Outboard Motor Steering Rack Layout for Wider Steering Angle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outboard motors face a challenge in increasing the angular range of rotation about a steering shaft while minimizing the size increase in the right-left direction, necessitating a larger space requirement that restricts the arrangement of multiple motors on a hull.
Innovation Solution
The outboard motor design incorporates a rack that extends along the forward-rearward direction of the motor body, with the pinion located in the central right-left portion, allowing for increased angular rotation without significant size expansion in the right-left direction by positioning the rack inward of the motor's outermost end and aligning multiple motors on a hull.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the linearly moving member extends along the right-left direction to increase the angular range of rotation, then the angular range is improved, but the size of the outboard motor in the right-left direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rack (linearly moving member) is reoriented to extend along the forward-rearward direction instead of the right-left direction. This dimensional change allows the steering mechanism to achieve the required angular range of rotation while keeping the right-left width of the outboard motor compact, directly resolving the technical contradiction between rotation range and motor width
2Adaptability or versatility
If the size of the outboard motor in the right-left direction is increased, then the angular range of rotation is improved, but the arrangement of multiple motors on the hull is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the orientation of the rack from right-left extension to forward-rearward extension, the motor maintains a compact right-left profile that enables multiple motors to be arranged on the hull without contact, while still achieving the desired angular rotation range through forward-rearward space utilization
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances the angular range of rotation while reducing the motor's size in the right-left direction, facilitating the alignment of multiple motors on a hull without interference, thus optimizing space utilization and motor arrangement.
Implementation Method 1
a steering mechanism including a rotary member that rotates together with an outboard motor body and a linearly moving member that linearly moves to rotate the rotary member
Data Source
AI summary
An outboard motor includes a steering mechanism including a pinion located in a central portion of an outboard motor body in a right-left direction and operable to rotate together with the outboard motor body, and a rack operable to linearly move to rotate the pinion, and extending along a forward-rearward direction of the outboard motor body.