Patents Assigned to Briggs & Stratton, LLC
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Publication number: 20210384746Abstract: A battery assembly includes a housing having a handle, rechargeable battery cells disposed within the housing, and a mating feature configured to selectively connect the battery assembly with a receptacle of at least one of a power equipment and a charging station. The mating feature includes a connector having at least two electrical ports electrically connected to the battery cells, and a data port configured to provide data communication between the battery assembly and at least one of a power equipment and a charging station. The mating feature also protrudes away from a side portion of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2019Publication date: December 9, 2021Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Christopher Krajewski, Kyle Harvey, Ryan S. Jaskowiak, Nicholas Zeidler, Mark Noller, Todd Johnson
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Patent number: 11193468Abstract: An electric starting system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The starting system includes a battery, a starter motor, and a blower housing. The starter motor is configured to start the internal combustion engine. The battery is integrated with the blower housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2019Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Robert Koenen, Matthew Markowski, Michael Meyer, James Nommensen
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Publication number: 20210363926Abstract: An operating system for a standby generator includes a control unit, a switch, an inverter, a terminal, a current sensor, a starter circuit, a power control circuit, and an ignition kill circuit. The control unit is powered by a rechargeable twelve volt DC battery. The switch is selectively operable by the control unit to connect one of a first input or a second input to an output. The second input receives the supply of electrical power from an internal combustion engine. The inverter is positioned between the DC battery and the first input, and supplies electrical power to the electrical device when a movable contact of the switch connects the output to the first input. The power control circuit is connected to the control unit and is operable to adjust the movable contact of the switch to selectively connect the output to either the first input or the second input.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Robert John Koenen, Jason A. Hansen, Dale C. VanPatten, Jeffrey Berger, Philip Betzhold
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Publication number: 20210363955Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine block, a blower housing configured to direct cooling air to the engine block, an electric starting system, and a crankshaft configured to rotate about a crankshaft axis. The electric starting system includes an electric motor and an energy storage device located within the blower housing. The energy storage device is electrically coupled to the electric motor to power the electric motor, and is positioned above the crankshaft. When the starter motor is activated, the electric starting system rotates the crankshaft to rotate the engine for starting.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: David W. Procknow, Mark Meyer
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Patent number: 11181065Abstract: A method of exercising a generator includes detecting a temperature of the generator by a temperature sensor, if the temperature of the generator is above a predetermined temperature, activating, by a controller, a starter motor of the generator, and performing, by the controller, an exercise test, and if the temperature of the generator is below the predetermined temperature, not activating, by the controller, the starter motor.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Mike Miller, Dean Weigand, Robert Townsend, Richard Jungmann, Todd Plichta
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Publication number: 20210354541Abstract: A riding lawn mower comprising, a pair of rear drive wheels, a pair of front wheels, a deck positioned between the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear drive wheels, a rotatable cutting blade, and multiple battery packs removably coupled to the riding lawn mower and structured to provide power to the riding lawn mower, each battery pack graspable and removable by a user, wherein the multiple battery packs jointly provide power to the riding lawn mower.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey ZEILER, Robert John KOENEN, Jacob SCHMALZ, Albert LIU, Nick ZEIDLER, Scott FUNKE, David PROCKNOW
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Publication number: 20210344052Abstract: A battery system for power equipment includes a battery configured to removably connect to a receptacle, and a processing circuit of the battery configured to communicably interface with a processing circuit of the receptacle, wherein the battery and the receptacle are configured to electrically connect and transfer power from the battery through the receptacle to the power equipment, wherein the processing circuits of the battery and the receptacle are configured to transfer information between the battery and the receptacle, and wherein the processing circuits of the battery and the receptacle are configured to allow the transfer of power from the battery through the receptacle to the power equipment based on the information transferred between the battery and the receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2019Publication date: November 4, 2021Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventor: Jeffrey Zeiler
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Publication number: 20210341443Abstract: An engine assembly includes an internal combustion engine and a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor unit. The CO sensor unit includes a CO sensor controller including a CO sensing circuit configured to detect a level of CO and a shutdown circuit. The shutdown circuit is configured to receive a detected level of CO and calculate a trailing window average of the detected level of CO. The trailing window average includes an average of the detected level of CO over a predetermined sampling window. The shutdown circuit is further configured to determine whether to initiate a shutdown of the internal combustion engine based on at least the calculated trailing window average and a predetermined trailing window average threshold and initiate the shutdown of the internal combustion engine based on determining that the trailing window average exceeds the predetermined trailing window average threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Ryan Janscha, Austin Baeten
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Publication number: 20210313630Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2019Publication date: October 7, 2021Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Jacob Schmalz, Nick Zeidler
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Patent number: 11139681Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Brian Northway, Michael A. Miller
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Publication number: 20210293189Abstract: A CO sensor module includes a housing, a CO sensor, and a module battery. The housing has a first portion that is configured to be removably inserted into a compartment of a generator and a second portion that is configured to be positioned outside of the compartment. The CO sensor is positioned within the first portion of the housing and is configured to detect concentrations of CO. The module battery is positioned within the housing and is configured to power the CO sensor module. The second portion of the housing includes a mounting ring that is configured to abut a control panel of the generator in an installed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Ryan D. Janscha, Mark Willer
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Patent number: 11121527Abstract: A power management system includes a generator, a meter mounted transfer switch, and a power management module. The generator includes a controller positioned in the housing of the generator. The generator connects to the power management module to provide power to one or more electrical loads. The controller is configured to selectively disconnect at least one of the electrical loads by communicating, via a wireless gateway, to a transfer switch of the power management module to move between first and second positions for connecting the generator to the one or more electrical loads.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2020Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Michael Miller, Gary Gracyalny, David A. Kratz, Richard Gilpatrick, Dean Weigand, Sie Teong Lim, Nicholas Demos
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Patent number: 11111896Abstract: A starter motor connected to a power supply and operable to start an internal combustion engine includes an outer housing and a solid state switching device associated with the outer housing. The outer housing encloses a commutator and a series of brushes. The solid state switching device is movable between an open position and a closed position. The current flow from the power supply through the commutator is prevented when the solid state switching device is in the open position.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2019Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Robert John Koenen, Jason Andrew Hansen
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Patent number: 11111861Abstract: Systems and apparatuses include an engine including a fuel tank, a carburetor including a throttle valve movable between a first throttle position and a second throttle position, a governor system configured to move the throttle valve, and a speed control system including a control lever defining a first actuation distance, and a bellcrank movable between an idle position and a high speed position and coupled to the governor system. The bellcrank defining a second actuation distance that is different than the first actuation distance.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2018Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Zach Dlugi, Aaron Halfmann, Kyle Clasen, David Roth
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Publication number: 20210270226Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventor: Robert Koenen
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Publication number: 20210270221Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Kyle Michael HARVEY, Bryan Keith DANDRIDGE
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Publication number: 20210270225Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2018Publication date: September 2, 2021Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Mark Meyer, David W. Procknow, James Michael Busse
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Patent number: 11105279Abstract: An on-demand generator starting system and method is disclosed. The generator starting system is included as part of a standby or portable generator that includes one or more outlets that provide electrical power to an electrical device. The operating system includes a generator controller that monitors for a request for power from the electrical device connected to the outlet. When the control circuit of the generator controller determines that electric power is required from the generator, the control circuit initiates operation of the internal combustion engine. After the internal combustion engine starts, the control circuit operates a relay to provide power from the generator to the outlet of the generator. When the electrical device is no longer operating, the control circuit of the generator controller terminates operation of the internal combustion engine of the generator. In this manner, the generator operates only when the electrical device is requesting electrical power.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2018Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Robert John Koenen, Jason A. Hansen, Dale C. VanPatten, Jeffrey Berger, Philip Betzhold
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Patent number: 11103886Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 14, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Kyle Harvey, Todd Johnson, Jeffrey Zeiler
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Patent number: D938112Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2018Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventor: Tyler D. Masters