Electric steering assembly for marine craft auxiliary outboard motor

Abstract

An auxiliary outboard motor for a marine craft is provided. The motor includes a stationary portion for housing an engine and a first portion of a driveshaft operatively coupled to the engine. The motor also includes a lower unit rotatably coupled to the stationary portion, the lower unit housing a propeller shaft and a second portion of the driveshaft, the lower unit being less than half of an overall height of the auxiliary outboard motor.

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed: 
     
         1 . An auxiliary outboard motor for a marine craft comprising:
 a stationary portion for housing an engine and a first portion of a driveshaft operatively coupled to the engine; and   a lower unit rotatably coupled to the stationary portion, the lower unit housing a propeller shaft and a second portion of the driveshaft, the lower unit being less than half of an overall height of the auxiliary outboard motor.   
     
     
         2 . The auxiliary outboard motor of  claim 1 , wherein the lower unit is less than one-third of the overall height of the auxiliary outboard motor. 
     
     
         3 . The auxiliary outboard motor of  claim 1 , wherein the lower unit is rotatably coupled to the stationary portion with a bearing and seal assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The auxiliary outboard motor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an electric motor located within the stationary portion;   a motor driver having a wired connection to the electric motor;   a steering controller in operative communication with the motor driver; and   a gear arrangement driven by the electric motor, the gear arrangement operatively coupled to the lower unit to control rotation of the lower unit for steering of the marine craft.   
     
     
         5 . The auxiliary outboard motor of  claim 4 , wherein the motor driver has a wired connection to the steering controller. 
     
     
         6 . The auxiliary outboard motor of  claim 4 , wherein the motor driver has a wireless connection to the steering controller. 
     
     
         7 . The auxiliary outboard motor of  claim 4 , wherein the steering controller comprises a spring centering knob. 
     
     
         8 . The auxiliary outboard motor of  claim 4 , wherein the steering controller comprises a wireless device in wireless communication with the motor driver. 
     
     
         9 . An auxiliary outboard motor for a marine craft comprising:
 a stationary portion for housing an engine and a first portion of a driveshaft operatively coupled to the engine;   a lower unit rotatably coupled to the stationary portion, the lower unit housing a propeller shaft and a second portion of the driveshaft; and   a steering controller system comprising:
 an electric motor located within the stationary portion; 
 a steering controller in operative communication with the electric motor; and 
 a gear arrangement driven by the electric motor, the gear arrangement operatively coupled to the lower unit to control rotation of the lower unit for steering of the marine craft. 
   
     
     
         10 . The auxiliary outboard motor of  claim 9 , further comprising a motor driver located in the stationary portion and in operative communication with the steering controller and in wired connection with the electric motor. 
     
     
         11 . The auxiliary outboard motor of  claim 10 , wherein the motor driver has a wired connection to the steering controller. 
     
     
         12 . The auxiliary outboard motor of  claim 10 , wherein the motor driver has a wireless connection to the steering controller. 
     
     
         13 . The auxiliary outboard motor of  claim 12 , wherein the steering controller comprises a spring centering knob. 
     
     
         14 . The auxiliary outboard motor of  claim 12 , wherein the steering controller comprises a wireless device in wireless communication with the motor driver. 
     
     
         15 . The auxiliary outboard motor of  claim 9 , the lower unit being less than half of an overall height of the auxiliary outboard motor. 
     
     
         16 . The auxiliary outboard motor of  claim 9 , wherein the lower unit is less than one-third of the overall height of the auxiliary outboard motor. 
     
     
         17 . The auxiliary outboard motor of  claim 9 , wherein the lower unit is rotatably coupled to the stationary portion with a bearing and seal assembly.