Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine block including a cylinder, a piston positioned within the cylinder and configured to reciprocate within the cylinder, a crankshaft driven by the piston, a fuel system for supplying an air-fuel mixture to the cylinder, a starter motor configured to initiate rotation of the crankshaft to start the engine, a cover having a vent opening, a blower housing located between the cover and the engine block for directing cooling air toward the engine block, wherein the blower housing comprises a receptacle electrically coupled to the starter motor, a fan configured to draw the cooling air into the blower housing through the vent opening in the cover to cool the engine block, and a rechargeable battery pack removably attached to the receptacle, wherein the rechargeable battery pack is configured to power the starter motor to start the engine.

Abstract: An air filter is provided for use with an internal combustion engine including an air intake conduit. The air filter includes a top, a bottom, and filter media extending between the top and the base of the bottom to filter incoming air. The top is closed to prevent air flow therethrough. The bottom includes an annular base having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter spaced apart from and surrounding the inner perimeter, an opening defined by the inner perimeter to deliver filtered air to the air intake conduit, a first tab portion extending outward away from the base, and a second tab portion extending outward away from the base.

Abstract: A portable generator is disclosed including a mounting arrangement for positioning a wireless communication device on a control panel of the portable generator. The mounting arrangement includes a mounting platform formed from a composite material where the mounting platform is secured to a rear surface of a front panel of the control panel assembly. The front panel includes a transmission cutout. The mounting platform includes a transmission window such that a wireless antenna of the wireless communication device can be aligned with the transmission cutout. The portable generator further includes a fuel sensing device that generates both a visual indication and an output signal indicative of the level of fuel in a fuel tank. The output signal can be transmitted by the wireless communication device to a remote location for remote fuel monitoring.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a transaxle drive system for ride-on equipment. The transaxle drive system can include a frame supporting at least one power source and at least two subframes, the at least one power source including at least one drive pulley. The system can also include transaxle assemblies driven by at least a portion of at least one belt from the at least one drive pulley. The transaxle assemblies can include a first transaxle assembly supported by a subframe, the first transaxle assembly coupled to the at least one drive pulley with at least one belt, and a second transaxle assembly supported by another subframe, the second transaxle assembly coupled by at least one belt to the at least one drive pulley. The transaxle assemblies can be independently pivoted with respect to each other, the frame, and the power source.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a transaxle drive system for ride-on equipment with a plurality of transaxle assemblies supported by a suspended subframe, and a frame supported on a pair of front wheels at one end that is coupled to and pivotably suspends the subframe. Some embodiments include a power source with a drive pulley supported by the frame at an opposite end. Some embodiments include a belt coupling the drive pulley to a driven pulley of the transaxle assemblies. In some embodiments, the plurality of transaxle assemblies can be driven from the drive pulley by at least a portion of the belt. Further, in some embodiments, the plurality of transaxle assemblies include a first and second transaxle assembly each coupled to a separate rear wheel. The first and second transaxle assemblies are suspended from the subframe, and can be pivoted together about the frame, and the at least one drive pulley.

Abstract: A combined heat and power system includes a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine, an air-cooled alternator, an air-to-water heat exchanger, and a coolant-to water heat exchanger. The liquid-cooled internal combustion engine includes a liquid cooling system configured to cool the engine with coolant thereby heating the coolant. The air-cooled alternator is configured to be driven by the internal combustion engine to produce electricity. The alternator includes an air cooling system configured to cool the alternator thereby heating air. The air-to-water heat exchanger is configured to place heated air and water in a heat exchange relationship to preheat the water and cool the air. The coolant-to-water heat exchanger is configured to place heated coolant and preheated water from the air-to-water heat exchanger in a heat exchange relationship to further heat the water and cool the coolant. The coolant-to-water heat exchanger provides heated water to the housing water outlet.

Abstract: A snowthrower includes an internal combustion engine and a starter battery pack that provides electrical power to operate an electric starter motor. The starter battery pack is received within a receptacle of the snowthrower and is selectively coupled to the starter motor to initiate operation of the internal combustion engine. The starter battery pack can further include a battery heating circuit that is operable to heat the starter battery pack above ambient temperatures to increase the current output of the starter battery pack. The battery heating circuit includes a controller that utilizes electrical power from the starter battery pack to heat the starter battery pack.

Abstract: An electric starting system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The starting system includes a rechargeable battery including two voltage output terminals and an enable terminal, a battery receiver including a battery receptacle configured to receive the rechargeable battery, two voltage output terminals, and an enable terminal. Each of the enable terminals is positioned remote from the related voltage output terminals. The voltage output terminals of the rechargeable battery and the battery receiver are configured to connect to complete a circuit between the rechargeable battery cell and the starter motor when the rechargeable battery is attached to the battery receptacle. The enable terminal of the rechargeable battery must be connected with the enable terminal of the battery receiver for the rechargeable battery to receive an enable signal to allow the rechargeable battery to provide power to the starter motor to start the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An engine includes a crankcase defining a crankcase space, a first shaft disposed at least partially within the crankcase and supported for rotation by the crankcase, and an oil pump coupled to the first shaft and operable to draw low pressure oil from the crankcase and discharge a flow of high pressure oil. A pressure relief path is positioned to selectively receive a portion of the flow of high pressure oil and a pressure relief assembly is coupled to the pressure relief path and is arranged to spray the portion of the high pressure flow that passes through the pressure relief passage against an interior surface of the crankcase.

Abstract: Front and rear independent suspension mechanisms accommodating an increased range of motion to better absorb shock originating at the wheels of a riding mower to insulate the operator and reduce stress on the mower chassis and other mechanical components. The front suspension can include a front axle with pivot pockets allowing 360 degree rotation of pivots engaged within the pockets, thereby providing a greater range of absorption of shock entering the front axle at varying angles. The rear suspension can include a vertically pivoting transmission platform, providing for controlled vertical motion in the transmission while the transmission is powered by an engine by way of a belt assembly.

Abstract: Outdoor power equipment includes an internal combustion engine including an electric motor, a battery receiving port, a rechargeable battery removably attached to the battery receiving port, wherein the rechargeable battery is configured to power the electric motor to start the engine, an implement driven by the internal combustion engine, a release mechanism movable to an engaged position to put the implement in a ready-to-run condition in which the implement is ready to be driven by the engine, a run sensor configured to detect the ready-to-run condition, a switch actuated by the release mechanism, and a control module coupled to the switch so that the switch provides a signal to the control module when the release mechanism is in the engaged position and the control module turns on the electric motor to start the engine in response to the signal from the switch and the run sensor detecting the ready-to-run condition.

Abstract: A standby generator includes an engine, an alternator, and an enclosure including a base and a number of walls extending from the base including a front wall, a rear wall, a left wall, and a right wall. The standby generator includes an intake opening configured to allow air to be drawn into the enclosure and an exhaust opening configured to allow heated air and exhaust gases to be expelled from the enclosure. The intake opening is provided on the rear wall and the exhaust opening is provided on the front wall.

Abstract: A snow thrower head comprises an impeller and an auger disposed within a housing. The impeller is to contact a surface to be cleared by the impeller. The impeller is rotatable within the housing about a first axis while the auger is rotatable within the housing about a second axis above and forward the first axis.

Abstract: A self-contained starting module for outdoor power equipment that has control circuit and a start button. The starting module includes internal control circuit that can be either microprocessor based or analog. The control circuit receives a start signal from a start button of the starting module. The control circuit monitors for the presence of an enable device and, upon activation of the start button and the presence of the enable device, provides electric power to the electric load of the power equipment. When the start button is depressed for longer than a minimum engagement period, the control circuit initiates operation of the engine. If the start button is pressed for less than the minimum engagement period, the control circuit activates the electric load for an auxiliary period without starting the engine. During engine operation, if the start button is depressed, the operation of the engine is terminated.

Abstract: A snowthrower includes an internal combustion engine and a starter battery pack that provides electrical power to operate an electric starter motor. The starter battery pack is received within a receptacle of the snowthrower and is selectively coupled to the starter motor to initiate operation of the internal combustion engine. The starter battery pack can further include a battery heating circuit that is operable to heat the starter battery pack above ambient temperatures to increase the current output of the starter battery pack. The battery heating circuit includes a controller that utilizes electrical power from the starter battery pack to heat the starter battery pack.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a suspension system coupled to a main frame of ride-on equipment including a subframe coupled to the main frame with a pivot including a pivot axis. Some embodiments include a transaxle assembly supported on the subframe coupled to a drive wheel, and a power source supported on the main frame coupled to the transaxle assembly. A rider can control the transaxle assembly with a compensated control linkage assembly that can compensate for movement of the subframe. Some embodiments include driven pulleys, idler pulleys and backside idler pulleys supported by the subframe coupled to the power source not supported by the subframe. In some embodiments, the pivot axis resides between the power source and the transaxle assembly. In some embodiments, the drive wheel can be driven by an electric motor supported by the subframe and the power source can be a battery.

Abstract: A mower comprises a utility bed that extends at least partially over an air intake screen of an engine.

Abstract: A small air-cooled internal combustion engine includes an aluminum engine block including a cylinder, a crankcase reservoir, and an outer surface, a piston positioned within the cylinder and configured to reciprocate within the cylinder, and a crankshaft coupled to the piston and configured to rotate about a crankshaft axis, wherein a portion of the crankshaft is located in the crankcase reservoir, where the outer surface of the engine block has an edge located a radial distance from the crankshaft axis and the radial distance is less than less than a standard minimum distance between the crankshaft axis and a horizontal mounting surface for a standard garden mounting flange for a horizontally-shafted engine.