Champion Power Equipment, Inc.

Champion Engine Technology, LLC

Generac Corporation

Johnson Worldwide Associates, Inc.

Team Vision, Inc.

Mark J Sarder

Leigh A Jenison

James J Dehn

Hiroaki Sato

Aleko D Sotiriades

Russell J Dopke

Ian Schmit

Kendall J Collie

Gerald C Ruehlow

Robert D Kern

Herb Hoenisch

Scott J Collins

Mark Kastner

Zhikun Zhong

Craig A Fluegge

Graham W McLean

Frank Wedel

David R Voves

Jie Li

Chaoming Xu

Michael R Wheeley

William R Baumann

Defeng Chen

Steven J Knight

Shujuan Wang

Dorrance Noonan

Chris Despears

Leigh Jenison

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

A mechanical fuel lockout switch for a dual fuel engine includes a mechanical fuel valve actuatable between a first position and a second position to selectively control fuel flow to the dual fuel engine from a first fuel source through a first fuel line and a second fuel source through a second fuel line. The mechanical fuel lockout switch may also include a fuel lockout apparatus coupled to the mechanical fuel valve. The mechanical fuel valve may be configured to allow communication between the first fuel source and the dual fuel engine and prevent communication between the second fuel source and the dual fuel engine while in the first position, and prevent communication between the first fuel source and the dual fuel engine while in the second position.

Dual fuel lockout switch for generator engine

A fuel selector for use with a dual fuel generator includes a selector plate, a first fuel valve assembly positioned adjacent the selector plate and actuatable between an ON position and an OFF position to selectively control a first fuel flow to an engine of the dual fuel generator, and a second fuel valve assembly positioned adjacent the selector plate and actuatable between an ON position and an OFF position to selectively control a second fuel flow to the engine of the dual fuel generator. A selector switch coupled to the selector plate is linearly translatable from a first position to a second position, so as to enable positioning of only one of the first fuel valve assembly and the second fuel valve assembly in the ON position at a given time, such that the first and second fuel valve assemblies cannot be in the ON position concurrently.

Dual fuel selector switch

A generator and off-board fuel delivery system is disclosed. The generator is configured to operate on one or more fuels, including on a gaseous fuel supplied from a pressurized fuel source through a gaseous fuel line. A fuel regulator system is located off board the generator and is configured to regulate the gaseous fuel supplied from the pressurized fuel source in a first stage, with the gaseous fuel regulated down to a reduced pressure in the first stage. A second stage of the fuel regulator system regulates the reduced pressure gaseous fuel, with the reduced pressure gaseous fuel from the first stage regulated down to a desired pressure in the second stage for delivery through the gaseous fuel line to operate the generator.

Dual fuel generator with remote regulator

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

Off-board fuel regulator for generator engine

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.

Growing community of inventors

Waukesha, WI, United States of America

Mark J Sarder