Electric starting system for an internal combustion engine

• US 10,024,292 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2018
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Briggs & Stratton LLC (Briggs & Stratton Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Inventors: Koenen, Robert, Markowski, Matthew, Meyer, Michael, Nommensen, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castro, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US15/859,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20180119664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 196 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/001 Accessories not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/008 for automated or remotely controlled operation
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/67 hand-guided by a walking operator
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/6818 Motor starting mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/78 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/026 Cleaning by making use of hand-held spray guns; Fluid preparations therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/042 by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/14 operated upon collapse of driver deadman's devices for electrically propelled vehicles B60L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/08 Circuits or control means specially adapted for starting of engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0862 characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/12 Starting of engines by means of mobile, e.g. portable, starting sets
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/14 Starting of engines by means of electric starters with external current supply F02N11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/003 Starters comprising a brake mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 9/005 by weakening or suppression of sparks to limit the engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/02 Details of electrodes H01M4/00; of non-active parts H01M50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 : Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 : Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/251 : specially adapted for stationary devices, e.g. power plant buffering or backup power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electric starting system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The starting system includes a rechargeable battery including two voltage output terminals and an enable terminal, a battery receiver including a battery receptacle configured to receive the rechargeable battery, two voltage output terminals, and an enable terminal, a starter motor configured to start the internal combustion engine, and a continuous duty electrical load. The voltage output terminals of the lithium-ion battery and the battery receiver are configured to connect to complete a circuit between the rechargeable battery and the continuous duty electrical load when the rechargeable battery is attached to the battery receptacle.

Claims

1. An electric starting system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a rechargeable battery including two voltage output terminals and an enable terminal;

a battery receiver including a battery receptacle configured to receive the rechargeable battery, two voltage output terminals, and an enable terminal;

a starter motor configured to start the internal combustion engine; and

a continuous duty electrical load;

wherein the voltage output terminals of the lithium-ion battery and the battery receiver are configured to connect to complete a circuit between the rechargeable battery and the continuous duty electrical load when the rechargeable battery is attached to the battery receptacle.

2. The electric starting system of claim 1, wherein the continuous duty electrical load comprises a lamp.

3. The electric starting system of claim 1, wherein the continuous duty electrical load comprises a radio.

4. The electric starting system of claim 1, wherein the continuous duty electrical load comprises a heater.

5. The electric starting system of claim 1, further comprising:

a switch provided in series between one of the voltage output terminals of the battery receiver and the enable terminal of the battery receiver to allow a user to selectively enable and disable the battery.

6. The electric starting system of claim 1, wherein the continuous duty electrical load is connected in parallel with the starter motor.

7. The electric starting system of claim 1, wherein the terminals of the rechargeable battery comprise female terminals and the terminals of the battery receiver comprise male terminals.

8. The electric starting system of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable battery is configured to be selectively attached to and removed from the battery receiver without tools.

9. An electric starting system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a rechargeable battery including two voltage output terminals and an enable terminal;

a battery receiver including a battery receptacle configured to receive the rechargeable battery, two voltage output terminals, and an enable terminal;

a starter motor configured to start the internal combustion engine; and

an external battery control module including an electrical control circuit and a switch coupled in series between the enable terminal of the battery receiver and one of the voltage output terminals of the battery receiver to selectively enable and disable the rechargeable battery;

wherein the voltage output terminals of the lithium-ion battery and the battery receiver are configured to connect to complete a circuit between the rechargeable battery and the starter motor when the rechargeable battery is attached to the battery receptacle and the switch is closed; and

wherein the enable terminal of the rechargeable battery must be connected with the enable terminal of the battery receiver for the rechargeable battery to receive an enable signal to allow the rechargeable battery to provide power to the starter motor to start the internal combustion engine.

10. The electric starting system of claim 9, wherein the switch comprises a low current electronic switching device.

11. The electric starting system of claim 9, wherein the switch is configured to be controlled automatically with a control input.

12. The electric starting system of claim 11, wherein the control input comprises an engine RPM input and the switch is configured to open when the engine RPM input indicates that the engine has reached a predetermined RPM threshold, thereby disabling the battery to stop the starter motor.

13. The electric starting system of claim 9, wherein the external battery control module is mounted on an engine.

14. The electric starting system of claim 9, wherein the external battery control module is mounted to the battery receiver.

15. The electric starting system of claim 9, wherein the terminals of the rechargeable battery comprise female terminals and the terminals of the battery receiver comprise male terminals.

16. The electric starting system of claim 9, wherein the rechargeable battery is configured to be selectively attached to and removed from the battery receiver without tools.

17. A lawn mower, comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a blade coupled to the engine;

a rechargeable battery including two voltage output terminals and an enable terminal;

a battery receiver including a battery receptacle configured to receive the rechargeable battery, two voltage output terminals, and an enable terminal;

a starter motor configured to start the internal combustion engine; and

an external battery control module including an electrical control circuit and a switch coupled in series between the enable terminal of the battery receiver and one of the voltage output terminals of the battery receiver to selectively enable and disable the rechargeable battery;

wherein the voltage output terminals of the lithium-ion battery and the battery receiver are configured to connect to complete a circuit between the rechargeable battery and the starter motor when the rechargeable battery is attached to the battery receptacle and the switch is closed; and

wherein the enable terminal of the rechargeable battery must be connected with the enable terminal of the battery receiver for the rechargeable battery to receive an enable signal to allow the rechargeable battery to provide power to the starter motor to start the internal combustion engine.

18. The lawn mower of claim 17, wherein the switch is configured to open when an engine RPM input indicates that the engine has reached a predetermined RPM threshold, thereby disabling the battery to stop the starter motor.

19. The lawn mower of claim 17, wherein the external battery control module is mounted on the engine.

20. The lawn mower of claim 17, wherein the external battery control module is mounted to the battery receiver.