A hydraulic steering system for vehicles includes a steering control member; a hydraulic pump provided with a rotatable driving shaft on which the control member is fitted; a hydraulic actuating cylinder connected with two ports of the pump alternately operating as delivery side and return side of the pump and mechanically connected with a direction changing member, which determines a change in the direction by modifying orientation via an actuating cylinder as a function of the supply of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder from the pump by the steering control member. The driving shaft is dynamically connected with an electric motor/transmission assembly, which is activated alternatively by generating a rotational force auxiliary to the movement manually exerted on the steering control member or opposing the manually exerted movement, or by driving to rotate the driving shaft of the pump in place of the manual action driving the steering control member.

A hydraulic steering system for vehicles includes a steering control member; a hydraulic pump provided with a rotatable driving shaft on which the control member is fitted; a hydraulic actuating cylinder connected with two ports of the pump alternately operating as delivery side and return side of the pump and mechanically connected with a direction changing member, which determines a change in the direction by modifying orientation via an actuating cylinder as a function of the supply of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder from the pump by the steering control member. The driving shaft is dynamically connected with an electric motor/transmission assembly, which is activated alternatively by generating a rotational force auxiliary to the movement manually exerted on the steering control member or opposing the manually exerted movement, or by driving to rotate the driving shaft of the pump in place of the manual action driving the steering control member.

A steering device includes: a flow passage forming member including a first flow passage connecting to a first chamber and a second flow passage connecting to a second chamber; a movable member movable relative to the flow passage forming member; a seal member configured to seal a space between the movable member and the flow passage forming member when the seal member is in contact with the movable member and the flow passage forming member; an operation part capable of rotating an outboard motor; and a resistance reducing part configured to reduce a flow resistance so that a fluid flows between the first and second flow passages even with a pressure generated in the first chamber or the second chamber due to an operation of the operation part by a load equal to or lower than a predetermined load, when sealing is not made by the seal member.

A steering device includes: a flow passage forming member including a first flow passage connecting to a first chamber and a second flow passage connecting to a second chamber; a movable member movable relative to the flow passage forming member; a seal member configured to seal a space between the movable member and the flow passage forming member when the seal member is in contact with the movable member and the flow passage forming member; an operation part capable of rotating an outboard motor; and a resistance reducing part configured to reduce a flow resistance so that a fluid flows between the first and second flow passages even with a pressure generated in the first chamber or the second chamber due to an operation of the operation part by a load equal to or lower than a predetermined load, when sealing is not made by the seal member.

A steering assembly for a hydraulic steering system is disclosed. The steering assembly includes a steering input device and an auxiliary drive assembly. The auxiliary drive assembly includes a lock valve body with one or more fluid passages that facilitates regulation of a fluid flow in response to an input from the steering input device. The lock valve body has a surface and a guide bore. Further, an electric pump is included that has an electric motor with a drive train unit. The electric pump is adapted to be mounted to the surface and the drive train unit is adapted to be positioned through the guide bore and operably coupled to the one or more fluid passages to regulate the fluid flow in the one or more fluid passages.

A hydraulic steering system for vehicles includes a steering control member; a hydraulic pump provided with a rotatable driving shaft on which the control member is fitted; a hydraulic actuating cylinder connected with two ports of the pump alternately operating as delivery side and return side of the pump and mechanically connected with a direction changing member, which determines a change in the direction by modifying orientation via an actuating cylinder as a function of the supply of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder from the pump by the steering control member. The driving shaft is dynamically connected with an electric motor/transmission assembly, which is activated alternatively by generating a rotational force auxiliary to the movement manually exerted on the steering control member or opposing the manually exerted movement, or by driving to rotate the driving shaft of the pump in place of the manual action driving the steering control member.

A hydraulic steering system for vehicles includes a steering control member; a hydraulic pump provided with a rotatable driving shaft on which the control member is fitted; a hydraulic actuating cylinder connected with two ports of the pump alternately operating as delivery side and return side of the pump and mechanically connected with a direction changing member, which determines a change in the direction by modifying orientation via an actuating cylinder as a function of the supply of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder from the pump by the steering control member. The driving shaft is dynamically connected with an electric motor/transmission assembly, which is activated alternatively by generating a rotational force auxiliary to the movement manually exerted on the steering control member or opposing the manually exerted movement, or by driving to rotate the driving shaft of the pump in place of the manual action driving the steering control member.

A steering assembly for a hydraulic steering system is disclosed. The steering assembly includes a steering input device and an auxiliary drive assembly. The auxiliary drive assembly includes a lock valve body with one or more fluid passages that facilitates regulation of a fluid flow in response to an input from the steering input device. The lock valve body has a surface and a guide bore. Further, an electric pump is included that has an electric motor with a drive train unit. The electric pump is adapted to be mounted to the surface and the drive train unit is adapted to be positioned through the guide bore and operably coupled to the one or more fluid passages to regulate the fluid flow in the one or more fluid passages.

The invention provides a device which can reduce the drag and assist the steering of the ship, mainly to set up a 3-way pipe in the bow where is below the water level. The 3-way pipe leads to three openings at the stem, the port side and the starboard side respectively. At least one control valve (or deflector) can be provided in the 3-way piping system. The valve (or deflector) can be controlled from the bridge, with a diversion device. When the ship sails forward, water flows into the 3-way pipe from the forward pipe, distributed to both side pipes and then outflow, so that it can reduce the pressure drag to the stem, improve the ship's speed and save bunker. When the valve (or deflector) is set as neutral, the water will be distributed evenly to both side pipes, which will not affect the ship's heading. When the valve (or deflector) deflects more water to either side's pipe, the ship will turn to the opposite side.

A steering control system for a watercraft includes a device locking a steering tiller, which can be activated or deactivated for maintaining the tiller in, or moving it from, a predetermined angular position. The locking device includes a hydraulic cylinder having a rod fastened to the transom of the watercraft and a cylindrical body movable along the rod and connected to a steering arm of the motor or of the rudder member. A closed circuit, opened or closed by a valve, flows oil between the two chambers of the hydraulic cylinder and the locking device can be activated or deactivated by an actuator that opens or closes the valve. An interposition element between the steering tiller and a watercraft direction changing member is pivotably articulated to the tiller, and a member transforms the pivoting movement of the tiller relative to the interposition element into commands actuating the valve.