STEERING DEVICE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-101101 filed on Jun. 24, 2024, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a steering device that is attached to an outboard motor, steers a ship, and has a bar-shaped steering handle.

BACKGROUND ART

Some steering devices for steering a ship each have a bar-shaped steering handle. The steering handle extends in a front-rear direction, and has a rear end portion attached to a front portion of an upper portion of the outboard motor. In addition, a front end portion of the steering handle is provided with a grip for steering by being gripped with a hand of a ship operator.

The grip is provided on the steering handle so as to be rotatable about an axis extending along an extension direction of the steering handle. The steering handle is provided with a cable for transmitting a rotation amount of the grip to the outboard motor. The outboard motor changes a rotation speed of a power source of the outboard motor according to the rotation amount of the grip transmitted via the cable.

There are two types of steering handles: mechanical type and electrical type, which transmit the rotation amount of the grip to the outboard motor. The mechanical type steering handle has a mechanism for pushing and pulling the cable in response to the rotation of the grip, and the cable provided in the mechanical type steering handle has a function of transmitting the rotation amount of the grip to the outboard motor by moving itself in response to the rotation of the grip. JPH06-135390A (Patent Literature 1) describes an example of a mechanical type steering handle. On the other hand, the electrical type steering handle has a device that outputs an electric signal corresponding to the rotation amount of the grip, and a cable provided in the electrical type steering handle is an electrical cable having a function of transmitting an electric signal corresponding to the rotation amount of the grip to the outboard motor.

In many cases, the rear end portion of the steering handle is attached to the outboard motor so as to be pivotable about an axis extending in the left-right direction. Accordingly, the steering handle can be pivoted upward from a state in which the steering handle extends horizontally forward from the outboard motor. The steering handle can be pivoted in this manner, and thus a height position of the grip can be changed according to a ship maneuvering posture of the ship operator, or a position of the steering handle can be changed so that the steering handle does not become an obstacle when the outboard motor is tilted up or when the outboard motor is removed from the ship and transported on land.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

• • Patent Literature 1: JPH06-135390A

Meanwhile, the rear end portion of the steering handle is provided with a pivot mechanism for pivotally attaching the steering handle to the outboard motor. Therefore, in the steering handle in the related art, the cable that connects the steering handle and the outboard motor is routed so as to avoid the pivot mechanism provided in the rear end portion of the steering handle. Specifically, the cable is drawn out to the outside of the steering handle at a front portion of the rear end portion of the steering handle, passes through the air in a state of not being covered at all, and then is drawn into the outboard motor (for example, refer to FIG. 1 or 3 in JPH06-135390A). Therefore, a portion of the cable that passes through the air in the state of not being covered at all may be caught by any object present outside the steering handle and the outboard motor, and the cable or the like may be damaged. This problem may occur in the mechanical type steering handle or the electrical type steering handle.

SUMMARY

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, for example, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering device having an electric steering handle that can prevent an electrical cable that connects the steering handle and an outboard motor from being caught by objects present outside the steering handle and the outboard motor.

In order to solve the above problems, a steering device according to the present invention includes: a steering handle; and a handle bracket that attaches the steering handle to an outboard motor, the steering handle includes a bar portion extending in a front-rear direction, an operation portion provided on a front end side of the bar portion, a signal output portion provided inside the bar portion and configured to output a signal in response to an operation of the operation portion, and an electrical cable configured to transmit the signal, a rear end portion of the bar portion is disposed on one side in a left-right direction of the handle bracket, the rear end portion of the bar portion is provided with a shaft portion supported on the handle bracket so as to be pivotable about an axis extending in the left-right direction, the shaft portion is provided with a first communication passage inside having one end side communicating with the inside of the bar portion and another end side opening to an outer surface of the other side in the left-right direction of the shaft portion, the handle bracket is provided with a second communication passage disposed at a position opposite to the first communication passage, and having one end side opening to an outer surface on one side in the left-right direction of the handle bracket and another end side communicating with the inside of the handle bracket, and the electrical cable extends from the signal output portion to the inside of the handle bracket through the inside of the bar portion, the first communication passage, and the second communication passage.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the electrical cable that connects the steering handle and the outboard motor from being caught by objects present outside the steering handle and the outboard motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an overall view illustrating an outboard motor provided with a steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from left, and FIG. 1B is an overall view illustrating the outboard motor as viewed from above.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the steering device taken along a cutting line II-II in FIG. 1A as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the steering device taken along a cutting line III-III in FIG. 1B as viewed from the left.

FIG. 4 is an external view illustrating a steering handle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is an external view illustrating a sensor assembly of the steering handle according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a size of a waterproof connector.

FIGS. 6A to 6D are diagrams illustrating an assembly step of a shaft portion of the steering handle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an external view illustrating a handle bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a rear end portion of a bar portion and a left portion of the handle bracket in the steering device in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the rear end portion of the bar portion and the left portion of the handle bracket, which are cut along an axis B in FIG. 8, as viewed from the front.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the rear end portion of the bar portion, the left portion of the handle bracket, an electrical cable, and the like of the steering device in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a steering handle and a handle bracket that attaches the steering handle to an outboard motor. The steering handle includes a bar portion extending in a front-rear direction, an operation portion provided on a front end side of the bar portion, a signal output portion provided inside the bar portion and configured to output an operation signal corresponding to an operation of the operation portion, and an electrical cable configured to transmit the operation signal.

A rear end portion of the bar portion is disposed on one side in a left-right direction of the handle bracket. The rear end portion of the bar portion is provided with a shaft portion. The shaft portion is supported on the handle bracket so as to be pivotable about an axis extending in the left-right direction.

The shaft portion is provided with a first communication passage inside. The first communication passage has one end side communicating with the inside of the bar portion and another end side opening to an outer surface of the other side in the left-right direction of the shaft portion.

The handle bracket is provided with a second communication passage. The second communication passage is disposed at a position opposite to the first communication passage, and has one end side opening to an outer surface on one side in the left-right direction of the handle bracket and another end side communicating with the inside of the handle bracket.

The electrical cable extends from the signal output portion to the inside of the handle bracket through the inside of the bar portion, the first communication passage, and the second communication passage.

In the steering device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the electrical cable extends from the signal output portion to the inside of the handle bracket through the inside of the bar portion, the first communication passage, and the second communication passage. Therefore, the electrical cable is sequentially covered by the bar portion, the shaft portion, and the handle bracket from the signal output portion to the inside of the handle bracket. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce or eliminate a portion of the electrical cable that passes through the air without being covered at all. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the electrical cable from being caught by objects present outside the steering handle and the outboard motor.

EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the embodiments, directions of up (Ud), down (Dd), front (Fd), back (Bd), left (Ld), and right (Rd) are indicated according to arrows drawn at a lower side in each figure except for FIG. 5.

Outboard Motor

FIG. 1A illustrates an outboard motor 1 provided with a steering device 21 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the left. FIG. 1B illustrates the outboard motor 1 as viewed from above.

The outboard motor 1 is a device that generates a propulsion force of a ship and is attached to the ship. The outboard motor 1 includes a power source (not illustrated) and a propeller 2 that converts a power from the power source into a propulsion force.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the outboard motor 1 is provided with a clamp bracket 4 that attaches the outboard motor 1 to a transom of the ship. A swivel bracket 6 is connected to the clamp bracket 4 via a tilt shaft 5. A pilot shaft 7 is rotatably inserted inside the swivel bracket 6. Further, the swivel bracket 6 has a steering bracket 8 provided above and a mount bracket 9 provided below, and an upper end portion and a lower end portion of the pilot shaft 7 are connected to the outboard motor 1 via the steering bracket 8 and the mount bracket 9, respectively. As described above, the outboard motor 1 is attached to the ship by the clamp bracket 4, the swivel bracket 6, the pilot shaft 7, the steering bracket 8, and the mount bracket 9 so as to be pivotable in a horizontal direction with respect to the ship.

The outboard motor 1 is provided with the steering device 21 that steers the ship. The steering device 21 is disposed in the front of the steering bracket 8 and is attached to a front end portion of the steering bracket 8. A display unit 10 is provided above a handle bracket 51 of the steering device 21, and is attached to an upper wall of the handle bracket 51. The display unit 10 includes, for example, a display, and the display displays, for example, information related to the outboard motor 1 such as a rotation speed of the power source.

Steering Device

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section of the steering device 21 taken along a cutting line II-II in FIG. 1A as viewed from above. FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section of the steering device 21 taken along a cutting line III-III in FIG. 1B as viewed from the left (from below in FIG. 1B).

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the steering device 21 includes a steering handle 22 that pivots the outboard motor 1 in the horizontal direction with respect to the ship, and the handle bracket 51 that attaches the steering handle 22 to the front end portion of the steering bracket 8 of the outboard motor 1.

Steering Handle

FIG. 4 illustrates the steering handle 22 before being attached to the handle bracket 51. FIG. 5A illustrates a sensor assembly 32 provided on the steering handle 22. FIG. 5B illustrates a waterproof connector 36 as viewed from the front.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the steering handle 22 includes a bar portion 23, a grip 30, a rotation amount sensor 33, an electrical cable 35, and the waterproof connector 36.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the bar portion 23 is formed in an overall viewing angle cylindrical shape extending in one direction. The bar portion 23 extends in the front-rear direction of the outboard motor 1. The bar portion 23 is formed by coupling a base portion 24 and a lid portion 27 to each other. The base portion 24 is formed in a substantially box shape that is long in one direction (front-rear direction) and has an open upper portion. The lid portion 27 is formed in a substantially box shape that is long in one direction (front-rear direction) and has an open lower portion. The lid portion 27 is disposed above the base portion 24, and is attached to the base portion 24 so as to cover an opening portion of the base portion 24. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the bar portion 23 has an accommodation space 28 for accommodating the rotation amount sensor 33 or the like inside.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the grip 30 is provided on a front end side of the bar portion 23. The grip 30 is a portion gripped by a hand when a ship operator steers the ship. The grip 30 is attached to the bar portion 23 so as to be rotatable about an axis A extending in the front-rear direction. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the base portion 24 is integrally formed with a grip support portion 29 protruding forward from a front end portion of the base portion 24, and the grip 30 is rotatably attached to an outer peripheral side of the grip support portion 29. The grip 30 is a specific example of an “operation portion”.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the rotation amount sensor 33 is provided in the accommodation space 28 of the bar portion 23. The rotation amount sensor 33 outputs an operation signal corresponding to a rotation amount of the grip 30. The grip 30 is connected to the rotation amount sensor 33 via a grip shaft 31 and a shaft connection portion 34, and the rotation of the grip 30 is input to the rotation amount sensor 33 via the grip shaft 31 and the shaft connection portion 34. For example, a variable resistor or the like can be used as the rotation amount sensor 33. For example, the operation signal is a signal whose voltage changes according to the rotation amount of the grip 30. The rotation amount sensor 33 is a specific example of the “signal output portion”.

The electrical cable 35 transmits the operation signal output from the rotation amount sensor 33. A front end portion of the electrical cable 35 is connected to the rotation amount sensor 33, and a front portion of the electrical cable 35 is disposed behind the rotation amount sensor 33 in the accommodation space 28 of the bar portion 23. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a rear portion of the electrical cable 35 is drawn out to the outside of the bar portion 23 from a rear end portion of the bar portion 23.

The waterproof connector 36 is disposed outside the bar portion 23 and attached to a rear end portion of the electrical cable 35. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the waterproof connector 36 is connected to a mating waterproof connector 37. The mating waterproof connector 37 is connected to the outboard motor 1 via another electrical cable 38. Further, an outer diameter D (length of a diagonal wire) of the waterproof connector 36 illustrated in FIG. 5B is larger than an outer diameter of the electrical cable 35 and larger than a diameter of a handle-side communication passage 71 to be described later.

When the ship operator grips the grip 30 and rotates the grip 30 about the axis A, the operation signal corresponding to the rotation amount of the grip 30 is output from the rotation amount sensor 33, and the operation signal is transmitted to the outboard motor 1 via the electrical cable 35, the waterproof connector 36, the mating waterproof connector 37, and the electrical cable 38. The outboard motor 1 changes the rotation speed of the power source according to the operation signal. With such a configuration, the ship operator can change a magnitude of the propulsion force generated by the outboard motor 1 by rotating the grip, and can change a speed of the ship.

When the steering handle 22 is manufactured, the rotation amount sensor 33, the shaft connection portion 34, the electrical cable 35, and the waterproof connector 36 are supplied from a component manufacturer as one integrated component, that is, the sensor assembly 32 as illustrated in FIG. 5A.

Shaft Portion of Steering Handle

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the rear end portion of the bar portion 23 of the steering handle 22 is provided with a pair of shaft portions 41 for attaching the steering handle 22 to the handle bracket 51 so as to be pivotable about an axis B extending in the left-right direction. One shaft portion 41 is provided at a right portion of the rear end portion of the bar portion 23, and the other shaft portion 41 is provided at a left portion of the rear end portion of the bar portion 23. The shaft portions 41 each have a cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction. The right shaft portion 41 extends rightward from a right wall 25 at a rear end portion of the base portion 24 of the bar portion 23. The left shaft portion 41 extends leftward from a left wall 26 at the rear end portion of the base portion 24 of the bar portion 23. The shaft portions 41 are arranged coaxially with each other, and axes of the shaft portions 41 are all the axis B. In addition, the shaft portions 41 have shapes symmetrical to each other, outer diameters of the shaft portions 41 are equal to each other, and dimensions of the respective shaft portions 41 in the left-right direction (amounts of protrusion from the bar portions 23) are equal to each other.

FIGS. 6A to 6D illustrate an assembly step of the shaft portion 41. A detailed configuration of each of the shaft portions 41 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6D.

As illustrated in FIG. 6A, the right shaft portion 41 (shaft portion 41 on a front side in FIG. 6A) is divided into a lower shaft forming portion 42 and an upper shaft forming portion 43 in a direction orthogonal to the axis B, specifically, in an up-down direction. The lower shaft forming portion 42 of the right shaft portion 41 is integrally formed with the right wall 25 of the rear end portion of the base portion 24 of the bar portion 23. In addition, the upper shaft forming portion 43 of the right shaft portion 41 is a separate member from the base portion 24. Similarly, the left shaft portion 41 (shaft portion 41 on a back side in FIG. 6A is also divided into the lower shaft forming portion 42 and the upper shaft forming portion 43 in the up-down direction. The lower shaft forming portion 42 of the left shaft portion 41 is integrally formed with the left wall 26 at the rear end portion of the base portion 24 of the bar portion 23. In addition, the upper shaft forming portion 43 of the left shaft portion 41 is a separate member from the base portion 24. The upper shaft forming portion 43 of the right shaft portion 41 and the upper shaft forming portion 43 of the left shaft portion 41 are one common member.

The right lower shaft forming portion 42 is formed with a notch 44. Similarly, the left lower shaft forming portion 42 is also formed with the notch 44. As illustrated in FIG. 6B, the electrical cable 35 is disposed inside the notch 44 of the right lower shaft forming portion 42.

As illustrated in FIG. 6C, the upper shaft forming portion 43 is assembled on the right lower shaft forming portion 42 and the left lower shaft forming portion 42. The upper shaft forming portion 43 is bolted to the rear end portion of the base portion 24 of the bar portion 23 in a state of being assembled on the lower shaft forming portions 42. Accordingly, an upper portion of the notch 44 formed in the right lower shaft forming portion 42 is closed by a right end portion of the upper shaft forming portion 43, and at the same time, an upper portion of the notch 44 formed in the left lower shaft forming portion 42 is closed by a left end portion of the upper shaft forming portion 43.

As described above, the right shaft portion 41 is formed in a cylindrical shape by assembling the upper shaft forming portion 43 on the lower shaft forming portion 42 formed on the right wall 25 at the rear end portion of the base portion 24 of the bar portion 23 (by aligning the lower shaft forming portion 42 and the upper shaft forming portion 43 with each other). In addition, a space penetrating the right shaft portion 41 in the left-right direction is formed inside the right shaft portion 41 by the notch 44 formed in the right lower shaft forming portion 42. Similarly, the left shaft portion 41 is formed in a cylindrical shape by assembling the upper shaft forming portion 43 on the lower shaft forming portion 42 formed on the left wall 26 at the rear end portion of the base portion 24 of the bar portion 23 (by aligning the lower shaft forming portion 42 and the upper shaft forming portion 43 with each other). In addition, a space penetrating the left shaft portion 41 in the left-right direction is formed inside the left shaft portion 41 by the notch 44 formed in the left lower shaft forming portion 42. The lower shaft forming portion 42 is a specific example of a “first shaft forming portion”, and the upper shaft forming portion 43 is a specific example of a “second shaft forming portion”.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 6C to FIG. 6D, an annular member, specifically, a sliding bearing 45 is attached to an outer peripheral side of each shaft portion 41.

Handle Bracket

FIG. 7 illustrates the handle bracket 51. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the handle bracket 51 includes an upper wall 52, a right wall 53 disposed rightward the upper wall 52, a left wall 54 disposed leftward the upper wall 52, and a rear wall 55 disposed rearward the upper wall 52. The handle bracket 51 of the present embodiment does not have a front wall and a lower wall. Although not illustrated in detail, the handle bracket 51 is fixed to the steering bracket 8 by, for example, bolting the rear wall 55 to a front end surface of the steering bracket 8. The left wall 54 is a specific example of a “first side wall”, and the right wall 53 is a specific example of a “second side wall”.

A bracket internal space 56 surrounded by the upper wall 52, the right wall 53, the left wall 54, and the rear wall 55 is formed inside the handle bracket 51.

The left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51 has a shaft support hole 57 that pivotally supports the right shaft portion 41 of the steering handle 22 on the handle bracket 51. The shaft support hole 57 penetrates the left wall 54 in the left-right direction. The right wall 53 of the handle bracket 51 also has the shaft support hole 57, and the shaft support hole 57 formed in the right wall 53 of the handle bracket 51 is not used when a rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is disposed leftward the handle bracket 51.

A left portion of the handle bracket 51 has a handle support portion 58 that pivotally supports the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 on the handle bracket 51. A right end portion of the handle support portion 58 is fixed to a left surface of the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51. A left end portion of the handle support portion 58 has a shaft support hole 59 through which the left shaft portion 41 of the steering handle 22 is pivotally supported by the handle support portion 58 (see FIG. 8 or 9). The shaft support hole 57 and the shaft support hole 59 are arranged coaxially with each other, and both axes are all the axis B. A diameter of each of the shaft support holes 57 and 59 is substantially equal to each of the outer diameter of the shaft portion 41 and an outer diameter of the sliding bearing 45 attached to the shaft portion 41 (diameter of the former is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the latter in order to ensure smoothness of pivoting of the steering handle 22).

The rear wall 55 of the handle bracket 51 has a cable insertion hole 60 into which the electrical cable 38 is to be inserted. The cable insertion hole 60 penetrates the rear wall 55 in the front-rear direction.

Support Structure for Steering Handle

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the rear end portion of the bar portion 23 and the left portion of the handle bracket 51 in the steering device 21 in FIG. 2. FIG. 9 illustrates a cross section of the rear end portion of the bar portion 23 and the left portion of the handle bracket 51 cut along the axis B in FIG. 8 as viewed from the front (left in FIG. 8).

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is disposed leftward the handle bracket 51. The pair of shaft portions 41 of the steering handle 22 are supported on a left side portion of the handle bracket 51 so as to be pivotable about the axis B extending in the left-right direction. Specifically, the right shaft portion 41 of the steering handle 22 is inserted into the shaft support hole 57 formed in the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51 via the sliding bearing 45. In addition, the left shaft portion 41 of the steering handle 22 is inserted into the shaft support hole 59 formed in the left end portion of the handle support portion 58 via the sliding bearing 45. With this configuration, the steering handle 22 can pivot about the axis B with respect to the handle bracket 51, that is, with respect to the outboard motor 1.

For example, in FIG. 1A, the steering handle 22 can pivot clockwise about the axis B from a state in which the steering handle 22 extends horizontally forward from the outboard motor 1. The ship operator can pivot the steering handle 22 upward and further rearward from the state in which the steering handle 22 extends horizontally forward from the outboard motor 1. A pivot range of the steering handle 22 is restricted by the handle support portion 58 so that the steering handle 22 does not pivot counterclockwise from the state in which the steering handle 22 extends horizontally forward from the outboard motor 1.

Arrangement of Electrical Cable

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a cross section of the rear end portion of the bar portion 23, a cross section of the left portion of the handle bracket 51, the electrical cable 35, the waterproof connector 36, and the like in the steering device 21 in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the bar portion 23 of the steering handle 22 has the accommodation space 28 inside.

The handle-side communication passage 71 is formed inside the shaft portion 41 provided at the right portion of the rear end portion of the bar portion 23. That is, the space penetrating the right shaft portion 41 in the left-right direction is formed inside the right shaft portion 41 by the notch 44 formed in the right lower shaft forming portion 42. The space is the handle-side communication passage 71. The handle-side communication passage 71 has one end side communicating with the accommodation space 28 and another end side opening to a right outer surface (end surface on a protruding end side) of the right shaft portion 41. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the space penetrating the right shaft portion 41 in the left-right direction and formed by the notch 44 of the right lower shaft forming portion 42 extends along the axis B, and a position of the space coincides with a position of the axis B. Therefore, the handle-side communication passage 71 extends along the axis B, and a position of the handle-side communication passage 71 coincides with the position of the axis B. The handle-side communication passage 71 is also formed inside the shaft portion 41 provided in the left portion of the rear end portion of the bar portion 23, and the handle-side communication passage 71 formed inside the shaft portion 41 provided in the left portion of the rear end portion of the bar portion 23 is not used when the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is disposed leftward the handle bracket 51. The handle-side communication passage 71 is a specific example of the “first communication passage”.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51 has a bracket-side communication passage 72. That is, the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51 has the shaft support hole 57. The shaft support hole 57 is the bracket-side communication passage 72. The bracket-side communication passage 72 has one end side opening to a left outer surface of the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51 and another end side communicating with the inside of the handle bracket 51, that is, the bracket internal space 56. The bracket-side communication passage 72 is also formed in the right wall 53 of the handle bracket 51, and the bracket-side communication passage 72 formed in the right wall 53 of the handle bracket 51 is not used when the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is disposed leftward the handle bracket 51. The bracket-side communication passage 72 is a specific example of the “second communication passage”.

The right shaft portion 41 is inserted into the shaft support hole 57, that is, the bracket-side communication passage 72, and thus the bracket-side communication passage 72 is disposed at a position opposite to the handle-side communication passage 71. A right portion of the handle-side communication passage 71 enters a left portion of the bracket-side communication passage 72, and the bracket-side communication passage 72 and the handle-side communication passage 71 are connected to each other and communicate with each other.

The electrical cable 35 extends from the rotation amount sensor 33 into the bracket internal space 56 through the inside of the bar portion 23 (inside of the accommodation space 28), the inside of the handle-side communication passage 71, and the inside of the bracket-side communication passage 72.

The waterproof connector 36 is attached to the rear end portion of the electrical cable 35, and is disposed in the bracket internal space 56. The mating waterproof connector 37 is disposed in the bracket internal space 56. In the bracket internal space 56, the waterproof connector 36 is connected to the mating waterproof connector 37. Further, the other electrical cable 38 is attached to the mating waterproof connector 37, and is drawn into the outboard motor 1 from the bracket internal space 56 through the cable insertion hole 60.

Assembly Method of Steering Device

When the steering device 21 is manufactured, the steering device 21 can be assembled as follows, for example. First, the steering handle 22 is assembled (steering handle assembly step). Specifically, first, the rotation amount sensor 33 and the shaft connection portion 34 (see FIG. 5A) of the sensor assembly 32 are attached inside the base portion 24 of the bar portion 23. Subsequently, the grip shaft 31 is connected to the shaft connection portion 34. Subsequently, the grip 30 is attached to the grip support portion 29 while being connected to the grip shaft 31. Subsequently, the front portion of the electrical cable 35 is routed so as to pass through the inside of the notch 44 (handle-side communication passage 71) formed in the right lower shaft forming portion 42 and the rear of a portion at which the rotation amount sensor 33 is disposed inside the base portion 24 of the bar portion 23, and as illustrated in FIG. 6B, the rear portion of the electrical cable 35 is drawn out to the outside of the base portion 24 from the inside of the notch 44 (handle-side communication passage 71) formed in the right lower shaft forming portion 42. Accordingly, the waterproof connector 36 attached to the rear end portion of the electrical cable 35 is disposed outside the base portion 24. Subsequently, as illustrated in FIGS. 6B and 6C, the upper shaft forming portion 43 is assembled on the lower shaft forming portions 42, and is fixed to the base portion 24 by bolts. Subsequently, as illustrated in FIGS. 6C and 6D, the sliding bearings 45 are attached to the respective shaft portions 41. When the sliding bearing 45 is attached to the right shaft portion 41, the waterproof connector 36 is passed through the inside of the sliding bearing 45, and then the sliding bearing 45 is attached to the right shaft portion 41. Subsequently, the lid portion 27 is attached to the base portion 24. Accordingly, the steering handle 22 illustrated in FIG. 4 is completed. The steering handle 22 is assembled without disassembling the sensor assembly 32.

Next, the handle bracket 51 is attached to the steering bracket 8 of the outboard motor 1 (handle bracket attaching step). At the start of manufacturing the steering device 21, the handle bracket 51 and the handle support portion 58 are separated from each other. In this step, the handle bracket 51 to which no handle support portion 58 is attached is attached to the steering bracket 8. When the handle bracket 51 is attached to the steering bracket 8, the mating waterproof connector 37 connected to the outboard motor 1 via the electrical cable 38 is passed through the cable insertion hole 60 of the handle bracket 51, and is disposed in the bracket internal space 56 of the handle bracket 51.

Next, the steering handle 22 is attached to the handle bracket 51 (steering handle attaching step). Specifically, first, the right shaft portion 41 of the steering handle 22 is inserted into the shaft support hole 57 formed in the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51. At this time, the waterproof connector 36 is passed through the shaft support hole 57 (bracket-side communication passage 72), and is disposed in the bracket internal space 56 of the handle bracket 51. Here, a size of the shaft support hole 57 (bracket-side communication passage 72) is set to a size that allows the waterproof connector 36 to pass through the shaft support hole 57 (bracket-side communication passage 72). For example, a diameter of the shaft support hole 57 is set to a value larger than the outer diameter D (length of the diagonal wire) of the waterproof connector 36 illustrated in FIG. 5B. Therefore, in this step, the waterproof connector 36 can be inserted into the bracket internal space 56 through the shaft support hole 57 from the left of the handle bracket 51. Next, the left shaft portion 41 of the steering handle 22 is inserted into the shaft support hole 59 of the handle support portion 58 while maintaining the state in which the right shaft portion 41 of the steering handle 22 is inserted into the shaft support hole 57 of the handle bracket 51. Then, while maintaining this state, the handle support portion 58 is attached to the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51 while sandwiching the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 between the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51 and the handle support portion 58.

Next, the waterproof connector 36 is connected to the mating waterproof connector 37 (connector connecting step). Accordingly, the steering device 21 is completed, and at the same time, the steering device 21 is attached to the outboard motor 1.

As described above, in the steering device 21 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the electrical cable 35 extends from the rotation amount sensor 33 into the bracket internal space 56 through the inside of the bar portion 23, the handle-side communication passage 71, and the bracket-side communication passage 72. As a result, the electrical cable 35 is sequentially covered by the bar portion 23, the shaft portion 41, and the handle bracket 51 from the rotation amount sensor 33 to the bracket internal space 56. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce or eliminate a portion of the electrical cable 35 that passes through the air without being covered at all. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the electrical cable 35 from being caught by objects present outside the steering handle 22 and the outboard motor 1.

In the steering device 21 of the present embodiment, the handle-side communication passage 71 extends along the axis B of the pivoting of the steering handle 22, and the position of the handle-side communication passage 71 coincides with the position of the axis B. Therefore, the rear portion of the electrical cable 35 passing through the handle-side communication passage 71 extends along the axis B, and a position of the rear portion of the electrical cable 35 coincides with the position of the axis B. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the electrical cable 35 from interfering with the pivoting of the steering handle 22.

In addition, in the steering device 21 of the present embodiment, the shaft portion 41 of the steering handle 22 is divided into the lower shaft forming portion 42 and the upper shaft forming portion 43, the notch 44 is formed in the lower shaft forming portion 42, and when the lower shaft forming portion 42 and the upper shaft forming portion 43 are aligned with each other, the handle-side communication passage 71 is formed in the notch 44. According to this configuration, the sensor assembly 32 can be assembled to the bar portion 23 without enlarging the shaft portion 41 of the steering handle 22. Therefore, an efficiency of an assembly work of the steering device 21 can be improved while preventing an increase in size of the steering handle 22. More specifically, in the steering handle 22, the rotation amount sensor 33 is disposed inside the bar portion 23, the waterproof connector 36 is disposed outside the bar portion 23, and the electrical cable 35 that connects the rotation amount sensor 33 and the waterproof connector 36 passes through the handle-side communication passage 71 inside the shaft portion 41. Therefore, if the handle-side communication passage 71 is formed, that is, the shaft portion 41 is not divided into the lower shaft forming portion 42 and the upper shaft forming portion 43 by drilling a hole in the shaft portion 41 or by molding the shaft portion 41 into an integral cylindrical shape, the waterproof connector 36 needs to be passed through the handle-side communication passage 71 in order to pass the electrical cable 35 through the handle-side communication passage 71 when the sensor assembly 32 is assembled to the bar portion 23. In order to pass the waterproof connector 36 through the handle-side communication passage 71, the diameter of the handle-side communication passage 71 needs to be larger than the outer diameter D of the waterproof connector 36. As a result, the shaft portion 41 increases in size, and the steering handle 22 increases in size. In contrast, the steering device 21 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the shaft portion 41 is divided into the lower shaft forming portion 42 and the upper shaft forming portion 43, the notch 44 is formed in the lower shaft forming portion 42, and when the lower shaft forming portion 42 and the upper shaft forming portion 43 are aligned with each other, the handle-side communication passage 71 is formed, and thus when the sensor assembly 32 is assembled to the bar portion 23, the electrical cable 35 is disposed in the notch 44 of the lower shaft forming portion 42, and then the upper shaft forming portion 43 is assembled to the lower shaft forming portion 42, whereby the electrical cable 35 can be disposed in the handle-side communication passage 71, that is, the electrical cable 35 can be passed through the handle-side communication passage 71 without passing the waterproof connector 36 through the handle-side communication passage 71. Therefore, the diameter of the handle-side communication passage 71 only needs to be larger than the outer diameter of the electrical cable 35, and therefore the diameter of the handle-side communication passage 71 can be made smaller than the outer diameter D of the waterproof connector 36. Therefore, the shaft portion 41 of the steering handle 22 can be prevented from becoming enlarged, and the steering handle 22 can be prevented from becoming large. In addition, instead of assembling the sensor assembly 32 to the bar portion 23, for example, a method of preparing the rotation amount sensor 33, the shaft connection portion 34, the electrical cable 35, and the waterproof connector 36 in a state of being separated from one another, connecting the shaft connection portion 34 and the electrical cable 35 to the rotation amount sensor 33, disposing the rotation amount sensor 33 in the bar portion 23, passing the electrical cable 35 through the handle-side communication passage 71, and then attaching the waterproof connector 36 to the electrical cable 35 is also conceivable. However, in order to attach the waterproof connector 36 to the electrical cable 35, a work of soldering a core wire of the electrical cable 35 to a terminal of the waterproof connector 36 is required, and if such a work is to be performed at a site at which the steering device 21 is assembled, the efficiency of the assembly work of the steering device 21 is significantly reduced. In the steering device 21 of the present embodiment, the sensor assembly 32 in which the rotation amount sensor 33, the shaft connection portion 34, the electrical cable 35, and the waterproof connector 36 are integrated is assembled to the bar portion 23, and thus it is not necessary to perform the work of soldering the core wire of the electrical cable 35 to the terminal of the waterproof connector 36 at the site at which the steering device 21 is assembled. Therefore, the efficiency of the assembly work of the steering device 21 can be improved.

In the steering device 21 of the present embodiment, the bracket internal space 56 surrounded by the upper wall 52, the right wall 53, the left wall 54, and the rear wall 55 is formed inside the handle bracket 51. The rear portion of the electrical cable 35 and the waterproof connector 36 are disposed in the bracket internal space 56. Further, in the bracket internal space 56, the waterproof connector 36 is connected to the mating waterproof connector 37, and the other electrical cable 38 attached to the mating waterproof connector 37 is drawn into the outboard motor 1 through the cable insertion hole 60. As described above, the rear portion of the electrical cable 35, the waterproof connector 36, and the mating waterproof connector 37 are disposed in the bracket internal space 56, and the electrical cable 38 attached to the mating waterproof connector 37 is drawn into the outboard motor 1, and thus it is possible to prevent the electrical cables 35 and 38 from being caught by the objects present outside the steering handle 22 and the outboard motor 1. In addition, it is possible to prevent the waterproof connector 36 or the mating waterproof connector 37 from colliding with the objects present outside the steering handle 22 and the outboard motor 1 and prevent the waterproof connector 36 from coming off the mating waterproof connector 37.

Further, in the steering device 21 of the present embodiment, the diameter of the shaft support hole 57 (bracket-side communication passage 72) of the handle bracket 51 is larger than the outer diameter D of the waterproof connector 36, and thus an assembly worker can insert the waterproof connector 36 into the bracket internal space 56 via the shaft support hole 57 (bracket-side communication passage 72). The handle bracket 51 according to the present embodiment does not have a front wall and a rear wall, and therefore a front portion and a lower portion of the bracket internal space 56 are open. Therefore, when the steering device 21 is assembled, the assembly worker can easily connect the waterproof connector 36 to the mating waterproof connector 37 by inserting a hand into the bracket internal space 56 from the front portion or the lower portion of the bracket internal space 56.

In the above embodiments, the shaft portion 41 is divided into the lower shaft forming portion 42 and the upper shaft forming portion 43 in the up-down direction, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The shaft portion may be divided in another direction orthogonal to the axis, for example, the front-rear direction.

The notch 44 is formed in the lower shaft forming portion 42 in the above embodiments, the notch may be formed in the upper shaft forming portion 43 instead of the lower shaft forming portion 42, and the notch may be formed in both the lower shaft forming portion 42 and the upper shaft forming portion 43.

In the above embodiments, the position of the handle-side communication passage 71 (notch 44) coincides with the position of the axis B, and the position of the handle-side communication passage 71 (notch 44) may not coincide with the position of the axis B. In the above embodiments, the handle-side communication passage 71 (notch 44) extends along the axis B inside the shaft portion 41, and an extension direction of the handle-side communication passage 71 (notch 44) may not extend along the axis B.

Further, in the above embodiments, the case in which the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is disposed leftward the handle bracket 51 has been described as an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The rear end portion of the steering handle 22 may be disposed rightward the handle bracket 51. In this case, the left shaft portion 41 of the steering handle 22 is inserted into the shaft support hole 57 formed in the right wall 53 of the handle bracket 51, the handle support portion 58 is attached to the right wall 53 of the handle bracket 51, and the electrical cable 35 is passed through the handle-side communication passage 71 (notch 44) formed in the left shaft portion 41 of the steering handle 22 and the bracket-side communication passage 72 (shaft support hole 57) formed in the right wall 53 of the handle bracket 51. In the above embodiments, the handle-side communication passage 71 is formed in both the right shaft portion 41 and the left shaft portion 41, and the bracket-side communication passage 72 is formed in both the right wall 53 and the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51. With this configuration, it is possible to easily switch between a mode in which the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is disposed leftward the handle bracket 51 and a mode in which the rear end portion of the steering handle 22 is disposed rightward the handle bracket 51.

In the above embodiments, the rear wall 55 of the handle bracket 51 may be omitted. Even if no rear wall 55 is provided, the rear side of the handle bracket 51 can be closed by the front end surface of the steering bracket 8. A front wall may be added to the handle bracket 51.

In the steering device 21 of the above embodiments, the case in which the operation portion is the grip 30 has been described as an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The operation portion may be, for example, a push button, a knob, or a slider. In addition, the signal output portion is not limited to the rotation amount sensor. Further, a target to be operated by the operation portion is not limited to the rotation speed of the power source of the outboard motor.

The present invention can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist or concept of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and a steering device with such a change is also included in the technical concept of the present invention.