Control cable housing seal and lubricant for marine steering system

Abstract

A lubricant and seal arrangement for the control cable and control cable housing of a marine steering system wherein the control cable is connected at one end to move the control cable longitudinally and at its other end to a tubular member that is telescopically movable in the control cable housing in response to movement of the control cable upon rotation of the steering wheel of the marine system which arrangement includes the tubular control cable housing with a longitudinal bore therethrough to receive the control cable through and into the bore and an open end at the other end of the bore. An inner tubular member extends from said one end of the control cable housing in spaced radial relation thereto to form an annular extending void and a tubular member is connected to the other end of the axial control cable. The tubular member is telescopically reciprocable through the open end bore of the control cable housing in response to movement of the cable and a seal adjacent the control cable housing open end sealably engages the tubular member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lubricant and seal arrangement for the control cable and control cable housing of a marine steering system wherein the control cable is connected to a tubular member that is telescopically movable in and out relative to the control cable housing in response to rotation of the steering wheel of the marine steering system, said lubricant and seal arrangement comprising: an adapter having a longitudinally extending body;   said body having a bore extending from one end of said body terminating in spaced relation to the other end of said body;   threads in said bore securing said body to the control cable housing;   said body having a counterbore extending from the other end of said body which counterbore intersects said body bore and of a smaller internal diameter than the diameter of said threaded body bore;   an annular shoulder surface formed by the intersection of said body bore and said counterbore;   an annular recess between the other end of said longitudinal body and the intersection of said body bore and counterbore;   seal means for said annular recess to sealably engage the telescopically movable member;   a lateral opening extending through said longitudinal body; and   a hydraulic fitting for positioning in said opening.   
     
     
       2. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said lateral opening intersects said counterbore between said annular shoulder surface and said annular recess. 
     
     
       3. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said lateral opening intersects said body bore and said counterbore. 
     
     
       4. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said lateral opening intersects only said bore having threads. .Iadd. 
     
     
       5.  A lubricant and seal arrangement for the control cable and control cable housing of a marine steering system wherein the control cable is connected to a tubular member that is telescopically movable in and out relative to the control cable housing in response to rotation of the steering wheel of the marine steering system, said lubricant and seal arrangement comprising: an adapter having a longitudinally extending body;   said body having a bore extending from one end of said body terminating in spaced relation to the other end of said body;   threads in said bore for securing said body;   said body having a counterbore extending from the other end of said body which counterbore intersects said body bore and is of a smaller internal diameter than the diameter of said threaded body bore;   an annular shoulder surface formed by the intersection of said body bore and said counterbore;   an annular recess between the other end of said longitudinal body and the intersection of said body bore and counterbore;   seal means for said annular recess;   a lateral opening extending through said longitudinal body; and   a hydraulic fitting for positioning in said opening. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6. A lubricating nut for use with the control cable and control cable housing of a marine steering system and comprising:   a longitudinally extending body;   said body having a bore extending from one end of said body terminating in spaced relation to the other end of said body;   threads in said bore for securing said body;   said body having a counterbore extending from the other end of said body which counterbore intersects with body bore and is of a smaller internal diameter than the diameter of said threaded body bore;   an annular shoulder surface formed by the intersection of said body bore and said counterbore;   an annular recess between the other end of said longitudinal body and the intersection of said body bore and counterbore;   seal means for said annular recess;   a lateral opening extending through said longitudinal body; and   
     
     
       a hydraulic fitting for positioning in said opening. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7.  In a marine steering system having a manually operated steering wheel and a control cable connected at one end to said steering wheel for steering a marine craft; a relatively fixed tubular control cable housing having a longitudinal bore therethrough receiving the control cable, said control cable housing having an open outer end remote from the steering wheel with the other end of the control cable extending from said open outer end of the control cable housing;   an outer tubular member telescopically mounted within said control cable housing for sliding movement and secured to the other end of said control cable, said tubular member movable with said control cable in and out relative to said control cable housing in response to movement of said control cable upon rotation of said steering wheel;   an inner tube extending from the other end of the control cable housing adjacent the steering wheel in spaced radial relation to the inner diameter of said longitudinal bore of said control cable housing to form an annular longitudinally extending annular void between the cable housing and said inner tube for receiving therein in telescoping relation the outer tubular member secured to said control cable;   an annular seal carried by said control cable housing adjacent said open outer end thereof for sealably engaging said telescoping tubular member;   an opening extending through said control cable housing adjacent said annular seal and in communication with said tubular member; and   a hydraulic fitting for positioning in said opening to permit the application of lubricant against said sliding tubular member. .Iaddend.