GB2031362A

GB2031362A - Marine Steering and Control Gear

Info

Publication number: GB2031362A
Application number: GB7930873A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Barrus EP Ltd
Current assignee: Barrus EP Ltd
Priority date: 1978-09-06
Filing date: 1979-09-06
Publication date: 1980-04-23
Also published as: GB2031362B

Abstract

For arduous duties, such as inshore rescue work, use may be made of two or more outboard engines operating simultaneously. In order to co-ordinate the steering and control of such engines, there is provided supplemental control gear comprising a tiller (9) on a fixing plate (7) attached to one engine (1). The fixing plate (7) is interconnected with the other engine (2) by a tie rod (13). The tiller (9) has a twist grip throttle control (11) connected by a twin crank assembly to throttle cables (12) for the engines. Also, the tiller (9) carries a common gear lever (15) operatively connected to gear shift cables (16) for the engines. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Marine Steering and Control Gear This invention relates to marine steering and control gear for use with outboard engines.

The steering of a boat with an outboard engine is generally achieved by pivoting the engine about a generally vertical axis so as to vary the direction of thrust. In some cases this is achieved by means of a remote steering wheel connected by linkage to a pivotable steering bracket with which the engine is solidly mounted, but in many craft, particularly where the engine is to be readily demountable, a tiller is directly connected to the steering bracket. This tiller is normally pivotable between a generally vertical rest position and a generally horizontal operative position. The tiller frequently also includes a twist grip throttle control connected to a throttle cable of the engine. With a remote steering wheel there is normally also a gear lever connected to a cable or linkage connected to the gear box for selecting drive, neutral and possibly reverse.When tiller steering is used, the gear selection is normally by manual actuation of a control lever provided on the engine case.

For some applications where reliability is all important, e.g. inshore rescue work using inflatable craft, it is thought desirable to utilise two outboard engines so that in the event of engine failure, the boat is not out of control.

However, their operation and control need to be co-ordinated for proper handling of the boat, while allowing either engine to be operated alone in the event of failure of the other. In certain circumstances it may even be necessary rapidly to jettison a failed engine to reduce weight.

According to the present invention, there is provided a supplementary control gear, for use with two, or possibly more, outboard engines each provided with an individual tiller and possibly throttle control, the supplementary control gear comprising a single tiller for simultaneous steering of both or all engines, tie rod means connected releasably to the engines to co-ordinate the steering movement thereof, the said tiller also carrying a twist grip throttle control connected to a throttle cable for each engine.

Thus, the engines can be steered and controlled conjointly, but should either engine fail, and for any other reason single engine operation be required, the tie rod means can be released and the required engine can be controlled by its individual tiller.

Preferably, the tiller of the supplementary gear is tiltable to a rest position.

The tiller of the supplementary gear may also carry a single gear lever for both or all engines.

Also, the tiller of the supplementary gear may be associated with a kill device for stopping both or all engines by cutting their ignition circuits.

In order to reduce the amount of rotation of the twist grip between fully open and closed positions of the throttles, e.g. to below 3600 or even 2700 or 1800, use may be made of a twin (or multiplex) cable drum of comparatively large diameter, so that the required iongitudinal travel of the cable can be achieved by a comparatively small rotation of the drum. Alternatively, a rack and pinion engagement between the twist grip and the cable ends may be used. As a further alternative, the twist grip may be connected to crank of sufficient throw to give the required longitudinal travel with less than 1 800 of twist grip ovement.

The invention also includes a marine craft incorporating two or more outboard engines and supplemental control gear according to the invention as set forth above.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which Figure 1 is a front view of an arrangement of supplemental steering and control gear according to a preferred form of the invention, in association with a pair of outboard engines; Figure 2 is a view similar to part of figure 1, showing a tiller in rest position; and Figure 3 is a plan view of the tiller and associated parts.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention there are two outboard engines 1 and 2 each provided with a conventional tiltable tiller 3 with twist grip throttle control 4 and also a steering bracket 5 solid with the engine and rotatable with respective engine mountings 6. To the steering brackets of one engine 1 is clamped a fixing plate 7 carrying a pivot mounting 8 for a supplemental tiller 9 which has a twist grip throttle 11 connected by a twin crank assembly to a push/pull throttle cable 12 for each engine 1 and 2 so as to provide a full range of throttle control with an angular movement of 1800 or less.The engine 1 is thus virtually directly coupled to the supplemental tiller 9 and the second engine 2 is connected thereto by use of a tie rod 1 3 interconnecting the fixing plate 7 and an adaptor 14 clamped to the steering bracket 5 of the second engine 2 and releasably pivotably connected to each, e.g. by a conventional type of spring sleeve connection. The effective length of the tie rod may be varied by a turnbuckle arrangement. The supplemental tiller 9 also has mounted thereon a gear lever 1 5 carrying twin push/pull cables 1 6 connected to the gear controls of the engines 1 and 2.

A kill switch may be mounted on the fixing plate 7 and electricallyconnected with the ignition circuit of each engine for simultaneous stopping of both or all engines. Alternatively, or additionally, a lanyard may be connected to a removable stop for a kill switch on each engine so that in use the steersman may attach the lanyard to his wrist (or elsewhere) so that if he goes overboard the engine will be stopped immediately and he can swim back to the craft.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A supplementary control gear for use with wo or more outboard engines, comprising a single tiller for simultaneous steering of both or all engines, tie rod means connected releasably to the engines to co-ordinate the steering movement thereof, the said tiller also carrying a twist grip throttle control connected to a throttle cable for each engine.

2. A supplementary control gear as claimed in claim 1, in which the said single tiller is tiltable to a rest position.

3. A supplementary control gear as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the said single tiller carries a single gear lever for both or all engines.

4. A supplementary control gear as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the said single tiller is associated with a kill device for stopping both or all engines.

5. A supplementary control gear as claimed in claims 1 to 4, in which the twist grip throttle control on the said single tiller is connected to cranks connected to throttle cables.

6. A supplementary control gear as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the twist group is connected to a twin or multiplex drum connected to throttle cables.

7. A supplementary control gear substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A supplementary control gear as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, in combination with outboard engines.

9. A marine craft incorporating two more outboard engines and supplementary control gear as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 7, in association therewith.