Briggs & Stratton, LLC

Andrew Paskov

Robert J Koenen

Jason Andrew Hansen

Steven J Weber

Daniel Brueck

Joe Huebner

Jeffrey James Von Haden

A battery pack for use in providing starting power for a starter motor of an internal combustion engine and to supply power to one or more auxiliary loads. The battery pack includes an outer housing that encloses a plurality of battery cells. A control unit is positioned within the outer housing and is connected to at least a starter switching element and an auxiliary switching element. The control unit controls the position of both the starter switching element and the auxiliary switching element to selectively connect the battery cells to the starter motor and the auxiliary loads. The battery pack further includes an ignition input terminal that is connected to the ignition circuit of the internal combustion engine such that the control unit can monitor the operational status of the internal combustion engine. The control unit can selectively ground the ignition coil of the ignition circuit to enable and/or terminate operation of the internal combustion engine.

Battery connections for battery start of internal combustion engines

An ignition system for an internal combustion engine that utilizes a single primary coil and a single secondary coil to drive a pair of spark plugs. Current flowing in both a first direction and a second direction passes through the primary coil. The current flowing through the primary coil induces corresponding current in the secondary coil, which flows from the secondary coil to one of two spark plugs. Each spark plug is coupled to the secondary coil such that each of the two spark plugs receives current flowing only in a single direction. The current flowing through the ignition system can be from either a power source or created by the rotation of a flywheel having a series of magnet clusters.

Ignition system for internal combustion engine

A system and method for enhancing spark generation in an ignition coil of an internal combustion engine at low rotational speeds of the flywheel. The method and system monitor the rotational speed of the flywheel and, when the rotational speed of the flywheel is below a threshold rotational speed, the system and method supplies voltage pulses to the primary winding. The timing of the voltage pulses supplied to the primary winding are triggered off of voltage transitions in pulses induced in the primary winding upon rotation of the flywheel. Once the internal combustion engine has started, the switching device transitions into a second condition to disconnect the electrical storage device from the primary winding. The spark generation system of the present disclosure allows for starting of an internal combustion engine upon slower initial rotational speeds.

Ignition coil boost at low RPM

A system and method for enhancing spark generation in an ignition coil of an internal combustion engine at low rotational speeds of the flywheel. The method and system monitor the rotational speed of the flywheel and, when the rotational speed of the flywheel is below a threshold rotational speed, the system and method supplies voltage pulses to the primary winding. The timing of the voltage pulses supplied to the primary winding are triggered off of voltage transitions in pulses induced in the primary winding upon rotation of the flywheel. Once the internal combustion engine has started, the switching device transitions into a second condition to disconnect the electrical storage device from the primary winding. The spark generation system of the present disclosure allows for starting of an internal combustion engine upon slower rope pull starting or upon discharge of a starter battery.

A self-contained starting module for outdoor power equipment that has control circuit and a start button. The starting module includes internal control circuit that can be either microprocessor based or analog. The control circuit receives a start signal from a start button of the starting module. The control circuit monitors for the presence of an enable device and, upon activation of the start button and the presence of the enable device, provides electric power to the electric load of the power equipment. When the start button is depressed for longer than a minimum engagement period, the control circuit initiates operation of the engine. If the start button is pressed for less than the minimum engagement period, the control circuit activates the electric load for an auxiliary period without starting the engine. During engine operation, if the start button is depressed, the operation of the engine is terminated.

Push button starting system module for outdoor power equipment

A battery pack for use to provide starting power of an internal combustion engine. The battery pack includes an outer housing that encloses a plurality of individual battery cells organized into two battery groups. A charging circuit is contained within the outer housing, which allows the battery cells to be recharged without the need for a charging device other than the battery pack. The charging circuit allows the battery cells to be recharged from either a wall outlet or from the alternator of the internal combustion engine. The battery pack further includes a switching circuit that can configure the battery groups in either a parallel mode or a series mode. In the series mode, the output voltage of the battery pack is increased for starting a cold engine. In the parallel mode, the amount of current available from the battery pack is increased.

Lithium ion battery pack for outdoor power equipment

A tractor includes a prime mover, a driven implement selectively engaged with the prime mover, and a switch for selectively engaging and disengaging the driven implement with the prime mover. The switch has three positions including a disengaged position, a momentary position, and an engaged position located between the disengaged position and the momentary position. The prime mover can be started with the switch in the disengaged position. The prime mover can be started with the switch in the engaged position when the switch was previously moved to the momentary position before being moved to the engaged position, such that after operation of the prime mover is stopped, the prime mover can be restarted without changing the position of the switch.

Growing community of inventors

Brookfield, WI, United States of America

Andrew Paskov