Patents Assigned to Briggs and Stratton Corporation
  • Publication number: 20210281146
    Abstract: An electric powerhead includes a housing including a mounting plate including a shaft opening and a plurality of first openings arranged in a standard horizontal shaft engine mounting pattern. The housing also includes a base including a plurality of second openings arranged in a standard horizontal shaft engine support pattern. The electric powerhead further includes an electric motor positioned within the housing, where the electric motor includes an output shaft that extends through the shaft opening of the mounting plate and where the output shaft is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: David Schulenberg
  • Publication number: 20210127572
    Abstract: An electric powerhead includes a housing including a mounting assembly, wherein the mounting assembly includes a mounting plate and a mounting insert. The mounting plate includes a shaft opening and a plurality of first openings arranged in a standard vertical shaft engine mounting pattern and the mounting insert includes a plurality of second openings aligned with the plurality of first openings. The electric powerhead further includes an electric motor positioned within the housing, wherein the electric motor includes an output shaft that extends through the shaft opening of the mounting assembly and wherein the output shaft is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Meyer, Christy Matuszewski, Jim Nommensen
  • Publication number: 20210116911
    Abstract: A robotic lawn mower includes a first wheel driven by a first electric wheel motor, a second wheel driven by a second electric wheel motor, a cutting implement driven by an electric cutting implement motor, a power system for powering the electric wheel motors and the electric cutting implement motor, and a controller configured to control operation of the electric wheel motors and the electric cutting implement motor to autonomously mow a yard. The power system includes multiple removable rechargeable battery modules and multiple receptacles, each receptacle configured to receive one of the battery modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert PJEVACH
  • Publication number: 20210087995
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine block including a cylinder, a piston positioned within the cylinder and configured to reciprocate in the cylinder, an electronic throttle control system including a motor and a throttle plate, an air flow sensor configured to detect an air mass flow rate, a fuel system for supplying a controlled amount of fuel to the cylinder including a fuel injector, and an engine control unit coupled to the fuel system and the electronic throttle control system. The engine control unit is configured to determine engine speed data including a current engine speed, a previous engine speed, and a desired engine speed, control a fuel injection duration based on the engine speed data, determine air-fuel ratio data comprising a current air-fuel ratio and a desired air-fuel ratio, and control a throttle plate position based on the air-fuel ratio data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: David PROCKNOW, Jacob ZUEHL
  • Publication number: 20210059116
    Abstract: A mower includes a pair of drive wheels, a pairs of non-drive wheels, and a mower deck. The mower deck includes a central deck housing, a first blade housing, a second blade housing, and an actuator coupled to the central deck housing and at least one of the first blade housing and the second blade housing. The first blade housing is pivotally coupled to a first side of the central deck housing so as to be angularly displaceable relative to the central deck housing, the second blade housing is pivotally coupled to a second side of the central deck housing so as to be angularly displaceable relative to the central deck housing. The actuator is configured to selectively raise and lower at least one of the first blade housing and the second blade housing relative to the central deck housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Laurin, Mark J. Melone, E. Mark Lynch
  • Publication number: 20210054817
    Abstract: A battery pack for use in providing starting power for a starter motor of an internal combustion engine and to supply power to one or more auxiliary loads. The battery pack includes an outer housing that encloses a plurality of battery cells. A control unit is positioned within the outer housing and is connected to at least a starter switching element and an auxiliary switching element. The control unit controls the position of both the starter switching element and the auxiliary switching element to selectively connect the battery cells to the starter motor and the auxiliary loads. The battery pack further includes an ignition input terminal that is connected to the ignition circuit of the internal combustion engine such that the control unit can monitor the operational status of the internal combustion engine. The control unit can selectively ground the ignition coil of the ignition circuit to enable and/or terminate operation of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert J. KOENEN, Jason A. HANSEN, Andrew PASKOV
  • Publication number: 20210054816
    Abstract: A starting circuit for providing electric power to a starter motor of an internal combustion engine of outdoor power equipment is shown and described. The starting circuit includes a battery receptacle mounted on the outdoor power equipment and a starter battery that is received within the battery receptacle. The starter battery includes a battery controller and a series of battery cells contained within an outer housing. A plurality of high current pins provide electric power to the starter motor and auxiliary devices on the tractor/mower while a plurality of low current pins receives signals from the tractor/mower related to operation of the tractor/mower. A wireless transceiver is used to communicate information from the battery controller to a wireless device. The wireless device displays the received information to a user. The battery receptacle can be configured to include a dipstick receiver that receives an oil dipstick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyle Michael HARVEY, Bryan Keith DANDRIDGE
  • Publication number: 20200385071
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses include a walk behind lawn mower including a frame including a handle, an engine mounted to the frame, a transmission coupling the engine to a plurality of wheels, and a user interface coupled to the transmission and including a static link rigidly coupled to the handle, a forward link coupled to a forward lever and to the static link, a reverse link coupled to a reverse lever and to the static link, and a joining link coupled between the forward link and the reverse link. The user interface is actuatable between a forward configuration and a reverse configuration using a single hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Laurin, Derrick Camenga, James Marshall, Joe Ferris, Tom Burkard
  • Publication number: 20200333402
    Abstract: A power unit operable to power equipment, the power unit including an electric motor, multiple removable and rechargeable battery packs, multiple switching elements, and a control unit. Each of the switching elements is connected between one of the battery packs and the electric motor and operate in one of an open position or a closed position. The control unit is operable to manage the position of the switching elements. The control unit is configured to determine whether one or more battery packs are supplying power for the electric motor, measure a voltage of each of the battery packs, determine whether each of the voltage measurements is within a predetermined value to each other, calculate a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal for each of the switching elements, assign each PWM signal to one of the switching elements, and apply each of the PWM signals to the assigned switching element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Numan Mohammad JAN
  • Publication number: 20200300206
    Abstract: An apparatus including an internal combustion engine, an electric motor configured to start the internal combustion engine, a brake mechanism, a release mechanism movable to a first position to release the brake mechanism, a switch actuated by the release mechanism, a pull rope, a sensor configured to output a signal based on the pull rope being actuated, and a control module coupled to the switch and the sensor. The switch is configured to provide a switch input to the control module when the release mechanism is in the first position. The sensor is configured to provide a sensor input to the control module when the pull rope is actuated. The control module activates the electric motor in response to the switch input and the sensor input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey ZEILER, Robert KOENEN, Jason HANSEN
  • Publication number: 20200281117
    Abstract: A multi-configurable mower deck for use with a lawnmower, the mower deck including a top surface, a front leading edge, at least one side wall extending from the top surface, and at least one partial rear wall extending from the top surface. The mower deck includes both a side-discharge opening formed on one side of the mower deck and a rear-discharge opening formed through the at least one partial rear wall. Additionally, the mower deck may include a selectively removable secondary front baffle configured to block the flow of clippings through the side-discharge opening and direct the flow of clippings toward the rear-discharge opening. The mower deck may also include at least one selectively removable rear baffle, wherein the at least one selectively removable rear baffle is configured to at least partially block the rear-discharge opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Smeets
  • Publication number: 20200267895
    Abstract: A zero turn radius mower including a pair of rear drive wheels, a mowing deck including multiple cutting blades, an electric storage battery, a pair of electric wheel motors each operable to rotate one of the rear drive wheels, multiple electric blade motors each operable to rotate one of the multiple cutting blades, and a master controller in communication with each of the pair of wheel motors and the multiple blade motors. The master controller is operable to control a rotational speed of each of the pair of wheel motors and the multiple blade motors. The master controller is operable to stop rotation of the cutting blades when the wheel motors are operating below a threshold speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert J. Koenen
  • Publication number: 20200267883
    Abstract: A stand-on aerator including a chassis, a pair of first wheels coupled to the chassis, wherein the first wheels are operable as drive wheels, a pair of second wheels coupled to the chassis, and an operator platform extending from a rear portion of the chassis. The stand-on aerator also has an aerator assembly coupled to the chassis, wherein the aerator assembly includes a plurality of reciprocating tines capable of extending from and retracting into the aerator assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyle Harvey, Thomas Burkard, Peter Lucier, Stephen Longmeyer
  • Publication number: 20200253118
    Abstract: An outdoor power equipment unit includes a front wheel independent suspension system. The front wheel independent suspension system includes a frame, a first front wheel assembly, a second front wheel assembly, a first laterally-extending suspension arm pair, and a second laterally-extending suspension arm pair. The first laterally-extending suspension arm pair includes a first suspension arm and a second suspension arm, both coupled to the frame and the first front wheel assembly. The second laterally-extending suspension arm pair includes a third suspension arm and a fourth suspension arm, both coupled to the frame and the second front wheel assembly. Both the first suspension arm pair and the second suspension arm pair are configured to independently pivot about the frame such that each of the first front wheel assembly and the second front wheel assembly are vertically displaceable relative to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Krajewski, Robert S. Laurin, E. Mark Lynch
  • Publication number: 20200256295
    Abstract: A fuel delivery injector includes a housing, an inlet port fluidly coupled to a cavity to direct fuel vapor and liquid fuel into the cavity, and an outlet port fluidly coupled to the cavity to direct fuel vapor and liquid fuel out of the cavity. A magnetic assembly is fixedly positioned within the cavity, and a pumping assembly includes a bobbin and a piston. A return spring is coupled to the pumping assembly to bias the pumping assembly to a home position. A valve is positioned within the piston and is movable between an open position and a closed position. The liquid fuel entering the housing through the inlet port flows from the inlet port to the cavity and fuel vapor entering the housing through the inlet port is directed through a conduit to the outlet port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Pitcel, David W. Procknow, Jacob Zuehl, David A. Kratz
  • Publication number: 20200253360
    Abstract: A backpack system for use with a power tool, the system including a harness system configured to extend at least over a user's shoulders, and a carrier portion configured to be coupled to the harness system. At least one battery pack is housed within the carrier portion, and at least one electrical connector is coupled to the at least one battery pack, with the at least one battery pack being configured to provide power to the power tool. The carrier portion may further include at least one opening formed therein to allow the passage of air at least partially through the carrier portion. The power tool may be a string trimmer or a blower. Additionally, one or more carrier portions may be recharged in a recharging station which is configured to allow for hands-free connection of a carrier portion to a user's harness system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryan HAHN, Warren CORRADO, Kyle HARVEY, Matthew ZURAWSKI, Jacob SCHMALZ, Joseph GIACALONE
  • Patent number: 10724406
    Abstract: An engine assembly includes an air-cooled engine and an external oil reservoir. The engine includes a vertically-oriented crankshaft a crankcase cover having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the front portion of the crankcase cover and the cylinder head are located forward of a vertical plane that includes the crankshaft axis, a return pump housing formed in the exterior of the crankcase cover, a return pump positioned in the return pump housing, and a return pump inlet formed through the crankcase cover, wherein the return pump inlet is located in the front portion of the crankcase cover and the return pump inlet is located closer to the camshaft than to the crankshaft. The external oil reservoir includes an oil tank and an oil filter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Adam J. Hellman, John Schneiker, Tim Kwiatkowski, Casey Groh, Robert Price, Ryan Sullivan, Gary Johnson
  • Patent number: D891364
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Gilpatrick, Ryan Thomas Hahn, Stephen James Ryczek, Steven John Weber
  • Patent number: D896843
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Carl T. Tiefenthaler
  • Patent number: D896945
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Steven G. Gleixner, Robert S. Johnson