Patent Publication Number: US-2022212767-A1

Title: Operation device for ship propulsion machine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-001449 filed on Jan. 7, 2021, including specification, drawings and claims is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an operation device for a ship propulsion machine. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, a ship is provided with a ship propulsion machine such as an inboard motor, an inboard-outdrive motor, or an outboard motor. The ship propulsion machine usually includes a power source such as an internal combustion engine or an electric motor, a drive shaft, a gear mechanism, a propeller shaft and a propeller. The drive shaft is rotated by a power of the power source, and rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted to the propeller shaft via the gear mechanism. Thereby, the propeller shaft and the propeller fixed to the propeller shaft are rotated, and a propulsive force of the ship is generated by rotation of the propeller. 
     The ship propulsion machine further includes a clutch. The clutch has a function of selecting whether to transmit the power of the power source to the propeller shaft, and a function of selecting a rotation direction of the propeller shaft when the power of the power source is transmitted to the propeller shaft. That is, the gear mechanism is provided with a forward gear that rotates the propeller shaft in one direction in order to generate a propulsive force in a direction in which the ship moves forward, and a reverse gear that rotates the propeller shaft in a reverse direction in order to generate a propulsive force in a direction in which the ship moves backward. The clutch selectively connects one of the forward gear and the reverse gear to the propeller shaft. When the forward gear and the propeller shaft are connected to each other, the propulsive force in the direction in which the ship moves forward is generated, and the ship moves forward. When the reverse gear and the propeller shaft are connected to each other, the propulsive force in the direction in which the ship moves backward is generated, and the ship moves backward. The clutch can also create a state in which neither the forward gear nor the reverse gear is connected to the propeller shaft. When neither the forward gear nor the reverse gear is connected to the propeller shaft, a propulsive force of the ship is not generated. This makes it possible to maintain a state in which the ship is stopped while operating the power source. 
     In addition, the ship is provided with an operation device that is performed an operation related to the propulsive force of the ship generated by the ship propulsion machine. This operation device is generally called a remote control device. The operation device is usually attached to a console that steers the ship, or an inner side surface of a hull at a position close to an operator&#39;s seat. 
     The operation device includes, for example, a lever rotatable in a front-rear direction, and has a function of switching a direction of the propulsive force of the ship according to a rotation direction of the lever and a function of increasing or decreasing the propulsive force of the ship according to a rotation angle (rotation amount) of the lever. For example, when the user rotates the lever of the operation device forward in a state in which the power source is operating, the clutch of the ship propulsion machine is operated, and the forward gear and the propeller shaft are connected. Thereby, the direction of the propulsive force of the ship is the direction in which the ship moves forward. On the other hand, when the user rotates the lever rearward, the clutch is actuated, and the reverse gear and the propeller shaft are connected. Thereby, the direction of the propulsive force of the ship is the direction in which the ship moves backward. When the user sets the lever to the neutral position, neither the forward gear nor the reverse gear is connected to the propeller shaft by the clutch, and the propulsive force of the ship is not generated. 
     In the state in which the power source is operating, as an angle at which the user rotates the lever forward increases, a rotation speed of the power source increases, the propulsive force in the direction in which the ship moves forward increases, and a forward movement speed of the ship increases. In addition, as an angle at which the user rotates the lever rearward increases, the rotation speed of the power source increases, the propulsive force in the direction in which the ship moves backward increases, and a backward movement speed of the ship increases. 
     Patent Literature 1 below discloses an example of a remote control device. 
     Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2014-237399 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     In order to solve the above problems, an operation device according to the present invention is an operation device configured to be performed an operation related to a propulsive force of a ship generated by a ship propulsion machine provided in the ship, the operation device including: a lever rotatable about a rotation axis and configured to be performed the operation related to the propulsive force of the ship by being rotated; a holder fixed to the ship or a component provided in the ship and rotatably supporting the lever; a rotation restriction mechanism configured to restrict a rotation range of the lever with respect to the holder to a predetermined rotation range including a forward movement operation range in which an operation of increasing or decreasing a propulsive force for moving the ship forward is performed, a backward movement operation range in which an operation of increasing or decreasing a propulsive force for moving the ship backward is performed, and a neutral position at which the propulsive force of the ship is not generated; and a lever holding mechanism configured to hold the lever at the neutral position, wherein the lever includes a base portion supported by the holder so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis, and an operation portion connected to the base portion, extending in a direction intersecting the rotation axis, and configured to rotate the base portion with respect to the holder by being gripped and moved by a hand, and the operation portion is connected to the base portion so as to be movable with respect to the base portion in an extending direction of the operation portion, and wherein the lever holding mechanism holds the lever at the neutral position so as not to be rotatable when the lever is positioned at the neutral position and the operation portion moves toward one side in the extending direction of the operation portion with respect to the base portion, and brings the lever into a rotatable state from the neutral position when the lever is positioned at the neutral position and the operation portion moves toward the other side in the extending direction of the operation portion with respect to the base portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a ship provided with a remote control device as an operation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an explanatory view showing the remote control device and an outboard motor according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the remote control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an explanatory view showing a state in which the remote control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is viewed from a right side. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a cross section of the remote control device taken along a cutting line V-V in  FIG. 4  is viewed from a left side in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory view showing a state in which a holder in the remote control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is viewed from the right side. 
         FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C  are explanatory views showing operations of a rotation restriction mechanism and a lever holding mechanism in the remote control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view showing a remote control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view showing a remote control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is an explanatory view showing a state in which a holder in the remote control device according to the third embodiment of the present invention is viewed from a right side. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     In markets of ships, ship propulsion machines, or devices related thereto, there is a market that requires a function of holding a lever of an operation device so as not to easily rotate from a neutral position when the lever is positioned at the neutral position, and a market that does not require such a function. In the market that requires the function of holding the lever so as not to easily rotate from the neutral position, in related art, there has been provided an operation device including a mechanism that holds the lever so as not to rotate when the lever is positioned at the neutral position, and a release button for releasing such a non-rotatable holding state of the lever. In this related-art operation device, the release button is a button designed to be pressed by a finger. The release button is provided in a part of a grip of the lever or in vicinity of the grip such that the release button can be pressed by the finger of a hand gripping the grip of the lever. 
     This related-art operation device has a problem that it may be difficult to press the release button depending on a steering posture of a user who steers the ship. That is, when the user faces the front of the ship and firmly grips the grip of the lever in a correct steering posture, an operation of pressing the release button with the finger of the hand gripping the grip is usually not difficult. However, when the user faces sideways or obliquely backward and the steering posture is out of order, and thus the grip of the lever cannot be firmly gripped, it may be difficult to perform the operation of pressing the release button with the finger of the hand gripping the grip. In addition, when a temperature is low, such as in winter, the finger cannot be moved as intended if the hand is numb. In such a case, even when the user firmly grips the grip in a correct driving posture, it may be difficult to perform the operation of pressing the release button with the finger of the hand gripping the grip. 
     This point will be described by taking a remote control device (16) disclosed in Patent Literature 1 as an example. The remote control device (16) disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes a control box (33) and a control lever (34) swingably supported by the control box (33). The control box (33) is provided with a stopper (49), and the control lever (34) is provided with a neutral lock lever (44). The neutral lock lever (44) is biased downward by a spring (48), and a lower end portion of the neutral lock lever (44) is locked to the stopper (49) by a biasing force of the spring (48). When the lower end portion of the neutral lock lever (44) is locked to the stopper (49), the control lever (34) is positioned at a neutral position in a substantially fixed state. 
     In the remote control device (16), an upper portion of the neutral lock lever (44) is positioned in vicinity of a grip (42) of the control lever (34). The upper portion of the neutral lock lever (44) corresponds to a release button for releasing the state in which the control lever (34) is fixed to the neutral position. That is, when the user pushes the neutral lock lever (44) upward with a finger of a hand gripping the grip (42), the neutral lock lever (44) moves upward against the biasing force of the spring (48), and engagement between the lower end portion of the neutral lock lever (44) and the stopper (49) is released. This allows the control lever (34) to swing from the neutral position. 
     In the remote control device (16) having such a configuration, when the user cannot firmly grip the grip (42) of the control lever (34), or when the hand is numb and the finger cannot be moved as intended, it may be difficult to perform an operation of pushing the upper portion of the neutral lock lever (44) upward against the biasing force of the spring (48) with the finger of the hand gripping the grip (42). 
     The present invention has been made in view of, for example, the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an operation device for a ship propulsion machine having a mechanism that holds a lever in a neutral position so as not to be rotatable, the operation device being capable of enhancing ease of an operation of releasing a non-rotatable holding state of the lever. 
     According to the present invention, in the operation device having the mechanism that holds the lever at the neutral position so as not to be rotatable, ease of an operation of releasing a non-rotatable holding state of the lever can be enhanced. 
     An operation device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a device that is performed an operation related to a propulsive force of a ship generated by a ship propulsion machine provided in the ship. The ship propulsion machine is, for example, an inboard motor, an inboard-outdrive motor, or an outboard motor. A power source of the ship propulsion machine may be an internal combustion engine, an electric motor or a hybrid type in which an internal combustion engine and an electric motor are combined. 
     The operation device includes a lever, a holder that supports the lever, a rotation restriction mechanism that restricts a rotation range of the lever, and a lever holding mechanism that holds the lever at a neutral position. The lever is provided so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis. A user can perform an operation related to the propulsive force of the ship by rotating the lever. The holder is a member that rotatable supports the lever. The holder is fixed to the ship or a component provided in the ship. 
     The rotation restriction mechanism is a mechanism that restricts the rotation range of the lever with respect to the holder to a predetermined rotation range. The predetermined rotation range includes a forward movement operation range in which an operation of increasing or decreasing a propulsive force for moving the ship forward is performed, a backward movement operation range in which an operation of increasing or decreasing a propulsive force for moving the ship backward is performed, and a neutral position at which a propulsive force of the ship is not generated. Hereinafter, the propulsive force for moving the ship forward is referred to as a “forward movement propulsive force”, and the propulsive force for moving the ship backward is referred to as a “backward movement propulsive force”. 
     The operation device controls the ship propulsion machine according to rotation of the lever to increase or decrease the propulsive force of the ship, to switch a direction of the propulsive force of the ship or to prevent generation of the propulsive force of the ship. A method of controlling the ship propulsion machine by the operation device may be a method of controlling the ship propulsion machine by mechanically connecting the operation device and the ship propulsion machine via a cable and pushing or pulling the cable according to the rotation of the lever, or may be a method of controlling the ship propulsion machine based on an electrical signal output from a sensor by providing the operation device with the sensor that detects a rotation angle of the lever and outputs the electrical signal indicating the rotation angle of the lever, and electrically connecting the sensor and the ship propulsion machine via an electric wire. 
     The user grips the lever by hand and rotates the lever to change a rotation direction or a rotation angle (rotation amount) of the lever, thereby performing the operation related to the propulsive force of the ship, that is, an operation of increasing or decreasing the propulsive force of the ship, an operation of switching a direction of the propulsive force of the ship, or an operation of preventing the generation of the propulsive force of the ship. 
     Specifically, in a state in which the power source of the ship propulsion machine is operating, when the user rotates the lever to, for example, a front side and positions the lever within the forward movement operation range, the forward movement propulsive force is generated by the ship propulsion machine. When the user changes the rotation angle of the lever within the forward movement operation range, the forward movement propulsive force generated by the ship propulsion machine changes. On the other hand, in the state in which the power source of the ship propulsion machine is operating, when the user rotates the lever, for example, rearward and positions the lever within the backward movement operation range, the backward movement propulsive force is generated by the ship propulsion machine. When the user changes the rotation angle of the lever within the backward movement operation range, the backward movement propulsive force generated by the ship propulsion machine changes. 
     In the state in which the power source of the ship propulsion machine is operating, when the user positions the lever at the neutral position, the propulsive force of the ship is not generated by the ship propulsion machine. Specifically, a power of the power source of the ship propulsion machine is not transmitted to a propeller shaft, and although the power source is operating, rotation of a propeller stops. 
     In the operation device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the lever includes a base portion and an operation portion. The base portion is supported by the holder so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis. The operation portion is connected to the base portion and extends in a direction intersecting the rotation axis. The user rotates the base portion with respect to the holder by gripping and moving the operation portion by hand. As described above, the user uses the lever to perform the operation of increasing or decreasing the propulsive force of the ship, the operation of switching the direction of the propulsive force of the ship, or the operation of preventing the generation of the propulsive force of the ship. The user performs such operations by gripping and moving the operation portion by hand to rotate the base portion (the entire lever). 
     The operation portion is connected to the base portion so as to be movable in an extending direction of the operation portion with respect to the base portion. 
     When the lever is positioned at the neutral position and the operation portion moves toward one side in the extending direction of the operation portion with respect to the base portion, the lever holding mechanism holds the lever at the neutral position so as not to be rotatable. When the lever is positioned at the neutral position and the operation portion moves to the other side in the extending direction of the operation portion with respect to the base portion, the lever holding mechanism releases a non-rotatable holding state of the lever and allows the lever to rotate from the neutral position. 
     When the lever is positioned within the forward movement operation range or the backward movement operation range, the user grips the operation portion by hand, rotates the lever to move the lever to the neutral position, and moves the operation portion toward the one side in the extending direction of the operation portion, whereby the lever can be held at the neutral position so as not to be rotatable. When the lever is held at the neutral position so as not to be rotatable, the user can release the non-rotatable holding state of the lever by gripping the operation portion by hand and moving the operation portion to the other side in the extending direction of the operation portion. An operation of gripping the operation portion of the lever by hand and moving the operation portion to the other side in the extending direction of the operation portion can be easily performed, for example, even when the user faces sideways or obliquely backward and a steering posture is out of order. In addition, the operation of gripping the operation portion of the lever by hand and moving the operation portion to the other side in the extending direction of the operation portion can be easily performed even when the hand is numb and a finger cannot be moved as intended. Therefore, the user can easily release a state in which the lever is held at the neutral position so as not to be rotatable, even when the steering posture is out of order or even when the finger cannot be moved as intended. In this way, according to the operation device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, ease of the operation of releasing the non-rotatable holding state of the lever can be enhanced. 
     First Embodiment 
     (Outboard Motor) 
       FIG. 1  shows a ship  1  provided with a remote control device  31  as an operation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Arrows on a lower right side in  FIG. 1  indicate front (Fd), rear (Bd), upper (Ud), lower (Dd), left (Ld) and right (Rd) directions of the ship  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the ship  1  is provided with an outboard motor  11  as a ship propulsion machine that generates a propulsive force of the ship  1 . The outboard motor  11  is attached to a rear portion of a hull  2  of the ship  1  by a clamp bracket  12 . A console  3  is provided at a central portion of the hull  2  in a front-rear direction or at a portion closer to a front side than the central portion. An engine start button  4  and a steering wheel  5  are provided on an upper surface of the console  3 . The engine start button  4  is a button for starting an engine of the outboard motor  11 . The steering wheel  5  is a device that steers the ship  1 . The console  3  is provided with a remote control device  31 . The remote control device  31  is a device that is performed an operation related to the propulsive force of the ship  1  generated by the outboard motor  11 . The remote control device  31  is attached to an upper portion of a right surface of the console  3 . The remote control device  31  is attached such that an extending direction of an operation portion  42  of a lever  32  is a vertical direction when a rotation axis A of the lever  32  (see  FIG. 5 ) is orthogonal to the right surface of the console  3  and the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N (see  FIG. 4 ). 
       FIG. 2  shows the remote control device  31  and the outboard motor  11 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the outboard motor  11  includes an engine  13  (internal combustion engine) as a power source, a drive shaft  14 , a gear mechanism  15 , a propeller shaft  19  and a propeller  20 . The engine  13  is provided at an upper portion of the outboard motor  11 . The drive shaft  14  extends in an upper-lower direction, and an upper end portion thereof is connected to a crankshaft of the engine  13 . The propeller shaft  19  is provided at a lower portion of the outboard motor  11  and extends in the front-rear direction. The propeller  20  is fixed to a rear end side of the propeller shaft  19 . The gear mechanism  15  is a mechanism that transmits rotation of the drive shaft  14  to the propeller shaft  19 , and includes a drive gear  16 , a forward gear  17  and a reverse gear  18 . The drive gear  16 , the forward gear  17  and the reverse gear  18  are all bevel gears. The drive gear  16  is fixed to a lower end portion of the drive shaft  14 . The forward gear  17  and the reverse gear  18  mesh with the drive gear  16 , respectively. The forward gear  17  rotates in one direction in response to the rotation of the drive gear  16 . The reverse gear  18  rotates in a direction opposite to that of the forward gear  17  in response to the rotation of the drive gear  16 . 
     The outboard motor  11  includes a clutch  21 , a shift rod  22  and a shift actuator  23 . The clutch  21  is a mechanism that selectively connects one of the forward gear  17  and the reverse gear  18  to the propeller shaft  19 . When the forward gear  17  and the propeller shaft  19  are connected to each other during operation of the engine  13 , the propeller  20  rotates in one direction to generate a propulsive force for moving the ship  1  forward (forward movement propulsive force). When the reverse gear  18  and the propeller shaft  19  are connected to each other during the operation of the engine  13 , the propeller  20  rotates in a reverse direction to generate a propulsive force for moving the ship  1  backward (backward movement propulsive force). The clutch  21  can also create a stale in which neither the forward gear  17  nor the reverse gear  18  is connected to the propeller shaft  19 . When neither the forward gear  17  nor the reverse gear  18  is connected to the propeller shaft  19  during the operation of the engine  13 , a power of the engine  13  is not transmitted to the propeller shaft  19 . Therefore, rotation of the propeller  20  stops, and the propulsive force of the ship  1  is no longer generated. The clutch  21  is connected to the shift actuator  23  via the shift rod  22 . The shift actuator  23  is an actuator that controls an operation of the clutch  21 . The shift actuator  23  operates the clutch  21  according to a control signal output from a control unit  24  to be described later. 
     The outboard motor  11  includes the control unit  24 . The control unit  24  is a device that controls the engine  13  and other devices provided in the outboard motor  11 . The control unit  24  includes an arithmetic processing unit, a storage device and the like. The engine start button  4 , the remote control device  31  and the like are electrically connected to the control unit  24  via an electric wire. The control unit  24  starts the operation of the engine  13  when the engine start button  4  is pressed by the user while the engine  13  is stopped. In addition, the control unit  24  controls the clutch  21  according to an operation of the remote control device  31  by the user to switch gears in the gear mechanism  15 . Further, the control unit  24  controls the engine  13  according to the operation of the remote control device  31  by the user to increase or decrease a rotation speed of the engine  13 . 
     (Remote Control Device) 
       FIG. 3  shows a state in which the remote control device  31  is viewed from an upper right rear side. In  FIG. 3 , a base portion  33  of the lever  32  is indicated by a two-dot chain line, and a portion covered and hidden by the base portion  33  is shown by seeing through the base portion  33 .  FIG. 4  shows a state in which the remote control device  31  is viewed from a right side.  FIG. 5  shows a state in which a cross section of the remote control device  31  taken along a cutting line V-V in  FIG. 4  is viewed from a left side in  FIG. 4 . For convenience of description, in a state in which the remote control device  31  is attached to the right surface of the console  3  of the ship  1  as shown in  FIG. 1 , front, rear, upper, lower, left and right sides of the ship  1  are referred to as front, rear, upper, lower, left, and right sides of the remote control device  31 . Arrows on a lower right side in  FIGS. 3 to 10  indicate front (Fd), rear (Bd), upper (Ud), lower (Dd), left (Ld) and right (Rd) directions of the remote control device  31 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the remote control device  31  includes the lever  32 , a holder  51  that supports the lever  32 , a rotation restriction mechanism  61  that restricts a rotation range of the lever  32 , a lever bolding mechanism  65  that holds the lever  32  at the neutral position N, and a detection unit  71  that detects rotation of the lever  32 . 
     The lever  32  is a portion that is performed an operation related to the propulsive force of the ship  1  generated by the outboard motor  11 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the lever  32  includes the base portion  33 , the operation portion  42  and a grip  46 . The entire lever  32  rotates about the rotation axis A in directions indicated by arrows C in  FIG. 4  with respect to the holder  51 . When the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N, the operation portion  42  of the lever  32  can move in the upper-lower direction with respect to the base portion  33  of the lever  32  as indicated by arrows D in  FIG. 4 . 
     The base portion  33  is formed of, for example, a metal material, and as shown in  FIG. 5 , includes a support shaft portion  34  that functions as a support shaft of the lever  32 , and a connection portion  37  that connects the operation portion  42  to the base portion  33 . 
     The support shaft portion  34  has a cylindrical outer shape whose axis is the rotation axis A extending in a left-right direction. An annular groove  35  into which a contact member  76  of a weight adjustment mechanism  75  to be described later is inserted is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the support shaft portion  34 . The annular groove  35  is formed over the entire circumference of the support shaft portion  34 . A connection shaft portion  36  that connects the lever  32  and the detection unit  71  is formed at a left end portion of the support shaft portion  34 . 
     The connection portion  37  is positioned on a right end side of the support shaft portion  34 , and is formed integrally with the support shaft portion  34 . The connection portion  37  has a cylindrical outer shape coaxial with the support shaft portion  34 , hut has a diameter larger than that of the support shaft portion  34 . A protruding portion  38  that protrudes in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis A (upward when the lever  32  is positioned al the neutral position N) is formed at a portion of the connection portion  37  on an outer circumferential side. 
     An insertion hole  39  into which the operation portion  42  is inserted is formed in the connection portion  37 . The insertion hole  39  extends from a protruding-side end surface of the protruding portion  38  of the connection portion  37  in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis A (the upper-lower direction when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N). In the present embodiment, the insertion hole  39  extends from the protruding-side end surface of the protruding portion  38  to a position beyond the rotation axis A. 
     A spring accommodating portion  40  is formed inside the protruding portion  38  of the connection portion  37 . The spring accommodating portion  40  is a space that is arranged coaxially with the insertion hole  39  and has a diameter larger than that of the insertion hole  39 . A communication hole  41  is formed in a portion of a left portion of the protruding portion  38  of the connection portion  37  facing a right surface  53  of the holder  51 . The communication hole  41  communicates with the insertion hole  39  and the spring accommodating portion  40 . Thereby, the insertion hole  39  and the spring accommodating portion  40  are opened toward the holder  51 . 
     The operation portion  42  is a rod-shaped member formed of, for example, a metal material, and extends in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis A (the upper-lower direction when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N). The operation portion  42  is connected to the base portion  33  so as to be movable in the extending direction of the operation portion  42  with respect to the base portion  33 . That is, a base end side (a lower end side when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N) of the operation portion  42  is inserted into the insertion hole  39  of the connection portion  37  of the base portion  33 , and thus the operation portion  42  is connected to the base portion  33 . A diameter dimension of the operation portion  42  is slightly smaller than a diameter dimension of the insertion hole  39 . Therefore, the operation portion  42  can move in the extending direction of the operation portion  42  in the insertion hole  39 . 
     In addition, a holding pin  43  is provided at a base end side portion of the operation portion  42 . The holding pin  43  is formed of, for example, a metal material, and extends in a direction (left-right direction) orthogonal to the operation portion  42  and parallel to the rotation axis A. The holding pin  43  is fixed to the operation portion  42 . Specifically, a pin fixing hole  44  penetrating the operation portion  42  in a radial direction thereof is formed in the base end side portion of the operation portion  42 , and the holding pin  43  is press-fitted into the pin fixing hole  44 . A screw may be formed on an inner circumferential surface of the pin fixing hole  44  and an outer circumferential surface of the holding pin  43 , and the holding pin  43  may be screwed and fixed to the pin fixing hole  44 . A length dimension of the holding pin  43  is larger than the diameter dimension of the operation portion  42 . A left end side of the holding pin  43  protrudes leftward from an outer circumferential surface of the operation portion  42  toward the holder  51 . The left end side of the holding pin  43  protrudes to outside of the connection portion  37  through the communication hole  41 . On the other hand, a right end side of the holding pin  43  protrudes rightward from the outer circumferential surface of the operation portion  42 . The holding pin  43  is a specific example of a protruding portion. 
     in the spring accommodating portion  40  of the connection portion  37  of the base portion  33 , a holding spring  45  is provided as a biasing member that biases the operation portion  42  toward one side in the extending direction of the operation portion  42  with respect to the base portion  33 , specifically, in a direction toward the rotation axis A. In the present embodiment, the holding spring  45  is a coil spring and is attached to an outer circumferential side of the operation portion  42 . The holding spring  45  is provided in the spring accommodating portion  40  in a state of being elastically deformed and contracted. An end portion of the holding spring  45  on a side away from the rotation axis A is in contact with an inner surface  40 A of the spring accommodating portion  40  on the side away from the rotation axis A. On the other hand, an end portion of the holding spring  45  on a side close to the rotation axis A is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of a portion of the holding pin  43  protruding from the operation portion  42 . Thereby, the operation portion  42  is pressed by the holding spring  45  in the direction toward the rotation axis A. Although the operation portion  42  is pressed by the holding spring  45  in the direction toward the rotation axis A in this way, the outer circumferential surface of the portion of the holding pin  43  protruding from the operation portion  42  abuts against an inner surface  40 B of the spring accommodating portion  40  on the side close to the rotation axis A, and thus movement of the operation portion  42  in the direction toward the rotation axis A is restricted. 
     The grip  46  is fixed to a tip end side of the operation portion  42  (an upper end side when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N). The grip  46  is formed of, for example, a resin material. The grip  46  is a portion that the user grips by hand when operating the lever  32 . The user can rotate the lever  32  with respect to the holder  51  by gripping and moving the grip  46  by hand. As will be described later, when the lever  32  is held by the lever holding mechanism  65  at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable, the user can release the non-rotatable holding state of the lever  32  by gripping and moving the grip  46  by hand. 
     The holder  51  is formed of, for example, a metal material, and as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , has a columnar or disk-shaped outer shape with the rotation axis A as an axis. A diameter dimension of the holder  51  is larger than a diameter dimension of the connection portion  37  of the base portion  33 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the holder  51  has an insertion hole  52  through which the support shaft portion  34  of the base portion  33  of the lever  32  is inserted. The insertion hole  52  extends in a direction of the rotation axis A (left-right direction) and penetrates the holder  51 . The insertion hole  52  has a circular cross-sectional shape, and a center of the insertion hole  52  coincides with the rotation axis A. The support shaft portion  34  of the base portion  33  of the lever  32  is inserted into the insertion hole  52 , and is supported in the insertion hole  52  so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis A. A stopper  57  is provided at a left end portion of the support shaft portion  34  of the lever  32  to prevent the support shaft portion  34  from coming off into the insertion hole  52 . 
     A left surface of the holder  51  serves as an attachment surface  54  for attaching the holder  51  to a ship or a component fixed to the ship. Since a surface of the holder  51  orthogonal to the rotation axis A is the attachment surface  54 , the holder  51  can be attached to a surface (in the present embodiment, the right surface of the console  3 ) extending in the vertical direction (upper-lower and front-rear directions, or upper-lower and left-right directions), in the ship or the component provided in the ship, such that the rotation axis A is orthogonal to the surface. 
     The holder  51  has an attachment hole  55  for attaching the contact member  76 , a pressing spring  77  and an adjustment bolt  78  of the weight adjustment mechanism  75 . The attachment hole  55  extends in a radial direction of the holder  51 , and one end side of the attachment hole  55  is opened in an inner surface of the insertion hole  52 , and the other end side of the attachment hole  55  is opened in an outer circumferential surface of the holder  51 . The holder  51  is fixed to the right surface of the console  3  using, for example, three fixing members  58  (for example, bolts). Three fixing member insertion holes  56  for inserting, for example, the three fixing members  58  are formed in an outer circumferential portion of the holder  51 . 
     The rotation restriction mechanism  61  includes the holding pin  43  fixed to the operation portion  42  and a rotation restriction groove  62  formed in the holder  51 . The rotation restriction groove  62  is a groove formed in a surface of the holder  51  facing the operation portion  42 , that is, the right surface  53  of the holder  51 .  FIG. 6  shows the holder  51  as viewed from the right side. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the rotation restriction groove  62  extends in a rotation direction of the lever  32 . The rotation restriction groove  62  is formed in an arc shape having a central angle of, for example, 180 degrees around the rotation axis A. The rotation restriction groove  62  is arranged outside the insertion hole  52  in an upper half region of the right surface  53  of the holder  51 . As can be seen from  FIG. 3 , a left end portion of the holding pin  43  is inserted into the rotation restriction groove  62 . Thereby, a movement range of the holding pin  43  is restricted by the rotation restriction groove  62 , and as a result, the rotation range of the lever  32  is restricted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the rotation restriction mechanism  61  restricts the rotation range of the lever  32  with respect to the holder  51  to a predetermined rotation range including a forward movement operation range F in which an operation of increasing or decreasing a forward movement propulsive force of the ship  1  is performed, a backward movement operation range B in which an operation of increasing or decreasing a backward movement propulsive force of the ship  1  is performed, and the neutral position N at which a propulsive force of the ship  1  is not generated. For example, in the rotation range of the lever  32 , the neutral position N is set between the forward movement operation range F and the backward movement operation range B. The forward movement operation range F is set to a range from about 30 degrees to 90 degrees in a clockwise direction from the neutral position N. The backward movement operation range B is set to a range from about 30 degrees to 90 degrees in a counterclockwise direction from the neutral position N. A central angle of the rotation restriction groove  62  is set such that the rotation range of the lever  32  with respect to the holder  51  is restricted to such a predetermined rotation range. 
     The neutral position N, the forward movement operation range F and the backward movement operation range B are not limited to those shown in  FIG. 4 . For example, the forward movement operation range F may be set to a range from about 30 degrees to 90 degrees in the counterclockwise direction from the neutral position N, and the backward movement operation range B may be set to a range from about 30 degrees to 90 degrees in the clockwise direction from the neutral position N. A start angle of the forward movement operation range F or the backward movement operation range B may be set to be smaller than 30 degrees or larger than 30 degrees from the neutral position N. An end angle of the forward movement operation range F or the backward movement operation range B may be set to be smaller than 90 degrees or larger than 90 degrees from the neutral position N. The rotation restriction groove  62  can be changed to a rotation restriction hole penetrating the holder  51  in the left-right direction. The rotation restriction groove  62  is a specific example of a rotation restriction portion. 
     The lever holding mechanism  65  includes the holding pin  43  fixed to the operation portion  42  and a lever holding groove  66  formed in the holder  51 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the lever holding groove  66  is a groove formed in the right surface  53  of the holder  51 . The lever holding groove  66  extends in parallel to a straight line S that passes through the neutral position N and is orthogonal to the rotation axis A. When the holder  51  is viewed from the right side, the lever holding groove  66  overlaps the straight line S. 
     The lever holding groove  66  extends in the upper-lower direction, and an upper end portion of the lever holding groove  66  is connected to the rotation restriction groove  62 . That is, the upper end portion of the lever holding groove  66  intersects with a portion of the rotation restriction groove  62  positioned at the neutral position N, and the lever holding groove  66  extends downward from the position. The lever holding groove  66  is continuous with the rotation restriction groove  62 . A depth of the lever holding groove  66  is the same as a depth of the rotation restriction groove  62 , and there is no step between a bottom surface of the lever holding groove  66  and a bottom surface of the rotation restriction groove  62 . The lever holding groove  66  is positioned above the insertion hole  52 , and a lower end portion of the lever holding groove  66  is close to the insertion hole  52 . A length of the lever holding groove  66  in the upper-lower direction is longer than a radius of the holding pin  43 , and is substantially equal to a diameter of the holding pin  43 , for example. The lever holding groove  66  is a specific example of a lever holding portion. 
     The lever holding mechanism  65  holds the lever  32  at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable when the lever  32  is at the neutral position N and the operation portion  42  moves toward the one side in the extending direction of the operation portion  42  with respect to the base portion  33 , that is, in the direction toward the rotation axis A (specifically, downward).  FIG. 7A  shows a state in which a cross section of the remote control device  31  taken along a cutting line VII-VII in  FIG. 5  is viewed from the right side in  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 7A , when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N, the operation portion  42  is pressed downward by a biasing force of the holding spring  45  and moves downward with respect to the base portion  33 . Thereby, the left end portion of the holding pin  43  enters the lever holding groove  66  and moves to a lower end portion in the lever holding groove  66 . In this way, the left end portion of the holding pin  43  enters the lever holding groove  66  and moves to the lower end portion in the lever holding groove  66 , so that the lever  32  is held at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable. 
     Since the operation portion  42  is biased by the holding spring  45  in the direction toward the rotation axis A, when the user rotates the lever  32  to the neutral position N, the operation portion  42  automatically moves downward by the biasing force of the holding spring  45 , and the holding pin  43  automatically enters the lever holding groove  66 . The user does not need to push the grip  46  downward to insert the holding pin  43  into the lever holding groove  66 . 
     Since the operation portion  42  (holding pin  43 ) is biased by the holding spring  45  in the direction toward the rotation axis A, when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N, the operation portion  42  moves downward and the holding pin  43  is maintained in the lever holding groove  66 , and the lever  32  is maintained in the non-rotatable holding state. Thereby, the holding pin  43  can be prevented from coming out of the lever holding groove  66  due to vibration applied to the remote control device  31 , and the non-rotatable holding state of the lever  32  by the lever holding mechanism  65  can be prevented from being released against an intention of the user. 
     Since the length of the lever holding groove  66  in the upper-lower direction is longer than the radius of the holding pin  43 , when the left end portion of the holding pin  43  enters the lever holding groove  66  and moves to the lower end portion in the lever holding groove  66 , the lever  32  is brought into a non-rotatable state. That is, even if the user grips the grip  46  and pushes the lever  32  in the clockwise direction or pulls the lever  32  in the counterclockwise direction, the holding pin  43  abuts against an inner surface (front surface or rear surface) of the lever holding groove  66  and the lever  32  does not rotate. 
     On the other hand, a state in which the lever  32  is held by the lever holding mechanism  65  at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable is released by the operation portion  42  moving toward the other side in the extending direction of the operation portion  42  with respect to the base portion  33 , that is, in a direction away from the rotation axis A (specifically, upward).  FIG. 7B  shows a state in which the operation portion  42  has moved upward. In the state in which the lever  32  is held by the lever holding mechanism  65  at the neutral position N, when the user grips the grip  46  and pulls the operation portion  42  upward against the biasing force of the holding spring  45 , the operation portion  42  moves upward with respect to the base portion  33 , and the left end portion of the holding pin  43  comes out of the lever holding groove  66 . Thereby, the non-rotatable holding state of the lever  32  is released, and the lever  32  is rotatable from the neutral position N.  FIG. 7C  shows a state in which the lever  32  is rotated by 90 degrees in the clockwise direction from the neutral position N and is positioned at an end position of the forward movement operation range F. 
     The detection unit  71  is, for example, an angle sensor, and is attached to a left portion of the holder  51  via an attachment member  72  as shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the connection shaft portion  36  formed on the support shaft portion  34  of the base portion  33  of the lever  32  is connected to the detection unit  71 , whereby rotation of the lever  32  is input to the detection unit  71 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the detection unit  71  is electrically connected to the control unit  24  of the outboard motor  11  via an electric wire. The detection unit  71  outputs, for example, a detection signal indicating a rotation direction and a rotation angle (rotation amount) of the lever  32  to the control unit  24 . 
     The remote control device  31  is provided with the weight adjustment mechanism  75  that adjusts a weight of the lever  32  when the lever  32  is rotated. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the weight adjustment mechanism  75  includes the contact member  76 , which is formed of, for example, a metal material in a spherical shape, the pressing spring  77 , and the adjustment bolt  78 . The contact member  76 , the pressing spring  77  and the adjustment bolt  78  are inserted into the attachment hole  55  of the holder  51 , and are arranged in this order from a center side toward an outer circumferential side in the radial direction of the holder  51 . The contact member  76  is in contact with an inner surface of the annular groove  35  of the support shaft portion  34 . A screw is formed on an inner surface of a portion of the attachment hole  55  positioned on an outer circumferential side of the holder  51 , and the adjustment bolt  78  is screwed into the attachment hole  55 . The adjustment bolt  78  presses the pressing spring  77  toward the center side of the holder  51 , and the pressing spring  77  presses the contact member  76  toward the center side of the holder  51 . Thereby, the contact member  76  is pressed against the inner surface of the annular groove  35  by the biasing force of the pressing spring  77 . By such contact between the contact member  76  and the inner surface of the annular groove  35 , a frictional force that prevents the rotation of the lever  32  with respect to the holder  51  is generated. The user can change a strength of the frictional force applied to the lever  32  by changing a screwing amount of the adjustment bolt  78  into the attachment hole  55 , and can adjust the weight of the lever  32  when the lever  32  is rotated. 
     An operation of the remote control device  31  and an operation of the outboard motor  11  based on the operation of the remote control device  31  are as follows. 
     When the user presses the engine start button  4  in a state in which the lever  32  of the remote control device  31  is positioned at the neutral position N and the lever  32  is held by the lever holding mechanism  65  so as not to be rotatable, the engine  13  of the outboard motor  11  starts to operate under control of the control unit  24  of the outboard motor  11 . When the engine  13  operates, the drive shaft  14  is rotated by the power of the engine  13 , and the drive gear  16 , the forward gear  17  and the reverse gear  18  are rotated accordingly. However, when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N, neither the forward gear  17  nor the reverse gear  18  is connected to the propeller shaft  19 , so that the power of the engine  13  is not transmitted to the propeller shaft  19 . Therefore, the propeller  20  does not rotate, and the propulsive force of the ship  1  is not generated. Therefore, the ship  1  is maintained in a stopped state. At this time, the lever  32  of the remote control device  31  is held by the lever holding mechanism  65  so as not to be rotatable. Therefore, the lever  32  can be prevented from rotating from the neutral position N against the intention of the user. For example, it is possible to prevent a part of a body of the user or some object from hitting the lever  32  and causing the lever  32  to rotate from the neutral position N against the intention of the user and the ship  1  to move forward or backward. 
     When the ship  1  is to be moved forward in a state in which the lever  32  is held by the lever holding mechanism  65  at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable and the ship  1  is stopped, the user grips the grip  46  to push the grip  46  forward while pulling the grip  46  upward. When the grip  46  is pulled upward, the operation portion  42  moves upward with respect to the base portion  33 , and the holding pin  43  comes out of the lever holding groove  66 . Thereby, the non-rotatable holding state of the lever  32  by the lever holding mechanism  65  is released. When the grip  46  is pushed forward, the holding pin  43  moves forward in the rotation restriction groove  62 , and the lever  32  rotates forward (clockwise in  FIG. 4 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the rotation angle of the lever  32  in the clockwise direction from the neutral position N becomes about 30 degrees or greater and a position of the lever  32  enters the forward movement operation range F, the control unit  24  of the outboard motor  11  operates the clutch  21  via the shift actuator  23  and the shift rod  22  based on the detection signal output from the detection unit  71  to connect the forward gear  17  and the propeller shaft  19 . Thereby, the power of the engine  13  is transmitted to the propeller shaft  19  via the forward gear  17 , the propeller  20  rotates in one direction, and the forward movement propulsive force of the ship  1  is generated. Therefore, the ship  1  moves forward. 
     The user can change a forward movement speed of the ship  1  by changing the rotation angle of the lever  32  within the forward movement operation range F. That is, when the user increases the rotation angle of the lever  32  in the clockwise direction within the forward movement operation range F, the control unit  24  increases the rotation speed of the engine  13  based on the detection signal output from the detection unit  71 . Thereby, the rotation speed of the propeller  20  increases, the forward movement propulsive force of the ship  1  increases, and a speed at which the ship  1  moves forward increases. When the user reduces the rotation angle of the lever  32  in the clockwise direction within the forward movement operation range F, the speed at which the ship  1  moves forward is reduced by the same control. 
     On the other hand, when the ship  1  is to be moved backward in the state in which the lever  32  is held by the lever holding mechanism  65  at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable and the ship  1  is stopped, the user grips the grip  46  to pull the grip  46  rearward while pulling the grip  46  upward. Thereby, the non-rotatable holding state of the lever  32  by the lever holding mechanism  65  is released, and the lever  32  rotates rearward (counterclockwise in  FIG. 4 ). 
     When the rotation angle of the lever  32  in the counterclockwise direction from the neutral position N becomes about 30 degrees or greater and the position of the lever  32  enters the backward movement operation range B, the control unit  24  of the outboard motor  11  operates the clutch  21  to connect the reverse gear  18  and the propeller shaft  19 . Thereby, the power of the engine  13  is transmitted to the propeller shaft  19  via the reverse gear  18 , the propeller  20  rotates in the reverse direction, and the backward movement propulsive force of the ship  1  is generated. Therefore, the ship  1  moves backward. 
     The user can change a backward movement speed of the ship  1  by changing the rotation angle of the lever  32  within the backward movement operation range B. Control for changing the backward movement speed of the ship  1  is the same as the control for changing the forward movement speed of the ship  1 . When the user increases the rotation angle of the lever  32  in the counterclockwise direction within the backward movement operation range B, a speed at which the ship  1  moves backward increases. When the user reduces the rotation angle of the lever  32  in the counterclockwise direction within the backward movement operation range B, the speed at which the ship  1  moves backward is reduced. 
     In a case where the ship  1  is stopped while the engine  13  is being operated after the ship  1  is moved forward or backward, the user grips the grip  46  and rotates the lever  32  to the neutral position N. When the lever  32  reaches the neutral position N, the holding pin  43  in the rotation restriction groove  62  reaches above the lever holding groove  66 . At this time, the holding pin  43  moves downward together with the operation portion  42  by the biasing force of the holding spring  45 , the holding pin  43  enters the lever holding groove  66 , and the lever  32  is held by the lever holding mechanism  65  so as not to be rotatable. When the lever  32  moves out of the forward movement operation range F in a process of rotating from the forward movement operation range F toward the neutral position N, or when the lever  32  moves out of the backward movement operation range B in a process of rotating from backward movement operation range B toward the neutral position N, the control unit  24  controls the clutch  21  based on the detection signal output from the detection unit  71 , so that neither the forward gear  17  nor the reverse gear  18  is connected to the propeller shaft  19 . Thereby, the power of the engine  13  is not transmitted to the propeller shaft  19 , so that the rotation of the propeller  20  stops. Therefore, although the engine  13  is operating, the propulsive force of the ship  1  is not generated, and the ship  1  stops. 
     As described above, in the remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the lever  32  includes the operation portion  42  and the base portion  33 , and the operation portion  42  is connected to the base portion  33  so as to be movable in the extending direction of the operation portion  42 . When the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N and the operation portion  42  moves downward with respect to the base portion  33 , the lever holding mechanism  65  holds the lever  32  at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable. When the operation portion  42  of the lever  32  positioned at the neutral position N moves upward with respect to the base portion  33 , the lever holding mechanism  65  releases the non-rotatable holding state of the lever  32  and brings the lever  32  into a rotatable state from the neutral position N. According to this configuration, in the state in which the lever  32  is held by the lever holding mechanism  65  at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable, the user can release the non-rotatable holding state of the lever  32  by the lever holding mechanism  65  by gripping the grip  46  of the lever  32  and pulling the operation portion  42  upward. An operation of gripping the grip  46  and pulling the operation portion  42  upward can be easily performed, for example, even when the user faces sideways or obliquely backward and a steering posture is out of order. In addition, the operation of gripping the grip  46  and pulling the operation portion  42  upward can be easily performed even when a finger cannot be moved as intended since the hand is numb or some finger is injured. Therefore, even when the steering posture is out of order or even when the finger cannot be moved as intended, the user can easily release the state in which the lever  32  is held at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable. In this way, according to the remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment of the present invention, ease of an operation of releasing the non-rotatable holding state of the lever  32  can be enhanced. 
     The remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment of the present invention is provided with the holding spring  45  that biases the operation portion  42  in the direction toward the rotation axis A with respect to the base portion  33 . When the user rotates the lever  32  to the neutral position N, the operation portion  42  automatically moves downward by the holding spring  45 , and the lever  32  is held by the lever holding mechanism  65  so as not to be rotatable. With this configuration, ease of an operation of holding the lever  32  at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable can be enhanced. That is, the user only needs to rotate the lever  32  to the neutral position N in order to hold the lever  32  to the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable. 
     The remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a configuration in which the holding pin  43  is fixed to the operation portion  42 , the lever holding groove  66  is formed in the holder  51 , and an end portion of the holding pin  43  is inserted into the lever holding groove  66 , whereby the lever  32  is held at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable. According to this configuration, the remote control device  31  that can hold the lever  32  at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable and can easily release the non-rotatable holding state of the lever  32  can be realized with a simple structure, and the remote control device  31  can be reduced in size, weight and cost. 
     The remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes the weight adjustment mechanism  75  that adjusts the weight of the lever  32  when the lever  32  is rotated. The weight of the lever  32  can be set by the weight adjustment mechanism  75  according to a preference of each user. 
     In the remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the left surface of the holder  51  is the attachment surface  54 . Thereby, the holder  51  can be attached to a surface extending in the vertical direction, in the ship and a component provided in the ship, such that the rotation axis A is orthogonal to the surface. In the present embodiment, a case where the holder  51  is attached to the right surface of the console  3  has been described as an example, but the holder  51  may be attached to, for example, an inner surface of the hull  2  of the ship  1  at a position close to an operator&#39;s seat. 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIG. 8  shows the holder  51 , the lever  32 , the rotation restriction mechanism  61  and the lever holding mechanism  65  of a remote control device  81  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. A position (cutting position) of a cross section of the remote control device  81  in  FIG. 8  is the same as a position of the cross section of the remote control device  31  in  FIG. 5 . In the remote control device  81  according to the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the same components as those of the remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the lever  32  of the remote control device  81  according to the second embodiment is provided with a movement restriction member  82  that restricts movement of the operation portion  42  with respect to the base portion  33  toward one side in the extending direction of the operation portion  42 , specifically, in a direction toward the rotation axis A. Except for this point, a configuration of the remote control device  81  according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment. 
     The movement restriction member  82  has a function of preventing the operation portion  42  from moving in the direction toward the rotation axis A with respect to the base portion  33 , or reducing an amount of movement of the operation portion  42  in the direction toward the rotation axis A with respect to the base portion  33 , thereby preventing the lever  32  from being held so that the lever  32  is not rotatable by the lever holding mechanism  65  at the neutral position N when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N. 
     The movement restriction member  82  is an annular, tubular or C-shaped member formed of, for example, a metal material or a resin material. For example, a washer may be used as the movement restriction member  82 . The movement restriction member  82  is arranged below the holding pin  43  and is attached to an outer circumferential side of the operation portion  42 . An end surface of the movement restriction member  82  on a side away from the rotation axis A is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of a portion of the holding pin  43  protruding from the operation portion  42 . An end surface of the movement restriction member  82  on a side close to the rotation axis A is in contact with the inner surface  40 B of the spring accommodating portion  40  on the side close to the rotation axis A. T in  FIG. 8  indicates a thickness of the movement restriction member  82 . 
     In comparison between a case where the movement restriction member  82  is not attached to the operation portion  42  as shown in  FIG. 5  and a case where the movement restriction member  82  is attached to the operation portion  42  as shown in  FIG. 8 , a position of the operation portion  42  when the operation portion  42  moves to the maximum in the direction toward the rotation axis A in the case where the movement restriction member  82  is attached to the operation portion  42  is more distant from the rotation axis A than in the case where the movement restriction member  82  is not attached to the operation portion  42 . Therefore, when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N due to the movement restriction member  82  being attached to the operation portion  42 , downward movement of the lever  32  is blocked and the lever  32  does not move downward at all, or an amount of movement of the lever  32  that moves downward is reduced as compared with the case where the movement restriction member  82  is not attached to the operation portion  42 . 
     When the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N due to the movement restriction member  82  being attached to the operation portion  42 , whether the lever  32  does not move downward at all or whether the amount of movement of the lever  32  that moves downward is reduced as compared with the case where the movement restriction member  82  is not attached to the operation portion  42 , is determined by the thickness T of the movement restriction member  82 . Specifically, the thickness T of the movement restriction member  82 , which is set such that the lever  32  does not move downward at all when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N, is larger than the thickness T of the movement restriction member  82 , which is set such that the amount of movement of the lever  32  that moves downward when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N is reduced as compared with the case where the movement restriction member  82  is not attached to the operation portion  42 . 
     In a case where the lever  32  is set so as not to move downward at all when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N due to the movement restriction member  82  being attached to the operation portion  42 , the holding pin  43  does not enter the lever holding groove  66  at all when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N. As a result, the lever  32  is not held at all by the lever holding mechanism  65 , and a function of the lever holding mechanism  65  is disabled. 
     When the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N due to the movement restriction member  82  being attached to the operation portion  42 , the amount of movement of the lever  32  that moves downward is set to be reduced as compared with the case where the movement restriction member  82  is not attached to the operation portion  42 . In this case, an amount by which the holding pin  43  enters the lever holding groove  66  when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N is reduced as compared with the case where the movement restriction member  82  is not attached to the operation portion  42 . By adjusting the thickness T of the movement restriction member  82  and setting the amount by which the holding pin  43  enters the lever holding groove  66  when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N to be smaller than a radius of the holding pin  43 , the lever holding mechanism  65  functions as a detent mechanism. 
     In a case where the lever holding mechanism  65  is set to function as the detent mechanism, when the lever  32  reaches the neutral position while the user rotates the lever  32 , a left end portion of the holding pin  43  enters the lever holding groove  66 , and thus rotation of the lever  32  stops at the neutral position N. However, since only a lower portion of the left end portion of the holding pin  43  enters the lever holding groove  66 , the lever  32  is not held at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable. When the user pushes the lever  32  stopped at the neutral position N forward or pulls the lever  32  rearward, the left end portion of the holding pin  43  comes out of the lever holding groove  66 , so that the user can easily rotate the lever  32  stopped at the neutral position N. In order to rotate the lever  32  stopped at the neutral position N, it is not necessary to perform an operation of pulling the operation portion  42  upward with respect to the base portion  33 . 
     According to the remote control device  81  according to the second embodiment of the present invention, by attaching the movement restriction member  82  to the operation portion  42  of the remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the function of the lever holding mechanism  65  of holding the lever  32  at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable can be disabled, or the function of the lever holding mechanism  65  can be changed such that the lever holding mechanism  65  functions as the detent mechanism. The remote control device  81  according to the second embodiment in which the function of the lever holding mechanism  65  is disabled or changed as described above can be manufactured only by adding the movement restriction member  82  to a component of the remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment and adding a process of attaching the movement restriction member  82  to the operation portion  42  to a manufacturing process of the remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment. Therefore, according to the remote control devices  31 ,  81  according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the remote control device  31  having the function of holding the lever  32  at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable and the remote control device  81  not having the function of holding the lever  32  at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable can be manufactured by a substantially common manufacturing process using a substantially common component. 
     In markets of ships, ship propulsion machines, or devices related thereto, there is a market that requires a function of holding a lever of a remote control device so as not to easily rotate from a neutral position when the lever is positioned at the neutral position, and a market that does not require such a function. The remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment is adapted to the market that requires the function of holding the lever so as not to easily rotate from the neutral position. The remote control device  81  according to the second embodiment is adapted to the market that does not require the function of holding the lever so as not to easily rotate from the neutral position. According to the first and second embodiments of the present invention, since the two types of remote control devices  31 ,  81  respectively adapted to the two types of markets different from each other in demand can be manufactured by the substantially common manufacturing process using the substantially common component, a manufacturing cost of the remote control devices  31 ,  81  can be reduced comprehensively. In addition, manufacturing of the remote control device  31  and manufacturing of the remote control device  81  can be easily switched for each small manufacturing quantity (for example, for each lot), and a ratio of manufacturing quantities of the remote control device  31  and the remote control device  81  can be flexibly adjusted. 
     Further, according to the remote control device  81  according to the second embodiment of the present invention, by selecting the thickness T of the movement restriction member  82 , it is possible to easily select whether to disable the function of the lever holding mechanism  65  or to change the function of the lever holding mechanism  65  such that the lever holding mechanism  65  functions as the detent mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to easily manufacture, at low cost, a remote control device having a detent function of stopping the lever  32  in an easily rotatable state to the neutral position N and a remote control device not having such a detent function. 
     Third Embodiment 
       FIG. 9  shows a remote control device  91  according to a third embodiment of the present invention. A position (cutting position) of a cross section of the remote control device  91  in  FIG. 9  is the same as the position of the cross section of the remote control device  31  in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 10  shows a state in which the holder  51  of the remote control device  91  is viewed from a right side. In the remote control device  91  according to the third embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the same components as those of the remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. 
     The remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment described above has the configuration in which the non-rotatable holding state of the lever  32  by the lever holding mechanism  65  is released by pulling the operation portion  42  upward, whereas the remote control device  91  according to the third embodiment has a configuration in which a non-rotatable holding state of a lever  92  by a lever holding mechanism  96  is released by pushing the operation portion  42  downward. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , in the remote control device  91  according to the third embodiment, a spring accommodation portion  93  is provided in a bottom side portion (a lower end side portion when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N) of the insertion hole  39  formed in the connection portion  37  of the lever  92 , and a holding spring  94  is provided in the spring accommodating portion  93 . One end portion (a lower end portion in  FIG. 9 ) of the holding spring  94  is in contact with a bottom surface  39 A of the insertion hole  39 , and the other end portion (an upper end portion in  FIG. 9 ) of the holding spring  94  is in contact with a base end portion  42 A of the operation portion  42 . The holding spring  94  biases the operation portion  42  in a direction away from the rotation axis A (upward when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N). In this way, the lever  92  of the remote control device  91  according to the third embodiment is different from the lever  32  of the remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment in arrangement of the spring accommodating portion  93  and the holding spring  94  and a direction in which the holding spring  94  biases the operation portion  42 , but is the same as the lever  32  of the remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment except for these points. 
     The lever holding mechanism  96  of the remote control device  91  according to the third embodiment includes the holding pin  43  fixed to the operation portion  42  and a lever holding groove  97  formed in a holder  95 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the lever holding groove  97  is a groove formed in a right surface of the holder  95 . The lever holding groove  97  extends in parallel to the straight line S that passes through the neutral position N and is orthogonal to the rotation axis A. When the holder  95  is viewed from the right side, the lever holding groove  97  overlaps the straight line S. The lever holding groove  97  extends upward from a portion of the rotation restriction groove  62  positioned at the neutral position N. A lower end portion of the lever holding groove  97  intersects with the portion of the rotation restriction groove  62  positioned at the neutral position N, and is connected to the portion. 
     The lever holding mechanism  96  holds the lever  92  at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable when the lever  92  is at the neutral position N and the operation portion  42  moves in the direction away from the rotation axis A (specifically, upward) with respect to the base portion  33 . That is, when the lever  92  is positioned at the neutral position N, the operation portion  42  is pushed upward by a biasing force of the holding spring  94  and moves upward with respect to the base portion  33 . Thereby, a left end portion of the holding pin  43  enters the lever holding groove  97  and moves to an upper end portion in the lever holding groove  97 . In this way, the lever  92  is held at the neutral position N so as not to be rotatable. 
     Since the operation portion  42  is biased in the direction away from the rotation axis A by the holding spring  94 , when the user rotates the lever  92  to the neutral position N, the operation portion  42  automatically moves upward by the holding spring  94 , and the holding pin  43  automatically enters the lever holding groove  97 . Since the operation portion  42  (holding pin  43 ) is biased by the holding spring  94  in the direction away from the rotation axis A, when the lever  92  is positioned at the neutral position N, the operation portion  42  moves upward and the holding pin  43  is maintained in the lever holding groove  97 , and the lever  92  is maintained in the non-rotatable holding state. 
     On the other hand, in the state in which the lever  92  is held by the lever holding mechanism  96  at the neutral position N, when the user grips the grip  46  and pushes the operation portion  42  downward against the biasing force of the holding spring  94 , the operation portion  42  moves downward with respect to the base portion  33 , and the left end portion of the holding pin  43  comes out of the lever holding groove  97 . Thereby, the non-rotatable holding state of the lever  32  is released, and the lever  92  is rotatable from the neutral position N. 
     The holder  95  of the remote control device  91  according to the third embodiment is the same as the holder  51  of the remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment except that the lever holding groove  97  is different from the lever holding groove  66  of the remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment as described above. In the remote control device  91  according to the third embodiment, the rotation restriction mechanism  61 , the detection unit  71  and the weight adjustment mechanism  75  are the same as those of the remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment. 
     The remote control device  91  according to the third embodiment having such a configuration also has same operational effects the same as those of the remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment. 
     As described above, in the remote control device  81  according to the second embodiment, by adding the movement restriction member  82  to the remote control device  31  according to the first embodiment, a function of the lever holding mechanism  65  is disabled, or a function of the lever holding mechanism  65  is changed such that the lever holding mechanism  65  functions as a detent mechanism. Similarly, also by adding the movement restriction member  82  to the remote control device  91  according to the third embodiment, a function of the lever holding mechanism  96  can be disabled, or a function of the lever holding mechanism  96  can be changed such that the lever holding mechanism  96  functions as a detent mechanism. In this case, the movement restriction member  82  is attached to an upper side of the holding pin  43  (a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in  FIG. 9 ) in the operation portion  42 . 
     The remote control device  31  ( 81 ,  91 ) according to each of the above embodiments is a so-called side mount type or flash mount type remote control device having a configuration in which the device is attached to a surface extending, in a vertical direction in the ship  1  or a component provided in the ship  1 , such that a rotation axis is orthogonal to the surface, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can also be applied to a so-called top mount type remote control device (operation device) having a configuration in which the device is attached to a surface (upper surface) extending in a horizontal direction, in the ship  1  or a component provided in the ship  1 , such that a rotation axis is parallel to the surface. 
     In the first or second embodiment, the holding spring  45  may not be provided. That is, when the lever  32  is positioned at the neutral position N, the operation portion  42  may move downward with respect to the base portion  33  by its own weight. 
     The remote control device  31  ( 81 ,  91 ) according to each of the above embodiments adopts a method of detecting a rotation direction and a rotation angle of the lever  32  ( 92 ) by the detection unit  71  and outputting a detection signal indicating the detection result from the detection unit  71  to the outboard motor  11  as a method of controlling the outboard motor  11 , but the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can also be applied to a remote control device (operation device) that adopts a method of controlling an outboard motor by mechanically connecting the remote control device and the outboard motor via a cable and pushing or pulling the cable according to rotation of a lever as a method of controlling the outboard motor. 
     The power source of the outboard motor  11  controlled by the remote control device  31  ( 81 ,  91 ) is not limited to the engine, and may be an electric motor, or may be a hybrid power source in which the engine and the electric motor are combined. When the power source of the outboard motor  11  is the electric motor, a rotation direction of the propeller  20  can be switched by switching a rotation direction of an output shaft of the electric motor based on control by the control unit  24 . In a case of such a configuration, the clutch  21  may not be provided in the outboard motor  11 . In this case, when the lever  32  ( 92 ) of the remote control device  31  ( 81 ,  91 ) is positioned at the neutral position N, the electric motor is stopped based on the control by the control unit  24 . 
     The remote control device  31  ( 81 ,  91 ) may control a ship propulsion machine other than an outboard motor, for example, an inboard motor or an inboard/outboard motor. The ship provided with the remote control device  31  ( 81 ,  91 ) is not limited to a small ship as shown in  FIG. 1 , and a size and a type of the ship provided with the remote control device  31  ( 81 ,  91 ) are not limited. 
     The present invention can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist or idea of the invention which can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and an operation device for a ship propulsion machine accompanied by such a change is also included in the technical idea of the present invention.