Generator system with vertically shafted engine
First Claim
1. A generator system positionable on a supporting surface comprising:
- an engine with a rotary output shaft intended to be oriented substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface in normal operation;
wherein the engine has a mounting surface;
a source of electrical energy having a rotor and a stator wherein the rotor is adapted to be coupled, for rotation, to the output shaft along a common rotational center line;
a speed control coupled to the engine for causing the engine to rotate the shaft with a substantially constant speed over a range of energy delivered from the source; and
a sensor of delivered energy and a control element for disabling operation of the speed control during intervals of energy delivery below a preset threshold whereupon the engine enters a predetermined quiescent state outside of its normal operating range;
a two part interface structure, positioned between the engine and the source, wherein one part mechanically receives the other, wherein one part carries an alignment element for the stator which is coupled thereto and wherein the other carries a surface, machined relative to the alignment element, whereby the machined surface aligns the shaft of the engine, relative to the stator and the common center line when the engine is coupled to the interface structure; and
wherein the engine, the source and the interface structure are movably carried on a wheeled cart.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable generator system includes an interface mounting element for supporting a selected engine, from a plurality of engines, with a vertically oriented output shaft when the generator system is positioned on a substantially horizontal surface. A generator is directly coupled to the output shaft of the engine and rotates therewith about a common axis. The generator is selectable from a plurality of generators having different output power characteristics. A movable support cart supports interface, engine and generator and is formed of a single piece of tubular stock. The tubular stock is bent to form two substantially parallel, displaced, U-shaped regions bounded by a third U-shaped region substantially perpendicular thereto wherein the interface element, the selected engine and the selected generator are supported and protected. The cart supports first and second displaced wheels which rotate about a common axis which extends between the first and second regions, parallel to the third region. A fuel tank is carried on the cart and extends from the first side of the axis while the interface extends from the second side enabling the fuel tank to counterbalance the weight of the selected engine, the selected generator and the interface about the axis of rotation of the wheels.
66 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A generator system positionable on a supporting surface comprising:
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an engine with a rotary output shaft intended to be oriented substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface in normal operation;
wherein the engine has a mounting surface;a source of electrical energy having a rotor and a stator wherein the rotor is adapted to be coupled, for rotation, to the output shaft along a common rotational center line; a speed control coupled to the engine for causing the engine to rotate the shaft with a substantially constant speed over a range of energy delivered from the source; and a sensor of delivered energy and a control element for disabling operation of the speed control during intervals of energy delivery below a preset threshold whereupon the engine enters a predetermined quiescent state outside of its normal operating range; a two part interface structure, positioned between the engine and the source, wherein one part mechanically receives the other, wherein one part carries an alignment element for the stator which is coupled thereto and wherein the other carries a surface, machined relative to the alignment element, whereby the machined surface aligns the shaft of the engine, relative to the stator and the common center line when the engine is coupled to the interface structure; and wherein the engine, the source and the interface structure are movably carried on a wheeled cart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An energy system movable and supportable on a surface comprising:
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an engine with a rotatable output with an axis of rotation oriented so as to be substantially perpendicular to the surface; a source of electrical energy coupled to the engine output; a sensor for detecting an electrical withdrawal from the source of electrical energy; a speed control causing the output of the engine to hold a substantially constant speed over a selected range of electrical withdrawals from the source of electrical power; a disabling device, coupled between the sensor and the speed control, for disabling the speed control in the absence of an electrical withdrawal, whereupon in the presence of the disabled speed control the speed of the engine output decreases from the substantially constant speed to a lower, idle speed; and wherein the engine, the source, the sensor, the speed control and the disabling device are carried on a wheeled cart. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A movable system for generating electrical energy comprising:
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an engine with a rotary output wherein the engine is attached to a movable cart; an electrical source with a rotatable portion; a two-sided mounting element for coupling to the engine on one side and source on the other and aligning the output of the engine relative to the rotatable portion of the source; a speed control system for operating the engine at a predetermined output speed when electrical power is being drawn from the source by a load and for operating the engine at a reduced speed in a no load condition; and
a counterbalancing fuel tank coupled to the engine. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A source of electrical energy movable on a surface comprising:
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a movable cart; a coupled engine/generator combination carried on the cart wherein the combination has a common axis of rotation oriented, when the combination is producing usable electrical energy, substantially perpendicular to the surface; and a solid state control module, carried on the cart, for producing engine speed control signals whereby the engine is enabled to operate at a first speed when electrical energy is being withdrawn from the source and adjusted to operate at a second, lower, speed in the absence of a selected electrical parameter having a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification