Articulating marine step arrangement and actuator arrangement

Abstract

An articulating step arrangement for a marine vehicle includes a rotary actuator configured to couple to a surface of a marine vehicle, the rotary actuator comprising a housing assembly, a motor contained within the housing assembly, and a worm gear assembly contained within the housing assembly and operably coupled to the motor. An arm includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the arm is operably coupled to the worm gear assembly, a link includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the link is pivotally coupled to the rotary actuator, and a step member is pivotally coupled to the second end of the arm and the second end of the link, wherein the step member is operable between a retracted position and an extended position via the worm gear assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An articulating step arrangement for a marine vehicle, comprising:
 a pair of rotary actuators configured to couple to a surface of a marine vehicle, each rotary actuator of the pair of rotary actuators comprising:
 a housing assembly; 
 a motor positioned within the housing assembly and having a motor shaft rotatable about an input axis; 
 a gear assembly including a worm gear driven by the motor shaft and a wheel gear driven by the worm gear; and 
 a clutch plate rotatably coupled to the housing assembly and rotatable about an output axis, the clutch plate defining one or more attachment points; and 
   a step assembly, comprising:
 a pair of arms each defining a first end coupled to the one or more attachment points of the clutch plate of one of the pair of rotary actuators and a second end; 
 a pair of links each defining a first end pivotally coupled to one of the pair of rotary actuators and a second end; and 
 a step member pivotally coupled to the second end of each of the pair of arms and the second end of each of the pair of links such that the step member is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly, one of the pair of arms, one of the pair of links, and the step member cooperate to form a four-bar linkage. 
     
     
         3 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly defines a control compartment defining a perimeter and a seal extending along the perimeter, and wherein the perimeter of the control compartment is sealably coupled to the surface of the marine vehicle, thereby hermetically sealing the control compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein one of the pair of links includes a relief that receives the first end of one of the pair of arms when the step member is in the extended position, thereby preventing the step member from rotating from the retracted position beyond the extended position. 
     
     
         5 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the relief is downwardly opening when the step member is in the extended position. 
     
     
         6 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pair of links abuts at least one of the pair of arms when the step member is in the extended position. 
     
     
         7 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the input axis of each of the motors is substantially vertically oriented when the pair of rotary actuators are coupled to the surface of the marine vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the output axis extends orthogonally relative to the input axis. 
     
     
         9 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the step member includes an upwardly facing support surface to support a user thereon, and wherein a majority of the support surface is positioned outboard of the second end of each of the pair of arms and the second end of each of the pair of links when the step member is in the extended position. 
     
     
         10 . An articulating step arrangement for a marine vehicle, comprising:
 a rotary actuator configured to couple to a surface of a marine vehicle, the rotary actuator comprising:
 a housing assembly; 
 a motor contained within the housing assembly; and 
 a worm gear assembly contained within the housing assembly and operably coupled to the motor; 
   an arm including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the arm is operably coupled to the worm gear assembly;   a link including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the link is pivotally coupled to the rotary actuator; and   a step member pivotally coupled to the second end of the arm and the second end of the link, wherein the step member is operable between a retracted position and an extended position via the worm gear assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the link abuts the arm when the step member is in the extended position. 
     
     
         12 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the link includes a notch that receives the second end of the arm when the step member is in the extended position. 
     
     
         13 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 12 , wherein the notch is downwardly opening when the step member is in the extended position. 
     
     
         14 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a clutch plate operably coupled to the worm gear assembly, wherein the first end of the arm is coupled to the worm gear assembly via the clutch plate.   
     
     
         15 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the clutch plate is sealably and rotatably coupled to the housing assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the first end of the link is pivotally coupled to the housing assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the motor includes an input shaft having a longitudinal axis that is substantially vertically oriented when the rotary actuator is coupled to the surface of the marine vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . An articulating step arrangement for a marine vehicle, comprising:
 a first rotary actuator configured to be coupled to a surface of a marine vehicle, the first rotary actuator comprising:
 a motor cover containing a motor; 
 a housing containing a worm gear assembly including a worm gear operably coupled to the motor and a wheel gear engaging the worm gear; and 
 a clutch plate operably coupled to the wheel gear and rotatably coupled to the housing, wherein the clutch plate is rotatably drivable by the motor via the worm gear assembly; 
 wherein the motor cover is hermetically sealed to the housing and the clutch plate is hermetically sealed to the housing; and 
   a step assembly comprising:
 an arm including a first end operably coupled to the clutch plate, and a second end; 
 a link including a first end pivotally actuable with respect to the housing and a second end; and 
 a step member pivotally coupled to the second end of the arm and the second end of the link, such that the step member is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. 
   
     
     
         19 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a second rotary actuator similar in construction to the first rotary actuator, wherein the step member is positioned between the first and second rotary actuators.   
     
     
         20 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 18 , wherein a longitudinal axis of an input shaft of the motor extends substantially vertically when the first rotary actuator is coupled to the surface of the marine vehicle. 
     
     
         21 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 18 , wherein the step member includes an upwardly facing support surface, and wherein a majority of the upwardly facing support surface is located outboard of the second end of the arm and the second end of the link when the step member is in the extended position. 
     
     
         22 . The articulating step arrangement of  claim 18 , wherein the link abuts the arm when the step member is in the extended position.