Patents Assigned to Briggs & Stratton, LLC
  • Patent number: 11408325
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to an internal combustion engine including an engine block, a crankshaft configured to rotate about a crankshaft axis, a flywheel coupled to the crankshaft, a throttle body, an electric fan, and an air filter assembly configured to filter incoming air from an air intake and provide cleaned air to a throttle body. The engine block includes a cylinder. The throttle body is configured to throttle incoming air to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Zuehl, Michael Pitcel
  • Patent number: 11408326
    Abstract: An engine including an engine block having a cylinder defining a front of the engine, a blower housing coupled to the engine block and defining a hot half and a cool half opposite the front half, a starter mount assembly coupled to the blower housing and positioned within the cool half, an electric starter motor retained by the starter mount assembly, and a battery mounted to the blower housing and positioned in the cool half. The battery is electrically coupled to the electric starter motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Meyer, David W. Procknow, James Michael Busse
  • Patent number: 11401902
    Abstract: A battery system includes a battery assembly and an equipment interface. The battery assembly includes a battery pack, a battery housing enclosing the battery pack, a communication gateway, and a first electrical connector. The battery pack includes rechargeable battery cells. The communication gateway is configured to communicate using a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. The first electrical connector includes a plurality of first terminals. The equipment interface is configured to be coupled to a piece of equipment, and includes a second electrical connector including a plurality of second terminals. The second electrical connector is configured to mate with the first electrical connector to electrically coupled the plurality of first terminals with the plurality of second terminals to electrically couple the battery assembly to the equipment interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Michael Harvey, Bryan Keith Dandridge
  • Publication number: 20220239193
    Abstract: A standby generator includes a standby housing defining a cavity and an internal combustion engine. The engine includes an engine block including a cylinder comprising a piston, an engine housing at least partially covering the engine block, and a crankshaft configured to rotate about a vertical crankshaft axis in response to movement by the piston. The standby generator also includes an alternator configured to generate alternating current electrical power, a controller comprising a rectifier configured to convert the alternating current to a direct current and an inverter configured to convert the direct current to a clean alternating current electrical power, and a transfer switch configured to receive the clean alternating current electrical power from the controller and at least one of grid, solar, or battery power, and configured to supply power to an electrical load. The internal combustion engine, the alternator, and the controller are positioned within the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Svetlana Byaliy, Joshua Thurnbauer Cirillo, Philip Helwig, Sie Teong Lim, Mark Thomas Molinski, Kenny Jalmas Stair, Robert Townsend, Jeffrey H. Whitmore
  • Publication number: 20220231571
    Abstract: A horizontal shaft electric powerhead includes an electric motor, a battery, a housing, and a base plate. The electric motor includes a horizontal output shaft configured to rotate about a horizontal axis of rotation and has a power rating of 2,500 or fewer watts. The battery includes a plurality of lithium-ion battery cells and is coupled to the electric motor. The housing has a standard cross-sectional footprint so that the electric powerhead has substantially the same volume as a comparable small internal combustion engine. The base plate is configured to be fastened to a mounting surface and includes a plurality of openings arranged in a standard horizontal shaft engine support pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventor: David Schulenberg
  • Publication number: 20220228517
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Adam J. Hellman, John Schneiker, Tim Kwiatkowski, Casey Groh, Robert Price, Ryan Sullivan, Gary Johnson
  • Patent number: 11377996
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine block including a cylinder and a muffler assembly configured to receive exhaust gases from the cylinder. The muffler assembly includes a housing defining an interior volume and including an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet, and a baffle assembly positioned within the interior volume. The baffle assembly includes a plurality of chambers in fluid communication with each other. The plurality of chambers are in fluid communication with the exhaust inlet and the exhaust outlet so that the plurality of chambers are configured to cause exhaust gases to be directed through the muffler assembly from the exhaust inlet to the exhaust outlet through four passes in the baffle assembly before exiting through the exhaust outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Gleixner, Robert Johnson, Patrick Crowley, Brett Birschbach
  • Patent number: 11371461
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: David Procknow, Jacob Zuehl
  • Publication number: 20220194220
    Abstract: An embodiment relates to a mower having a chassis and a rear suspension assembly. The chassis supports a cutter deck. The rear suspension assembly includes a support, a drive axle, and a shock absorber. The support includes a pivot, and the pivot includes a bushing to allow pivotable motion relative to the chassis. The drive axle is supported by the support and is configured to transfer power to drive at least one wheel. The shock absorber is coupled to the support and the chassis. The at least one wheel and the drive axle are configured to vertically oscillate relative to the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. WEBER, Denis OSWALD, Travis RASCH, Erik SLEGELIS, Mark J. MELONE, James F. MARSHALL, Richard SMITH, Mark LYNCH
  • Patent number: 11365703
    Abstract: An air-cooled internal combustion engine including a crankshaft rotating about a crankshaft axis, a first cylinder having a first cylinder head, a second cylinder having a second cylinder head, and a blower assembly. The blower assembly includes a blower housing, a first fan, and a second fan. The first fan is positioned proximate the first cylinder and the second fan is positioned proximate the second cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan A. Sullivan, Gary S. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20220186745
    Abstract: Outdoor power equipment includes a chassis, a blower housing, a discharge housing, and a deflector assembly. The blower housing is supported by the chassis. The discharge housing is coupled to the blower housing and is defined by a first discharge chute and a second discharge chute that extend in opposite directions. An impeller is received within the blower housing and is configured to rotate within the blower housing to direct air from the blower housing toward the discharge housing. The deflector assembly is supported by the chassis and includes an actuator and a deflector. The deflector is movable within the discharge housing in response to movement by the actuator to selectively direct flow from the blower housing through the first and second discharge chutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Anania, Ray D. Perry, James F. Marshall, Jonathan Olson, Sandeep R. Pawar
  • Publication number: 20220176286
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine block, an air-fuel mixing device, and an air filter assembly. The air filter assembly includes a housing, a filter element, and a gap between the filter element and the housing. The housing includes a base and a cover which define an interior volume. The housing includes an outlet passage fluidly coupling a filtered air outlet to a final air outlet. The filter element divides the interior volume into a filtered volume and an unfiltered volume. The gap is configured to direct air in a first airflow pass before being filtered by the filter element. The filter element is configured to direct filtered air in a second airflow pass in a substantially opposite direction from the first airflow pass. The outlet passage is configured to direct filtered air into a third airflow pass in a substantially same direction as the first airflow pass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Steven G. Gleixner, Robert Johnson
  • Publication number: 20220176920
    Abstract: An embodiment relates to a machine including a prime mover, a drive pulley, a chassis, a subframe, a drive device, a drive belt, and a pulley arrangement. The drive pulley is coupled to the prime mover. The chassis is configured to support at least an operator and the prime mover. The subframe is pivotally coupled to the chassis about a pivot axis. The subframe is further coupled to the chassis via a suspension device. The drive device is configured to drive wheels of the machine. The drive device is configured to be driven by the prime mover. The pulley arrangement is configured to direct the drive belt from the drive pulley to a driven pulley on the drive device. The pulley arrangement comprises at least one idler pulley having a diameter and a rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Erik R. Slegelis, Travis Rasch
  • Patent number: 11352964
    Abstract: Portable jobsite equipment includes a generator including an internal combustion engine and an alternator. The internal combustion engine includes a first cylinder including a first spark plug configured to create a first electrical spark, a second cylinder including a second spark plug configured to create a second electrical spark, an electronic control unit configured to activate and deactivate at least one of the first cylinder and the second cylinder, and a load source receiving supplied power from the generator. The electronic control unit activates one of the first cylinder and the second cylinder in response to a threshold increase of the load source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Koenen, Jason Hansen, Jacob Zuehl
  • Patent number: 11352989
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine block including a cylinder having a cylinder axis, a piston positioned within the cylinder and configured to reciprocate along the cylinder axis, a crankshaft configured to rotate about a crankshaft axis, an air-fuel mixing device configured to provide an air-fuel mixture to the cylinder, a cyclonic air filter positioned entirely below the air-fuel mixing device, and a duct coupling the cyclonic air filter to the air-fuel mixing device and configured to provide air filtered by the cyclonic air filter to the air-fuel mixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Casey Edward Groh, Adam J. Hellman, Randall J. Klotka, Robert Price, Ed Strommen, Jack Walrath
  • Publication number: 20220173445
    Abstract: A cell module assembly includes multiple lithium-ion battery cells connected in parallel and an electronic controller. The electronic controller is programmed to receive useful life data for a useful life indicator of the battery cells, save the life data to memory to create a life data history, determine a life measurement based on the life data history, compare the life measurement to a first end of life threshold, determine if the life measurement has met the first end of life threshold, provide a first end of life output indicating that the life measurement has met the first end of life threshold, compare the life measurement to a second end of life threshold, determine if the life measurement has met the second end of life threshold, and provide a second end of life output indicating that the life measurement has met the second end of life threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Jacob Schmalz, Nick Zeidler
  • Patent number: 11349323
    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 running 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M Zeiler, Richard J. Gilpatrick
  • Patent number: 11346315
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a housing, rechargeable lithium-ion battery cells enclosed in the housing, terminals, a processing circuit, and a communications interface. The processing circuit is configured to control a supply of electrical power from the rechargeable lithium-ion battery cells to a positive terminal and a negative terminal in response to receiving signals from data terminals. The signals from the data terminals include operational information that includes at least a condition of an electric motor on power equipment coupled with the data terminals. The communications interface is configured to communicate over a wireless communication protocol to receive an identification of a type of power equipment coupled with the plurality of terminals. The processing circuit is configured to adjust one or more functions of the battery pack based upon identification data received from the communications interface, which includes the type of power equipment that is coupled with the plurality of terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Koenen
  • Patent number: 11326566
    Abstract: An engine including a fuel tank, a carburetor, a speed control lever, and a transport valve. The carburetor includes a throttle valve movable between a first throttle position and a second throttle position. The speed control lever is coupled to the throttle valve and is movable between a first position corresponding to the first throttle position and a second position corresponding to the second throttle position. The transport valve is fluidly coupled between the fuel tank and the carburetor, and includes a valve element moveable between an open valve position allowing fuel flow between the fuel tank and the carburetor, and a closed valve position preventing fuel flow between the fuel tank and the carburetor. Movement of the speed control lever to the second position moves the valve element to the closed valve position to stop fluid flow between the fuel tank and the carburetor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventor: David Roth
  • Publication number: 20220136664
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a light tower. The light tower includes a base, an extendible mast coupled to the base, a light assembly coupled to the extendible mast and electrically coupled to the battery pack, and an inverter configured to receive and convert a direct current power from the battery pack into an alternating current power. The extendible mast is configured to move between a lowered position and a raised position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle HARVEY, Nicholas Zeidler