Standby generator

• US 7,314,397 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Briggs & Stratton LLC (Briggs & Stratton Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Inventors: Brandenburg, Billy, Nushart, Peter, Sodemann, Wesley C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson; Lars A.
• Application Number:
  US11/417,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20060258237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 440/89.R, 440/89.C, 603/20, 603/21, 603/23, 123/2, 123/41.7
• US Class Current: 440/89.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/083 using transversal baffles defining a tortuous path for the gases or successively throttling gas flow
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/084 the gases flowing through the silencer two or more times longitudinally in opposite directions, e.g. using parallel or concentric tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/082 of tailpipe, e.g. with means for mixing air with exhaust for exhaust cooling, dilution or evacuation F01N13/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/10 of exhaust manifolds with cooling jacket F01N3/046
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 1/06 Arrangements for cooling other engine or machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/025 using two or more air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/16 Outlet manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/04 for electric generators

Abstract

An exhaust system for an engine that produces an exhaust gas during operation. The exhaust system includes a manifold in fluid communication with the engine to receive the exhaust gas and a conduit extending from the manifold in a first direction. An outlet manifold is coupled to the conduit and extends in a second direction substantially normal to the first direction. The outlet manifold defines an aperture oriented such that exhaust gas passes through the aperture and out of the outlet manifold in a third direction that is substantially opposite the first direction.

Claims

1. An exhaust system for an engine that produces an exhaust gas during operation, the exhaust system comprising:

a manifold in fluid communication with the engine to receive the exhaust gas, and positioned within a cooling flow flowing in a first direction;

a conduit extending from the manifold in the first direction; and

an outlet manifold coupled to the conduit and extending in a second direction substantially normal to the first direction, the outlet manifold defining an aperture oriented such that exhaust gas passes through the aperture and out of the exhaust system in a third direction that is substantially opposite the first direction, the exhaust gas mixing with the cooling flow.

2. The exhaust system of claim 1, further comprising a passageway that defines a passageway flow area and provides fluid communication between the manifold and the engine, the manifold defining a flow area that is larger than the passageway flow area.

3. The exhaust system of claim 2, further comprising a second passageway that defines a second passageway flow area and provides fluid communication between the manifold and the engine, wherein the manifold flow area is larger than the sum of the passageway flow area and the second passageway flow area.

4. The exhaust system of claim 1, further comprising a baffle positioned within the manifold to redirect the exhaust gas.

5. The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the aperture includes a plurality of apertures spaced apart in the second direction along the outlet manifold.

6. The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas passes through the aperture in the third direction toward the manifold.

7. The exhaust system of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure, the engine, the manifold, the conduit, and the outlet manifold disposed substantially within the enclosure.

8. The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the conduit and the outlet manifold cooperate to define a substantially T-shaped portion having a base and two opposed arms, and wherein exhaust gas enters the T-shaped portion at the base and exits the outlet manifold through the two opposed arms such that the exhaust gas flows in the direction of the base.

9. The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the cooling flow passes over the manifold in substantially the first direction.

10. An apparatus comprising:

an enclosure including a first aperture, a second aperture, and a third aperture;

a prime mover disposed within the enclosure and including an exhaust portion;

a first fan coupled to the prime mover and operable to draw a first flow of air into the enclosure through the first aperture, the first flow of air divided into a first flow stream and a second flow stream that passes over the exhaust portion; and

a second fan coupled to the prime mover and operable to draw a second flow of air into the enclosure through the second aperture, the second flow of air passing over the exhaust portion and mixing with the first flow stream at a point where the second flow of air flows in a direction substantially opposite the first flow stream to at least partially define a third flow stream, the third flow stream exiting the enclosure through the third aperture.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an electric machine disposed substantially within the enclosure and coupled to the prime mover, the electric machine operable to output electrical power in response to prime mover operation.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the prime mover includes an internal combustion engine.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the enclosure defines an inlet chamber positioned to receive the first flow of air from the first aperture, the inlet chamber including an air duct that divides the first flow of air into the first flow stream and the second flow stream.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the enclosure defines a front surface, a rear surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, and wherein the first aperture is disposed in the front surface, the second aperture is disposed in the first side surface, and the third aperture is disposed in the rear surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the exhaust portion discharges a flow of exhaust gas in a first direction, and wherein the exhaust gas mixes with the second flow of air and the first flow stream to define the third flow stream.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the third flow stream exits the enclosure in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction.

17. An apparatus comprising:

an enclosure including a first aperture, a second aperture, and a third aperture;

a prime mover disposed within the enclosure and including an exhaust portion;

a first fan coupled to the prime mover and operable to draw a first flow of air into the enclosure through the first aperture, the first flow of air divided into a first flow stream and a second flow stream that passes over the exhaust portion; and

a second fan coupled to the prime mover and operable to draw a second flow of air into the enclosure through the second aperture, the second flow of air passing over the exhaust portion and mixing with the first flow stream to at least partially define a third flow stream, the third flow stream exiting the enclosure through the third aperture, wherein the enclosure defines a front surface, a rear surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, and wherein the first aperture is disposed in the front surface, the second aperture is disposed in the first side surface, and the third aperture is disposed in the rear surface, and wherein the second aperture includes a first opening and a second opening, the first opening passing through the first side surface and the second opening passing through the second side surface.

18. A method of operating an engine in an enclosure, the method comprising:

operating the engine to draw in a flow of air and to produce a flow of exhaust gas;

collecting the flow of exhaust gas within a manifold;

passing at least a portion of the flow of air over the manifold in a first direction;

directing the flow of exhaust gas to an outlet manifold;

discharging the flow of exhaust gas from the engine in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction;

mixing a portion of the flow of exhaust gas with the portion of the flow of air to define a mixture; and

discharging the mixture from the enclosure.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising dividing the flow of air into a combustion stream and a cooling stream.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising coupling an electric machine to the engine and outputting electrical power from the electric machine in response to operation of the engine.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising drawing a second flow of air into the enclosure in response to operation of the electric machine.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising passing a portion of the second flow of air over the manifold, mixing the portion of the second flow of air with the mixture, and discharging the portion of the second flow of air and the mixture from the enclosure.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the second flow of air and the mixture are discharged from the enclosure through a common outlet aperture.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the outlet aperture includes a plurality of openings arranged adjacent one another.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising discharging the exhaust gas from the outlet manifold in the second direction toward the manifold.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising directing the exhaust gas along a length of the outlet manifold and discharging the exhaust gas through a plurality of discharge apertures.