Marine propulsion unit control system

Several embodiments of remote control arrangements for marine watercraft which permit an operator to steer and control an outboard drive of a watercraft from a forward position in the same manner as conventional tiller control. Both linkage and cable operated control systems are disclosed and applications to outboard motors or inboard/outboard drives are illustrated and described.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates a marine propulsion unit control system and more 
particularly to an improved arrangement for controlling a marine outboard 
drive from a remote location. 
Systems have been proposed where marine propulsion units such as outboard 
motors or the outboard drive portion of an inboard/outboard drive can be 
controlled from a location remote from the transom. For example, U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,009,678, issued Mar. 1, 1977 and entitled "Multiple Push-Pull Cable 
Transmission Apparatus" shows an arrangement wherein the outboard drives 
mounted on the transom of a watercraft may be steered from the front of a 
watercraft through a steering wheel. The advantages of permitting the 
operator to sit forwardly of the transom are obvious. That is, the 
watercraft may travel more stably if the weight is not all concentrated at 
the transom. However, when using a steering wheel of the type shown in the 
aforenoted patent, the operator is not free to employ one of his arms for 
water activities such as fishing. First of all, the positioning of the 
steering wheel at the front of the operator obstructs his access and 
furthermore does not permit him to sit in a manner wherein he may easily 
handle a fishing pole while, at the same time, steering the outboard 
drive, as during trolling. 
It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an 
improved remote control system for a marine outboard drive. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a remote control 
steering system for a marine outboard drive that permits the operator to 
steer the watercraft in a conventional fashion and still leave one hand 
and arm free for activities such as fishing. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is adapted to be embodied in a watercraft control system for 
use in a hull having a transom and a marine propulsion united mounted to 
the rear of the transom for steering movement about a generally vertically 
extending axis for steering of the hull. Means provide an operator's area 
within the hull that is spaced forwardly of the transom. A steering 
control is adapted to be mounted within the hull in an area contiguous to 
the operator's area other than forwardly thereof and transmission means 
transmit motion of the steering control into steering movement of the 
propulsion unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring first to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4, a watercraft of the 
Dory type is indicated generally by the reference numeral 11. Although the 
invention is described in conjunction with a Dory type of watercraft, it 
is to be understood that the invention can be utilized with a wide variety 
of other types of watercraft. However, the invention has particular 
utility in conjunction with watercrafts of the type having generally open 
hulls that provide a substantial rider's area, as shown by the reference 
numeral 12. The watercraft hull is provided with a front seat 13 and a 
rear seat 14, both of which are positioned forwardly of the transom 15. A 
marine outboard drive, an outboard motor 16 in this embodiment, is mounted 
on the transom 15 in a known manner for steering movement about a steering 
axis 17 as indicated by the arrow 18 and for tilt and trim movement about 
a generally horizontally extending axis as indicated by the arrow 19. As 
will become apparent by reference to the embodiment of FIG. 6, the 
invention is also adapted to be embodied in watercraft incorporating 
inboard/outboard drives. 
Various equipment for operating the outboard motor 16 may be positioned 
with the hull of the watercraft 11 and specifically in the rider's area 
12. This equipment may include a fuel tank 21 and battery 22 that are 
positioned between the transom 15 and the rear rider's seat 14. 
Other equipment such as a portable cooler 23 and bait box 24 may be 
positioned in the rider's area 12 between the seats 13 and 14 for access 
by occupants sitting on either seat. In the illustrated example, a single 
operator 25 is depicted as being seated on the seat 14. 
An anchor 26 may be positioned within the hull at the front of the seat 13 
for deployment when desired. 
The outboard motor 16 is, as is conventional with outboard motor practice, 
provided with a steering tiller 27 that is affixed to the upper end of its 
steering shaft 28 for steering of the outboard motor 16 about the axis 17. 
In accordance with the invention, a remote steering mechanism, indicated 
generally by the reference numeral 29 is provided on the seat 14 for 
operation by the operator 25 so as to permit the operator to steer the 
outboard motor 16 in a generally conventional fashion and, at the same 
time, leave one hand free so that the operator may hold a fishing pole 31 
in that one hand to fish while trolling. The remote steering control 29 
includes a mounting bracket 32 (FIG. 3) that is mounted in a suitable 
manner on the seat 14, as by threaded fasteners 33. This mounting bracket 
32 supports a threaded pivot bolt 34 which, in turn, provides a pivotal 
support for a steering handle 35. 
The steering handle 35 has a portion 36 that extends rearwardly from the 
pivot bolt 34 and which has a pivotal connection by means of a pivot bolt 
37 to one end of a link 38 (FIG. 1). The link 38 has a pivotal connection 
39 to a steering control rod 41 that is slidably mounted within a 
cylindrical boss 42 of the base 32. A coil compression spring 43 acts 
against the boss 42 and a collar 44 fixed to the rod 41 for urging it in 
one direction. 
The steering rod 41 is connected to one end of a Bowden wire actuator 45 in 
an appropriate manner and which is contained within a protective sheath 46 
also fixed to the boss 42 by means of a fastener 47. The Bowden wire 45 
extends through the sheath 46 and is connected to a further steering rod 
48 (FIG. 1) that is mounted within a tubular member 49 that is fixed to 
the transom 15 in a known manner. The steering rod 48 has a pivotal 
connection 51 to a further link 52. The opposite end of link 52 is 
pivotally connected to the steering tiller 27 by means of a pivot pin 53. 
By virtue of the described steering linkage system and particularly the 
arrangement of the remote control 29, movement of the steering lever 35 by 
the operator 25 will result in steering movement of the outboard motor 16 
in the same direction. Hence, the steering lever 35, in effect, operates 
as an extension of the tiller 27 but can be placed at the side of the 
operator 25. Hence, when a single operator is present in the hull 11 he 
may sit in the center of the watercraft and the watercraft will not list 
to one side. 
In addition to providing for steering of the outboard motor 16, the remote 
control 29 may provide a twist throttle control 54 which is connected by a 
further Bowden wire mechanism 55 to the throttle of the outboard motor 16 
for controlling its speed. Since these twist type throttle mechanisms are 
well known, further illustration or description of them is not believed to 
be necessary to permit those skilled in the art to practice the invention. 
In addition, the control lever 35 may also provide a shift control lever 56 
that is positioned rearwardly of the twist throttle 54 and which is 
connected to the transmission of the outboard motor 16 through a suitable 
wire actuator (not shown) for effecting control of its transmission. 
FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the invention which is generally similar 
to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 but which dispenses with the use of 
a Bowden wire cable. In this embodiment, the remote control is indicated 
generally by the reference numeral 101 and includes a steering lever 102 
mounted for pivotal movement on a bracket 103 which is affixed to the seat 
14. Again, the bracket 103 is mounted to one side of the operator 25 and 
in this case the operator may be seated on an auxiliary seat 104 
positioned forwardly of the rear seat 14. The bracket 103 provides a pivot 
pin 105 about which the lever 102 pivots. The lever 102 has a belt crank 
arm 106 that has a pivotal connection 107 to one end of a link 108. The 
opposite end of the link 108 is pivotally connected by means of a pivot 
pin 109 to a bent end portion 111 of the tiller 27. Like the previously 
described embodiment, pivotal movement of the steering lever 102 will 
accomplish pivotal movement of the outboard motor 16 in the same 
direction. This embodiment may also employ a twist grip throttle mechanism 
54 and shift control lever 56 on the lever 102, as with the previously 
described embodiment. 
The embodiments of the invention as thus described have applied the 
invention to outboard motors. As has been noted, however, the invention 
may be equally as well practiced in conjunction with inboard/outboard 
drives and FIG. 6 shows such an embodiment. In this embodiment, the 
watercraft 11 has such a drive that includes an inboard mounted engine 151 
which drives a propeller 152 of an outboard drive unit 153 in a known 
manner. The outboard drive unit is, as is typical with this type of drive, 
mounted for both steering movement about a vertically extending axis 
defined by a steering shaft 154 and for tilt and trim movement, controlled 
by hydraulic cylinders 155 in a known manner. A steering lever 156 is 
affixed to the steering shaft 154 for steering of the outboard drive 153 
and specifically the propeller 152. 
In this embodiment, the hull 11 provides a seat 157 forwardly of the 
transom 158 and upon which an operator 159 may be seated. A steering 
mechanism of the type shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 is employed in this 
embodiment and since the steering mechanism is the same as that of FIGS. 1 
through 4, its components have been identified by the same reference 
numerals. Because of the similarity to the previously described 
embodiment, further description of this embodiment is believed to be 
unnecessary. However, it is to be understood that a mechanism of the type 
shown in FIG. 5 may also be employed with inboard/outboard drives in a 
manner which is believed to be readily apparent to those skilled in the 
art. 
In view of the foregoing, it should be readily apparent that the described 
propulsion unit control systems permit the operator of a watercraft to be 
seated a substantial distance from the transom of the watercraft and 
centrally of the watercraft while still controlling the outboard drive in 
a conventional manner. Of course, the foregoing description is that of 
preferred embodiments of the invention and various changes and 
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of 
the invention, as defined by the appended claims.