Abstract: A system and method for controlling and monitoring a plurality of wireless devices at a secondary power source, such as a standby generator. The standby generator received information from one or more wireless devices in a home and either modifies the operation of the generator or modifies the operation of the wireless devices. The system can include one or more power management modules that monitor the operation of large power consuming loads, such as air conditioners. The power management modules communicate to the standby generator, which can control the operation of the load through the power management module.

Abstract: A standby generator includes an engine including an output shaft, 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 first wall, and a second 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 proximate the first wall and the exhaust opening is provided on the front wall proximate the second wall. The air drawn into the enclosure at the first intake opening directly flows over the engine and is expelled through the exhaust opening.

Abstract: A battery system for use with outdoor power equipment includes a base including a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a battery receptacle electrically coupled to the positive terminal and the negative terminal, wherein the positive terminal and the negative terminal are spaced apart by a distance substantially the same as a standard distance between terminals of a standard lead-acid battery, and a lithium-ion battery removably attached to the battery receptacle, wherein when attached, the lithium-ion battery is electrically coupled to the positive terminal and the negative terminal via the battery receptacle.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes a crankcase, shaft, blower housing, and cooling fan. The shaft is rotatably coupled to the crankcase and defines a rotational axis. The blower housing includes an internal space. The cooling fan is disposed within the internal space, includes a plate defining an upper surface, and is positioned to rotate with the shaft about the rotational axis. The cooling fan includes a band having an inner band radius and an outer band radius. The cooling fan includes a plurality of reversed fins extending between the band and the upper surface and between a root adjacent to the rotational axis and a tip adjacent to the outer band radius, each fin offset at an angle measured in a counterclockwise direction from a plane passing through the rotational axis and the tip to a plane passing through the root and the tip when viewed from above the cooling fan.

Abstract: A small air-cooled internal combustion engine includes an aluminum engine block including a cylinder extending along a longitudinal cylinder axis and a block mounting surface, a piston configured to reciprocate within the cylinder, a crankshaft coupled to the piston and configured to rotate about a crankshaft axis in response to reciprocation of the piston, and an aluminum crankcase cover including a cover mounting surface. The block mounting surface contacts the cover mounting surface. The block mounting surface and the cover mounting surface are both positioned at an angle to the crankshaft axis and the angle is not 90 degrees.

Abstract: An engine includes at least one piston, a rotatable crankshaft, a starter motor, a lithium-ion battery, and a charging system. The rotatable crankshaft is coupled to the at least one piston. The starter motor is configured to selectively initiate rotation of the crankshaft. The lithium-ion battery is in electrical communication with the starter motor and has at least one cell. The charging system is powered by motion of at least one component of the engine. The charging system provides energy to the lithium-ion battery to charge the lithium-ion battery. The engine has a starting condition, a miming condition, and a stopping condition. The charging system continuously applies a voltage potential to the at least one cell while the engine is in a running condition.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes a small air-cooled engine and a dry sump lubrication system including an external oil reservoir, wherein the dry sump lubrication system has an overall oil capacity that provides at least five hundred hours of engine oil life.

Abstract: A pressure washer includes a prime mover, a pump driven by the prime mover, and a spray gun fluidly coupled to the pump. The spray gun includes a flow-control valve movable between an open position and a closed position to control a fluid flow from the spray gun, a user interface for controlling the flow-control valve, a sensor configured to detect the state of the user interface, and a first wireless system electrically coupled to the sensor. In a first state of the user interface, the flow-control valve is in the closed position. In a second state of the user interface, the flow-control valve is in the open position. The pressure washer further includes a second wireless system electrically coupled to the prime mover. The second wireless system signals the prime mover to start to drive the pump to provide fluid to the spray gun upon receiving a start signal from the first wireless system indicating that the sensor detects the user interface in the second state.

Abstract: An electric powerhead includes a housing including a mounting plate including a shaft opening and a number of first openings arranged in a standard mini four-stroke engine mounting pattern, a base including a number of second openings arranged in a standard mini four-stroke engine support pattern, and an electric motor positioned within the housing, wherein the electric motor includes an output shaft that extends through the shaft opening of the mounting plate and wherein the output shaft is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation.

Abstract: A transfer switch and load controller that can be plugged into an existing utility meter socket and electrically positioned between the meter socket and a distribution panel to allow switching between utility power and standby power. The plug-in transfer switch functions to transfer the power supplied to a home between the utility power source and the generator power source upon loss of power from the utility power source. The transfer switch components are contained in an enclosed housing of a meter socket adapter that is mounted directly to the meter socket of a meter housing.

Abstract: A standby generator includes an engine including an output shaft, 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 first wall, and a second 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 proximate the first wall and the exhaust opening is provided on the front wall proximate the second wall. The air drawn into the enclosure at the first intake opening directly flows over the engine and is expelled through the exhaust opening.

Abstract: A handheld edger includes an electric powerhead coupled to a mounting location, a member, and a cutting assembly. The electric powerhead includes a motor having an output shaft rotating at a first speed about an output shaft axis and a battery configured to power the motor. The member extends from the mounting location and includes an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion configured to be removable and replaceable to exchange one or more attachments. The cutting assembly coupled to the member includes a drive shaft, a blade coupled to and driven by the drive shaft, and a worm drive coupled to the output shaft of the motor and the drive shaft, the worm drive configured to cause the drive shaft to rotate the blade at a second speed. A gear ratio of the worm drive is larger than 40:1.

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 initial rotational speeds.

Abstract: An impeller assembly for a snowthrower includes a driven shaft configured to rotate about an axis, a flexible impeller configured to rotate about the axis and extending horizontally across substantially a complete width of the impeller assembly parallel to the axis, and a rigid cutting implement. The flexible impeller extends radially from the driven shaft to an impeller radial distance. The rigid cutting implement extends radially from the driven shaft to a cutting implement radial distance less than the impeller radial distance, wherein the rigid cutting implement is spaced apart from and does not contact the flexible impeller.