Tilt-Up Assisting Structure of Outboard Motor

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-101102 filed on Jun. 24, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to a tilt-up assisting structure of an outboard motor that assists in tilt up of an outboard motor when the tilt up of the outboard motor is manually performed.

For example, when a boat is moored, an outboard motor attached to the boat is tilted up and pulled up from the water. In general, the outboard motor includes a clamp bracket for securing the outboard motor to the boat, and a swivel bracket for pivoting the outboard motor in a left-right direction with respect to the boat. The clamp bracket and the swivel bracket are provided at the front of an upper portion of the outboard motor, the outboard motor is fixed to a rear portion of the swivel bracket, and a front portion of the swivel bracket is connected to the clamp bracket via a tilt shaft. The swivel bracket can pivot in an upper-lower direction about the tilt shaft with respect to the clamp bracket. As the swivel bracket pivots upward about the tilt shaft, the outboard motor fixed to the swivel bracket pivots upward about the tilt shaft together with the swivel bracket, so that the outboard motor is tilted up.

The outboard motor includes a tilt lock mechanism. The tilt lock mechanism is a mechanism that holds a state in which the outboard motor is tilted up.

There are two types of outboard motors, i.e., one that is tilted up by pivoting the outboard motor in the upper-lower direction using power of a motor, and one that is tilted up by manually pivoting the outboard motor in the upper-lower direction. In a case where the outboard motor is manually tilted up, when a user tilts up the outboard motor while the user is on the boat, the user leans out from a hull and grabs part of a main body of the outboard motor with his or her hand to pull the outboard motor up. However, it is not easy to pull up a heavy outboard motor in such a posture where it is difficult to exert force.

JP2014-213683A describes a tilt-up assisting structure of an outboard motor that enables the outboard motor to be easily tilted up manually. Hereinafter, it is referred to as a “related-art tilt-up assisting structure”.

The related-art tilt-up assisting structure has a structure in which the outboard motor can be tilted up stepwise in the process of the tilt up of the outboard motor. According to this structure, as illustrated inof JP2014-213683A, for example, the outboard motor can be tilt-locked when part of a propeller of the outboard motor is out of a water surface, that is, when not fully tilted up, and the outboard motor can be tilt-locked when the entire propeller of the outboard motor is above the water surface and a lower portion of the outboard motor is largely above the water surface, that is, when fully tilted up. Hereinafter, the position of the outboard motor when the outboard motor is tilted up but not fully tilted up will be referred to as a “halfway tilt-up position”. The position of the outboard motor in the fully tilted up state is referred to as a “full tilt-up position”.

Further, as illustrated inof JP2014-213683A, the related-art tilt-up assisting structure has a structure capable of automatically tilt-locking the outboard motor by using a spring. That is, when the outboard motor is tilted up to the halfway tilt-up position, the outboard motor is automatically tilt-locked to the halfway tilt-up position, and when the outboard motor is tilted up to the full tilt-up position, the outboard motor is automatically tilt-locked to the full tilt-up position.

Further, the related-art tilt-up assisting structure has a structure in which the tilt up of the outboard motor is performed based on the principle of leverage using a steering handle.

That is, a rear end portion of the steering handle is attached to a portion other than the clamp bracket on an upper front side of the outboard motor so as to be pivotable in the upper-lower direction with respect to the outboard motor. The steering handle can pivot with respect to the outboard motor in a direction in which a tip end portion of the steering handle moves upward and a direction in which the tip end portion of the steering handle moves downward or forward. Hereinafter, regarding a pivoting direction of the steering handle, the direction in which the tip end portion of the steering handle moves upward is referred to as a “raising direction”, and the direction in which the tip end portion of the steering handle moves downward or forward is referred to as a “lowering direction”. The user can pivot the steering handle that extends in a horizontal direction from the upper front side of the outboard motor toward the front in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor, so that the steering handle extends upward in a vertical direction from, for example, the upper front side of the outboard motor.

Further, a ratchet mechanism is provided in the outboard motor to allow the steering handle to pivot in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor and restrict the pivoting of the steering handle in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor. Here, an angle of the steering handle with respect to the outboard motor is referred to as a “handle angle”, in a case where the outboard motor is not tilted up, the handle angle is 0 degrees when an extension direction of the steering handle is the horizontal direction, and the handle angle increases as the steering handle pivots in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor. When the steering handle pivots in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor, the handle angle exceeds a predetermined angle, and then when the steering handle pivots in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor, the ratchet mechanism restricts the steering handle from pivoting in the lowering direction beyond the predetermined angle with respect to the outboard motor by engaging a claw with a tooth in the ratchet mechanism.

Further, if the handle angle at which the ratchet mechanism restricts the steering handle from pivoting in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor is referred to as a “handle lock angle”, the ratchet mechanism has a plurality of handle lock angles set within the range of handle angles that the steering handle can take. Hereinafter, the plurality of handle lock angles are referred to as a “first handle lock angle”, a “second handle lock angle”, . . . , respectively, in ascending order of the angle value. Further, in the related-art tilt-up assisting structure, a value of each handle lock angle is set to a value larger than 0 degrees.

According to the related-art tilt-up assisting structure, the user can tilt up the outboard motor as follows. When tilting up the outboard motor, the user first pivots the steering handle, which has the handle angle of 0 degrees, in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor until the handle angle becomes an angle slightly exceeding the first handle lock angle. Accordingly, the steering handle does not pivot in the lowering direction beyond the first handle lock angle with respect to the outboard motor. Subsequently, the user pushes the steering handle downward (or pulls it toward himself or herself). Accordingly, a tip end of the steering handle serves as a point of effort in the principle of leverage, and a tilt shaft serves as a fulcrum in the principle of leverage, causing the outboard motor to tilt up. Then, the user tilts up the outboard motor to the halfway tilt-up position. When the outboard motor is tilted up to the halfway tilt-up position, the outboard motor is automatically tilt-locked at that position. After the outboard motor is tilt-locked at the halfway tilt-up position, the user pivots the steering handle whose handle angle is the first handle lock angle in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor until the handle angle becomes an angle slightly exceeding the second handle lock angle. Accordingly, the steering handle does not pivot in the lowering direction beyond the second handle lock angle with respect to the outboard motor. Subsequently, the user pushes the steering handle downward (or pulls it toward himself or herself). Accordingly, the outboard motor is further tilted up from the halfway tilt-up position. Then, the user tilts up the outboard motor to the full tilt-up position. When the outboard motor is tilted up to the full tilt-up position, the outboard motor is automatically tilt-locked at that position.

Thus, in the related-art tilt-up assisting structure, the user can tilt up the outboard motor stepwise. The tilt lock of the outboard motor is automatically performed. Further, the user can tilt up the outboard motor based on the principle of leverage using the steering handle. Therefore, according to the related-art tilt-up assisting structure, the user can easily tilt up the outboard motor.

It should be noted that the related-art tilt-up assisting structure includes a mechanism for releasing the engagement between the claw and the tooth in the ratchet mechanism. By releasing the engagement between the claw and the tooth by performing a predetermined operation, the user can pivot the steering handle, of which the handle angle exceeds the handle lock angle, in the lowering direction of the outboard motor and return the handle angle of the steering handle to 0 degrees.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tilt-up assisting structure of an outboard motor for assisting tilt up of the outboard motor. The tilt-up assisting structure includes: a steering handle that extends in a front-rear direction, wherein a rear end portion of the steering handle is supported to be pivotable about a handle pivoting axis extending in a left-right direction in the outboard motor, a rear end surface of the steering handle is formed in an arc shape about the handle pivoting axis, and the steering handle is pivotable with respect to the outboard motor in a raising direction in which a tip end portion moves upward and a lowering direction in which a tip end portion moves downward or forward; and a ratchet portion that is configured to restrict pivoting of the steering handle with respect to the outboard motor. The ratchet portion includes: a plurality of teeth formed on the rear end surface of the steering handle; and a stopper disposed at a position facing the rear end surface of the steering handle and supported to be pivotable about a stopper pivoting axis extending parallel to the handle pivoting axis in the outboard motor. When the steering handle pivots in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor and a tooth surface of any tooth of the plurality of teeth comes into contact with the stopper, the stopper pivots to allow the steering handle to pivot in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor, and when the steering handle pivots in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor and a tooth surface of any tooth of the plurality of teeth comes into contact with the stopper, the stopper is stationary to restrict the steering handle from pivoting in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor.

According to the above configuration, the strength of the ratchet mechanism that restricts the pivoting of the steering handle in the lowering direction can be increased while suppressing the increase in the size of the outboard motor in the left-right direction.

In the related-art tilt-up assisting structure, in a state in which the steering handle does not pivot in the lowering direction beyond the handle lock angle with respect to the outboard motor due to the engagement of the claw and the tooth in the ratchet mechanism, when the user pushes the steering handle downward or pulls the steering handle toward himself or herself, the outboard motor is tilted up. At this time, a force corresponding to the weight of the lower portion of the outboard motor is applied to the claw and the tooth which are engaged with each other in the ratchet mechanism. Therefore, in a case where the weight of the lower portion of the outboard motor is increased, the force applied to the claw and the tooth of the ratchet mechanism is increased when the tilt up of the outboard motor is performed by the related-art tilt-up assisting structure. It is desirable to increase the strength of the claw and tooth of the ratchet mechanism to cope with an increase in the weight of the lower portion of the outboard motor.

In the related-art tilt-up assisting structure, as illustrated inof JP2014-213683A, a ratchet claw (reference numeral) corresponding to the claw of the ratchet mechanism and a ratchet cam (reference numeral) corresponding to the tooth of the ratchet mechanism are provided on a lateral side of the rear end portion of the steering handle. The ratchet claw and the ratchet cam have a small dimension in the left-right direction (width dimension). Therefore, in the case where the weight of the lower portion of the outboard motor is increased, the strength of the ratchet claw or the ratchet cam is insufficient, and the ratchet claw and the ratchet cam are likely to be worn, deformed, or damaged by the force applied to the ratchet claw and the ratchet cam when the outboard motor is tilted up.

In this regard, in the related-art tilt-up assisting structure, it is conceivable to increase the strength of the ratchet claw and the ratchet cam by increasing the dimension of the ratchet claw and the ratchet cam in the left-right direction. However, since the ratchet claw and the ratchet cam are provided on the lateral side of the rear end portion of the steering handle, when the dimension of the ratchet claw and the ratchet cam in the left-right direction is increased, the dimension of the upper front side of the outboard motor in the left-right direction is increased, and the outboard motor in the left-right direction is increased in size.

The present disclosure has been made in view of, for example, the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a tilt-up assisting structure of an outboard motor in which the strength of a ratchet mechanism that restricts pivoting of a steering handle in a lowering direction can be increased while suppressing an increase in the size of an outboard motor in a left-right direction.

A tilt-up assisting structure of an outboard motor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure assists in tilt up of the outboard motor by manual operation. The tilt-up assisting structure of the present embodiment includes a steering handle and a ratchet portion.

The steering handle extends in a front-rear direction. A rear end portion of the steering handle is supported to be pivotable about a handle pivoting axis extending in a left-right direction in the outboard motor. The steering handle is pivotable with respect to the outboard motor in a raising direction in which a tip end portion of the steering handle moves upward and a lowering direction in which the tip end portion of the steering handle moves downward or forward. Further, a rear end surface of the steering handle is formed in an arc shape centered on the handle pivoting axis.

The ratchet portion restricts the pivoting of the steering handle with respect to the outboard motor. The ratchet portion includes a plurality of teeth and a stopper. The plurality of teeth are formed on the rear end surface of the steering handle. The stopper is disposed at a position facing the rear end surface of the steering handle. The stopper is supported to be pivotable about a stopper pivoting axis extending parallel to the handle pivoting axis in the outboard motor.

The ratchet portion functions as a ratchet mechanism that allows the steering handle to pivot in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor and restricts pivoting of the steering handle in the lowering direction with respect to an outboard motor. Specifically, when a tooth surface of any one tooth of the plurality of teeth comes into contact with the stopper due to the pivoting of the steering handle in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor, the ratchet portion allows the steering handle to pivot in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor due to the pivoting of the stopper. On the other hand, when the tooth surface of any one tooth of the plurality of teeth comes into contact with the stopper due to the steering handle pivoting in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor, the stopper is stationary, so that the steering handle is restricted from pivoting in the lowering direction with respect to the outboard motor.

In the tilt-up assisting structure of the present embodiment, the rear end surface of the steering handle is formed in the arc shape centered on the handle pivoting axis, and the plurality of teeth are formed on the rear end surface of the steering handle. The stopper is disposed at the position facing the rear end surface of the steering handle. According to this configuration, the dimension of each tooth in the left-right direction (the dimension of the tooth width) and the dimension of the stopper in the left-right direction can be increased within the range of the dimension of the rear end portion of the steering handle in the left-right direction. Therefore, the strength of each tooth and the stopper, that is, the strength of the ratchet portion can be increased. Therefore, the wear, deformation, or damage to the tooth or the stopper can be reduced or prevented even when the weight of a lower portion of the outboard motor is increased.

Further, in the tilt-up assisting structure of the present embodiment, the stopper is disposed at the position facing the rear end surface of the steering handle in which the plurality of teeth are formed in order to engage the plurality of teeth with the stopper. When a handle angle of the steering handle is 0 degrees, the rear end surface of the steering handle faces backward, and when the handle angle of the steering handle is, for example, 90 degrees, the rear end surface of the steering handle faces downward. Therefore, in the tilt-up assisting structure of the present embodiment, the position facing the rear end surface of the steering handle is specifically any position of the region from the rear side to the lower side of the steering handle. That is, in the tilt-up assisting structure of the present embodiment, the stopper is disposed at any position in the region from the rear side to the lower side of the steering handle. By disposing the stopper at any position in the region from the rear side to the lower side of the steering handle, even if the dimension of the stopper in the left-right direction is increased, the stopper can be restricted from protruding to a lateral side of the steering handle as long as the dimension of the stopper in the left-right direction is within the range of the dimension of the rear end portion of the steering handle in the left-right direction. By disposing the stopper such that the stopper does not protrude to the lateral side of the steering handle, an increase in the dimension of the upper front side of the outboard motor in the left-right direction can be reduced or prevented, and an increase in the size of the outboard motor in the left-right direction can be reduced or prevented.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of a first embodiment and the following description of a second embodiment, when directions of the upper (Ud), the lower (Dd), the front (Fd), the rear (Bd), the left (Ld), and the right (Rd) are described, arrows drawn on a lower left side in the respective drawings are illustrated.

illustrates an outboard motorincluding a tilt-up assisting structureaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from the left.

The outboard motoris a device that generates a propulsive force of a boat and is mounted to the boat. The outboard motorincludes a power source (not illustrated) and a propellerthat converts power from the power source into a propulsive force.

Further, as illustrated in, a clamp bracketthat attaches the outboard motorto a transomof the boat is provided on an upper front side of the outboard motor. A swivel bracketis connected to the clamp bracketvia a tilt shaft. A pilot shaftis rotatably inserted inside the swivel bracket. Further, a steering bracketis provided above the swivel bracketand a mount bracketis provided below the swivel bracket, and an upper end portion and a lower end portion of the pilot shaftare connected to the outboard motorvia the steering bracketand the mount bracket, respectively. As described above, the outboard motoris attached to the boat by the clamp bracket, the swivel bracket, the pilot shaft, the steering bracket, and the mount bracketso as to be pivotable in a horizontal direction with respect to the boat.

The swivel bracketcan pivot in an upper-lower direction about the tilt shaftwith respect to the clamp bracket. As the swivel bracketpivots upward about the tilt shaft, the outboard motorconnected to the swivel bracketpivots upward about the tilt shafttogether with the swivel bracket, that is, the outboard motoris tilted up. The user can manually perform the tilt up of the outboard motor.

The outboard motoris provided with a tilt lock mechanism that holds a state in which the outboard motoris tilted up. The tilt lock mechanism provided in the outboard motoris known, and is similar to, for example, the tilt lock mechanism provided in the above related-art tilt-up assisting structure. Therefore, illustrations and detailed explanations of the tilt lock mechanism provided in the outboard motorwill be omitted.

Similarly to the tilt lock mechanism provided in the related-art tilt-up assisting structure, the tilt lock mechanism provided in the outboard motorcan tilt up the outboard motorstepwise in the process of tilting up the outboard motor. Here, a state in which the outboard motoris tilted up but is not fully tilted up, for example, a position of the outboard motorin a state in which a part of the propelleris out of the water surface is referred to as a “halfway tilt-up position”. Further, a full tilt up state, specifically, the position of the outboard motorin a state in which the whole of the propelleris out of the water surface and the lower portion of the outboard motor outer unitis largely separated upward from the water surface is referred to as a “full tilt-up position”. The tilt lock mechanism provided in the outboard motorcan tilt-lock the outboard motorat the halfway tilt-up position, and can tilt-lock the outboard motorat the full tilt-up position. Similarly to the tilt lock mechanism provided in the above related-art tilt-up assisting structure, the tilt lock mechanism provided in the outboard motorcan automatically tilt-lock the outboard motorby using a spring. That is, when the outboard motoris tilted up to the halfway tilt-up position, the outboard motoris automatically tilt-locked to the halfway tilt-up position, and when the outboard motoris tilted up to the full tilt-up position, the outboard motoris automatically tilted and locked to the full tilt-up position.

Further, a steering handleis provided in the outboard motor. The steering handleis a handle that pivots the outboard motorin the horizontal direction with respect to the boat to steer the boat. The steering handleis formed in a bar shape extending in one direction. The steering handlenormally (specifically, when the outboard motoris not tilted up and the boat is propelled by the outboard motor) extends in the front-rear direction of the outboard motor, and is disposed to extend forward from the outboard motorin the horizontal direction.

The steering handleincludes a bar portionand a grip. The bar portionis formed in an overall tubular shape extending in one direction (front-rear direction). The gripis provided at a tip end side (front end side) of the bar portion. The gripis a portion held by a hand when the user steers the boat. Further, when the user performs the tilt up of the outboard motor, the user grasps the gripto tilt up the outboard motor.

The steering handleis attached to the outboard motorvia a handle bracket. The handle bracketis disposed in front of the steering bracketand is attached and fixed to a front end portion of the steering bracket. The steering handleis disposed to the left of the handle bracket, and a rear end portion of the steering handleis attached to a left wall of the handle bracket.

Further, the rear end portion of the steering handleis supported to be pivotable about a handle pivoting axis A extending in the left-right direction in the outboard motor. As illustrated in, the steering handlecan pivot in the direction in which the tip end portion of the steering handlemoves upward (raising direction) and the direction in which the tip end portion of the steering handlemoves downward or upward (lowering direction). Here, an angle of the steering handlewith respect to the outboard motoris referred to as the “handle angle”. In a case where the outboard motoris not tilted up, the handle angle is 0 degrees when an extension direction of the steering handleis the horizontal direction, and the handle angle increases as the steering handlepivots in the raising direction with respect to the outboard motor.

Further, a display unitis provided above the handle bracket, and the display unitis attached to an upper wall of the handle bracket. The display unitincludes, for example, a display, and the display displays, for example, information related to the outboard motorsuch as a rotation speed of the power source.

The outboard motoris provided with the tilt-up assisting structurethat assists in tilt up of the outboard motorwhen the tilt up of the outboard motoris manually performed. The tilt-up assisting structureof the present embodiment includes at least the steering handle, a ratchet portion, and a holder.

illustrates the rear end portion of the steering handle, the ratchet portion, the holder, and the like as viewed from the left.illustrates the rear end portion of the steering handle, the ratchet portion, the holder, and the like as viewed from the above.illustrates the rear end portion of the steering handleas viewed from the left.illustrates teethformed at the rear end portion of the steering handlein an enlarged manner.illustrates the rear end portion of the steering handleas viewed from above.illustrates a stopperwhich is one of components of the ratchet portion.illustrates the stopperas viewed from the left.illustrates a cross section of the rear end portion of the steering handle, the ratchet portion, the holder, and the like along a cutting line IV-IV inas viewed from the left (lower side in).illustrates the rear end portion of the steering handle, the ratchet portion, the holder, and the like along a cutting line V-V inas viewed from above.

The steering handle, which is one of components of the tilt-up assisting structure, has a function of manually tilting up the outboard motorin addition to a function of steering the boat by pivoting the outboard motorin the horizontal direction with respect to the boat.

As illustrated in, a rear end surfaceof the steering handle(specifically, the bar portion) is formed in an arc shape about the handle pivoting axis A. When the rear end portion of the steering handleis viewed from the lateral side, the rear end surfaceof the steering handleis formed in a semicircular shape.

As illustrated in, shaft portionsfor pivotably supporting the rear end portion of the steering handleby the holderand the handle bracketare formed at the rear end portion of the steering handle(specifically, the bar portion). The shaft portionsare formed on a left side and a right side of the rear end portion of the steering handle, respectively. The shaft portionon the left side protrudes leftward from a left surface of the rear end portion of the steering handle, and the shaft portionon the right side protrudes rightward from a right surface of the rear end portion of the steering handle. Each of the shaft portionsis formed in a cylindrical shape with the handle pivoting axis A as an axis.

A convex portionfor setting a lower limit of the handle angle of the steering handleto 0 degrees is formed at the rear end portion of the steering handle(specifically, the bar portion). The convex portionprotrudes rearward from a central portion in the left-right direction of a lower portion of the rear end surfaceof the steering handle.

The ratchet portionis a mechanism that restricts the pivoting of the steering handlewith respect to the outboard motor. Macroscopically, the ratchet portionis a ratchet mechanism. As illustrated in, the ratchet portionincludes the plurality of teethformed on the rear end surfaceof the steering handle, and the stopperfacing the rear end surfaceof the steering handle.

As illustrated in, the plurality of teethare arranged in a circumferential direction around the handle pivoting axis A on the rear end surfaceof the steering handle. In the present embodiment, the plurality of teethare formed by providing a plurality of grooves in the rear end surface. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in, the plurality of teethare arranged in two rows in the left-right direction. The plurality of teethon the left side and the plurality of teethon the right side are laterally symmetrical to each other. Each toothon the left side extends from a left end of the rear end surfaceof the steering handleto a position extremely close to a center of the rear end surfacein the left-right direction. Each toothon the right side extends from a right end of the rear end surfaceto the position extremely close to the center of the rear end surfacein the left-right direction. The dimension of each toothin the left-right direction is approximately half the dimension of the rear end portion of the steering handlein the left-right direction. The number of the teetharranged on a left portion of the rear end surfaceis, for example, four, and the tootharranged on the left portion of the rear end surfaceare arranged at intervals of, for example, 45 degrees. The same applies to the plurality of teetharranged on a right portion of the rear end surface. As illustrated in, each toothhas a tooth surfaceA positioned on a raising direction side of the steering handleand a tooth surfaceB positioned on a lowering direction side of the steering handle.

As illustrated in, the stopperincludes a base portionand a claw portion. The base portionis formed in a cylindrical shape. As illustrated in, the claw portionextends from an outer peripheral surface of the base portionin a radial direction of the base portion. An axis C of the claw portionis orthogonal to the axis (stopper pivoting axis B) of the base portion. A tip end surfaceA of the claw portionis a plane and is orthogonal to the axis C of the claw portion. The dimension of the base portionand the claw portionin the left-right direction is approximately half the dimension of the rear end portion of the bar portionin the left-right direction, and is substantially equal to the dimension of the toothin the left-right direction.

A handle lock release leveris integrally formed with the stopper. The handle lock release leverextends outward from the outer peripheral surface of the base portion.

As illustrated in, the holderhas a function of mounting the steering handleand the stopperto the handle bracket. A handle mounting portionfor mounting the rear end portion of the steering handleis formed at a front portion of the holder. A stopper mounting portionfor mounting the stopperis formed at a rear portion of the holder.