Steering system for outboard drive

Abstract

A steering system for an outboard drive includes a steering handle furnished on a watercraft, a steering device, a lever that has first and second ends, and a sensor. The first end of the lever is attached to the drive. The sensor senses an actual position of the steering handle to provide a position signal to the steering device. The steering device includes an electric motor that has an outer casing and a ball screw extending through the outer casing. The ball screw and the outer casing move relative to one another in accordance with the actual position of the steering handle. The second end of the lever is attached to the ball screw or the outer casing. The ball screw or the outer casing steers the drive through the lever.

1 . A steering system for an outboard drive comprising a steering handle adapted to be furnished on a watercraft, a steering device, a lever having first and second ends, the first end being attached to the drive, and a sensor sensing an actual position of the steering handle to provide a position signal to the steering device, the steering device comprising an electric motor having an outer casing and a ball screw arranged to extend through the outer casing, the ball screw and the outer casing moving relative to one another in accordance with the actual position of the steering handle, the second end of the lever being attached to the ball screw or the outer casing, the ball screw or the outer casing steering the drive through the lever.  
   
   
       2 . The steering system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the drive comprises a drive unit, a steering shaft that is attached to the drive unit and that extends generally vertically, a swivel bracket arranged to journal the steering shaft for steering movement of the drive unit about a steering axis, a clamping bracket adapted to be mounted on the watercraft, a tilt pin extending generally horizontally through the swivel bracket and the clamping bracket, the clamping bracket supporting the swivel bracket with the drive unit for tilt movement about a tilt axis, a support member or support unit arranged to extend from the tilt pin or the swivel bracket to support the ball screw, and a link unit arranged to couple the second end of the lever with the outer casing of the electric motor.  
   
   
       3 . The steering system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the support unit comprises a pair of support members attached to respective ends of the tilt pin.  
   
   
       4 . The steering system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the link unit includes a link member and a connecting pin, the link member being connected to the second end of the lever via the connecting pin.  
   
   
       5 . The steering system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the first end of the lever is attached to the steering shaft.  
   
   
       6 . The steering system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the drive comprises a drive unit, a steering shaft that is attached to the drive unit and that extends generally vertically, a swivel bracket arranged to journal the steering shaft for steering movement of the drive unit about a steering axis, a clamping bracket adapted to be mounted on the watercraft, a tilt pin extending generally horizontally through the swivel bracket and the clamping bracket, the clamping bracket supporting the swivel bracket with the drive unit for tilt movement about a tilt axis, a support member arranged to extend from the tilt pin or the swivel bracket to support the outer casing of the electric motor, and a link member arranged to extend from the second end of the lever to be coupled to the ball screw.  
   
   
       7 . The steering system as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the support member has first and second ends coupled to respective ends of the tilt pin, and the support member supports the outer casing of the electric motor between the first and second ends.  
   
   
       8 . The steering system as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the link member has a first end coupled to the second end of the lever through a first ball joint and has a second end coupled to the ball screw through a second ball joint.  
   
   
       9 . The steering system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the drive comprises a drive unit, a steering shaft attached to the drive unit and extending generally vertically, a swivel bracket arranged to journal the steering shaft for steering movement of the drive unit about a steering axis, a clamping bracket adapted to be mounted on the watercraft, and a tilt pin extending generally horizontally through the swivel bracket and the clamping bracket, wherein the clamping bracket supports the swivel bracket with the drive unit for tilt movement about a tilt axis, wherein the tilt pin is hollowed to support the outer casing of the electric motor therein, wherein the ball screw coaxially extends through the tilt pin, and wherein a link member is arranged to extend from the second end of the lever to be coupled to the ball screw.  
   
   
       10 . The steering system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the drive comprises a drive unit, a steering shaft attached to the drive unit and extending generally vertically, a swivel bracket arranged to journal the steering shaft for steering movement of the drive unit about a steering axis, a clamping bracket adapted to be mounted on the watercraft, and a tilt pin extending generally horizontally through the swivel bracket and the clamping bracket, wherein the clamping bracket supports the swivel bracket with the drive unit for tilt movement about a tilt axis, wherein the ball screw is coupled to the second end of the lever, and wherein the outer casing of the electric motor is adapted to be attached to the watercraft or is attached to the clamping bracket.  
   
   
       11 . The steering system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the ball screw and the second end of the lever are coupled together through a ball joint.  
   
   
       12 . The steering system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the drive comprises a drive unit, a steering shaft attached to the drive unit and extending generally vertically, a swivel bracket arranged to journal the steering shaft for steering movement of the drive unit about a steering axis, a clamping bracket adapted to be mounted on the watercraft, a tilt pin extending generally horizontally through the swivel bracket and the clamping bracket, wherein the clamping bracket supports the swivel bracket with the drive unit for tilt movement about a tilt axis, wherein a support member adapted to be attached to a transom of the watercraft or attached to the clamping bracket to support the ball screw, and wherein a link member arranged to extend from the second end of the lever to be coupled to the outer casing of the electric motor.  
   
   
       13 . The steering system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the link member and the second end of the lever are coupled together through a ball joint.  
   
   
       14 . The steering system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the outer casing of the electric motor is generally positioned at a center of the ball screw when a steering angle is zero.  
   
   
       15 . An outboard drive system comprising a drive unit, a steering shaft attached to the drive unit and extending generally vertically, a swivel bracket arranged to journal the steering shaft for steering movement of the drive unit about a steering axis, a clamping bracket adapted to be mounted on the watercraft, a tilt pin extending generally horizontally through the swivel bracket and the clamping bracket, the clamping bracket supporting the swivel bracket with the drive unit for tilt movement about a tilt axis, a lever having first and second ends, the first end being attached to the steering shaft, and a steering device including an electric motor that has an outer casing and a ball screw arranged to extend through the outer casing, the ball screw and the outer casing moving relative to each other, the second end of the lever being attached to the ball screw or the outer casing, the ball screw or the outer casing moving the steering shaft about the steering axis through the lever.