Outboard Motor Shift Mechanism Layout for Compact Electric Actuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of miniaturizing outboard motors equipped with electric actuators while maintaining ease of maintenance and emergency operation, as well as reducing manufacturing costs, is not adequately addressed by existing shift mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A shift mechanism for outboard motors incorporating an electric actuator with a guide structure, link rod, and shift shaft portion that facilitates compact layout and easy access, combined with a mount structure allowing selective fixation of either an electric actuator or cable mechanism, optimizing component arrangement around the engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an electric actuator is used in the shift mechanism, then control precision is improved, but device complexity increases and space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electric actuator, guide structure, link rod, and shift shaft portion into an integrated shift mechanism assembly. The actuator bracket consolidates mounting functions, and the guide structure integrates multiple guiding functions into a single component system, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator bracket is designed to provide both mounting support for the electric actuator and structural guidance functions. The guide structure serves multiple purposes including guiding linear motion, supporting the link rod, and facilitating rotational conversion, thereby reducing the need for separate components.
2Measurement precision
If an electric actuator is used in the shift mechanism, then control precision is improved, but the space required for component arrangement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The link rod is designed to extend in a direction different from the linear motion direction of the sliding body, utilizing three-dimensional space more efficiently. The bent configuration of the link rod allows it to connect components in a compact arrangement, converting linear motion to rotational motion within a smaller volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide structure is positioned to surround and guide the sliding body, with the link rod nested within the available space between the guide structure and other engine components. The actuator bracket is mounted to utilize existing engine structure space, nesting the entire assembly into the limited available volume near the engine.
3Ease of repair
If the shift mechanism is positioned for easy maintenance access, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional mounting requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator bracket is designed to provide both structural support and mounting functions, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets. The guide structure serves as both a guiding mechanism and a structural support element, reducing the number of separate components that would need to be accessed and assembled during maintenance.
4Device complexity
If a cable-type shift mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but operational feeling deteriorates and cable length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the cable-based mechanical system with an electric actuator system that directly drives the shift mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for long cables and intermediate mechanical linkages, providing more precise control and better operational feeling while maintaining relatively simple device complexity through the integrated assembly design.
Data Source
AI summary
A shift mechanism of an outboard motor has an electric actuator having a movable rod, and a guide structure for guiding a linear motion of a sliding body connected to the movable rod. In addition, the shift mechanism includes a link rod connected to the sliding body and bent to extend in a direction different from the direction of the linear motion of the sliding body. Furthermore, the shift mechanism includes a shift shaft part which is connected to the link rod, performs a rotational motion on the basis of a displacement of the link rod, and switches a range of a transmission mechanism provided below on the basis of the rotational motion.