Patents by Inventor David Procknow
David Procknow has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11820218Abstract: A scalable power unit for powering one or more electric motors of a riding vehicle and/or a piece of outdoor power equipment includes a number of interconnected battery packs. The battery pack are received in a battery tray or stacked to form the scalable power unit. Each battery pack is configured to 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 switching elements to control the charging rate of the individual battery packs. When the battery packs are connected to an electrical 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: GrantFiled: August 10, 2017Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
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Publication number: 20230234432Abstract: 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 sequentially provide power to the riding lawn mower.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
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Patent number: 11642952Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 28, 2021Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
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Patent number: 11591984Abstract: 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 comprising a motor and a throttle plate, 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 comprising a current engine speed, a previous engine speed, and a desired engine speed and control a fuel injection duration based on the engine speed data.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2022Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: David Procknow, Jacob Zuehl
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Publication number: 20220298988Abstract: 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 comprising a motor and a throttle plate, 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 comprising a current engine speed, a previous engine speed, and a desired engine speed and control a fuel injection duration based on the engine speed data.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2022Publication date: September 22, 2022Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: David PROCKNOW, Jacob ZUEHL
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Patent number: 11371461Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 27, 2018Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: David Procknow, Jacob Zuehl
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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: 20210087995Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2018Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATIONInventors: David PROCKNOW, Jacob ZUEHL
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Publication number: 20190160972Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2017Publication date: May 30, 2019Applicant: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
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Patent number: 9945281Abstract: A cooling system for an air-cooled engine includes a plurality of electric fans, a plurality of ducts, each duct configured to receive one of the plurality of electric fans, a housing, the housing configured to be coupled to the engine and to include at least one opening, each opening is configured to be coupled to receive one of the plurality of ducts to direct air from the electric fans to a plurality of target locations, a sensor, the sensor is configured to acquire sensor data regarding the operation of the engine, and a processing circuit, the processing circuit is configured to receive the sensor data from the sensor and to control operation of the plurality of electric fans in accordance with the sensor data.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2015Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Michael Pitcel, David Procknow, Jacob Zuehl
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Publication number: 20170167353Abstract: A cooling system for an air-cooled engine includes a plurality of electric fans, a plurality of ducts, each duct configured to receive one of the plurality of electric fans, a housing, the housing configured to be coupled to the engine and to include at least one opening, each opening is configured to be coupled to receive one of the plurality of ducts to direct air from the electric fans to a plurality of target locations, a sensor, the sensor is configured to acquire sensor data regarding the operation of the engine, and a processing circuit, the processing circuit is configured to receive the sensor data from the sensor and to control operation of the plurality of electric fans in accordance with the sensor data.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2015Publication date: June 15, 2017Applicant: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Michael Pitcel, David Procknow, Jacob Zuehl
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Patent number: 8863485Abstract: A lawn mower includes an engine, an energy storage device, a motor/generator including an output shaft, an engine coupling, wherein, with the engine coupling disengaged, the motor/generator drives the output shaft, and with the engine coupling engaged, the engine or both the motor/generator and the engine drive the output shaft, a mower blade, a power take-off clutch, and a control unit configured to implement a first operating condition in which the engine coupling is disengaged, the engine is off, and the output shaft is driven by the motor/generator, and configured to implement a second operating condition in which the engine coupling is engaged, the engine is on, the output shaft is driven by the engine or both the motor/generator and the engine.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2013Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Michael Pitcel, William Latus, Robert Koenen, David Procknow, Jeffrey Berger, Jason Elvers
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Patent number: 8337172Abstract: A pressure washer system includes an engine block, a water conduit, a water pump, and a spray gun. The engine block is for a horizontally-shafted internal combustion engine, and has a chamber therein. The chamber is designed to contain oil for cooling and lubricating the internal combustion engine. The water conduit has a garden hose connector on an end thereof, and is fastened to the engine block. As such, heat transfers from the engine block to a flow of water passing through the water conduit during operation of the internal combustion engine. The water pump is coupled to the water conduit, where the flow of water is driven by the water pump. The spray gun is coupled to the water pump, where the flow of water exits the pressure washer system via the spray gun.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Daniel L. Klika, David A. Kratz, Gary J. Gracyalny, David Procknow
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Publication number: 20110081261Abstract: A pressure washer system includes an engine block, a water conduit, a water pump, and a spray gun. The engine block is for a horizontally-shafted internal combustion engine, and has a chamber therein. The chamber is designed to contain oil for cooling and lubricating the internal combustion engine. The water conduit has a garden hose connector on an end thereof, and is fastened to the engine block. As such, heat transfers from the engine block to a flow of water passing through the water conduit during operation of the internal combustion engine. The water pump is coupled to the water conduit, where the flow of water is driven by the water pump. The spray gun is coupled to the water pump, where the flow of water exits the pressure washer system via the spray gun.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Inventors: Daniel L. Klika, David A. Kratz, Gary J. Gracyalny, David Procknow
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Patent number: 7484409Abstract: A fluid level switch for a machine having a fluid reservoir adapted to contain a fluid at an acceptable level. The fluid level switch includes a mounting plate, a float housing, and a float assembly positioned within the float housing. The mounting plate retains first and second contacts. The float housing is configured to receive fluid from the fluid reservoir and the float assembly is movable in response to the level of fluid in the float housing. The float assembly includes a contact member electrically connecting the first and second contacts when the level of the fluid is below the acceptable level. The contact member is coupled to the float for movement with the float and for movement relative to the float.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2006Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Richard A. Dykstra, Gary Gracyalny, David Procknow, John Garthwaite
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Publication number: 20070227244Abstract: A fluid level switch for a machine having a fluid reservoir adapted to contain a fluid at an acceptable level. The fluid level switch includes a mounting plate, a float housing, and a float assembly positioned within the float housing. The mounting plate retains first and second contacts. The float housing is configured to receive fluid from the fluid reservoir and the float assembly is movable in response to the level of fluid in the float housing. The float assembly includes a contact member electrically connecting the first and second contacts when the level of the fluid is below the acceptable level. The contact member is coupled to the float for movement with the float and for movement relative to the float.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2006Publication date: October 4, 2007Inventors: Richard Dykstra, Gary Gracyalny, David Procknow, John Garthwaite
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Patent number: 6349688Abstract: An overhead valve engine including a cylinder bore having an outer end; and a crankshaft assembly including a substantially straight crankshaft, a substantially cylindrical journal eccentrically mounted on the crankshaft, a one-piece connecting rod rotatably mounted on the journal, and a counterweight mounted on the crankshaft. The engine also includes a cam shaft having at least one cam surface and an axis inward of the outer end of the cylinder bore; two valves having opened and closed positions; two valve stems, each valve stem being attached to a valve; and two generally L-shaped and pivotably mounted valve operating levers, each lever including a first lever arm having a cam follower in contact with the cam surface, a pivot axis about which the lever pivots, and a valve arm in contact with a valve stem, where movement of the lever caused by the cam surface causes the lever to pivot and the valve arm to depress the valve stem and thus open the valve.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2000Date of Patent: February 26, 2002Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Gary J. Gracyalny, Richard J. Fotsch, David Procknow, Art Poehlman, Scott A. Funke