Outboard motor

Abstract

An outboard motor includes an upper unit including a drive motor and a first transmission mechanism, a lower unit including a propeller and a propeller shaft, a drive shaft extending from the upper unit to the lower unit, a connecting mechanism that connects the lower unit to the upper unit so that the lower unit is pivotable, a steering motor serving as a power source for pivoting the lower unit relative to the upper unit, and a third transmission mechanism that transmits rotation of the steering motor to the lower unit. The drive shaft is disposed in front of an output shaft of the drive motor and the steering motor is disposed below the drive motor and behind the drive shaft.

1 . An outboard motor comprising:
 an upper unit including: a drive motor serving as a power source configured to rotate a propeller; and a first transmission mechanism configured to transmit rotation of the drive motor to a drive shaft;   a lower unit including: a propeller shaft in which the propeller is provided; and a second transmission mechanism configured to transmit rotation of the drive shaft to the propeller shaft;   the drive shaft extending in a vertical direction from the upper unit to the lower unit;   a connecting mechanism configured to connect the lower unit to the upper unit so that the lower unit is pivotable about an axis of the drive shaft;   a steering motor provided in the upper unit and serving as a power source configured to pivot the lower unit relative to the upper unit; and   a third transmission mechanism provided between the upper unit and the lower unit and configured to pivot the lower unit relative to the upper unit by transmitting rotation of the steering motor to the lower unit, wherein   the drive shaft is disposed in front of an output shaft of the drive motor and the steering motor is disposed below the drive motor and behind the drive shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The outboard motor according to  claim 1 , wherein the steering motor is disposed so that an axis of an output shaft of the steering motor is disposed on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the drive shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The outboard motor according to  claim 1 , wherein the steering motor is disposed so that an extension direction of an output shaft of the steering motor is a left-right direction of the outboard motor. 
     
     
         4 . The outboard motor according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the third transmission mechanism includes: a worm that rotates by the rotation of the steering motor; and a worm wheel that meshes with the worm,   the worm wheel is fixed to the lower unit and is disposed coaxially with the drive shaft on an outer periphery of the drive shaft, and   the worm extends in the left-right direction of the outboard motor and is disposed behind the worm wheel.   
     
     
         5 . The outboard motor according to  claim 1 , wherein the first transmission mechanism is disposed below the drive motor and the third transmission mechanism is disposed below the first transmission mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The outboard motor according to  claim 1 , wherein the first transmission mechanism includes:
 a drive gear coupled to a lower end of the output shaft of the drive motor; and   a driven gear disposed in front of the drive gear, coupled to an upper end of the drive shaft, and meshing with the drive gear.   
     
     
         7 . The outboard motor according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a mounting mechanism configured to mount the upper unit to a boat, wherein   the mounting mechanism includes: a clamp bracket for fixing the upper unit to the boat; and a mount bracket connected to the clamp bracket,   the mount bracket includes: an upper mount portion that supports an upper part of the upper unit; and a lower mount portion that supports a lower part of the upper unit,   the first transmission mechanism is disposed below the drive motor, and   the lower mount portion supports a portion of the lower part of the upper unit positioned above a portion of the first transmission mechanism where the driven gear is disposed.