JP3973090B2 - Outboard motor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an outboard motor, and more particularly to an outboard motor equipped with a wireless communication device that can transmit data such as an operation state to the outside.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In vehicles such as automobiles, it is known to monitor the driving state of the vehicle at a remote position. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-315272 discloses a vehicle in which a failure diagnosis device with a transmitter is mounted on a vehicle and the diagnosis result is transmitted to a base station. In a vehicle equipped with a transmitter, data is transmitted to the base station using a radio receiving antenna or a dedicated antenna protruding outside the vehicle.
[0003]
Since outboard motors used for ships are required to continue operating under severe conditions for a long time, it is conceivable to transmit information for appropriate maintenance to a maintenance management facility. In the case of small vessels using outboard motors, the outboard motors may be retrofitted independently of the hull, so that antennas for transmission and reception are provided near the steering position such as in the cabin. .
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When trying to incorporate a communication device into the outboard motor itself, the antennas are far away from the outboard motor, so it takes time for wiring, and noise countermeasures are required for long wiring. There are many.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide an outboard motor equipped with a communication device that solves the above-described problems, does not require labor for wiring, is less affected by vibration and impact, and can avoid noise and moisture. To do.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a control device for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in an outboard motor having a main body composed of a propulsion device and an internal combustion engine for driving the propulsion device, and a cover that detachably covers the internal combustion engine, and the control device A first feature is that a radio communication device connected to a control device is accommodated in the cover, and an antenna of the radio communication device is attached to the outboard motor.
[0007]
According to the first feature, since the wireless communication device and the antenna can be disposed close to the control device, the wiring path can be extremely shortened. Since the positional relationship with the internal combustion engine that is a noise source is fixed, the magnitude of the noise can be predicted and countermeasures can be taken in advance.
[0008]
In addition, the present invention has a second feature in that the antenna is fixed to the cover surface. According to the second feature, since the antenna is fixed to the surface of the cover, it is easy to withstand vibration unlike the case where the antenna protrudes from the outboard motor.
[0009]
Moreover, the present invention has a third feature in that the antenna is disposed along the surface of the cover. According to the third feature, unlike an antenna that protrudes to the outside or is installed in a hollow space, there is no interference with other components, and the handling of the outboard motor is improved.
[0010]
Further, the present invention has a fourth feature in that the cover is made of resin and the antenna is attached to the inner surface of the cover. By making the antenna invisible from the outside, the appearance of the outboard motor is not impaired, and radio waves can be sufficiently received. Further, since the antenna is housed on the inner surface of the cover, it can be protected from a severe use environment such as water.
[0011]
Further, the present invention has a fifth feature in that a cable extending from the antenna to the wireless communication device is provided, and the cable is wired along the surface of the cover. According to the fifth feature, the wiring does not interfere with other components, and the handleability of the outboard motor is improved.
[0012]
Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the control device and the wireless communication device are attached to the main body side, and a connector is provided that can attach and detach the wireless communication device and the antenna with the cover removed from the main body. There are 6 features.
[0013]
According to the sixth feature, the connector can be attached and detached with the cover removed, and the operability can be improved. Maintenance can be easily performed because the main body and the communication device and the combination of the cover and the antenna can be handled separately. Further, the wiring between the wireless communication device and the antenna naturally has a sufficient length, and this allowance can absorb the difference in the vibration system between the communication device and the antenna.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a right side view of the outboard motor according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the outboard motor. The outboard motor 1 is equipped with a multi-cylinder four-cycle internal combustion engine (engine) 2. The engine 2 is a vertical type in which a crankshaft 3 extends vertically, and a drive shaft 4 extends downward from the crankshaft 3. A lower end of the drive shaft 4 is connected to a propeller shaft 6 via a gear device 5, and a propeller 7 as a propeller is attached to the propeller shaft 6.
[0015]
The lower part of the engine 2 is accommodated in the undercase 8, the undercover 9 and the extension case 10, and the gear device 5 and the propeller shaft 6 are accommodated in the gear case 11. On the other hand, the main body, that is, the upper part of the engine 2 is covered with a detachable engine cover 12. The under case 8, the under cover 9, and the extension case 10 are made of metal, and the engine cover 12 is made of resin.
[0016]
The engine 2 has four cylinders 21 and pistons 22 arranged so that the cylinder axis is horizontal. The cylinder 21 is formed by a cylinder block 23 and a cylinder head 24, and the cylinder head 24 is covered with a cylinder cover 25. An intake manifold 13 extending from the cylinder head 24 is coupled to the silencer 14. A camshaft 26 protruding from the cylinder head 24 is connected to the crankshaft 3 via the belt 15. Further, the crankshaft 3 is connected to a shaft 18 of a generator 17 via a belt 16. The belts 15 and 16 are covered with a belt cover 19.
[0017]
An intake intake 20 is provided at the upper part of the engine cover 12. Further, an antenna of a communication device (described later with reference to FIG. 1) is disposed on the upper inner surface of the engine cover 12.
[0018]
The outboard motor 1 is provided with an outboard motor mounting tool 27. The outboard motor attachment 27 includes a first bracket 272 coupled to a left / right swing shaft 271 that extends substantially vertically, and a second bracket 274 that is swingable up / down by a vertical swing shaft 273 with respect to the bracket 272. And have. The outboard motor 1 is fixed to the ship S by the second bracket 274.
[0019]
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a communication system mounted on the outboard motor. The communication unit 28 includes a CPU 281, an EEPROM 282, a communication interface circuit 284, and a power supply unit 285. The ECU 29 is a control device that controls the operation of the engine 2 and detects an operation state of the engine, for example, an engine oil amount, an engine temperature, and the like. The communication interface circuit 284 is connected to the ECU 29, reads information indicating the operation state of the engine 2 detected by the ECU 29, and communicates this information and the like from the communication device 283 to the base station 30 via radio.
[0020]
A unit dedicated to data communication is provided as the communication device 283 and communicates with the outside in accordance with an instruction from the communication unit 28. Thus, the communication unit 28 and the communication device 283 constitute a wireless communication device accommodated in the engine cover 12 of the outboard motor main body.
[0021]
The ECU 29 transmits detection data from various sensors provided in the outboard motor 1 to the communication unit 28, and the communication unit 28 sends the status data of the outboard motor 1 to the general public network 100 through the communication device 283. A mobile phone can be used instead of the unit dedicated to data communication.
[0022]
The outboard motor 1 can be equipped with a GPS receiving circuit 31 that receives GPS (Global Positioning System) signals. In that case, the position (self-position) of the ship is calculated based on the position information detected by the CPU 281 and the GPS receiving circuit 31 of the communication unit 28.
[0023]
The arrangement of antennas for the communication unit 28 and the GPS receiving circuit 31 will be described. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an engine cover 12 of an outboard motor. The antenna 32 of the communication device 283 is fixed to the left side of the upper inner surface of the engine cover 12, that is, the front side of the ship. The antenna 32 is provided for each of the communication unit 28 and the GPS receiving circuit 31. The antenna 32 can be formed, for example, as an antenna module in which an antenna element is sintered with ceramic, and is secured to the inner surface of the engine cover 12 with an adhesive or the like. A cable 33 led out from the antenna 32 is wired along the inner surface of the engine cover 12, and an end thereof is connected to the communication unit 28 and the GPS receiving circuit 31 via the connector 34. By installing the antenna 32 on the upper portion of the engine cover 12, the artificial satellite can be easily captured in all directions.
The communication unit 28 and the GPS receiving circuit 31 can be provided in an electrical box (not shown) provided on the engine 2 side, for example, on the side of the cylinder block 23. The cable 33 preferably has a sufficient length so that the communication unit 28 and the GPS receiving circuit 31 can be connected with the engine cover 12 removed from the main body of the outboard motor 1. By providing the cable 33 with a margin of length, it is possible to handle the set of the engine cover 12 and the antenna 32 and the set of the communication unit 28 and the GPS receiving circuit 31 and the outboard motor 1 separately. is there. Further, by giving a margin to the cable, the difference between the vibration system of the communication unit 28 and the like and the vibration system of the antenna 32 can be absorbed.
[0024]
FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the engine cover 12 showing another arrangement example of the antenna, and the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same parts. In the figure, an antenna 32A is a printed antenna formed in a sheet shape. The antennas 32 and 32A described above may be wrapped with a cushioning material and fixed to the inner surface of the engine cover 12 via the cushioning material.
[0025]
FIG. 6 is a view showing still another example of the arrangement of the antennas, and is an upper cross-sectional view of the engine cover as seen from the front of the outboard motor, that is, from the ship side. A concave portion (a convex portion when viewed from the outer surface) 35 is provided in the upper portion of the engine cover 12, and the antenna 32 </ b> B is fixed in the concave portion 35. The antenna 32 </ b> B is disposed in the recess 35, and a resin 36 that also serves as an adhesive is injected into the recess 35. In this way, the antenna 32B can be held in the recess 32 by the resin 36, and at the same time, the impact applied to the antenna 32B from the engine cover 12 can be reduced by the resin 36.
[0026]
In addition, the antenna is not limited to be disposed along the inner surface of the engine cover 12, but the antenna is disposed on the upper and outer surfaces of the engine cover 12, and the cable 33 is wired along the side surface. The side may be drawn into the inside through a hole formed in the engine cover 12. In this case, the antenna and the cable 33 may be covered with a partial cover from the outside. Of course, a waterproof means such as a rubber bush is provided in the hole through which the cable 33 passes.
[0027]
As described above, the communication device is provided inside the engine cover, and the antenna is attached to the outboard motor itself. Therefore, even when the outboard motor is retrofitted to the ship, the cable may be routed on the deck of the ship. It will disappear, making it difficult to pick up noise. In addition, the work on the deck is not disturbed. The positional relationship between the communication device and the antenna and the positional relationship between these and the outboard motor can be determined in advance. Therefore, it is possible to confirm and take measures in advance for interference between the outboard motor including the engine, the communication device, and the antenna, and malfunctions. Further, since the communication device and the antenna are accommodated in the engine cover, it can be protected from being exposed to water and the appearance is also good.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Can withstand severe vibrations of outboard motors.
{Circle around (2)} Since the control device, the wireless communication device, and the antenna can be arranged close to each other in the outboard motor to shorten each other's wiring route, noise on the wiring route is reduced.
(3) Since the positional relationship with the engine, which is likely to be a noise source, is fixed, it is possible to investigate the influence of noise in advance and take countermeasures before installing the engine on a ship.
(4) Since the antenna is arranged along the surface of the cover, it does not interfere with other components and the handleability is improved.
(5) Since the antenna is attached to the inner surface of the cover, the appearance is good and the antenna can be protected from a severe use environment involving moisture.
(6) Since the communication device and the antenna can be connected with the connector with the cover 12 removed, the outboard motor main body and the communication device and the combination of the cover and the antenna can be handled separately. Furthermore, since the wiring is set long with a margin, the difference in the vibration system between the communication device and the antenna can be absorbed. That is, one vibration hardly affects the other.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an engine cover showing an arrangement example of antennas.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the outboard motor according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the outboard motor according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a communication device mounted on an outboard motor.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an engine cover showing another arrangement example of antennas.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an engine cover showing still another arrangement example of antennas.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Outboard motor, 2 ... Engine, 12 ... Engine cover, 28 ... Communication unit, 32 ... Antenna, 33 ... Cable, 34 ... Connector

Claims (5)

A main body composed of a propulsion device and an internal combustion engine for driving the propulsion device, a control device that controls the operation of the internal combustion engine, and an operating state of the internal combustion engine that is connected to the control device and detected by the control device In an outboard motor having a wireless communication device that communicates with a station and a cover that detachably covers the internal combustion engine,
Accommodates in said cover in a state where the control device and the wireless communication device attached to the main body side,
An antenna of the wireless communication device attached to the outboard motor;
An outboard motor comprising a connector capable of attaching and detaching the wireless communication device and the antenna with the cover removed from the main body .   The outboard motor according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is fixed to a surface of the cover.   The outboard motor according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is disposed along a surface of the cover.   The outboard motor according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the cover is made of resin, and the antenna is attached to an inner surface of the cover.   The outboard motor according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a cable extending from the antenna to the wireless communication device is provided, and the cable is wired along the surface of the cover.

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