Marine propulsion – Screw propeller – With means effecting or facilitating movement of propulsion...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-17
2001-08-21
Basinger, Sherman (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Screw propeller
With means effecting or facilitating movement of propulsion...
C114S150000, C440S002000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276977
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to an integrated hydraulic steering actuator and, more particularly, to an actuator for an outboard motor that comprises a hydraulic cylinder that is located within a generally cylindrical portion of a swivel bracket attached to the outboard motor and rotatable relative to a clamp bracket that is attached to a boat.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many different types of steering actuators are well known to those skilled in the art of marine propulsion systems. Steering can be accomplished with a mechanical system comprising cables that are attached between a steering wheel and an outboard motor. Hydraulic steering systems generally utilize a hydraulic pump that is actuated by a steering wheel and connected in fluid communication with a hydraulic cylinder attached to the outboard motor. Power steering systems generally use a pump that is actuated in response to movement of a steering wheel, wherein the pump is associated with appropriate valving to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic cylinder attached to the outboard motor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,370, which issued to Fetchko et al on Dec. 7, 1999, describes an outboard hydraulic steering assembly with reduced support bracket rotation. The assembly supplies a force to a tiller arm of a marine outboard propulsion unit and rotates the propulsion about a steering axis between a center position and hard over positions to each side of the center position. The propulsion unit is supported for arcuate movement about a tilt axis which is generally perpendicular to the steering axis. The steering assembly includes a hydraulic steering cylinder with an elongated piston rod reciprocatingly mounted within the cylinder for movement along a piston rod axis. A pair of support arms are pivotable about the tilt axis and are connected to the piston rod, allowing arcuate movement of the rod about the tilt axis, while maintaining the rod axis parallel to the tilt axis. A member is pivotally mounted on the tiller arm for pivoting about a first axis which is parallel to the steering axis. The cylinder arm is connected to the cylinder and extends radially outwards from the piston rod axis. The cylinder arm is pivotally connected to the member for pivoting about the second link axis which is parallel to the piston rod axis. The cylinder arm moves through a partially rotated position when the propulsion unit rotates from the center position to either hard over position. The second link axis and the rod axes are on a plane parallel to the steering axis at the partially rotated position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,801, which issued to McBeth on Mar. 3, 1992, describes a hydraulic steering assembly for outboard marine engines. The assembly is connected to the tiller arm of an outboard marine engine and includes a piston rod supported for arcuate movement about the tilt axis while remaining parallel thereto. A hydraulic cylinder travels along the piston rod. An arm extends from the cylinder to a first pivotal member establishing a first pivotal connection about an axis parallel to the tilt axis. A rigid link extends between the first pivotal member and a second pivotal member. The second pivotal member is also connected to the tiller arm and establishes a second pivotal connection about an axis perpendicular to the tilt axis. As the cylinder travels back and forth across the rod, the piston rod oscillates about the tilt axis, the cylinder rotates about the piston rod, the arm rotates about the first pivotal member and the link rotates about the tiller arm in a concerted motion providing a strong and compact linkage arrangement.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,375, which issued to Tsujii et al on Jul. 19, 1994, describes a steering system for a marine propulsion unit. The mechanism for a marine outboard drive is disclosed wherein the steering rod connected to the outboard drive end of the wire actuator steering cable is slidably mounted in a guide tube that is formed integrally with the hydraulic assist cylinder and which are affixed to the transom independently of the tilt pin and forwardly of it. This permits the steering mechanism to be assembled as a unit separately from the outboard drive and attached to the transom separately from it.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,864, which issued to Peebles on Aug. 6, 1996, describes a steering cylinder for an outboard engine. The cylinder has an elongate interior chamber, a piston movable in the chamber, and a first fluid passage generally parallel to the chamber. In the improvement, the cylinder includes a second fluid passage generally parallel to the chamber and both passages terminate at faces at either end of the cylinder housing. Air bleed fittings and hydraulic fluid fittings are at the faces and, because of such location, jammed and broken fittings and damage to the boat transom and other structure are substantially avoided. Since each passage has both bleed and fluid fittings, it is not necessary to open a fluid fitting to bleed the cylinder during installation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,141, which issued to Ferguson on Dec. 1, 1987, describes a marine propulsion device power steering system. The device includes a propulsion unit mounted for tilting movement about a generally horizontal tilt axis and for pivotal steering movement about a vertical steering axis, and a power steering system adapted to operably connect an actuator to the propulsion system for increasing the steering force applied to the propulsion unit by the actuator. The power steering system is wholly supported on the propulsion unit and includes a hydraulic cylinder-piston assembly having an axis extending in fixed parallel rotation to the tilt axis and including a cylinder, a piston mounted in the cylinder, and an extendable and retractable piston rod connected to the piston rod and a control valve connected to a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for selectively controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the opposite sides of the piston to extend and retract the piston rod. The control valve includes a valve member and valve housing rotatably and axially movable relative to each other. The valve member is connected to the actuator and the valve housing is connected to the piston rod for common movement and is connected to the propulsion unit to affect steering movement thereof in response to movement of the actuator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,379, which issued to Masini et al on Jul. 20, 1999, discloses an actuating mechanism with an improved mounting structure. The mechanism is provided with support members that extend away from the centerline of a cylinder bore, piston and actuator rod of an actuation mechanism that uses pressure to move the piston within the cylinder bore. Two support members are attached to a cylinder housing and provided with mounting holes. The two support members are spaced apart from the cylinder housing to allow external support structures to be placed between the cylinder housing and the two support members. Appropriate fasteners, such as bolts, attach each of the two support members to the external support structures in such a way that the cylinder housing can pivot about an axis extending through both bolts. Most importantly, the line extending through the support bolts intersects the cylinder bore at a place between its opposing ends. This reduces the required space necessary to allow the cylinder to pivot properly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,510, which issued to Rump on Mar. 26, 1991, describes a steering mechanism for a marine propulsion device. The invention provides a hydraulic steering assembly for a marine propulsion unit in which the axis of the cylinder travels parallel to the axis of the propulsion unit tilt axis during pivotal steering of the propulsion unit. The steering assembly provides two, two-bar link arms interconnecting the tilt tube and cylinder rod.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,049, which issued to Hall et al on Dec. 30, 1986, describes a marine propulsion steering assist device. The device comprises a propulsion unit pivot
Amerling Steven J.
Fisher Brian L.
Treinen Kerry J.
Basinger Sherman
Brunswick Corporation
Lanyi William D.
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