Starter system for an engine

• US 9,267,482 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2014
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Briggs & Stratton LLC (Briggs & Stratton Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Inventors: Hansen, Jason A., Koenen, Robert, Procknow, David W., Lavender, Stephen J., Elvers, Jason D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US14/507,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20150053164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 56/105, 56/108, 56/111, 56/113, 56/117, 56/118, 56/102.R, 172 40- 42, 180/6.62, 180/19.3, 180/315, 180/334, 180/6.34, 180 654- 658, 180/273, 123/185.14, 123/179.5, 123/198.DC, 123/630, 318/430, 318/778, 318/783, 318/825, 417/234, 417/364
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/006 Control or measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/6818 Motor starting mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/76 Driving mechanisms for the cutters
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/78 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/824 Handle arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/828 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/00 Starting of engines by means of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0822 related to action of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0848 with means for detecting successful engine start, e.g. to stop starter actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0862 characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/05 driven by internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/06 Mobile combinations
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/02 Stopping, starting, unloading or idling control

Abstract

An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder, an exhaust, a fuel tank, an engine cover, a power take off configured to drive an implement, an electric starting system including a starter motor, a battery receiving port, and a rechargeable battery removably attached to the battery receiving port, and an electric start control module including a switch configured to be actuated by a release mechanism configured to put the implement in the ready-to-run condition and a controller coupled to the switch, wherein the switch is configured to provide a signal when the release mechanism is in the engaged position, wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal, wherein the controller it configured to turn on the starter motor to start the internal combustion engine upon receipt of the signal from the switch and an input from a run sensor confirming that the implement is in the ready-to-run condition, and wherein the rechargeable battery is configured to power the starter motor to start the engine.

Claims

1. An internal combustion engine, comprising:

a cylinder;

an exhaust;

a fuel tank;

an engine cover;

a power take off configured to drive an implement;

an electric starting system comprising;

a starter motor,

a battery receiving port, and

a rechargeable battery removably attached to the battery receiving port, wherein the rechargeable battery is configured to power the starter motor to start the engine; and

an electric start control module comprising;

a switch configured to be actuated by a release mechanism configured to put the implement in the ready-to-run condition, wherein the switch is configured to provide a signal when the release mechanism is in an engaged position, and

a controller coupled to the switch to receive the signal, the controller configured to turn on the starter motor to start the internal combustion engine upon receipt of the signal from the switch and an input from a run sensor confirming that the implement is in the ready-to-run condition.

2. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the battery receiving port is integrated with the engine cover.

3. The internal combustion engine of claim 2, further comprising:

a locking mechanism configured to hold the rechargeable battery in the battery receiving port.

4. The internal combustion engine of claim 3, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to be released by a user to allow removal of the rechargeable battery from the battery receiving port.

5. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the electric start control module further comprises:

a housing,

a first connector configured to electrically connect to a release mechanism wiring harness, and

a second connector configured to electrically connect to the starter motor, wherein the first connector and the second connector are located on opposite sides of the housing.

6. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising:

an engine speed sensor configured to detect when the internal combustion engine is running at a threshold speed, wherein the engine speed sensor is coupled to the control module, and wherein the control module turns off the starter motor when the engine speed sensor detects the threshold speed.

7. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising:

a locking mechanism configured to hold the rechargeable battery in the battery receiving port.

8. The internal combustion engine of claim 7, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to be released by a user to allow removal of the rechargeable battery from the battery receiving port.

9. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the battery receiving port is integrated with the engine cover;

and

wherein the electric start control module further comprises;

a housing;

a first connector configured to electrically connect to a release mechanism wiring harness; and

a second connector configured to electrically connect to the starter motor, wherein the first connector and the second connector are located on opposite sides of the housing.

10. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising:

an engine speed sensor configured to detect when the internal combustion engine is running at a threshold speed, wherein the engine speed sensor is coupled to the control module, wherein the control module turns off the starter motor when the engine speed sensor detects the threshold speed, and wherein the battery receiving port is integrated with the engine cover.

11. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising:

an engine speed sensor configured to detect when the internal combustion engine is running at a threshold speed, wherein the engine speed sensor is coupled to the control module, and wherein the control module turns off the starter motor when the engine speed sensor detects the threshold speed; and

wherein the electric start control module further comprises;

a housing,

a first connector configured to electrically connect to a release mechanism wiring harness, and

a second connector configured to electrically connect to the starter motor, wherein the first connector and the second connector are located on opposite sides of the housing.

12. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising:

a locking mechanism configured to hold the rechargeable battery in the battery receiving port; and

wherein the electric start control module further comprises;

a housing,

a first connector configured to electrically connect to a release mechanism wiring harness, and

a second connector configured to electrically connect to the starter motor, wherein the first connector and the second connector are located on opposite sides of the housing.

13. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising:

a locking mechanism configured to hold the rechargeable battery in the battery receiving port, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to be released by a user to allow removal of the rechargeable battery from the battery receiving port; and

wherein the electric start control module further comprises;

a housing,

a first connector configured to electrically connect to a release mechanism wiring harness, and

a second connector configured to electrically connect to the starter motor, wherein the first connector and the second connector are located on opposite sides of the housing.

14. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to hold the rechargeable battery in the battery receiving port, wherein the battery receiving port is integrated with the engine cover;

and

wherein the electric start control module further comprises;

a housing;

a first connector configured to electrically connect to a release mechanism wiring harness; and

a second connector configured to electrically connect to the starter motor, wherein the first connector and the second connector are located on opposite sides of the housing.

15. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising:

an engine speed sensor configured to detect when the internal combustion engine is running at a threshold speed, wherein the engine speed sensor is coupled to the control module, and wherein the control module turns off the starter motor when the engine speed sensor detects the threshold speed; and

a locking mechanism configured to hold the rechargeable battery in the battery receiving port, wherein the battery receiving port is integrated with the engine cover.

16. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to hold the rechargeable battery in the battery receiving port, wherein the battery receiving port is integrated with the engine cover, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to be released by a user to allow removal of the rechargeable battery from the battery receiving port;

and

wherein the electric start control module further comprises;

a housing;

a first connector configured to electrically connect to a release mechanism wiring harness; and

a second connector configured to electrically connect to the starter motor, wherein the first connector and the second connector are located on opposite sides of the housing.

17. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising:

an engine speed sensor configured to detect when the internal combustion engine is running at a threshold speed, wherein the engine speed sensor is coupled to the control module, and wherein the control module turns off the starter motor when the engine speed sensor detects the threshold speed; and

a locking mechanism configured to hold the rechargeable battery in the battery receiving port, wherein the battery receiving port is integrated with the engine cover, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to be released by a user to allow removal of the rechargeable battery from the battery receiving port.

18. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising:

an engine speed sensor configured to detect when the internal combustion engine is running at a threshold speed, wherein the engine speed sensor is coupled to the control module, and wherein the control module turns off the starter motor when the engine speed sensor detects the threshold speed; and

a locking mechanism configured to hold the rechargeable battery in the battery receiving port.

19. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising:

an engine speed sensor configured to detect when the internal combustion engine is running at a threshold speed, wherein the engine speed sensor is coupled to the control module, and wherein the control module turns off the starter motor when the engine speed sensor detects the threshold speed; and

a locking mechanism configured to hold the rechargeable battery in the battery receiving port, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to be released by a user to allow removal of the rechargeable battery from the battery receiving port.

20. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising:

an engine speed sensor configured to detect when the internal combustion engine is running at a threshold speed, wherein the engine speed sensor is coupled to the control module, and wherein the control module turns off the starter motor when the engine speed sensor detects the threshold speed;

a locking mechanism configured to hold the rechargeable battery in the battery receiving port; and

wherein the electric start control module further comprises;

a housing,

a first connector configured to electrically connect to a release mechanism wiring harness, and

a second connector configured to electrically connect to the starter motor, wherein the first connector and the second connector are located on opposite sides of the housing.