MARINE POWER STEERING ACTUATOR SYSTEM

摘要

An hydraulic actuator assembly for a power steering ram of a marine inboard/outboard drive of the type where the ram is connected to a tiller ar m and has a spool valve mounted on the ram. The spool valve has a fastening tube which opens the spool valve when displaced in either direction to supply hydraulic fluid to the ram to move the tiller arm in the direction the fastening tube is displaced. The assembly includes an hydraulic actuator having a cylinder with an internal piston and a rod connected to the piston and sealingly extending from a first end of the cylinder. The rod has a distal end which connects to the tiller arm. The cylinder has a connector on a second end thereof. There is a mounting bracket extending generally radially from the cylinder which has a first end connected to the connector of the cylinder and a second end which is distal with respect to the cylinder. The second end ha s an aperture for connecting the bracket to the fastening tube of the spool valve . The actuator may have a stroke limiter for preventing excessive travel of the ra m including a passageway through the piston and a normally closed valve on the passageway. A rod extends slidably through the passageway and beyond the piston to open the valve before the piston reaches the end of the cylinder.