Onan Corporation

Paul F Huffman

Thomas A Schmidt

David A Overland

Ron L Bardell

Paige R Nelson

An enclosed generator set (10) is provided having an engine (12) and a generator (14). An air cleaner preheater assembly (60) is in airflow communication with a source of ambient air and a source of preheated air to supply the engine (12) with air for use in the combustion process. The air cleaner preheater assembly (60) attaches to a bulkhead (28) which defines an ambient air compartment (36) and a preheated air compartment (38) on the generator set (10). An ambient air passage (68) and a preheated air passage (72) pass through a wall of air cleaner preheater assembly (60). A door (82) is pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation (86) perpendicular to a major surface of the door. The door (82) is variably positioned by a bimetal spring (110) between a first position wherein preheated airflow into the air cleaner preheater assembly (60) is at a maximum and a second position wherein ambient airflow into the air cleaner preheater assembly is at a maximum.

Automatic carburetor air preheat system

An automatic choke apparatus is provided having a choke plate mounted for variable rotation in a carburetor between a closed position and an open position wherein a flow of air entering the carburetor is substantially obstructed in the closed position compared to the open position whereby the flow of fuel entering the engine is increased when in the closed position. The choke plate has a choke shaft arm for rotatably moving the choke plate. The automatic choke apparatus has a throttle plate downstream from the choke plate mounted for variable rotation in the carburetor between an open position wherein a flow of air and fuel mixture exiting the carburetor is at a maximum and a closed position wherein the flow of air and fuel mixture exiting the carburetor is at a minimum. The throttle plate has a throttle lever for rotatably miving the throttle plate. The throttle lever is engagable with the choke shaft arm as the throttle plate is rotated toward the closed position to rotatably move the choke plate toward the open position. The automatic choke apparatus includes engine speed governing structure for moving the throttle plate to limit the maximum speed of the engine. The engine speed governing structure urges the throttle plate toward the closed position after the engine is started such that the throttle lever engages the choke shaft arm to move the choke plate toward the open position.

Automatic choke apparatus and method

An engine/governor friction damper mechanism provides for a method of reducing hunting and searching in a governor controlled engine/generator set. The preferred method comprises a modification in a conventional arrangement utilizing a governor rod and pivotal connection with a crank arm on a throttle control assembly. Friction to pivotal movement of the governor rod with respect to the crank arm is provided by means of a spring-loaded friction washer member arrangement.

Engine governor friction damper and method

A method of damping governor over compensation and searching is an engine/generator set comprises the provision of an eddy current damper in association with a governor member of the system. The preferred eddy current damper comprises a governor arm having an eddy current plate on one end thereof, the plate being oriented to move through a magnetic field generated by an industrial magnet mounted on the engine/generator set. As the governor arm moves in response to changes in engine speed the eddy current plate is passed through the magnetic field, the generated eddy current causing resistance to motion and a damping effect. Through a conventional linkage mechanism, the damping effect is translated to control of the engine throttle. As a result, over-compensation is generally reduced and/or searching is inhibited.

Growing community of inventors

Blaine, MN, United States of America

Paul F Huffman