Patent Description:
An outboard motor includes a bracket and an outboard motor body. The outboard motor body is connected to a transom of a boat via the bracket. As disclosed in <CIT>, the outboard motor includes a harness for connecting the outboard motor body and an equipment disposed in the boat. The harness extends from the outboard motor body, over the transom, into the boat.

As mentioned above, when the harness passes above the transom, the degree of freedom in the layout of the harness is low. On the other hand, when the transom is provided with an opening and the harness extends through the opening, the degree of freedom in the layout of the harness is high. However, in that case, it is necessary to seal between the opening and the harness in order to prevent water from entering the boat.

For example, the space between the opening and the harness can be sealed by filling the space between the opening and the harness with liquid silicon to solidify the silicon. However, in that case, it becomes difficult to remove the harness from the opening. Therefore, it becomes difficult to remove the outboard motor from the boat, and the maintainability is lowered. In addition, every time the outboard motor is attached to a boat, it is necessary to fill and solidify the silicon, which is complicated. It is an object of the present invention to provide an outboard motor that can improve the degree of freedom in harness layout and to facilitate attachment and detachment of an outboard motor to/from a boat. According to the present invention said object is solved by an outboard motor having the features of independent claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are laid down in the dependent claims.

In the outboard motor according to the present disclosure, the harness extends from the outboard motor body through the transom opening into the boat. Therefore, the degree of freedom in the layout of the harness is improved. In addition, the seal member holds the harness and is detachably attached to the opening. Therefore, when removing the outboard motor, the harness can be easily removed from the opening together with the seal member. As a result, the outboard motor can be easily attached to and detached from the boat.

Hereinafter, an outboard motor according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. <FIG> is a side view of the outboard motor <NUM> according to the embodiment. <FIG> is a rear view of the outboard motor <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the outboard motor <NUM> is attached to a transom <NUM> of a boat <NUM>. The outboard motor <NUM> includes a bracket <NUM> and an outboard motor body <NUM>. The bracket <NUM> is attached to the transom <NUM> of the boat <NUM>. The outboard motor <NUM> is attached to the boat <NUM> via the bracket <NUM>. The outboard motor body <NUM> is supported by the bracket <NUM>.

The outboard motor body <NUM> includes a cover <NUM>, a base <NUM>, a cowl <NUM>, a steering mechanism case <NUM>, an upper housing <NUM>, a lower housing <NUM>, and a drive unit <NUM>. The cover <NUM> is attached to the base <NUM>. The base <NUM> is connected to the bracket <NUM>. The cowl <NUM> is located above the base <NUM>. The cowl <NUM> is attached to the base <NUM>. The steering mechanism case <NUM> is arranged below the base <NUM>. The steering mechanism case <NUM> is attached to the base <NUM>. The upper housing <NUM> is arranged below the steering mechanism case <NUM>. The lower housing <NUM> is arranged below the upper housing <NUM>. The drive unit <NUM> is arranged in the lower housing <NUM>.

The drive unit <NUM> generates thrust for propelling the boat <NUM>. <FIG> is a schematic view showing a configuration of the drive unit <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the drive unit <NUM> includes a propeller <NUM> and a drive motor <NUM>. The drive motor <NUM> rotates the propeller <NUM>. The drive motor <NUM> is an electric motor. The outboard motor <NUM> generates the propulsive force of the boat <NUM> by rotating the propeller <NUM> by the drive motor <NUM>. The drive motor <NUM> includes a rotor <NUM> and a stator <NUM>. The rotor <NUM> and the stator <NUM> each have a tubular shape. The rotor <NUM> is arranged radially inward of the stator <NUM>. The rotor <NUM> is rotatably supported by the lower housing <NUM>. The rotor <NUM> rotates with respect to the stator <NUM>. The propeller <NUM> is arranged radially inward of the rotor <NUM>. The propeller <NUM> is fixed to the rotor <NUM>. The propeller <NUM> rotates together with the rotor <NUM>. The rotor <NUM> includes a plurality of permanent magnets <NUM>. The plurality of permanent magnets <NUM> are arranged along the circumferential direction of the rotor <NUM>. In <FIG>, a reference numeral <NUM> is attached to only one of the plurality of permanent magnets <NUM>, and the reference numerals of the other permanent magnets <NUM> are omitted.

The stator <NUM> is arranged radially outward of the rotor <NUM>. The stator <NUM> is fixed to the lower housing <NUM>. The stator <NUM> includes a plurality of coils <NUM>. The plurality of coils <NUM> are arranged along the circumferential direction of the stator <NUM>. By energizing the plurality of coils <NUM>, an electromagnetic force that rotates the rotor <NUM> is generated. In <FIG>, a reference numeral <NUM> is attached to only one of the plurality of coils <NUM>, and the reference numerals of the other coils <NUM> are omitted.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the outboard motor <NUM> includes a steering mechanism <NUM>. The steering mechanism <NUM> is arranged in the steering mechanism case <NUM>. The steering mechanism <NUM> includes a steering shaft <NUM> and a steering motor <NUM>. The steering shaft <NUM> extends in the vertical direction of the outboard motor <NUM>. The steering mechanism <NUM> rotates the drive unit <NUM> around the steering shaft <NUM>. As a result, the boat <NUM> is steered. The steering motor <NUM> is connected to the steering shaft <NUM> via a transmission mechanism such as a gear (not illustrated). The steering motor <NUM> is an electric motor. The steering motor <NUM> rotates the steering shaft <NUM>.

Specifically, the steering shaft <NUM> is connected to the upper housing <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the upper housing <NUM> and the drive unit <NUM> are rotatable with respect to the base <NUM> and the steering mechanism case <NUM>. When the steering motor <NUM> rotates the steering shaft <NUM>, the upper housing <NUM> and the drive unit <NUM> rotate around the steering shaft <NUM> with respect to the base <NUM> and the steering mechanism case <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side view of the outboard motor <NUM> from which the cowl <NUM> has been removed. <FIG> is a top view of the outboard motor <NUM> from which the cowl <NUM> has been removed. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the outboard motor <NUM> includes a tilt shaft <NUM>, a tilt cylinder <NUM>, an upper connecting pin <NUM>, and a lower connecting pin <NUM>. The tilt shaft <NUM> is supported by the bracket <NUM>. The tilt shaft <NUM> rotatably connects the outboard motor body <NUM> to the bracket <NUM>. The tilt shaft <NUM> extends in the left-right direction (first direction) of the outboard motor <NUM>. The tilt shaft <NUM> is arranged in the cowl <NUM>.

The bracket <NUM> includes a left (first) bracket 31A, a right (second) bracket 31B, a left (first) support portion 32A, a right (second) support portion 32B, and a lower support portion <NUM>. The left bracket 31A and the right bracket 31B are separate from each other. The left bracket 31A and the right bracket 31B are arranged on the left and right sides apart from each other. The left bracket 31A and the right bracket 31B each have a plate-like shape along the transom <NUM>. The left bracket 31A and the right bracket 31B are fixed to the transom <NUM>.

The left support portion 32A protrudes from the left bracket 31A. The right support portion 32B protrudes from the right bracket 31B. The lower support portion <NUM> projects from the left bracket 31A. The lower support portion <NUM> may protrude from the right bracket 31B. The left support portion 32A and the right support portion 32B are arranged apart from each other in the left-right direction. The tilt shaft <NUM> is connected to the left support portion 32A and the right support portion 32B. The lower support portion <NUM> is arranged below the left support portion 32A and the right support portion 32B. The tilt cylinder <NUM> is connected to the lower support portion <NUM>.

The tilt cylinder <NUM> is arranged in the cowl <NUM>. The tilt cylinder <NUM> is a hydraulic cylinder. A hydraulic pump and a motor for driving the hydraulic pump are integrated in the tilt cylinder <NUM>. However, the hydraulic pump and the motor may be separate from the tilt cylinder <NUM>.

The tilt cylinder <NUM> includes an upper connecting portion <NUM> and a lower connecting portion <NUM>. The upper connecting portion <NUM> is arranged at one end of the tilt cylinder <NUM>. The lower connecting portion <NUM> is arranged at the other end of the tilt cylinder <NUM>. The upper connecting portion <NUM> is connected to the outboard motor body <NUM> by the upper connecting pin <NUM>. Specifically, the outboard motor body <NUM> includes a cylinder connecting portion <NUM>. The cylinder connecting portion <NUM> is supported by the base <NUM>. The cylinder connecting portion <NUM> projects upward from the base <NUM>. The upper connecting portion <NUM> is connected to the cylinder connecting portion <NUM>. The lower connecting portion <NUM> is connected to the bracket <NUM> by the lower connecting pin <NUM>. Specifically, the lower connecting portion <NUM> is connected to the lower support portion <NUM>.

The tilt cylinder <NUM> expands and contracts to rotate the outboard motor body <NUM> around the tilt shaft <NUM> between a full tilt-up position and a full trim-in position. <FIG> shows the outboard motor <NUM> at the full trim-in position. <FIG> shows the outboard motor <NUM> in the full tilt-up position. As illustrated in <FIG>, in the full trim-in position, the propeller <NUM> is located below the lower connecting pin <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, in the full tilt-up position, the propeller <NUM> is located above the lower connecting pin <NUM>.

<FIG> is an enlarged perspective view of the outboard motor <NUM> from which the cowl <NUM> has been removed. <FIG> is a vertical cross-sectional view of the transom <NUM> and the bracket <NUM>. For ease of understanding, the left support portion 32A and the cylinder connecting portion <NUM> are omitted in <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a pipe <NUM> is attached to the transom <NUM>, and an opening <NUM> is provided by the pipe <NUM>. The outboard motor <NUM> includes a harness <NUM>. The harness <NUM> is threaded through the opening <NUM> of the transom <NUM>.

The harness <NUM> extends from the outboard motor body <NUM> through the opening <NUM> into the boat. A part of the harness <NUM> is arranged above the base <NUM>. A part of the harness <NUM> is covered with the cowl <NUM>. The harness <NUM> includes a drive cable 43A, a pump cable 43B, and a steering cable 43C. The drive cable 43A is connected to the MCU <NUM> (motor control unit) from inside the boat <NUM> through the terminal case <NUM>. The MCU <NUM> is arranged in the upper housing <NUM>. The MCU <NUM> is connected to the drive motor <NUM> via a three-phase wire <NUM>. The drive cable 43A has a plurality of cables including a strong electric cable and a light electric cable. The pump cable 43B is connected to the tilt cylinder <NUM>. Electric power is supplied to the tilt cylinder <NUM> via the pump cable 43B. The steering cable 43C is connected to the steering motor <NUM>. Electric power is supplied to the steering motor <NUM> via the steering cable 43C.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the outboard motor <NUM> includes a seal member <NUM>. The seal member <NUM> is detachably attached to the opening <NUM>. The seal member <NUM> holds the harness <NUM>. The seal member <NUM> has a tubular shape. The harness <NUM> penetrates the seal member <NUM> in the axial direction of the seal member <NUM>. The seal member <NUM> seals between the harness <NUM> and the opening <NUM> so as to prevent water from entering.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the outboard motor <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the bracket <NUM> includes a seal support <NUM>. The seal support <NUM> is arranged between the left bracket 31A and the right bracket 31B. The seal support <NUM> is integrated with the right bracket 31B. The seal support <NUM> projects from the right bracket 31B toward the left bracket 31A. As illustrated in <FIG>, the seal support <NUM> includes a hole <NUM>. The hole <NUM> faces the opening <NUM> of the transom <NUM>. The seal member <NUM> and the harness <NUM> are passed through the hole <NUM> of the seal support <NUM> and the opening <NUM> of the transom <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the seal member <NUM> is arranged below the tilt shaft <NUM>. From the top view, the seal member <NUM> overlaps the tilt shaft <NUM>. The harness <NUM> is arranged so as to pass below the tilt shaft <NUM>. The seal member <NUM> and the harness <NUM> are arranged below the tilt shaft <NUM> and above the base <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the seal member <NUM> is arranged between the left support portion 32A and the right support portion 32B.

The seal member <NUM> includes a holder <NUM>, a bush <NUM>, and a grommet <NUM>. The holder <NUM> is arranged in the hole <NUM> of the seal support <NUM>. The holder <NUM> is made of an elastic body such as rubber. The holder <NUM> is fixed to the seal support <NUM> by a metal plate <NUM>. The holder <NUM> includes holes 45A, 45B, and 45C. The holes 45A, 45B, and 45C extend in the axial direction of the holder <NUM>. The drive cable 43A, the pump cable 43B, and the steering cable 43C are passed through the holes 45A, 45B, and 45C, respectively.

The bush <NUM> is arranged in the opening <NUM> of the transom <NUM>. The bush <NUM> is detachably attached to the opening <NUM>. The bush <NUM> is made of resin. Alternatively, the bush <NUM> may be made of metal. The bush <NUM> includes a hole <NUM>. A plurality of seal grooves <NUM> are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the bush <NUM>. The plurality of seal grooves <NUM> are arranged side by side in the axial direction of the bush <NUM>. O-rings <NUM> are arranged in each of the plurality of seal grooves <NUM>. The O-rings <NUM> are arranged between the outer surface of the bush <NUM> and the inner surface of the opening <NUM>. The O-rings <NUM> seal between the bush <NUM> and the opening <NUM>. The O-rings <NUM> seal between the seal member <NUM> and the opening <NUM>. In the drawings, reference numerals are given only to a part of the plurality of seal grooves <NUM> and the O-rings <NUM>, and the reference numerals of the other seal grooves <NUM> and the O-rings <NUM> are omitted.

The bush <NUM> is attached to the seal support <NUM>. The bush <NUM> projects from the seal support <NUM> toward the transom <NUM>. The bush <NUM> is fixed to the seal support <NUM> by a plate-shaped stay <NUM>. A mounting groove <NUM> is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the bush <NUM>. A part of the stay <NUM> is arranged in the mounting groove <NUM>. The stay <NUM> is fixed to the seal support <NUM> by a fixing member <NUM> such as a screw.

The grommet <NUM> is arranged in the hole <NUM> of the bush <NUM>. The grommet <NUM> is detachably attached to the bush <NUM>. The grommet <NUM> is made of an elastic body such as rubber. The grommet <NUM> is passed through the hole <NUM> of the bush <NUM>. The grommet <NUM> fills the space between the bush <NUM> and the harness <NUM>. The grommet <NUM> has a plurality of holes 47A, 47B, and 47C. The plurality of holes 47A, 47B, and 47C extend in the axial direction of the grommet <NUM>. Specifically, the grommet <NUM> includes a first hole 47A, a second hole 47B, and a third hole 47C. The drive cable 43A is passed through the first hole 47A. The pump cable 43B is passed through the second hole 47B. The steering cable 43C is passed through the third hole 47C.

A sealant <NUM> is filled between the end of the bush <NUM> and the end of the grommet <NUM>. The sealant <NUM> is, for example, a solidified liquid silicon. The inner diameter of the hole <NUM> of the bush <NUM> is smaller than the inner diameter of the hole <NUM> of the seal support <NUM>. Therefore, a step portion <NUM> is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the bush <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface of the seal member <NUM>. The holder <NUM> includes a flange portion <NUM>. The flange portion <NUM> projects from the outer peripheral surface of the holder <NUM>. The flange portion <NUM> is arranged so as to face the step portion <NUM>.

In the outboard motor <NUM> according to the present embodiment described above, the harness <NUM> extends from the outboard motor body <NUM> through the opening <NUM> of the transom <NUM> into the boat <NUM>. Therefore, the degree of freedom in the layout of the harness <NUM> is improved. Further, the seal member <NUM> holds the harness <NUM> and is detachably attached to the opening <NUM>. Therefore, when the outboard motor <NUM> is removed, the harness <NUM> together with the seal member <NUM> can be easily removed from the opening <NUM>. As a result, the outboard motor <NUM> can be easily attached to and detached from the boat <NUM>.

For example, when the bracket <NUM> is removed from the boat <NUM>, the seal member <NUM> and the harness <NUM> are removed from the opening <NUM> by pulling out the bush <NUM> from the opening <NUM>. When attaching the bracket <NUM> to the boat <NUM>, the seal member <NUM> and the harness <NUM> are attached to the opening <NUM> by inserting the bush <NUM> into the opening <NUM>.

The configuration of the outboard motor <NUM> is not limited to that of the above embodiment, and may be changed. For example, the drive unit <NUM> is not limited to the drive motor <NUM>, and may include an internal combustion engine. That is, the outboard motor <NUM> may rotate the propeller <NUM> by the driving force of the internal combustion engine instead of the drive motor <NUM>. The internal combustion engine may be located within the cowl <NUM>.

The tilt cylinder <NUM> is not limited to the hydraulic cylinder, and may be an electric cylinder. The structure of the bracket <NUM> is not limited to that of the above embodiment, and may be changed. For example, the seal support <NUM> may be integrated with the left bracket 31A.

The structure or arrangement of the seal member <NUM> is not limited to that of the above embodiment, and may be changed. For example, the shape of the holder <NUM> may be changed. The shape of the bush <NUM> may be changed. The shape of the grommet <NUM> may be changed. The arrangement of the harness <NUM> is not limited to that of the above embodiment, and may be changed. A part of the drive cable 43A, the pump cable 43B, and the steering cable 43C may be omitted from the harness <NUM>. Alternatively, the harness <NUM> may include cables other than the drive cable 43A, the pump cable 43B, and the steering cable 43C.

Claim 1:
An outboard motor (<NUM>) configured to be attached to a boat (<NUM>) including a transom (<NUM>) having an opening (<NUM>), the outboard motor (<NUM>) comprising:
a bracket (<NUM>) configured to be attached to the transom (<NUM>);
an outboard motor body (<NUM>) supported by the bracket (<NUM>);
a harness (<NUM>) extending from the outboard motor body (<NUM>) and configured to extend through the opening (<NUM>) into the boat (<NUM>); and
a seal member (<NUM>) that holds the harness (<NUM>) and is configured to be detachably attached to the opening (<NUM>), wherein the bracket (<NUM>) includes a seal support (<NUM>) connected to the seal member (<NUM>), a first bracket (31A), and a second separate bracket (31B) arranged apart from the first bracket (31A) in a first direction of the outboard motor (<NUM>), the seal support (<NUM>) being arranged between the first bracket (31A) and the second bracket (31B), and wherein the seal support (<NUM>) is integrated
with the first bracket (31A) or the second bracket (31B).