Briggs & Stratton, LLC

Other

Richard A Dykstra

Robert K Mitchell

Gary J Gracyalny

Paul A Tharman

John D Santi

John A Fiorenza

Art Poehlman

John Feldner

Aaron Jerabek

Steven A Dethloff

Dick Seilenbinder

Charles Brown

Stanely Filipak

Joseph L Pfaff

Patrick J Bruener

William H Reitman

Stanley Filipak

David W Procknow

Charles Hardy Ketelhohn

Douglas G Janisch

Scott Lee Wesenberg

John Garthwaite

Douglas Shears

A fluid level switch for a machine having a fluid reservoir adapted to contain a fluid at an acceptable level. The fluid level switch includes a mounting plate, a float housing, and a float assembly positioned within the float housing. The mounting plate retains first and second contacts. The float housing is configured to receive fluid from the fluid reservoir and the float assembly is movable in response to the level of fluid in the float housing. The float assembly includes a contact member electrically connecting the first and second contacts when the level of the fluid is below the acceptable level. The contact member is coupled to the float for movement with the float and for movement relative to the float.

Fluid level switch

A stabilizer system creates a temporary droop to stabilize a governor for an internal combustion engine and reduce permanent droop and hunting of the engine. The governor adjusts the position of a throttle in response to engine speed to achieve a desired engine speed. The stabilizer system temporarily applies a force on the governor that initially resists sudden movement of the governor arm, and causes a temporary speed droop. The initial resistance of the stabilizer system helps prevent the governor from overshooting the desired speed and hunting. The temporary droop is then removed to permit the governor to achieve the desired speed to help prevent permanent droop.

Governor stabilizer

A combination speed limiter and transmission interlock system for an engine-transmission power train that includes an internal combustion engine and a transmission, the power train of the type used to power outboard engines and the like. The system utilizes fewer connections, is less expensive, is expected to be more reliable, utilizes a single housing, is easier to manufacture, and uses fewer components than a power train that utilizes separate speed limiter and transmission interlock modules.

Combination speed limiter and transmission interlock system

An engine starting and stopping device for an internal combustion engine includes an energy storing mechanism having at least one elastic member such as a spring, an input element engageable with the elastic member and movable during engine coast down to load the elastic member, and an output element that is movable in response to the energy storing mechanism. The output element is movable in response to the energy storing mechanism as the elastic member unloads from the loaded state, to thereby move a rotatable member (i.e., a crankshaft and/or flywheel) of the engine during starting of the engine. An input control device is also provided for positioning the input element into engagement with the rotatable member of the engine such that rotation of the rotatable member moves the input element to load the elastic member during engine coast down and also to brake the engine.

Starting and stopping device for internal combustion engine

An internal combustion engine includes an engine housing, a crankshaft supported within the engine housing for rotation with respect to the engine housing, and a flywheel fixedly mounted to the crankshaft and rotatable with the crankshaft in a starting direction to start the engine. A coil spring has an outer end fixedly interconnected with respect to the engine housing, and an inner end. A unidirectional clutch has a portion connected to the inner end of the spring. The unidirectional clutch is characterized by an interference condition in which the unidirectional clutch couples the inner end of the spring to the flywheel such that the flywheel and crankshaft may be rotated in the starting direction in response to unloading of the spring. The unidirectional clutch is also characterized by a non-interference condition in which the inner end of the spring is uncoupled from the flywheel. An input assembly is interconnected with the spring and selectively movable into contact with flywheel to load the spring in response to rotation of the flywheel. A locking mechanism selectively prevents the spring from unloading, and at least one manual actuator is actuable to disengage the locking mechanism from the spring to enable unloading of the spring.

An internal combustion engine includes an engine housing and a crankshaft supported for rotation within the engine housing and rotatable in a starting direction to start said engine. At least one cup is fixedly mounted to the crankshaft for rotation therewith. A starter shaft is supported by the engine housing for rotation. A spring housing includes a circumferential flange that defines an annular track with the at least one cup, and a spring is housed within the spring housing. The spring has a first end interconnected with the spring housing and a second end interconnected with the engine housing. A friction roller is movable into the annular track and into engagement with both of the circumferential flange and the at least one cup to cause rotation of the spring housing and loading of the spring in response to rotation of the crankshaft. A unidirectional clutch is interconnected between the spring housing and the starter shaft, the unidirectional clutch causing rotation of the starter shaft in a starting direction in response to unloading of the spring, but not causing rotation of the starter shaft in a direction opposite the starting direction. At least one dog is interconnected with the starter shaft to engage the at least one cup in response to rotation of the starter shaft in the starting direction to thereby causes rotation of the crankshaft in the starting direction.

An engine starting device for an internal combustion engine, includes an energy storing mechanism including at least one elastic member, an input element engageable with the elastic member and movable into contact with a rotatable engine member of an engine to load the elastic member, an output element that is movable in response to unloading of the elastic member, at least one manual actuator to enable unloading of the elastic member, a locking mechanism engageable with the energy storing mechanism to prevent the elastic member from unloading from a loaded state, a sliding member, a cam member mounted to the sliding member, a pivot link pivotably mounted to the sliding member, and a key device coupled to the pivot link. In operation, rotation of the key device in a locking direction causes the pivot link to move the sliding member, thereby causing the cam member to engage the locking mechanism when the locking mechanism is positioned in engagement with the energy storing mechanism. The key thus locks the locking member to resist disengagement of the locking mechanism from the energy storing mechanism.

The inexpensive sensor detects a low oil or no oil condition in an internal combustion engine and shuts down the engine. The sensor includes two inductors having different resistances disposed in a sensing bridge. The inductors are heated by a steady low voltage. A periodic higher voltage is applied to the inductors by means of a power winding disposed on the same frame as the ignition coil. When at least one of the inductors is disposed in air and not in oil, an imbalance is created in the sensing circuit that is used to short out the ignition primary. Alternatively, the sensor can be used to provide a visual or audible indication of a low oil level without stopping the engine.

Liquid level sensor for internal combustion engine

A spark prevention apparatus during the exhaust stroke of a four-stroke-cycle internal combustion engine is claimed. A valve operating assembly operates an intake or an exhaust valve. A switch is electrically connected to a primary winding of the engine and actuated by the valve operating assembly such that either the primary winding is electrically connected to ground during the exhaust stroke or the primary winding is electrically connected to an energy storage device during the exhaust stroke.

Spark blanking apparatus for an internal combustion engine

An automatic choke for a small internal combustion engine uses an air vane responsive to an air flow created by a radial fan to position the choke valve during engine starting. A return spring or gravity may be used to reset the automatic choke after the engine has been stopped. The automatic choke includes a thermally-responsive device that keeps the choke at least partially open during hot restarts of the engine.

Automatic air inlet control system for an engine

An engine speed limiter for an internal combustion engine having an ignition primary winding that outputs an ignition pulse and fires a spark plug in response to the ignition pulse is disclosed. An electrical storage device receives electrical energy from the ignition primary winding. A control circuit receives electrical energy from the electrical storage device and generates a trigger signal. The potential of the received electrical energy of the controller is limited to a predetermined value by the controller. A switching mechanism is responsive to the trigger signal and shorts the ignition pulse, thereby preventing the spark plug from firing.

Engine speed limiter

A control system for an engine low oil sensor prevents engine starting if the oil level is below a predetermined level, but thereafter enables the engine to run uninterrupted even if the oil level becomes low during engine operation. After the engine is shut off for any reason, the control system resets so that the low oil switch is operable during the next attempted restart of the engine. The control system also includes a visual or audible indicator that indicates when engine starting is prevented due to a low oil condition.

Control system for engine lubricant level sensor

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.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Grove, WI, United States of America

Richard A Dykstra