Patent ID: 6588354
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: B63H,F16D

Abstract:
Steering compartment equipment for boats which are fitted with a tilt type and height adjustable steering wheel, comprising:a mobile tilt wheel shaft, a locking and release pawl meshing with a sector gear for changing an inclination of the mobile tilt wheel shaft, a fixed control shaft, a universal joint which permits offset rotation of the mobile tilt wheel shaft and the fixed control shaft relative to each other and which functions as a mechanical sequencer between the mobile tilt wheel shaft and the fixed control shaft, the universal joint including: four identical stirrups positioned inside the universal joint, a cross journal having articulated shafts with ends that penetrate the stirrups, the cross journal formed as a substantially square parallelepiped with chamfered edges to permit inclination of the mobile tilt wheel shaft and the fixed control shaft relative to each other, flanged ferrules inserted in the stirrups with the articulated shafts inserted in the flanged ferrules to prevent gripping of the universal joint when not in use, a base plate for securement to a dashboard of the boat, a flanged base gasket for interposition between the base plate and the dashboard of the boat, an O-ring mounted on the fixed control shaft at a position where the fixed control shaft passes through the dashboard and which cooperates with the flanged base gasket, and external coverings which protect the equipment against splashes, waves and bad weather, the external coverings including: a first fixed annular covering which protects parts of the equipment which are secured to the dashboard, a second mobile annular covering which protects a mobile upper part of the equipment, and a third intermediate toroid band shaped seal located between the first fixed annular covering and the second mobile annular covering, the toroid band shaped seal including: a lower circular internal recess mounted on a peripheral upper zone portion of the first fixed annular covering, and an inwards bent upper shaping which rests on an outside of a lower zone of the second mobile annular covering, the upper shaping being outwardly elastically bendable to facilitate installation of the second mobile annular covering and inwardly elastically bendable to a rest position in sealing relation to the second mobile annular covering.