Portable generator including carbon monoxide detector
First Claim
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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.
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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.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A generator comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of shutting down a generator including an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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Specification