Outboard motor raising/lowering device
Provided is an outboard motor raising and lowering apparatus that is capable of automatically changing the speed of raising/lowering of an outboard motor according to the status of the outboard motor. An outboard motor raising and lowering apparatus ( 1 ) includes: a first fluid passage that connects a pump ( 42 ) and a lower chamber(s) of one or more tilt cylinders ( 14 ); a second fluid passage that connects the first fluid passage and a lower chamber(s) of one or more trim cylinders ( 12 ); a switching valve ( 60 ) provided at the second fluid passage; and a control section ( 100 ) configured to control the switching valve ( 60 ) with reference to a watercraft status signal.
1. An outboard motor raising and lowering apparatus configured to raise and lower an outboard motor, the outboard motor raising and lowering apparatus comprising:
one or more tilt cylinders;
one or more trim cylinders;
a hydraulic pressure source;
a first fluid passage that connects the hydraulic pressure source and one or more lower chambers of the respective one or more tilt cylinders;
a second fluid passage that connects the first fluid passage and one or more lower chambers of the respective one or more trim cylinders;
a switching valve provided at the second fluid passage; and
a control section configured to control the switching valve with reference to a watercraft status signal,
the watercraft status signal being an analog signal,
the control section including
a first switching element that includes a base electrode arranged to receive the watercraft status signal, and
a second switching element that includes (i) a gate electrode arranged to receive a signal corresponding to emitter current from the first switching element and (ii) a source electrode connected to the switching valve.
2. The outboard motor raising and lowering apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the watercraft status signal is an engine signal indicative of a status of an engine of the outboard motor.
3. The outboard motor raising and lowering apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the engine signal is a signal indicative of an RPM of the engine.
4. The outboard motor raising and lowering apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control section is configured to place the switching valve into a closed state if the engine signal indicates that the engine is off.
5. The outboard motor raising and lowering apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the watercraft status signal is a signal indicative of whether or not a power transmission mechanism of the outboard motor is in a state that allows power transmission.
6. The outboard motor raising and lowering apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the control section is configured to place the switching valve into a closed state if the watercraft status signal indicates that the power transmission mechanism is not in the state that allows power transmission.