body with respect to the hull, an accelerator grip that is rotatable with respect to the handle bar and that is rotated when the electric motor is rotated, and a shift switch located closer to a distal end of the accelerator grip with respect to a proximal end of the accelerator grip and that is operated when a shift state of the outboard motor main body is switched between a forward mode and a reverse mode.