Patent ID: 7128626

Claim:
A hydraulic steering assembly for applying a force to two marine propulsion units, each said propulsion unit having a steering axis and a tilt axis, the tilt axis being generally perpendicular to the steering axis thereof, said each propulsion unit being rotatable about the steering axis thereof and being supported for arcuate movement about the tilt axis thereof, the steering assembly comprising: a hydraulic steering actuator, the actuator including a cylinder and an elongated piston rod reciprocatingly mounted within the cylinder, the piston rod extending through the cylinder for movement along a piston rod axis, the cylinder having a first end and a second; a pair of support arms which are pivotable about the tilt axis of a first said propulsion unit, the support arms being connected to the piston rod, allowing arcuate movement of the piston rod about the tilt axis of the first said propulsion unit and maintaining the piston rod axis generally parallel to the tilt axis thereof; a pivot member pivotally mounted on the first said propulsion unit for pivoting about a first link axis which is generally parallel to the steering axis of the first said propulsion unit, the actuator being pivotally connected to the pivot member for pivoting about a second link axis which is generally parallel to the piston rod axis; a connecting member connected to the actuator, at one said end of the cylinder; and an elongated member pivotally connected to the connecting member and to a second said propulsion unit; wherein the elongated member is pivotally connected to the connecting member.