Patent Description:
In the related art, as shown in <FIG>, an outboard motor <NUM> includes a lower case <NUM> having a propeller <NUM> as a propulsor, and an upper case <NUM> having a drive shaft that transmits a driving force of an engine as a drive source to the propeller (see, for example, <CIT>). The lower case <NUM> and the upper case <NUM> are manufactured via die-casting aluminum, the lower case <NUM> being attached to the upper case <NUM> so that a mating surface 82a of the lower case <NUM> is connected to a mating surface 83a of the upper case <NUM>.

Incidentally, since the lower case <NUM> sinks under a water surface when a marine vessel sails, which significantly affects on sailing performance of the marine vessel. In recent years, the use of the marine vessel has been diversified, and the sailing performance required for the marine vessel has also been diversified, and various types of lower cases corresponding to the sailing performance are manufactured. The lower case is changed (modified) in design in accordance with the required sailing performance, and the changed lower case is attached to the upper case <NUM>.

Incidentally, when the lower case is changed, shapes of the lower case before and after the change may be different. For example, in a case of a lower case having high-durability, the high-durability lower case <NUM> is designed by being increased in size in order to accommodate drive components having a lifespan twice or more that of a typical lower case <NUM>, on the assumption of use for a longer period of time than the normal lower case <NUM> (<FIG>). In a case of a high-speed lower case, a high-speed lower case <NUM> is designed by being miniaturized so as to be smaller than the typical lower case <NUM> in order to reduce resistance (<FIG>). That is, the high-durability lower case <NUM> and the high-speed lower case <NUM> are each different in shape from the lower case <NUM>.

Accordingly, as shown in <FIG>, the mating surface 83a of the upper case <NUM> does not match a mating surface 84a of the lower case <NUM> or a mating surface 85a of the lower case <NUM>, and which may be difficult to attach the high-durability lower case <NUM> or the high-speed lower case <NUM> to the upper case <NUM>.

In this case, it is necessary to newly manufacture an upper case having a mating surface matching the mating surface 84a of the high-durability lower case <NUM> or the mating surface 85a of the high-speed lower case <NUM>, and therefore there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of reducing the number of components and shortening a development period of the outboard motor. Moreover, prior art document <CIT> discloses an outboard motor with a spacer case arranged between an upper case and a lower case. Prior art document <CIT> discloses a hybrid type vessel propulsion apparatus with an outboard motor including an engine and an electric motor. The outboard motor comprises an upper case and a lower case, wherein the electric motor is disposed inside the lower case. Prior art document <CIT> discloses an outboard motor with a housing unit that comprises a driveshaft housing and a lower unit. A housing extension member is interposed between the driveshaft housing and the lower unit. Prior art document <CIT> discloses large outboard motor including a variable gear transfer case. The outboard motor comprises an upper portion, lower portion and a mid portion, wherein a leg lengthening section of the mid portion arranged between the upper portion and the lower portion.

An object of the present invention is to provide an inboard/outboard motor that can suppress an increase in the number of types of upper cases and to provide and a marine vessel equipped with an inboard/outboard motor.

According to the present invention said object is solved by an inboard/outboard motor according to the independent claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are laid down in the dependent claims. Moreover, according to the present invention said object is solved by a marine vessel equipped with an inboard/outboard motor according to claim <NUM>.

According to a preferred embodiment, an outboard motor attached to a hull of a marine vessel, the outboard motor comprising: a lower case that includes a propeller shaft configured to rotate a propeller; and an upper case that includes a drive shaft configured to transmit a power to the propeller shaft, wherein the lower case is selected from among a plurality of types of lower cases, and is configured to be attached to the upper case, and the upper case and the lower case are connected by an intermediate structure.

According to this configuration, the intermediate structure connects the upper case and the lower case, which makes it possible to attach, by using the intermediate structure connectable to the mating surface having the shape changed when the lower case in which the shape of the mating surface is changed is attached to the upper case, the lower case having the changed shape to the upper case via the intermediate structure without newly manufacturing the upper case. As a result, it is possible to suppress the increase in the number of types of upper cases.

Further features of the present teaching will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present teaching will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present teaching will be described with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is an external view schematically illustrating a configuration of an outboard motor according to an preferred embodiment. <FIG> is an external view schematically illustrating a basic example of an outboard motor of the series of outboard motors according to the present teaching. Referring to <FIG>, an outboard motor <NUM> includes, as a casing enclosing various components, a cowl <NUM>, a standard lower case <NUM>, an upper case <NUM>, and an attachment <NUM> (intermediate structure). The cowl <NUM> encloses an engine (not illustrated) as a drive source, and the standard lower case <NUM> includes a propeller <NUM> as a propulsor and encloses a propeller shaft <NUM> (propeller shaft) for rotating the propeller <NUM>. The upper case <NUM> encloses a drive shaft <NUM> that transmits a driving force (power) of the engine to the propeller shaft <NUM>.

In addition, the outboard motor <NUM> includes a suspension mechanism <NUM> for attaching the outboard motor <NUM> to a stern (not illustrated) of a hull of the marine vessel, and the suspension mechanism <NUM> functions as a steering mechanism and a lifting mechanism of the outboard motor <NUM> and tilts up the outboard motor <NUM> when the marine vessel is stored.

The attachment <NUM> is interposed between the standard lower case <NUM> and the upper case <NUM>, to connect the standard lower case <NUM> and the upper case <NUM>. A shape of an upper mating surface 14a of the attachment <NUM> is formed so as to match a mating surface 13a of the upper case <NUM>, and a shape of a lower mating surface 14b of the attachment <NUM> is formed so as to match a mating surface 12a of the standard lower case <NUM>.

Incidentally, in the outboard motor <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, in some cases a high-durability lower case <NUM> or a high-speed lower case <NUM> is attached instead of the standard lower case <NUM>. In particular, in the outboard motors <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, relates to examples of an outboard motor of the series of outboard motors according to the present teaching. However, since the high-durability lower case <NUM> and the high-speed lower case <NUM> are different in shape from the standard lower case <NUM>, neither a mating surface 17a of the high-durability lower case <NUM> nor a mating surface 19a of the high-speed lower case <NUM> matches the lower mating surface 14b of the attachment <NUM>.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, an attachment <NUM> (<FIG>) having a lower mating surface 18b matching the mating surface 17a of the high-durability lower case <NUM> is used. An upper mating surface 18a of the attachment <NUM> is formed in the same shape as the upper mating surface 14a of the attachment <NUM>. Accordingly, the attachment <NUM> can attach to the high-durability lower case <NUM> and to the upper case <NUM>, and thus can connect the upper case <NUM> and the high-durability lower case <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, an attachment <NUM> (<FIG>) having a lower mating surface 20b matching the mating surface 19a of the high-speed lower case <NUM> is used. An upper mating surface 20a of the attachment <NUM> is formed in the same shape as the upper mating surface 14a of the attachment <NUM>. Accordingly, the attachment <NUM> can attach to the high-speed lower case <NUM> and to the upper case <NUM>, and thus can connect the upper case <NUM> and the high-speed lower case <NUM>.

Further, for example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the upper case <NUM> includes a frame body <NUM> and a resin cover <NUM> that covers the frame body <NUM>. The frame body <NUM> is made of metal, for example, aluminum, and is fastened to the attachment <NUM> and the suspension mechanism <NUM>. A propulsive force generated by the propeller <NUM> is transmitted to the hull via the standard lower case <NUM>, the attachment <NUM>, the frame body <NUM>, and the suspension mechanism <NUM>. Furthermore, for example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the upper case <NUM> may include a case-shaped main body <NUM> formed by a rigid body made of metal, for example, aluminum, and a cover (not illustrated) that improves an appearance of the main body <NUM>, instead of the frame body <NUM> and the cover <NUM>, and the case-shaped main body <NUM> may be fastened to the attachment <NUM> and the suspension mechanism <NUM>. In this case, instead of the frame body <NUM>, the case-shaped main body <NUM> transmits the propulsive force generated by the propeller <NUM> to the hull.

According to the present embodiment, since the attachment <NUM> is configured to connect the upper case <NUM> and the standard lower case <NUM>, when the high-durability lower case <NUM> or the high-speed lower case <NUM> are attached to the upper case <NUM>, provided that the attachment <NUM> connectable to the mating surface 17a of the high-durability lower case <NUM> or the attachment <NUM> connectable to the mating surface 19a of the high-speed lower case <NUM> is used instead of the attachment <NUM>, the high-durability lower case <NUM> or the high-speed lower case <NUM> can be attached to the upper case <NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate the need to newly manufacture the upper case <NUM> when the high-durability lower case <NUM> or the high-speed lower case <NUM> to be attached is desired, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of types of the upper case <NUM>.

In addition, in the present embodiment, since the outboard motor <NUM> has the frame body <NUM> or the case-shaped main body <NUM> formed by rigid body, which is fastened to the attachment <NUM> and the suspension mechanism <NUM>, the propulsive force generated by the propeller <NUM> can be reliably transmitted to the hull via the attachment <NUM> and the suspension mechanism <NUM>.

Incidentally, in typical, the lower case encloses a gearbox that engages with the drive shaft to transmit the rotation of the drive shaft to the propeller shaft, and a link mechanism that switches between rotation directions of the propeller. A shift rod is connected to the link mechanism, and the shift rod is disposed parallel to the drive shaft and is rotated or moved up and down by a shift actuator. The link mechanism moves a dog clutch in the gearbox via a shift slider in accordance with the movement of the shift rod, and thereby the link mechanism switches between the rotation directions of the propeller. The link mechanism, the shift rod, and the shift actuator constitute a shift mechanism.

In the related art, although a shift actuator is enclosed in an upper case or a cowl, an interval between a link mechanism and a gearbox may vary in accordance with a type of a lower case, and thus, a relative position (pitch) of a shift rod with respect to a drive shaft may change. As a result, when the lower case is changed and attached, it may be necessary to newly manufacture the upper case in order to change the pitch between the shift rod and the drive shaft by changing the position of the shift actuator.

On the other hand, in a first variation of the preferred embodiment, the shift actuator is disposed in the attachment. <FIG> are external views schematically illustrating a configuration of an outboard motor according to the first variation of the preferred embodiment. <FIG> are external views schematically illustrating examples of an outboard motor of the series of outboard motors according to the present teaching. For example, there are some cases where an interval between the enclosed link mechanism <NUM> and gearbox <NUM> is different, between the standard lower case <NUM> and the high-durability lower case <NUM>. The present variation presents attachments <NUM> and <NUM> respectively corresponding to the standard lower case <NUM> and the high-durability lower case <NUM>. A shape of an upper mating surface 24a of the attachment <NUM> is the same as a shape of an upper mating surface 25a of the attachment <NUM>.

In the attachment <NUM>, a position of a shift actuator <NUM> is set such that a pitch between a shift rod <NUM> and a drive shaft <NUM> (drive shaft) corresponds to an interval between the link mechanism <NUM> and the gearbox <NUM> in the standard lower case <NUM> (<FIG>). Similarly, in the attachment <NUM>, a position of the shift actuator <NUM> is set such that a pitch between the shift rod <NUM> and the drive shaft <NUM> corresponds to an interval between the link mechanism <NUM> and the gearbox <NUM> in the high-durability lower case <NUM> (<FIG>). It should be noted that when the interval between the link mechanism <NUM> and the gearbox <NUM> enclosed in the high-speed lower case <NUM> is different from the interval between the link mechanism <NUM> and the gearbox <NUM> enclosed in the standard lower case <NUM> or the high-durability lower case <NUM>, an attachment in which the position of the shift actuator <NUM> is set such that the pitch between the shift rod <NUM> and the drive shaft <NUM> corresponds to the interval between the link mechanism <NUM> and the gearbox <NUM> in the high-speed lower case <NUM> is used.

Accordingly, even though the interval between the link mechanism and the gearbox is different among different the types of the lower case, the changed lower case can be attached to the same upper case by replacing the attachment. That is, it is possible to eliminate the need to newly manufacture the upper case <NUM>, and to suppress the increase in the number of types of the upper case <NUM>.

It should be noted that, although a plurality of types of attachments in which the position of the shift actuator <NUM> is changed in accordance with the type of the lower case is used in the present variation, in a case where the shapes of the mating surfaces of the various lower cases is not changed, the shift actuator <NUM> may be configured to be movable in the attachment so that the position of the shift actuator <NUM> can be changed in accordance with the interval between the link mechanism <NUM> and the gearbox <NUM> in each lower case. In this case, it is possible to eliminate the need to newly manufacture the attachment, which suppresses the increase in the number of types of attachments.

In addition, in recent years, it has been studied, in the outboard motor, to drive the propeller not only by the engine which is an internal combustion engine but also by the electric motor, and the present applicant has proposed, for example, a hybrid outboard motor including an engine and an electric motor (see, for example, <CIT>).

Incidentally, the lower case in the hybrid outboard motor encloses a motor gearbox for transmitting a driving force of the electric motor to the propeller shaft in addition to the link mechanism and the gearbox which engages with the drive shaft for transmitting the driving force of the engine. The electric motor is disposed in the lower case in the hybrid outboard motor described in <CIT>; however, since the shape of the lower case greatly affects sailing performance of the marine vessel, the electric motor that affects the shape of the lower case is preferably disposed in the upper case. Therefore, when the outboard motor is hybridized, it may be necessary to manufacture not only the lower case but also the upper case and newly dispose the electric motor in the upper case.

Regarding this matter, in a second variation of the preferred embodiment, the electric motor is disposed in the attachment. <FIG> are external views schematically illustrating a configuration of an outboard motor according to the second variation of the preferred embodiment. <FIG> are external views schematically illustrating examples of an outboard motor of the series of outboard motors according to the present teaching.

In the outboard motor <NUM> which is not hybridized and in which the propeller <NUM> is driven only by an engine, as described above, the standard lower case <NUM> encloses the link mechanism <NUM> and the gearbox <NUM> but does not enclose a gearbox for a motor (<FIG>). On the other hand, in a hybrid outboard motor <NUM>, a hybrid-compatible lower case <NUM> encloses not only a link mechanism <NUM> and a gearbox <NUM> but also a gearbox for a motor (a motor gearbox <NUM>) (<FIG>). In this case, a hybrid-compatible attachment <NUM> encloses an electric motor <NUM>, and the electric motor <NUM> is connected to the motor gearbox <NUM> via a motor drive shaft <NUM>. With this configuration, in the hybrid outboard motor <NUM> having the hybrid-compatible attachment <NUM>, a propeller <NUM> is driven by an engine or the electric motor <NUM>. A shape of an upper mating surface 32a of the hybrid-compatible attachment <NUM> is the same as a shape of an upper mating surface 24a of an attachment <NUM>. In the hybrid-compatible attachment <NUM>, the electric motor <NUM> is disposed so as to face the motor gearbox <NUM>.

Accordingly, when the standard lower case <NUM> is replaced with the hybrid-compatible lower case <NUM> in order to hybridize the outboard motor, the hybrid-compatible lower case <NUM> can be attached to the upper case <NUM> only by replacing the attachment <NUM> with the hybrid-compatible attachment <NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate the need to newly manufacture the upper case <NUM> in order to hybridized the outboard motor, and it is possible to suppress the increase in the number of types of the upper cases <NUM>.

In addition, the electric motor <NUM> is enclosed in the hybrid-compatible attachment <NUM>, and thus, it is possible to eliminate the need to arrange the electric motor <NUM> in the hybrid-compatible lower case <NUM>, which makes it possible to prevent the shape of the hybrid-compatible lower case <NUM> from being hydrodynamically disadvantageous. As a result, even though the outboard motor is hybridized, it is possible to suppress significant influence on the sailing performance of the marine vessel.

Instead of the hybrid-compatible lower case <NUM>, a high-durability hybrid-compatible lower case or a high-speed hybrid-compatible lower case may be used. In this case, the relative position of the motor gearbox <NUM> with respect to the link mechanism <NUM> and the gearbox <NUM> may change. Regarding this matter, the electric motor <NUM> may be configured to be movable in the hybrid-compatible attachment <NUM>, so that the position of the electric motor <NUM> may be changed in accordance with the relative position of the motor gearbox <NUM> with respect to the link mechanism <NUM> and the gearbox <NUM> in each lower case. Alternatively, a plurality of hybrid-compatible attachments in which the electric motor <NUM> is disposed at the position corresponding to the relative position of the motor gearbox <NUM> with respect to the link mechanism <NUM> and the gearbox <NUM> in each lower case may be prepared, and the hybrid-compatible attachment corresponding to each lower case may be used.

In the outboard motor, since at least a part of the lower case is submerged and makes splashes while the marine vessel sails, a splash plate (anti-splash plate) for preventing the splashes from scattering may be provided in the upper case conventionally.

Incidentally, a scattering form of the splashes changes in accordance with the shape of the lower case. Thus, for example, when the standard lower case <NUM> is replaced with the high-durability lower case <NUM> or the high-speed lower case <NUM>, it may be necessary to change the shape of the splash plate in accordance with the scattering form of the splashes in each case, and it may be necessary to newly manufacture the upper case.

Regarding this matter, in a third variation of the preferred embodiment, a splash plate is formed on an attachment. <FIG> are external perspective views schematically illustrating a configuration of an attachment of an outboard motor according to the third variation of the preferred embodiment. <FIG> are external views schematically illustrating examples of an outboard motor of the series of outboard motors according to the present teaching.

In the present variation, for example, a splash plate <NUM> is formed at an upper portion of an attachment <NUM> attached to a standard lower case <NUM> (<FIG>), and a splash plate <NUM> is formed at an upper portion of an attachment <NUM> attached to a high-speed lower case <NUM> (<FIG>). The splash plate <NUM> and the splash plate <NUM> have different shapes. Specifically, since the amount of splashes increases when the high-speed lower case <NUM> is used, the splash plate <NUM> is formed to be larger than the splash plate <NUM>. The splash plate can be also formed at an upper portion of an attachment <NUM> attached to a high-durability lower case <NUM>, wherein a shape of this splash plate is also different from shapes of the splash plates <NUM> and <NUM>.

Accordingly, even in a case where the lower case is replaced and the scattering form of the splashes changes, the splash plate suitable for the changed scattering form of the splashes can be used by replacing the attachment. That is, it is possible to eliminate the need to replace the upper case in order to change the shape of the splash plate, and thus, it is possible to eliminate the need to newly manufacture the upper case <NUM>.

Each splash plate may be formed integrally with each attachment, or may be formed to be replaceable with respect to each attachment. In a case where each splash plate is formed to be replaceable with respect to each attachment, provided that the shapes of the mating surfaces of the lower cases are the same, the scattering of the splashes can be prevented by replacing only the splash plate without changing the attachment in accordance with the change of the lower case. Accordingly, it is possible to save a time and an effort for replacing the attachment.

Conventionally, in order to suppress the progress of corrosion of each part of the outboard motor <NUM>, a sacrificial anode is provided in the suspension mechanism and the lower case. Regarding this matter, in the above-described embodiments/variations, a sacrificial anode <NUM> is provided in the attachment <NUM>. Specifically, in the attachment <NUM>, the sacrificial anode <NUM> is provided at a position (<FIG>) at which navigation waves or splashes are applied while the marine vessel sails, or a position (<FIG>) at which the marine vessel sinks under the water surface even when the outboard motor <NUM> is tilted up during storage of the marine vessel. With this configuration, the sacrificial anode <NUM> can be reliably brought into contact with the water, and thus, the progress of the corrosion of each part of the outboard motor <NUM> can be suppressed.

Claim 1:
An inboard/outboard motor (<NUM>) configured to be attached to a hull of a marine vessel, the inboard/outboard motor (<NUM>) comprises an upper case (<NUM>) that includes a drive shaft (<NUM>) configured to transmit a power to a propeller shaft (<NUM>) and the inboard/outboard motor (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of lower cases of different types (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) from which one lower case is selected, wherein
each of the plurality of lower cases (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) includes the propeller shaft (<NUM>) configured to rotate the propeller (<NUM>), characterized in that
the inboard/outboard motor (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of attachments of different types (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) from which one attachment is selected, wherein
the selected one attachment (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is interposed between the selected lower case (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and the upper case (<NUM>), to connect the selected lower case (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and the upper case (<NUM>);
the plurality of lower cases of different types (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) have respective mating surfaces (12a, 17a, 19a), shapes of mating surfaces (12a, 17a, 19a) being different from each other;
the plurality of types of attachments (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) have respective lower mating surfaces (14b, 18b, 20b), shapes of lower mating surfaces (14b, 18b, 20b) being different from each other; and
the selected one attachment (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is selected such that the lower mating surface (14b, 18b, 20b) thereof matches the mating surface (12a, 17a, 19a) of the selected lower case (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).