Portable generator including carbon monoxide detector

• US 10,319,207 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2018
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Briggs & Stratton LLC (Briggs & Stratton Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Inventors: Janscha, Ryan D., Procknow, David W., Nigh, Brandon, Willer, Mark David
• Primary Examiner(s): Casillashernandez, Omar
• Application Number:
  US15/886,627
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 340632
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/004 CO or CO2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/117 by using a detection device for specific gases, e.g. combustion products, produced by the fire G08B17/103, G08B17/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/00 Audible signalling systems; Audible personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/224 Paging receivers with visible signalling details
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/06 for dynamo-electric generators; for synchronous capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/00 Arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with dynamo-electric machines, e.g. structural association with mechanical driving motors or auxiliary dynamo-electric machines
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1815 structurally associated with reciprocating piston engines general aspects of generating sets, e.g. housing, F02B63/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

A generator includes an engine, an air-fuel mixing device coupled to the engine, where the air-fuel mixing device is configured to receive air from an air intake and combine the air with fuel to create an air/fuel mixture, an exhaust outlet positioned on a first side of the generator and coupled to the engine, wherein the exhaust outlet is configured to emit exhaust gases from the engine, and a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor positioned on a second side of the generator opposite the exhaust outlet, where the CO sensor is configured to detect CO concentration near the generator.

Claims

1. A generator comprising:

an engine;

an air-fuel mixing device coupled to the engine, wherein the air-fuel mixing device is configured to receive air from an air intake and combine the air with fuel to create an air/fuel mixture;

an exhaust outlet configured to emit exhaust gases from the engine; and

a CO sensor configured to detect CO concentration, wherein the CO sensor is positioned at a lower elevation on the generator than the exhaust outlet;

a CO sensor controller coupled to the CO sensor and configured to control operation of the CO sensor, wherein the CO sensor controller comprises;

a shutdown circuit configured to determine an environment of the generator, wherein the environment of the generator includes at least an enclosed environment and an open environment; and

an alert circuit configured to receive an alert indication from the shutdown circuit and alert a user of the generator to the detected CO concentration;

wherein the shutdown circuit is further configured to determine a first predetermined threshold for the enclosed environment and a second predetermined threshold for the open environment.

2. The generator of claim 1, wherein the shutdown circuit is further configured to complete a shutdown procedure upon determining the generator is in the enclosed environment and the first predetermined threshold is exceeded.

3. The generator of claim 1, wherein the shutdown circuit is further configured to complete a shutdown procedure upon determining the generator is in the open environment and the second predetermined threshold is exceeded.

4. The generator of claim 3, wherein the shutdown circuit determines the environment of the generator by calculating a variance of output values from the CO sensor.

5. A method of shutting down a generator including an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

determining, by a CO sensor controller, an environment of the generator, the environment comprising at least one of an enclosed environment and an open environment;

determining, by the CO sensor controller, a first predetermined threshold for the enclosed environment and a second predetermined threshold for the open environment; and

completing, by the CO sensor controller, a shutdown procedure upon determining the generator is in the enclosed environment and the first predetermined threshold is exceeded;

wherein the shutdown procedure is completed by grounding an ignition of the generator until the engine is turned off.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, by the CO sensor controller, an alert indication, the alert indication including a determination that the first predetermined threshold and the generator is in the enclosed environment; and

prior to completing the shutdown procedure, generating, by the CO sensor controller, an alert alerting a user of the generator to the detected CO concentration.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the shutdown circuit is further configured to complete a shutdown procedure upon determining the generator is in the open environment and the second predetermined threshold is exceeded.