Patents Assigned to Briggs & Stratton Corporation
  • Publication number: 20190291779
    Abstract: Ride-on outdoor power equipment includes one or more batteries, one or more electric traction motors electrically connected to the one or more batteries, one or more user input devices, a plurality of sensors, and a controller in communication with the one or more batteries, the electric traction motors and the one or more user input devices, the controller configured to control the electric traction motors to operate the ride-on outdoor power equipment based on inputs received via the user input devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, David Schulenberg, Scott Funke, Steve Avery, Steve Weber, Brian Poirier, Jacob Schmalz
  • Publication number: 20190289766
    Abstract: A turf aerator includes a tine assembly and an input mechanism. The tine assembly includes multiple tines, a retractor plate for positioning the plurality of tines, and a linkage for selectively moving the retractor plate and the plurality of tines between an operating position and a retracted position. The input mechanism coupled to the linkage, the input mechanism operable to activate the linkage to move the retractor plate and the plurality of tines between the operating position and the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brandon KING, William COATES
  • Patent number: 10421356
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven J. Weber, Denis Oswald, Travis Rasch, Erik Slegelis, Mark J. Melone, James F. Marshall, Richard Smith, Mark Lynch
  • Publication number: 20190275453
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine block including a cylinder, a horizontally oriented crankshaft, an air-fuel mixing device configured to provide an air-fuel mixture to the cylinder, and an air filter assembly configured to provide filtered air to the air-fuel mixing device. The air filter assembly includes a housing comprising a first housing end portion and a second housing end portion and defining an interior volume, a filter element positioned within the interior volume dividing the interior volume into a filtered volume and an unfiltered volume, a gap between the filter element and the housing configured to allow air to flow between the filter element and the housing, an air intake, and a filtered air outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven G. Gleixner, Robert Johnson
  • Patent number: 10400732
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle Michael Harvey, Bryan Keith Dandridge
  • Patent number: 10393086
    Abstract: A system and method for enhancing spark generation in an ignition coil of an internal combustion engine at low rotational speeds of the flywheel. The method and system monitor the rotational speed of the flywheel and, when the rotational speed of the flywheel is below a threshold rotational speed, the system and method supplies voltage pulses to the primary winding. The timing of the voltage pulses supplied to the primary winding are triggered off of voltage transitions in pulses induced in the primary winding upon rotation of the flywheel. Once the internal combustion engine has started, the switching device transitions into a second condition to disconnect the electrical storage device from the primary winding. The spark generation system of the present disclosure allows for starting of an internal combustion engine upon slower rope pull starting or upon discharge of a starter battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert John Koenen, Jason A. Hansen, Andrew Paskov
  • Patent number: 10392761
    Abstract: A snowthrower includes a body, a chute rotatable relative to the body among multiple chute positions, wherein the chute is configured to discharge snow from the snowthrower, a motor for rotating the chute, a user input device, and an electronic control unit configured to control the motor to automatically rotate the chute from a first chute position on a first side of a zero degree chute position aligned with the forward direction of travel of the snowthrower to a second chute position on a second side of the zero degree chute position upon actuation of the user input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Jason J. Raasch, Robert Koenen, Dan Brueck
  • Publication number: 20190251817
    Abstract: A generator includes an engine, an air-fuel mixing device coupled to the engine, where the air-fuel mixing device is structured to receive air from an air intake and combine the air with fuel to create an air/fuel mixture, an exhaust outlet positioned on a first side of the generator and coupled to the engine, wherein the exhaust outlet is structured to emit exhaust gases from the engine, and a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor positioned on a second side of the generator opposite the exhaust outlet, where the CO sensor is structured to detect CO concentration near the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan D. Janscha, David W. Procknow, Brandon Nigh, Mark David Willer
  • Publication number: 20190230850
    Abstract: A system for providing autonomous lawn care services. The system includes a number of autonomous outdoor power devices, and one or more service vehicles. The one or more service vehicles are configured to selectively load and unload one or more of the autonomous outdoor power devices at a jobsite based on instructions received by a controller of the one or more service vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Todd Johnson, Bob Pjevach, Kyle Harvey, Nick Zeidler, Jacob Schmalz, Doug Shears, Jeff Zeiler, Ryan Hahn
  • Publication number: 20190217319
    Abstract: A sprayer equipment includes a support frame, a pump, a pressure regulator, a concentrate tank, an injector, a spray nozzle, and a controller. The support frame has a plurality of wheels. The pump is coupled to the support frame and includes a pump inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a water source and a pump outlet providing water at an increased water pressure. The pressure regulator is configured to control the pressure of the water. The concentrate tank is supported by the support frame and configured to store a concentrate fluid. The injector is fluidly coupled to the concentrate tank and configured to inject the concentrate fluid into the water. The spray nozzle is fluidly coupled to the pump outlet and the injector. The controller is coupled to the injector and is configured to control operation of the injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle Harvey, Todd Johnson, Jeffrey Zeiler
  • Publication number: 20190181679
    Abstract: A smart switching panel for selectively connecting either a primary power supply or a secondary power supply to a plurality of electric loads. The switching panel includes a plurality of switching elements each connected to both the primary and secondary power supplies. A controller of the switching panel operates to cause the switching element to transition between a first position in which the primary power supply is connected to the electric load, a second position in which the secondary power supply is connected to the electric load and an open condition. A current sensor is positioned to monitor the amount of current drawn by the electric load and is connected to the controller such that the controller can monitor the amount of current drawn by each of the electric loads. The controller can transition each of the switching elements to the open condition when the current draw exceeds a current threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Northway, Michael A. Miller
  • Publication number: 20190178220
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Dale Van Patten, Jason Andrew Hansen
  • Publication number: 20190178219
    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. The battery pack further includes a control module. The control module includes a processing circuit configured to control one or more functions associated with the internal combustion engine and an interface circuit configured to interface with the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Koenen
  • Patent number: 10319207
    Abstract: A generator includes an engine, an air-fuel mixing device coupled to the engine, where the air-fuel mixing device is configured to receive air from an air intake and combine the air with fuel to create an air/fuel mixture, an exhaust outlet positioned on a first side of the generator and coupled to the engine, wherein the exhaust outlet is configured to emit exhaust gases from the engine, and a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor positioned on a second side of the generator opposite the exhaust outlet, where the CO sensor is configured to detect CO concentration near the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan D. Janscha, David W. Procknow, Brandon Nigh, Mark David Willer
  • Publication number: 20190169809
    Abstract: A snow thrower including an auger housing, a center snow impelling blade housed within the auger housing, a first blade positioned on a first side of the center snow impelling blade and configured to be driven about a rotational axis of a drive shaft, and a second blade positioned on a second side of the center snow impelling blade and configured to be driven about the rotational axis of the drive shaft. The first blade and the second blade are housed within the auger housing and configured to drive snow to the center snow impelling blade. The auger housing directs snow to the center snow impelling blade, the first blade, and the second blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: James W. MAST, Samuel J. GERRITTS
  • Publication number: 20190160972
    Abstract: A scalable power unit for powering one or more electric motors of a riding vehicle and/or a piece of outdoor power equipment. The scalable power unit includes a number of interconnected battery packs. The battery packs can be received in a battery tray or stacked to form the scalable power unit. Each battery pack can be removed and used separately or added to a combination of battery packs. A control unit selectively opens and closes switching elements to separately control the connections between the battery packs and an electrical load, such as a motor. During charging, the control unit opens and closes the switching elements to control the charging rate of the individual battery packs. When the battery packs are connected to an electric load, the control unit controls the state of the switching elements to selectively discharge the battery packs to power the riding vehicle and/or electric loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
  • Patent number: D852319
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Adam J. Hellman, John Schneiker
  • Patent number: D853319
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: James Nommensen, Paul D. Kluck, Matthew Markowski, Robert Koenen, Dale S. DiIulio, Bart Mayer, Brian D. Neeley
  • Patent number: D854650
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Adam J. Hellman, John Schneiker
  • Patent number: D859474
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Carl T. Tiefenthaler