Power equipment apparatus having a power generation system

• US 20040135373A1
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Osborne, Christopher M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,987,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1A
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2101/00 Lawn-mowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/001 Accessories not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/6806 Driving mechanisms for the cutters A01D34/76
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/02 electric

Abstract

A power equipment apparatus includes an internal combustion engine and a generator operatively connected to the engine, wherein the generator is configured to generate electrical power. A receptacle is configured to receive the electrical power from the generator and to provide a consumer with access to at least a portion of the electrical power.

Claims

1. A power equipment apparatus comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a generator having a rotor and a coil assembly, the rotor being rotationally movable with respect to the coil assembly, the rotor and coil assembly being at least partially integrated with the engine such that the rotational movement of the rotor provides sufficient inertia in the engine to facilitate ongoing engine operation, wherein the generator is configured to generate electrical power;

interface circuitry configured to receive the electrical power from the generator; and

a receptacle electrically coupled with the interface circuitry and configured to provide an operator with access to the electrical power.

2. The power equipment apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interface circuitry comprises an inverter configured to receive and condition the electrical power from the generator.

3. The power equipment apparatus of claim 2 wherein the inverter is coupled with a speed regulation system.

4. The power equipment apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical power at the receptacle measures about 120 volts AC.

5. The power equipment apparatus of claim 1 comprising a mower having a mowing blade.

6. The power equipment apparatus of claim 5 wherein the mowing blade is supported by a crankshaft of the engine.

7. The power equipment apparatus of claim 5 wherein the mowing blade is remotely disposed from the engine and is connected to the engine with a power transmission device.

8. The power equipment apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a clutch, the clutch being operative to selectively disengage the mowing blade from the engine when an operator indicates an intention to access the receptacle.

9. The power equipment apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a substantially non-conductive deck.

10. The power equipment apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a drive wheel, the drive wheel being configured to be rotatably driven by an electric motor.

11. The power equipment apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an immobilizing device.

12. A walk-behind mower comprising:

a substantially non-conductive deck;

an internal combustion engine adjacent to the deck;

a generator operatively connected to the engine and at least partially integral with the engine, wherein the generator is configured to generate electrical power;

an inverter configured to receive electrical power from the generator and to condition the electrical power;

a receptacle electrically coupled with the inverter and configured to provide a consumer with access to the conditioned electrical power; and

a mowing blade selectively rotated by the engine, wherein the engine is configured to disengage the mowing blade when the consumer accesses the conditioned electrical power.

13. The walk-behind mower of claim 12 wherein the conditioned electrical power measures about 120 volts AC.

14. The walk-behind mower of claim 12 further comprising a speed regulation system coupled with the inverter.

15. The walk-behind mower of claim 12 further comprising a drive wheel, the drive wheel being configured to be rotatably driven by an electric motor.

16. The walk-behind mower of claim 12 further comprising a handle connected to the deck and configured to enable a consumer to push the mower, the receptacle being associated with the handle.

17. The walk-behind mower of claim 12 wherein the receptacle is associated with the deck.

18. The walk-behind mower of claim 12 further comprising an immobilizing device.

19. The walk-behind mower of claim 12 wherein the generator includes a rotor and a coil assembly, the rotor being rotationally movable with respect to the coil assembly, the rotor and coil assembly being at least partially integrated with the engine such that the rotational movement of the rotor provides sufficient inertia in the engine to facilitate ongoing engine operation.

20. A walk-behind mower comprising:

a substantially non-conductive deck;

an internal combustion engine adjacent to the deck, the engine comprising a crankshaft;

a generator operatively coupled to the engine and configured to generate electrical power;

an inverter configured to receive the electrical power from the generator and to condition the electrical power to about 120 volts AC;

an engine speed regulation system coupled with the inverter;

a receptacle electrically coupled with the inverter and configured to provide a consumer with access to the conditioned electrical power;

a mowing blade selectively engaged with the crankshaft; and

a clutch operative to selectively disengage the mowing blade from the crankshaft when an operator indicates an intention to access the receptacle.

21. The walk-behind mower of claim 20 wherein the generator is integral with the engine.

22. The power equipment apparatus of claim 21 wherein the generator includes a rotor and a coil assembly, the rotor being rotationally movable with respect to the coil assembly, the rotor and coil assembly being at least partially integrated with the engine such that the rotational movement of the rotor provides sufficient inertia in the engine to facilitate ongoing engine operation.

23. The walk-behind mower of claim 20 wherein the generator is separate from the engine.

24. The walk-behind mower of claim 20 further comprising a drive wheel, the drive wheel being configured to be rotatably driven by an electric motor.