Briggs & Stratton, LLC

Other

John A Fiorenza

Richard A Dykstra

Steve Crouch

Joseph L Pfaff

Paul A Tharman

Patrick J Bruener

James A Louden

William H Reitman

Tim Vetta

Felix Belkin

Kenny J Stair

Wesley C Sodemann

Billy Brandenburg

Brandon Michael Batzler

Brian Todd Brunelli

Russell C Nordman

John B Gonnering

Deborah Cukjati

Scott Lee Wesenberg

Dave M Rose

Allen Jeske

Dave Schmitz

David Rose

Douglas Shears

The invention provides a hierarchically accessible monitoring system configured to be used with a standby generator, and a method of remotely accessing generator information from a standby generator. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system includes an interface unit configured to receive information from the standby generator and to communicate the generator information, and a remote data server in communication with the interface unit. The remote data server receives the generator information from the interface unit, stores the generator information, and controls access to the generator information based upon at least two hierarchical levels, each hierarchical level having different access privileges. The hierarchically accessible monitoring system also includes a user interface configured to display the generator information from the remote data server to at least one user. The user has access privileges to read the generator information based upon the user's assigned hierarchical level.

Power monitoring system

A pressure washer, connected to a water source by a hose, includes a frame, an engine supported by the frame and having a crankshaft, a pump driven by the engine, a wheel supported for rotation relative to the frame, an input configured to receive water from the hose and discharge the water against the wheel to cause the wheel to rotate, and a spring having a first end that is coupled to the crankshaft and a second end that is rotatable about an axis relative to the first end in response to rotation of the wheel to wind the spring. The wound spring is released to rotate the crankshaft to start the engine.

Engine starter assembly

An engine starter assembly, coupled to a rotatable member of an internal combustion engine, includes an accumulator device coupled to the rotatable member for storing energy, an input device impinged by a fluid stream, and a fluid input receiving the fluid stream and directing the fluid stream toward the input device. Energy from the fluid stream is stored in the accumulator device due to the impingement of the fluid stream on the input device. The stored energy in the accumulator device is thereafter released to rotate the rotatable member to start the engine.

A method for cooling a generator. The method includes drawing air into a first zone of a housing through a first air intake, drawing air through a controller air intake adjacent a generator controller, directing air from the first zone into a second zone past a separator, drawing air into the second zone from both the first zone and the controller air intake, and exhausting air from the second zone to the exterior of the generator.

Cooling system for a portable generator

A vehicle or equipment having a frame, a plurality of wheels, and an engine coupled to the frame. The engine includes a shaft. The vehicle or machine further comprising a first driving member coaxially coupled with the shaft, a first driven member driven in response to the first driving member, a transmission interconnecting the first driven member and at least one of the wheels, a second driving member coaxially coupled with the shaft, a second driven member driven in response to the second driving member, auxiliary equipment operable in response to the second driven member, and an alternator. The alternator includes a stator comprising a core and conductors disposed on the core, and a rotor coaxially coupled with the shaft. The rotor is operable to interact with the stator to produce electrical energy in the conductors.

Vehicle or lawn and garden maintenance equipment having a generator, and power takeoff assembly for a vehicle or lawn and garden maintenance equipment

Winding assemblies of electrical machines, such as electric motors, are provided which include a connector scheme having at least one conduit that is electrically coupled via a wave soldered connection directly to at least two windings which are not axially adjacent. The conduit can include a common connector and/or a phase connector. The connector scheme can additionally or alternatively include a power connector that is electrically coupled via wave soldering directly to a single winding, and adapted to be electrically coupled to a power source. The winding assemblies of the invention can additionally provide a number of constructions which allow for minimally sized air gaps.

Winding assemblies for electrical machines

A motor includes a shaft, at least one bearing, a rotor, a stator, and a brush carrier. The bearing is located adjacent to the shaft. The rotor is interconnected to the shaft and magnetically interacts with the stator. The brush carrier is releasably interconnected to the rotor and/or stator such that the brush carrier can mechanically disconnect from the rotor and/or stator without disturbing a bearing and other motor elements. By disconnecting the brush carrier from an endbell and viewing the commutator surfaces through an endbell aperture, the commutator surfaces of the motor are inspected. Since more than one winding portion of the armature can act as a commutating surface, motor assembly is simplified and the motor has a long useful life. A motor including more than one brush carrier is also provided. Each brush carrier is releasably interconnected to the rotor and/or stator such that either brush carrier can be mechanically disconnected from the rotor and/or stator without disturbing other motor elements.

Direct current motor

The improved battery-powered lawnmower includes a safety key that is automatically removed when the removable battery is removed, while at the same time blocking the battery recharger receptacle. The lawnmower also includes a control circuit that shuts off the lawnmower upon the occurrence of one or more of several predetermined conditions, including low battery voltage, the encountering of heavy grass for a period of 3 seconds or more, and high motor current that may occur when the cutting blade is jammed. The cutting blade is designed to move through any debris accumulated between the blade ends and the housing sidewall without sacrificing the lift for needed cutting and mulching. The invention also includes a unique height adjustment assembly for adjusting the height of the chassis, a handle attachment that allows the handle to be positively tightened to the lawnmower chassis, and a telescoping groove for the battery's quick connect/disconnect terminals.

Battery-powered lawn cutting system

The device automatically determines whether a load is being applied to the engine, and outputs a change signal that is used to change one or more engine operating parameters accordingly, such as engine speed, engine timing, or fuel flow. The load is sensed without using a manifold pressure or throttle plate position sensor, thereby reducing the cost of the system. The load is sensed by determining a period of a first crankshaft revolution, determining a period of the successive second crankshaft revolution, and computing a difference value that is a function of the difference between the first and second periods. Since the difference value is proportional to engine load, the difference values may be compared with a reference value to determine whether a load is being applied to the engine. The reference value may be preset, may be manually determined by the operator, or may be learned by the system's software. When the learning feature is used, the system is automatically mapped to the particular engine on which it is used.

Electronic engine load and revolution sensing device

The modular, automatic idle down system is plugged in series between the 120 VAC output connector of a generator and the input plug of the load device. One prong of the load's input plug may be received directly in a load sensor, such as a Hall effect sensor. The self-contained modular unit is connectable to the mechanical or electronic governor of the generator's engine. The idling system provides two time delays which delay the idling down of the engine upon initial starting and when the load is removed from the generator. When the sensed load current falls below a threshold value, the idling system generates an output signal, after the predetermined time delays, to override the engine's mechanical or electronic governor. The speed-of the engine is thereby reduced from the governed speed to an idle speed.

Modular automatic speed changing system

The electronic governor has a fast response time by eliminating the return spring of prior art governors. Instead, a magnetic field generated either by permanent magnets or by a second actuator coil is used to oppose the force created by a first actuator coil. The current to the first actuator coil is pulse width modulated. If a second coil is used instead of permanent magnets, the current to the second coil may be either pulse width modulated or may be a constant DC signal. An actuator having a low inertia rotor and a stationary core is preferred to further reduce the response time.

Electronic governor with fast response time

The starting system allows small engines having electronic governors to be powered by an alternator, thereby eliminating the need for a battery or a manually-operated start lever. The starting system causes the throttle to be in the Wide Open Throttle position at engine starting speeds. The starting system disengages at engine running speeds above about 1200 RPM. The starting system includes a pivotable lever arm, a spring that biases the lever arm in a first direction, and a centrifugally-responsive flyweight assembly that moves the lever arm in the opposite direction. At engine starting speeds, the spring force is greater than the opposing force applied by the flyweight assembly, causing the lever arm to engage a governor arm and to open the throttle to the Wide Open Throttle position. At engine running speeds, the opposing force increases and overcomes the spring force. At that point, the lever arm disengages from the governor arm, allowing the governor to position the throttle without interference from the starting system.

Starting system for internal combustion engines

The safety interlock prevents the starting of a device if one or more safety switches is not first cycled through its operational cycle. Since the safety switches must be operated before starting, the device will not operate if the switches have been tampered with or have failed. The interlock includes a digital memory unit connected to the switch which stores information indicative of the cycling of the switch. The output of the memory unit is interconnected with the starting system of the device such that starting is prevented unless the stored information indicates that each switch has been cycled. In a preferrred embodiment the interlock includes a microprocessor.

Safety interlock for a device

The idling system reduces the speed of an engine having a speed governor that is used to power an air compressor, a pressure washer, or another load device which outputs pressurized gases or fluids. The idling system includes a pressure or flow switch which is activated in response to a sensed pressure or fluid flow respectively in the load device. When the switch is activated, an electromagnet is energized through a diode rectifier by the engine alternator or other power source. The energizing of the electromagnet creates a magnetic field that attracts a governor lever arm on the engine's mechanical speed governor. Since the lever arm is interconnected with the throttle plate of the engine carburetor, movement of the lever arm rotates the throttle plate to reduce the engine speed to an idle speed.

Growing community of inventors

Slinger, WI, United States of America

John A Fiorenza