Champion Power Equipment, Inc.

Champion Engine Technology, LLC

Hiroaki Sato

Mark J Sarder

Leigh A Jenison

Russell J Dopke

James J Dehn

Aleko D Sotiriades

Kendall J Collie

Mark Kastner

Zhikun Zhong

A standby generator includes an alternator to produce electricity for distribution to an electrical system, and an air-cooled internal combustion engine driving the alternator. The air-cooled internal combustion engine includes one or more cylinders, one or more spark plugs each configured to initiate combustion in a corresponding cylinder, and one or more ignition coils each coupled to a respective spark plug of the one or more spark plugs to provide a voltage to the respective spark plug. The standby generator also includes a battery system electrically coupled to the one or more ignition coils to provide power thereto, and a digital ignition module wiring the battery system to each of the one or more ignition coils to control operation of the one or more spark plugs.

Electronic ignition system for a generator engine

A control system for a standby generator includes a control box mountable in a standby generator enclosure, a control panel, one or more linkage mechanisms coupling the control panel to the control box such that the control panel is selectively openable to provide access into the control box, and one or more generator control components mounted in the control box and operated by the control panel.

Standby generator control and access panel

A standby generator includes an internal combustion engine, an alternator driven by the internal combustion engine to produce electrical power for distribution from the standby generator, and an adaptor component comprising a first end coupled to the engine and a second end spaced apart from the first end and coupled to the alternator. The adaptor component may be positioned such that the internal combustion engine is on a first side thereof and the alternator is on a second side thereof. An air-cooled oil cooler may be integrated with or affixed to the adapter component and include cooling fins formed on an outer surface thereof, the air-cooled oil cooler fluidly connected to the internal combustion engine to receive heated oil therefrom and return cooled oil thereto.

Double-sided oil cooler for use in a generator engine

An engine assembly is provided that includes an engine having a crankshaft that is caused to rotate response to a firing of the engine, a backplate affixed to the engine and comprising one or more air flow passages formed therethrough, and an engine cooling fan operatively coupled to the crankshaft so as to be rotated by the crankshaft, the engine cooling fan coupled to the crankshaft on a side of the backplate opposite the engine. The engine assembly also includes a fan cover mounted over the engine cooling fan and secured to the backplate, the fan cover including an opening through which an air flow is provided to the engine cooling. The backplate and the fan cover collectively form an air guide that directs a flow of cooling air generated by the engine cooling fan through the one or more air flow passages of the backplate and to the engine.

Backplate for engine-alternator coupling in standby generator

An oil cooler is disclosed that comprises a base plate including a recessed portion defined by an interior wall and an exterior wall and including an inlet port and an outlet port. The base plate further includes a divider wall positioned in the recessed portion and extending between the exterior wall and the interior wall to separate the inlet port and the outlet port, a plurality of protrusions arranged in the recessed portion to provide a plurality of tortuous flow paths through which oil flows from the inlet port to the outlet port, and a first set of cooling fins formed on a surface of the base plate opposite the recessed portion. A cover plate is attached to the base plate so as to cover the recessed portion and thereby define a cavity to circulate the oil therethrough, the cover plate including a second set of cooling fins formed thereon.

A standby generator includes a standby generator enclosure having a partition wall separating a first end from an opposite second end of the enclosure, one or more airflow openings, and a first air duct and a second air duct each coupled to at least one of the one or more airflow openings. An engine mounts in the enclosure toward the first end from the partition wall, and an alternator driven by the engine mounts in the enclosure toward the second end from the partition wall. The engine includes an engine cooling fan that faces the first end to drive engine cooling air received from the first air duct toward the first end, and the alternator includes an alternator cooling fan that faces the second end to drive alternator cooling air received from the second air duct toward the second end.

Standby generator air flow management system

A control system for a standby generator includes a control box mounted in a standby generator enclosure with a control panel coupled to the control box that is selectively openable to provide access into the control box. One or more fasteners may be mounted to the control panel to selectively hold the control panel closed, and one or more generator control components may be mounted in the control box and operated by the control panel.

A carbon monoxide shutoff system for an engine of a portable electrical generator has a carbon monoxide gas sensor, a microcontroller, and an output indicator. The carbon monoxide gas sensor generates an output electrical current proportional to a detected concentration of ambient carbon monoxide. The microcontroller has an input connected to the carbon monoxide gas sensor, and an output connected to an operational control of the engine. A deactivation signal generated by the microcontroller in response to detection of a deactivation condition is based upon the output electrical current from the carbon monoxide gas sensor matching predefined value and duration thresholds. The deactivation signal is operative to stop the engine.

Carbon monoxide shutoff system for electric generator

A standby generator includes a standby generator enclosure having one or more airflow openings, a first air duct and a second air duct each coupled to at least one of the one or more airflow openings, and an engine and an alternator driven by the engine mounted in the enclosure. An engine cooling fan is driven by the engine to force a first stream of cooling air from the first air duct through the engine in a direction opposite the alternator, and an alternator cooling fan is coupled to the alternator and driven by the engine to force a second stream of cooling air from the second air duct through the alternator in a direction opposite the engine.

A standby generator includes an air-cooled engine having a crankshaft, an alternator driven by the crankshaft to produce electrical power for distribution from the standby generator, and an engine cooling fan operatively coupled to the crankshaft on a side of the engine driving the alternator.

Standby generator engine-fan-alternator configuration

A standby generator having an engine with oil drain tube that facilitates removal of engine oil from the standby generator is disclosed. The standby generator includes an enclosure comprising a plurality of sidewalls, with an opening formed in one of the sidewalls, and an engine positioned within the enclosure. The engine further includes an oil drain and an oil drain tube having a first end coupled to the oil drain and a second end that opens and closes to selectively drain oil from the engine, the oil drain tube being positionable so as to extend out through the opening. The opening in the one of the sidewalls is lower than the oil drain, such that the oil drain tube is positioned with a downward angle when extending from the oil drain and out of the enclosure through the opening.

Oil drain system for a generator engine

A dual fuel engine includes an engine operable on a gaseous fuel and a liquid fuel and a switch to change operation of the engine between gaseous fuel and liquid fuel. The dual fuel engine also includes a carburetor attached to an intake of the engine to mix air and fuel and connect to a gaseous fuel source and a liquid fuel source. A liquid fuel cut-off attaches to the carburetor to interrupt liquid fuel upon actuation of the switch from liquid fuel to gaseous fuel.

Batteryless dual fuel engine with liquid fuel cut-off

An alternator adapter for a generator engine includes a main body defining an airflow chamber. The main body includes an airflow outlet in a first end of the main body, an engine shaft opening in a second end of the main body opposite the first end, and an airflow inlet between the first end and the second end. The alternator adaptor also includes an engine mount coupled to the first end of the main body around the airflow outlet and aligned with the engine shaft opening, and an alternator mount coupled to the second end of the main body around the engine shaft opening.

Growing community of inventors

Brookfield, WI, United States of America

Hiroaki Sato