Steering cylinder and steering system for outboard engines

Abstract

A steering cylinder for an outboard engine of a marine vessel. The steering cylinder includes a first cylinder including a first fluid port and a second fluid port. The first cylinder defines a first space. The steering cylinder includes a second cylinder defining a first end and a second end. The second cylinder defines a second space housing a hollow piston. The second cylinder is configured to move with respect to the first cylinder. The steering cylinder includes a hollow piston rod positioned at least partially within the first space and defining a first end and a second end, the first end being fluidly coupled with the first fluid port and the second end being coupled to the hollow piston. The steering cylinder is configured to actuate between an extended position and a retracted position to steer the marine vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A steering cylinder for an outboard engine of a marine vessel, the steering cylinder comprising:
 a first cylinder including a first fluid port and a second fluid port, the first fluid port positioned on a first end cap, and the first cylinder defining a first space;   a second cylinder defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second cylinder defining a second space housing a hollow piston, wherein the second cylinder is configured to move with respect to the first cylinder; and   a hollow piston rod positioned at least partially within the first space and defining a first end and a second end, the first end being fluidly coupled with the first fluid port and the second end being coupled to the hollow piston,   wherein the steering cylinder is configured to actuate between an extended position and a retracted position to steer the marine vessel, wherein in the extended position, the second cylinder is configured to move away from the first end cap, and in the retracted position, the second cylinder is configured to move towards the first end cap.   
     
     
         2 . The steering cylinder of  claim 1 , wherein the first cylinder is an outer cylinder, and the second cylinder is an inner cylinder,
 wherein the outer cylinder includes a first piston positioned within the first space and coupled with the first end of the inner cylinder, and   wherein in the extended position, the inner cylinder along with the first piston is configured to move away from the first end cap, and in the retracted position, the inner cylinder along with the first piston is configured to move towards the first end cap.   
     
     
         3 . The steering cylinder of  claim 2 , wherein in the extended position, hydraulic fluid flows into the second space from the first fluid port to move the first piston along with the inner cylinder away from the first end cap, wherein the hydraulic fluid flows into the second space through the hollow piston rod and the hollow piston, and
 wherein in the retracted position, the hydraulic fluid flows into the first space from the second fluid port to move the first piston along with the inner cylinder towards the first end cap.   
     
     
         4 . The steering cylinder of  claim 1 , wherein the first cylinder is coupled to a tilt tube of the outboard engine, wherein the second cylinder is configured to partially move within the tilt tube, and wherein the second end of the second cylinder is coupled to a link arm of the outboard engine. 
     
     
         5 . A steering system for steering an outboard engine of a marine vessel, the steering system comprising:
 a tilt tube coupled to the outboard engine;   a link arm defining a first end and a second end;   a tiller arm coupled between the second end of the link arm and a rudder of the outboard engine; and   a steering cylinder coupled to the first end of the link arm, the steering cylinder comprising:
 a first cylinder including a first fluid port and a second fluid port, the first fluid port positioned on a first end cap, and the first cylinder defining a first space; 
 a second cylinder defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second cylinder defining a second space housing a hollow piston, wherein the second cylinder is configured to move with respect to the first cylinder; and 
 a hollow piston rod positioned at least partially within the first space and defining a first end and a second end, the first end being fluidly coupled with the first fluid port and the second end being coupled to the hollow piston, 
   wherein the steering cylinder is configured to actuate between an extended position and a retracted position to steer the marine vessel, wherein in the extended position, the second cylinder is configured to move away from the first end cap, and in the retracted position, the second cylinder is configured to move towards the first end cap.   
     
     
         6 . The steering system of  claim 5 , wherein the first cylinder is an outer cylinder, and the second cylinder is an inner cylinder,
 wherein the outer cylinder includes a first piston positioned within the first space and coupled with the first end of the inner cylinder, and   wherein in the extended position, the inner cylinder along with the first piston is configured to move away from the first end cap, and in the retracted position, the inner cylinder along with the first piston is configured to move towards the first end cap.   
     
     
         7 . The steering system of  claim 6 , wherein in the extended position, hydraulic fluid flows into the second space from the first fluid port to move the first piston along with the inner cylinder away from the first end cap, wherein the hydraulic fluid flows into the second space through the hollow piston rod and the hollow piston, and
 wherein in the retracted position, the hydraulic fluid flows into the first space from the second fluid port to move the first piston along with the inner cylinder towards the first end cap.   
     
     
         8 . The steering system of  claim 5 , wherein the first cylinder is coupled to the tilt tube of the outboard engine, wherein the second cylinder is configured to partially move within the tilt tube, and wherein the second end of the second cylinder is coupled to the link arm of the outboard engine. 
     
     
         9 . The steering system of  claim 8 , wherein the tilt tube defines a first end and a second end opposite to the first end wherein each of the first end and the second end includes a threaded portion to receive a lock nut for coupling the steering cylinder with the tilt tube. 
     
     
         10 . A marine vessel comprising:
 an outboard engine mounted on a hull of the marine vessel; and   a steering system for steering the outboard engine, the steering system comprising:
 a tilt tube coupled to the outboard engine; 
 a link arm defining a first end and a second end; 
 a tiller arm coupled between the second end of the link arm and a rudder of the outboard engine; and 
 a steering cylinder coupled to the first end of the link arm, the steering cylinder comprising:
 a first cylinder including a first fluid port and a second fluid port, the first fluid port positioned on a first end cap, and the first cylinder defining a first space; 
 a second cylinder defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second cylinder defining a second space housing a hollow piston, wherein the second cylinder is configured to move with respect to the first cylinder; and 
 a hollow piston rod positioned at least partially within the first space and defining a first end and a second end, the first end being fluidly coupled with the first fluid port and the second end being coupled to the hollow piston, 
 
   wherein the steering cylinder is configured to actuate between an extended position and a retracted position to steer the marine vessel, wherein in the extended position, the second cylinder is configured to move away from the first end cap, and in the retracted position, the second cylinder is configured to move towards the first end cap.