Patent Publication Number: US-9422045-B2

Title: Operating device of electric outboard motor

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a U.S. national phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2013/069826, filed on Jul. 22, 2013, and claims benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-189926, filed on Aug. 30, 2012. The International Application was published on Mar. 6, 2014, as International Publication No. WO 2014/034324 under PCT Article 21(2). The entire contents of these applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an operating device in an electric outboard motor designed to drive a propulsion propeller by an electric motor. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     With regard to an outboard motor of this type, there is one described in Patent Literature 1, for example. In an operating device of this electric outboard motor, a steering bar-shaped handle projecting forward is provided, and this handle is pivotally supported on a hull to be able to steer right and left. Then, by an electric motor driven by power supplied from a battery, a propeller is driven, and on a tip portion of the steering bar-shaped handle, an accelerator grip that is made to pivot on an axial center normally and reversely from a neutral position to adjust an amount of power to be supplied to the electric motor according to a pivot amount is provided. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-234514 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     As is the above-described example, an accelerator grip is made to pivot on an axial center normally or reversely from a neutral position, to thereby adjust a rotation direction and a rotation speed of a propeller. In an operating device having such a structure, there might be caused a “backward moving erroneous operation” that when returning the accelerator grip, for example, to the neutral position from a normal pivot position, the accelerator grip is made to pivot to a reverse pivot position passing through the neutral position erroneously, and if no measures are taken for it, smooth boat operation cannot be secured and it is not favorable. Further, the accelerator grip is formed to be able to pivot normally and reversely and is not provided with a regulating means of regulating pivots from a neutral position, so that there is also caused a risk that by accidental contact with the accelerator grip, the accelerator grip pivots to cause a boat to start to move erroneously. 
     In consideration of such circumstances, the present invention has an object to provide an operating device of an electric outboard motor that by accurate and smooth boat operation, secures high safety and also achieves extremely excellent operationality. 
     Solution to Problem 
     An operating device of an electric outboard motor according to the present invention is an operating device of an electric outboard motor designed that a steering bar-shaped handle projecting forward is provided and is pivotally supported on a hull to be able to steer right and left, a propeller is driven by an electric motor driven by power supplied from a power supply, and on a tip portion of the steering bar-shaped handle, an accelerator grip that is made to pivot on an axial center normally and reversely from a neutral position to adjust an amount of power to be supplied to the electric motor according to a pivot amount is provided, the operating device including: in the accelerator grip or in the vicinity of the accelerator grip, an accelerator grip fixing mechanism that fixes a pivot position of the accelerator grip at the neutral position to be able to release the fixation easily. 
     Further, the operating device of the electric outboard motor according to the present invention, in which the accelerator grip fixing mechanism includes: an engaging part of the accelerator grip; a locking piece that is formed to enable an engaging position where the locking piece projects from the tip portion of the steering bar-shaped handle to engage with the accelerator grip to make the accelerator grip incapable of pivoting and a releasing position where the engagement is released so as to enable the accelerator grip to pivot by going backward from the engaging position to appear and disappear easily; a biasing member that constantly biases the locking piece toward the engaging position side; and a lock releasing button that biases the locking piece toward the releasing position side to release the fixation of the accelerator grip. 
     Further, the operating device of the electric outboard motor according to the present invention, in which the lock releasing button in the accelerator grip fixing mechanism is projectingly provided on an outer peripheral surface of the accelerator grip and is formed to be able to project and sink easily in a radial direction of the accelerator grip. 
     Further, the operating device of the electric outboard motor according to the present invention, in which the lock releasing button in the accelerator grip fixing mechanism is disposed on a lower surface of the accelerator grip at the neutral position. 
     Further, the operating device of the electric outboard motor according to the present invention, in which the lock releasing button in the accelerator grip fixing mechanism is formed on a tip portion of the accelerator grip to be able to project and sink easily in an axial direction of the steering bar-shaped handle. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the present invention, as long as a lock releasing button is not operated, an engagement state of an accelerator grip fixing mechanism is maintained, an accelerator grip does not start to move from its neutral position accidentally, unintended erroneous operations can be prevented securely, and high safety is guaranteed. On the other hand, lock release by the operation of the lock releasing button enables the accelerator grip to pivot to rotate an electric motor normally or reversely, thereby enabling a boat to move forward or backward. This operation can be performed easily and accurately by a boat operator by one hand, and is extremely excellent in operationality and usability. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a structure example of an electric outboard motor according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a constitution example of the electric outboard motor according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a substantial part structure example of an operating device of the electric outboard motor according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the substantial part structure example of the operating device of the electric outboard motor according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a working example in the operating device of the electric outboard motor according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a working example in the operating device of the electric outboard motor according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6A  is a top view of an outboard motor mounted boat illustrating a manipulation example of the operating device of the electric outboard motor according to the embodiment of the present invention in relation to a comparative example; 
         FIG. 6B  is a top view of an outboard motor mounted boat illustrating a manipulation example of the operating device of the electric outboard motor according to the embodiment of the present invention in relation to a comparative example; 
         FIG. 6C  is a top view of an outboard motor mounted boat illustrating a manipulation example of the operating device of the electric outboard motor according to the embodiment of the present invention in relation to a comparative example; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a substantial part structure example of an operating device of an electric outboard motor according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating an internal part structure example of the operating device of the electric outboard motor according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a working example in the operating device of the electric outboard motor according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a working example in the operating device of the electric outboard motor according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, there will be explained preferable embodiments in an operating device of an electric outboard motor of the present invention based on the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a structure example of an electric outboard motor  10  as an application example of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a system constitution of the outboard motor  10 . First, the overall structure of the outboard motor  10  will be explained by using  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . Incidentally, in the drawings to be used for the following explanation including  FIG. 1 , of the outboard motor  10 , the front is indicated by an arrow Fr and the rear is indicated by an arrow Rr respectively, and further of the outboard motor  10 , the lateral right side is indicated by an arrow R, and the lateral left side is indicated by an arrow L respectively according to need. 
     The outboard motor  10  has an outboard motor main body  20  and a control/power supply unit  11 . The outboard motor main body  20  and the control/power supply unit  11  are constituted separately and the both are electrically connected by a connecting cable  11 A. The outboard motor main body  20  is attached to a transom board or the like disposed at a stern of a not-illustrated boat to be used. The control/power supply unit  11  is mounted at an appropriate place of a hull of the boat to supply driving power, (which is a direct current, here), to the outboard motor main body  20  through the connecting cable  11 A. Further, control/power supply unit  11  controls the outboard motor  10 . Since the outboard motor main body  20  is separated from the control/power supply unit  11 , it is possible to reduce weight of the outboard motor main body  20  and to achieve improvement in operationality of the outboard motor main body  20 . 
     The control/power supply unit  11  includes: a control section  12  controlling the outboard motor  10 ; a battery section  13  as a power supply for the outboard motor  10 ; and a display section  14  displaying various parameters necessary for driving operation of the outboard motor  10  such as battery remaining amount and speed of the outboard motor  10  thereon. 
     The control section  12  has a memory capable of storing software and data on setting of the outboard motor  10  therein and a processor capable of reading the software and the setting of the outboard motor  10  from the memory to execute them. Then, the control section  12  executes the software based on the setting of the outboard motor  10 , to thereby control the outboard motor  10 . Incidentally, to the control section  12 , a main switch  15 , an external power supply output (for example, 12 V)  16 , and the like are connected. 
     The battery section  13  includes: a single packaged battery pack or plural packaged battery packs (battery/batteries); and a battery pack attaching section to which plural batteries can be attached simultaneously, and is attachable/detachable to/from the control/power supply unit  11 . The battery pack/packs of the battery section  13  is/are a direct-current power supply, can have a set of lithium ion battery cells, for example, applied thereto, and becomes/become charged by a charger  2  of an external device  1  to thereby be usable repeatedly. Then, the battery pack/packs is/are attached to the battery pack attaching section, and thereby power for driving the control section  12  and an electric motor of the outboard motor main body  20 , or other respective sections can be supplied. 
     Next, the outboard motor main body  20  includes: an electric motor  21 ; an inverter  22 ; a propulsion part  23 ; a swivel bracket  24 ; a steering handle  25 ; a clamp bracket  26 ; and so on. 
     The electric motor  21  is coupled to a drive shaft housing  28  via a motor housing  27 . The steering handle  25  is coupled to the motor housing  27  via a handle bracket  29 . Incidentally, the steering handle  25  is attached to the handle bracket  29  to be able to fold in an up and down direction. Of the drive shaft housing  28 , a portion close to an upper portion is coupled to the swivel bracket  24  to be able to pivot in a horizontal direction, and the electric motor  21 , the inverter  22 , the propulsion part  23 , and the steering handle  25  can pivot in the horizontal direction on the swivel bracket  24  as one. 
     The clamp bracket  26  is coupled to the front side of the swivel bracket  24  via a tilt pin  30  bridged in a right and left direction. The clamp bracket  26  and the swivel bracket  24  can pivot relatively via the tilt pin  30 . Thus, the outboard motor main body  20  is made to pivot on the tilt pin  30  in a state of the clamp bracket  26  being fixed to the transom board of the boat, thereby making it possible to perform a tilt-up operation in which the propulsion part  23  is brought up from the water. 
     Here, the electric motor  21  is a driving source for rotationally driving a propulsion propeller  31  of the propulsion part  23 , and an alternating current motor such as a three-phase alternating current induction motor, for example, is applied thereto. In this case, a coil to generate a rotating magnetic field by an alternating current and a rotor to rotate by this rotating magnetic field are housed in the motor housing  27 . A rotation output shaft to be provided to the rotor is provided so that its axial direction can be substantially vertical, and extends to the lower side of the motor housing  27 . 
     The electric motor  21  has a substantially circular shape when seen in plan view in the axial direction of the rotation output shaft, and has a substantially flat shape whose radial direction dimension on the basis of the rotation output shaft is larger than the axial direction dimension. Such an electric motor having a large radial direction dimension has large torque when rotating at low speed in particular. Therefore, when the boat starts to move, and the like, large propulsive force can be obtained without using an intermediate speed reducer. Although the overall height is kept low and the structure is compact as the outboard motor main body  20 , necessary and sufficient output can be obtained. Incidentally, to the electric motor  21 , a sensor  32  that detects working parameters of phase, speed, temperature, and the like is added, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , and detection signals of them are designed to be transmitted to the control section  12 . 
     The inverter  22  converts the direct current supplied from the control/power supply unit  11  into an alternating current to supply it to the electric motor  21 . The inverter  22  is provided so as to be stacked separately from the electric motor  21  in the up and down direction. In this case, in plan view from above, the right, the left, and the front end of the inverter  22  fit within the inside of a visible outline of the electric motor  21 . 
     The propulsion part  23  converts rotation power of the electric motor  21  into propulsive force to the boat. In the propulsion part  23 , a drive shaft (not illustrated) housed and supported in the drive shaft housing  28  is coupled to the propulsion propeller  31  via a gear in a gear case  33 . Thus, the rotation power that the electric motor  21  generates is transmitted to the propulsion propeller  31  via the drive shaft and the gear in the gear case, and thereby the propulsion propeller  31  rotates. As described above, the electric motor  21  can output rotation power with high torque even at low speed, so that no speed reducer is required and the electric motor  21  and the drive shaft are directly coupled without a speed reducer interposed therebetween. Thus, it is possible to achieve downsizing, a reduction in weight or structure simplification of the propulsion part  23 , and reducing the number of gears makes it possible to lower noise that the gear makes. Further, switching of normal rotation and reverse rotation of the propulsion propeller  31  (namely switching of headway and sternway of the boat) is performed by switching the rotation direction of the electric motor  21 , so that a reversing gear such as an outboard motor to which an internal combustion engine is applied is not required. 
     Then, the steering handle  25  is a handle to be used by a boat operator for a steering operation of the present outboard motor  10 , and constitutes a substantial part of an operating device of the present invention. The steering handle  25  is provided so as to extend forward from the electric motor  21 . A base end portion of the steering handle  25  is fixed to a lower surface of a front end portion of the motor housing  27  via the handle bracket  29 , and when a boat operator turns the steering handle  25  in a substantially horizontal direction, the electric motor  21  and the propulsion part  23  pivot in the substantially horizontal direction together with the steering handle  25 , to thereby make it possible to perform the steering operation. The steering handle  25  is disposed immediately above the swivel bracket  24 , so that a minimal length that makes the steering operation possible is obtained. Therefore, the height of the steering handle  25  and the height of the electric motor  21  substantially agree with each other. 
     On the steering handle  25 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a display part  34 , an emergency switch  35 , an accelerator grip  36 , and the like are provided. The display part  34  can display information on the boat on which the outboard motor  10  and the external device  1  are mounted, such as battery remaining amount of the control/power supply unit  11 , rotation speed of the electric motor  21 , moving speed of the boat, and the like thereon. The emergency switch  35  is a switch for emergently stopping the outboard motor  10 . 
     The accelerator grip  36  is to adjust the rotation direction and the rotation speed of the electric motor  21 . The accelerator grip  36  is attached to a tip portion of the steering handle  25  to be able to pivot normally and pivot reversely on an axial center of the steering handle  25 , and is designed that its pivotal directions and pivot amount are detected by a throttle/shift sensor  37  ( FIG. 2 ). According to the pivot amount of the accelerator grip  36 , the number of rotations of the electric motor  21  is set. 
     In the above-described case, the external device  1  further has a failure diagnosis/data rewriting unit  3 . This failure diagnosis/data rewriting unit  3  is electrically connected to the control section  12  of the control/power supply unit  11  to be able to transmit/receive signals to/from the control section  12  of the control/power supply unit  11 , to thereby be able to read the state of the outboard motor  10  to judge whether or not the outboard motor  10  is normal. Further, the failure diagnosis/data rewriting unit  3  can rewrite the software and the setting stored in the memory of the control section  12 . 
       FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  each illustrate a substantial part structure example of an operating device  100  of the outboard motor according to the present invention. Particularly, the operating device  100  has, in the accelerator grip  36  or in the vicinity of the accelerator grip  36 , an accelerator grip fixing mechanism  101  that fixes a pivot position of the accelerator grip  36  at a neutral position of the accelerator grip  36  to be able to release the fixation easily. 
     In a concrete structure of the accelerator grip fixing mechanism  101 , a key groove  102  being an engaging part of the accelerator grip  36 , a key  103  being a locking piece that is formed to enable an engaging position where the key  103  projects from the steering handle  25  to engage with the accelerator grip  36  to make the accelerator grip  36  incapable of pivoting and a releasing position where the engagement is released so as to enable the accelerator grip  36  to pivot by going backward from this engaging position to appear and disappear easily, a spring  104  being a biasing member that constantly biases the key  103  toward the engaging position, and a switch  105  being a lock releasing button that biases the key  103  toward the releasing position to release the fixation of the accelerator grip  36  are provided. 
     With reference also to  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , the key groove  102  is formed so as to obtain a depth in a radial direction of the accelerator grip  36  in the neutral portion of the steering handle  25  and the accelerator grip  36  along the axial direction of the accelerator grip  36 . The key  103  is housed in the key groove  102  so as to fit therein “completely” without rattling, and can move in the radial direction in the key groove  102 . When in neutral, as illustrated in  FIG. 5A , side surfaces  103   a  of the key  103  are designed to engage with inner walls  102   a  of the key groove  102 . 
     Also in the steering handle  25 , a key groove  106  matching the key groove  102  is formed. The key  103  can move in the radial direction in the key groove  106 . When in neutral, as illustrated in  FIG. 5A , the side surfaces  103   a  of the key  103  are designed to engage also with inner walls  106   a  of the key groove  106 . The spring  104  is fitted in the key groove  106  to bias the key  103  outward in the radial direction. The switch  105  is housed in the key groove  102  to be movable in the radial direction, is projectingly provided on an outer peripheral surface of the accelerator grip  36 , and is formed to be able to project and sink easily in the radial direction of the accelerator grip  36 . Incidentally, a not-illustrated stopper is provided for the switch  105  in order to prevent the switch  105  from going out of the accelerator grip  36  and projecting. 
     Further, in this example, the switch  105  is disposed so as to be positioned on the lower surface of the accelerator grip  36  when in neutral. 
     In the above-described structure, when in neutral, as illustrated in  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5A , the side surfaces  103   a  of the key  103  engage with both the inner walls  102   a  of the key groove  102  and the inner walls  106   a  of the key groove  106 . Since the key  103  is biased outward in the radial direction by resilient force of the spring  104 , as long as the switch  105  is not operated, the engagement state of the accelerator grip fixing mechanism  101  is maintained, namely the accelerator grip  36  is fixed to a lock state. Thereby, the accelerator grip  36  does not start to move from the neutral position accidentally and unintended erroneous operations (for example, erroneous start and the like) can be prevented securely, resulting in that high safety is guaranteed. 
     On the other hand, when the switch  105  is pressed in against the resilient force of the spring  104 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5B , the side surfaces  103   a  of the key  103  are detached from the inner walls  102   a  of the key groove  102  and the engagement of the both is released. This lock release enables the accelerator grip  36  to pivot, and when the accelerator grip  36  pivots in a predetermined one direction or the other direction in this lock release state, the electric motor  21  is normally rotated or reversely rotated to enable the boat to move forward or backward. 
     When the accelerator grip  36  is returned to the neutral position from a normal pivot or reverse pivot position, by the resilient force of the spring  104 , the key  103  engages with the key groove  102  by itself at the neutral position and the accelerator grip  36  is fixed to the lock state again. As above, the accelerator grip  36  is returned to the neutral position by itself, so that it is possible to extremely easily and securely perform determination of the neutral position. In this case, there is no case that the accelerator grip  36  pivots passing through the neutral position, and the accelerator grip  36  stops at the neutral position definitely, so that erroneous operations such as an accidental pivot in the opposite direction can be prevented. 
     Further, the switch  105  is projectingly provided on the outer peripheral surface of the accelerator grip  36 , and is formed to be able to project and sink easily in the radial direction of the accelerator grip  36 . Thereby, as illustrated in  FIG. 6A , for example, a boat operator can perform the operation of the accelerator grip fixing mechanism  101  by one hand in a state of gripping the accelerator grip  36  and can perform an accelerator operation in this state, so that the boat operation is facilitated extremely. 
     Incidentally, if a locking mechanism of the accelerator grip  36  exists on the outboard motor main body  20  side, the boat operator has to operate the locking mechanism with both hands as illustrated in  FIG. 6B . Therefore, it is not necessarily easy to obtain good operationality. 
     Further, if the locking mechanism exists on the outboard motor main body  20  side as described above, on the occasion of performing a steering operation, as illustrated in  FIG. 6C , the operationality becomes further difficult. 
     Further, the switch  105  is disposed so as to be positioned on the lower surface of the accelerator grip  36  when in neutral. 
     Here, it is common for the boat operator to grip the accelerator grip  36  so as to cover it from above at the time of operating the boat normally. At that time, finger tips of the boat operator are positioned on the outer peripheral lower surface of the accelerator grip  36 , and while gripping the accelerator grip  36  without having to grip it again at the time of a lock releasing operation, the boat operator can perform the operation easily by fingers in this state. Further, since the switch  105  being a lock releasing button is on the lower surface of the accelerator grip  36 , there is also no case that the switch  105  is operated unintentionally. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a substantial part structure example of an operating device  200  of an outboard motor according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Particularly, the operating device  200  has, in an accelerator grip  36  or in the vicinity of the accelerator grip  36 , an accelerator grip fixing mechanism  201  that fixes a pivot position of the accelerator grip  36  at a neutral position of the accelerator grip  36  to be able to release the fixation easily. 
     In a concrete structure of the accelerator grip fixing mechanism  201 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 10 , a slit-shaped key groove  202  being an engaging part of the accelerator grip  36 , a key  203  being a locking piece that is formed to enable an engaging position where the key  203  projects from a steering handle  25  to engage with the accelerator grip  36  to make the accelerator grip  36  incapable of pivoting and a releasing position where the engagement is released so as to enable the accelerator grip  36  to pivot by going backward from this engaging position to appear and disappear easily, a spring  204  being a biasing member that constantly biases the key  203  toward the engaging position, and a switch  205  being a lock releasing button that biases the key  203  toward the releasing position to release the fixation of the accelerator grip  36  are provided. 
     In this example, the switch  205  has a head portion  205   a  thereof disposed so as to project from an end portion of the accelerator grip  36 , and has a shaft portion  205   b  thereof slide-guided by a guide hole  206  formed in the accelerator grip  36 . 
     Incidentally, to the switch  205 , a stopper  207  that regulates a sliding movement of the switch  205  is attached. 
     The key  203 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , is formed into a thin plate shape along the axial direction of the accelerator grip  36 , and in the steering handle  25 , a slit-shaped key groove  208  that slidably engages with the key  203  is formed. Incidentally,  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  are illustrated in a manner that the upper and lower relationship with  FIG. 8  and the upper and lower relationship with  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  are reversed. The key  203  is provided on an outer peripheral portion of a boss portion  210  slide-guided by the guide hole  206  and a guide hole  209  formed in the steering handle  25  to project in the radial direction. 
     In the second embodiment, when in neutral ( FIG. 7  to  FIG. 9 ), the key  203  engages with both the key groove  202  and the key groove  208 . With regard to the key  203 , the boss portion  210  is biased outward in the axial direction by resilient force of the spring  104 , so that as long as the switch  205  is not operated, the accelerator grip  36  is fixed to a lock state. Thereby, the accelerator grip  36  does not start to move from the neutral position accidentally and unintended erroneous operations can be prevented securely, resulting in that high safety is guaranteed. 
     On the other hand, when the switch  205  is pressed in against the resilient force of the spring  204 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the key  203  slides out from the key groove  202  and the engagement of the both is released. This lock release enables the accelerator grip  36  to pivot, and when the accelerator grip  36  pivots in a predetermined one direction or the other direction in this lock release state, the electric motor  21  is normally rotated or reversely rotated to enable a boat to move forward or backward. 
     When the accelerator grip  36  is returned to the neutral position from a normal pivot or reverse pivot position, the key  203  engages with the key groove  202  by itself at the neutral position and the accelerator grip  36  is fixed to the lock state again. Also in this case, the accelerator grip  36  is returned to the neutral position by itself, so that it is possible to extremely easily and securely perform determination of the neutral position. Further, there is no case that the accelerator grip  36  pivots passing through the neutral position, and the accelerator grip  36  stops at the neutral position definitely, so that erroneous operations such as an accidental pivot in the opposite direction can be prevented. 
     In the second embodiment in particular, the switch  205  is formed on the tip portion of the accelerator grip  36  to be able to project and sink easily in the axial direction of the steering handle  36 . 
     Thereby, a boat operator can perform the operation of the accelerator grip fixing mechanism  201  by one hand in a state of gripping the accelerator grip  36 . Unlike the case where the lock releasing button is operated by the hand on the side opposite to the one hand, the boat operator can directly perform an accelerator operation without changing his/her posture, and thus can concentrate on the boat moving direction. 
     In the foregoing, the present invention has been explained together with the various embodiments, but the present invention is not limited only to these embodiments, and changes and the like are possible within the scope of the present invention. 
     In the above-described embodiments, the example of the electric outboard motor has been explained, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is effectively applicable also to an outboard motor mounted with a gasoline engine with a tiller handle. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an operating device of an electric outboard motor that by accurate and smooth boat operation, secures higher safety and also achieves extremely excellent operationality.