Monitoring system for a generator

• US 20040155466A1
• Filed: 02/06/2004
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Original Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group LLC (Briggs & Stratton Corporation)
• Inventors: Stair, Kenny J., Nordman, Russell C., Sodemann, Wesley C., Tharman, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,053,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1A
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator

Abstract

A load monitoring apparatus for monitoring the load applied to a portable generator. The apparatus includes a sensor, and a humanly perceptible indicator that indicates at least one discontinuous load power frequency.

Claims

1. A load monitoring apparatus for a generator, wherein the generator is adapted to supply power to a load, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor adapted to sense a signal supplied to the load; and

a humanly perceptible indicator adapted to output at least one discontinuous humanly perceptible indication of the sensed signal supplied to the load.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the humanly perceptible indicator is an integral part of the generator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an integral part of the generator.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the humanly perceptible indicator comprises at least one of a liquid crystal display (“

LCD”

), a series of light emitting diodes (“

LED”

), and an audible indicator.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the humanly perceptible indication indicates whether the signal supplied by the generator is sufficient to power the load.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor senses a frequency of the signal supplied to the load.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the humanly perceptible indicator further indicates the signal supplied to the load is sufficient when the sensed frequency is higher than about 58.5 Hz, and the signal supplied to the load is insufficient when the sensed frequency is lower than about 56.5 Hz.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of LED'"'"'s corresponding to a plurality of load magnitudes.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a plug cover.

10. A load monitoring apparatus for monitoring power supplied from a portable generator to a load, the load monitoring apparatus comprising:

a socket type plug adapted to be coupled to the generator or to the load;

a sensor electrically coupled to the socket type plug, and adapted to sense a signal supplied by the generator to the load; and

a humanly perceptible indicator adapted to output at least one discontinuous humanly perceptible indication of sensed power supplied to the load.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the humanly perceptible indicator comprises at least one of a liquid crystal display (“

LCD”

), a series of light emitting diodes (“

LED”

), and an audible indicator.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the humanly perceptible indicator communicates with the sensor wirelessly.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor senses a frequency of the signal supplied to the load.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the humanly perceptible indicator further indicates the signal supplied to the load is sufficient when the sensed frequency is higher than about 58.5 Hz, and the signal supplied to the load is insufficient when the sensed frequency is lower than about 56.5 Hz.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of LED'"'"'s corresponding to a plurality of load magnitudes.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sensor includes a plug cover.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a socket adapted to receive a second socket type plug of the load.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a housing interconnected with the plug.

19. A method of monitoring power supplied from a generator to a load, the method comprising:

sensing a signal supplied from the generator to the load; and

outputting at an humanly perceptible indicator at least one discontinuous humanly perceptible indication of the sensed signal supplied to the load.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising integrating the humanly perceptible indicator with the generator.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising integrating the humanly perceptible indicator on a detachable apparatus.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the humanly perceptible indicator comprises at least one of a liquid crystal display (“

LCD”

), a series of light emitting diodes (“

LED”

), and an audible indicator.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising wirelessly communicating the sensed signal to the humanly perceptible indicator.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising indicating with the humanly perceptible indication whether power supplied by the generator is sufficient to power the load.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising sensing a frequency of the signal supplied from the generator to the load.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising indicating with the humanly perceptible indicator that the power supplied to the load is sufficient to power the load when the frequency is higher than about 58.5 Hz, and the power supplied to the load is insufficient when the frequency is lower than about 56.5 Hz.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising indicating a plurality of load magnitudes with a plurality of LED'"'"'s.