Steering Hydraulic Deivce for Marine Motors

Abstract

The invention relates to an hydraulic device for the synchronized steering of at least a pair of marine outboard motors ( 7, 8 ), comprising an hydraulic cylinder ( 6 ) steering a main motor (7) sliding along a rod ( 10 ) parallel to the axis of the tube ( 9 ) tilting said motor ( 7 ), it is connected to an arm ( 13 ) steering said motor (7) by means of an articulated linkage ( 12 ), it is rotatable about at least an axis, and by means of articulated linkage ( 24, 29, 35 ) it is connected to an arm (17) steering a secondary motor ( 8 ). According to the invention, the device comprises a slide guide ( 14, 14′ ) stationary associated to the secondary motor ( 8 ) which is parallel to the axis of the tube ( 15 ) tilting it, and an axial steering slider ( 16, 16′ ) that can slide on said guide ( 14, 14° ) and by means of articulated linkage ( 29, 36 ) it is connected to the pivotable end of the arm ( 17 ) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ), and it is slidably driven by means of at least a bar ( 24, 35 ) articulately connected with an end to the steering slider ( 16, 16′ ) and with the other end connected to the cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ).

1 . Steering hydraulic device for marine motors ( 7 ,  8 ) particularly for a main outboard motor ( 7 ) and for at least a parallel secondary outboard motor ( 8 ), comprising a double-acting hydraulic cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ), which cylinder ( 6 ) can slide along a rod ( 10 ) whose axis is parallel to the axis of a tube ( 9 ) tilting the main motor ( 7 ) and it is substantially tangential or parallel to a tangent to the circle described by an arm ( 13 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ), which steering arm ( 13 ) is connected to said steering cylinder ( 6 ), particularly to a first end of said steering cylinder ( 6 ), by means of articulated linkage ( 12 ) for compensating the distance changes of the steering cylinder ( 6 ) from the pivotable end of said arm ( 13 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ) during steering steps, and which steering cylinder ( 6 ) can rotate at least about an axis, preferably about several axis parallel one with respect to the other and parallel to the axis of the tube ( 9 ) tilting the main motor ( 7 ), such to allow tilting-up and tilting-down of the main motor ( 7 ), and which cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ) is connected to an arm ( 17 ) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ) by means of linkage ( 24 ,  29 ,  25 ) articulated at least according to two axes, characterized in that the device comprises a slide guide ( 14 ,  14 ′) stationary associated to the secondary motor ( 8 ) and it is parallel to the axis of the tube ( 15 ) tilting the secondary motor ( 8 ), and an axial steering slider ( 16 ,  16 ′) sliding on said guide ( 14 ,  14 ′) and it is connected by means of articulated linkage ( 29 ,  36 ), working at least according to an axis perpendicular to the axis of the slide guide ( 14 ,  14 ′), to the pivotable end of the arm ( 17 ) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ), and which steering slider ( 16 ,  16 ′) is slidably driven at least by means of a bar ( 24 ,  35 ) articulately connected at least according to an axis to an end of said steering slider ( 16 ,  16 ′) and with the other end connected to the second end of the cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ). 
   
   
       2 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said steering slider ( 16 ,  16 ′) may be further rotated about its own sliding axis, such to allow the independent tilting-up and tilting-down of the secondary motor ( 8 ). 
   
   
       3 . Device according to  claims 1  or  2 , characterized in that the slide guide ( 14 ′) of the slider ( 16 ′) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ) is retained by a pair of arms ( 11 ), one end of each one of them is connected to one of the opposite ends of the guide ( 14 ′), while said arms ( 11 ) with the opposite ends thereof are pivotably mounted about the axis of the tube ( 15 ) tilting the secondary motor ( 8 ) or about an axis parallel to said axis of said tube ( 15 ). 
   
   
       4 . Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the steering slider ( 16 ′), the slide guide ( 14 ′), means ( 11 ) fastening said guide ( 14 ′) and means ( 36 ) connecting said steering slider ( 16 ′) to the arm ( 17 ) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ) are substantially a not active copy and having the same degreees of movement freedom of the cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ), of the rod ( 10 ) upon which said cylinder ( 6 ) slides, of means ( 11 ) fastening said rod ( 10 ) and of means ( 12 ) connecting said cylinder ( 6 ) to the arm ( 13 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ). 
   
   
       5 . Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that articulated linkages ( 35 ) connecting the cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ) to the slider ( 16 ′) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ) are made such to allow the independent tilting of the two motors ( 7 ,  8 ). 
   
   
       6 . Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bar ( 35 ) connecting the slider ( 16 ′) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ) to the cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ) at each opposite ends has a ball joint ( 135 ,  135 ′) coupling to the slider ( 16 ′) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ) and to the cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ) respectively. 
   
   
       7 . Device according to  claims 1  or  2 , characterized in that the axis of the slide guide ( 14 ) of the slider ( 16 ) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ) coincides with the axis of the tube ( 15 ) tilting the secondary motor ( 8 ). 
   
   
       8 . Device according to one or more of  claims 1 ,  2  and  7 , characterized in that the slide guide ( 14 ) of the slider ( 16 ) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ) is the axial extension of the spindle about which the tube ( 15 ) tilting the secondary motor ( 8 ) rotates. 
   
   
       9 . Device according to one or more of  claims 1 ,  2 ,  7  and  8 , characterized in that the axis of the slide guide ( 14 ) of the slider ( 16 ) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ) is an intermediate extension of axes of the tube ( 9 ) tilting the main motor ( 7 ) and of the tube ( 15 ) tilting the secondary motor ( 8 ) approximately coaxial or coaxial one with respect to the other. 
   
   
       10 . Device according to one or more of the preceding  claims 1 ,  2 ,  7  to  9  characterized in that the slider ( 16 ) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ) is composed of two separate members ( 19 ,  20 ), which two members ( 19 ,  20 ) are slidably integral one with respect to the other along the slide guide ( 14 ), a first member ( 20 ) being rotatable independently of a second member ( 19 ) about the axis of the slide guide ( 14 ). 
   
   
       11 . Device according to one or more of the preceding  claims 1 ,  2 ,  7  to  10 , characterized in that the first member is composed of an arm ( 20 ) radially extending outwards with respect to the slide guide ( 14 ) and to the free end thereof a bar ( 24 ) for coupling to the cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ) is connected. 
   
   
       12 . Device according to  claim 11 , characterized in that said bar ( 24 ) coupling the cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ) to the first radial arm ( 20 ) is lengthwise adjustable within predetermined stops. 
   
   
       13 . Device according to  claims 11  or  12 , characterized in that said coupling bar ( 24 ) has two end portions ( 124 ,  124 ′) coupling to the cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ) and to the first radial arm ( 20 ) respectively. 
   
   
       14 . Device according to one or more of the preceding  claims 1 ,  2 ,  7  to  13  characterized in that it has means for adjusting the distance of one or both the end portions ( 124 ,  124 ′) coupling the coupling bar ( 24 ) to the end of the first radial arm ( 20 ) and from the fastening point to the cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ) according to an axis transverse, particularly perpendicular, to the axis of said coupling bar ( 24 ), in order to compensate transverse offsets of the axis of the cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ) with respect to the axis of the slide guide ( 14 ) associated to the secondary motor ( 8 ). 
   
   
       15 . Device according to one or more of the preceding  claims 1 ,  2 ,  7  to  14 , characterized in that said two end portions ( 124 ,  124 ′) of the coupling bar ( 24 ) are coupled to the cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ) and to the first radial arm ( 20 ) in such a way that at least one or both said two end portions ( 124 ,  124 ′) are slidable, within predetermined stops, along axes parallel to the arm ( 13 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ), in a not steering condition thereof. 
   
   
       16 . Device according to  claims 14  or  15 , characterized in that the end portion ( 124 ′) coupling the coupling bar ( 24 ) to the end of the first radial arm ( 20 ) is coupled thereto by a coupling pin ( 27 ) oriented according to a coupling axis perpendicular to the steering axis of the main motor ( 7 ) and perpendicular to the axis of the slide guide ( 14 ) and/or of the coupling bar ( 24 ), said end portion ( 124 ′) being movable for a predetermined range along said coupling axis, and being eventually rotatable about said coupling axis. 
   
   
       17 . Device according to one or more of  claims 14  to  16 , characterized in that the end portion ( 124 ′) of the coupling bar ( 24 ) freely slidable engages on the pin ( 27 ) coupling to the first radial arm ( 20 ), which pin ( 27 ) has, at the free end thereof, an enlargement ( 127 ) for stopping the sliding. 
   
   
       18 . Device according to  claim 17 , characterized in that said stop enlargement at the free end of the pin ( 27 ) coupling to the first radial arm ( 20 ) is composed of an head ( 127 ) of a pin ( 27 ) engaging by screwing with a threaded end inside a threaded bore ( 220 ) of the first radial arm ( 20 ) and between said threaded end and said head ( 127 ) having an intermediate portion that is smooth and/or with a low coefficient of friction. 
   
   
       19 . Device according to  claim 18 , characterized in that the intermediate portion between the enlarged head ( 127 ) of the pin ( 27 ) and the threaded end is housed in a bush ( 28 ) made of a material having a low coefficient of friction, particularly made of teflon or the like. 
   
   
       20 . Device according to one or more of the preceding  claims 1 ,  2 ,  7  to  19 , characterized in that the end portion ( 124 ) coupling the coupling bar ( 24 ) to the cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ) is freely slidable engaged on a coupling pin ( 25 ) with a low coefficient of friction and having enlargements at the two opposite ends thereof for stopping the sliding. 
   
   
       21 . Device according to  claim 20 , characterized in that said coupling pin ( 25 ) is supported by the two ends of two branches of a forked connection plate ( 26 ), which plate ( 26 ) is integral with the cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ), sliding stops for the coupling end portion ( 124 ) of the coupling bar ( 24 ) being composed of said two branches of the forked plate ( 26 ). 
   
   
       22 . Device according to one or more of the preceding  claims 1 ,  2 ,  7  to  21 , characterized in that the second member of the steering slider is composed of an arm ( 19 ) radially extending outwards with respect to the slide guide ( 14 ) and to the free end thereof a lever coupling to the arm ( 17 ) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ) is connected. 
   
   
       23 . Device according to  claim 22 , characterized in that said lever ( 29 ) coupling to the arm ( 17 ) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ) is lengthwise adjustable within predetermined extreme positions, being further lockable in the set adjusting position. 
   
   
       24 . Device according to  claim 23 , characterized in that said coupling lever ( 29 ) has a first threaded end ( 129 ) that can be axially screwed/unscrewed inside a corresponding threaded bore of a end portion ( 30 ) fastening the arm ( 17 ) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ), means for locking the screwing position being provided, such as a lock nut or the like. 
   
   
       25 . Device according to one or more of the preceding  claims 22  to  24 , characterized in that the second end of the coupling lever ( 29 ) associated to the second radial arm ( 19 ) of the steering slider ( 16 ) is adjustable with respect to the distance of said end and/or said lever ( 29 ) from the slide guide ( 14 ). 
   
   
       26 . Device according to  claim 25 , characterized in that the coupling lever ( 29 ) has an L-shaped end coupling to the second radial arm ( 19 ), while the end angled branch of said second end may have a thread ( 229 ) cooperating with a threaded bush ( 31 ) housed inside a corresponding bore ( 219 ) provided at the free end of the second radial arm ( 19 ), said bore ( 219 ) being oriented perpendicularly to the axis of said second radial arm ( 19 ), and said threaded bush ( 31 ) being axially locked inside the bore ( 219 ) but it can freely rotate such to be screwed and unscrewed on said threaded angled end ( 229 ) so to adjust the distance between the coupling lever ( 29 ) and the slide guide ( 14 ). 
   
   
       27 . Device according to one or more of the preceding  claims 1 ,  2 ,  7  to  26 , characterized in that the steering sliding slider ( 16 ) comprises a tubular slide ( 18 ) provided with an end annular flange ( 118 ), a first cylindrical portion ( 218 ) having an axial length that substantially corresponds to the thickness of a complementary bore ( 119 ) of the second radial arm ( 19 ) the same engaging by rotation thereto on said first smooth portion ( 218 ) of the slide ( 18 ), and a second threaded portion ( 318 ) upon which by screwing the first radial arm ( 20 ) is engaged with a threaded bore ( 120 ), which first radial arm ( 20 ) locks the second radial arm ( 19 ) in the axial direction of the slide ( 18 ) and so of the slide guide ( 14 ), while said second radial arm ( 19 ) is free to rotate about the tubular slide ( 18 ). 
   
   
       28 . Device according to  claim 27 , characterized in that the tubular slide ( 18 ) is axially slidable mounted on the slide guide ( 14 ) and it may be freely rotatable thereon, while the second radial arm ( 19 ) is freely rotatable on the slide ( 18 ) and with respect to the first radial arm ( 20 ), but may be axially slidable together with the slide ( 18 ) and the first radial arm ( 20 ). 
   
   
       29 . Device according to one or more of the preceding  claims 1 ,  2 ,  7  to  28 , characterized in that between the tubular slide ( 18 ) and the slide guide ( 14 ) and/or between the second radial arm ( 19 ) and the tubular slide ( 18 ) and/or between the first radial arm ( 20 ) and the second radial arm ( 19 ) and/or between the threaded bush ( 31 ) fastening the angled end portion of the coupling lever ( 29 ) and the bore ( 219 ) housing said bush ( 31 ) inside the second radial arm ( 19 ) there are provided slide means having a low coefficient of friction, such as bushes or rings or bushes ( 33 ,  34 ,  21 ) with end flanges ( 133 ) made of a material having a low coefficient of friction, particularly made of teflon or the like, interposing between surfaces of said portions movable, rotatable or slidable one with respect to the other. 
   
   
       30 . Kit for connecting marine motors ( 7 ,  8 ) for controlling thereof in a synchronizing way, particularly for an outboard main motor ( 7 ) and at least a parallel outboard secondary motor ( 8 ), wherein a double-acting hydraulic cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ) is provided, which cylinder ( 6 ) is slidable along a rod ( 10 ) whose axis is parallel to the axis of a tube ( 9 ) tilting the main motor ( 7 ) and it is substantially tangential or parallel to a tangent to the circle described by an arm ( 13 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ), which steering arm ( 13 ) is connected to said steering cylinder ( 6 ), particularly to a first end of said steering cylinder ( 6 ) by means of articulated linkage ( 12 ) for compensating distance changes of the steering cylinder ( 6 ) from the pivotable end of said arm ( 13 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ) during steering steps, and which steering cylinder ( 6 ) is rotatable about at least an axis, preferably about several axes parallel one with respect to the other and parallel to the axis of the tube ( 9 ) tilting the main motor ( 7 ), so to allow the tilting-up and tilting-down of the main motor ( 7 ), and which cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ) is connected by means of linkage ( 24 ,  29 ,  35 ) articulated according at least two axes to an arm ( 17 ) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ), characterized in that the kit comprises a slide guide ( 14 ,  14 ′) stationary associated to the secondary motor ( 8 ) and it is parallel to the axis of the tube ( 15 ) tilting the secondary motor ( 8 ), and a steering axial slider ( 16 ,  16 ′) sliding on said guide ( 14 ,  14 ′) and it is connected to the pivotable end of the arm ( 17 ) steering the secondary motor ( 8 ) by means of articulated linkage ( 29 ,  36 ), working at least according to an axis perpendicular to the axis of the slide guide ( 14 ,  14 ′), and which steering slider ( 16 ,  16 ′) is slidably driven by means of at least a bar ( 24 ,  35 ) articulately connected according to at least an axis with an end to said steering slider ( 16 ,  16 ′) and with the other end to the second end of the cylinder ( 6 ) steering the main motor ( 7 ). 
   
   
       31 . Connecting kit according to  claim 30 , characterized in that it is manufactured according to one or more of  claims 2  to  29 . 
   
   
       32 . Steering hydraulic device for marine motors and kit connecting various marine motors for controlling the steering thereof in a synchronizing way, totally or in part, as disclosed, shown and for the above aims.