Starter system for portable internal combustion engine electric generators using a portable universal battery pack
First Claim
1. A portable electrical generator system, comprising:
- a manually movable frame supporting an internal combustion engine that drives a generator device supported on the frame that generates AC power, the internal combustion engine coupled to the generator device;
a starting device coupled to the internal combustion engine; and
a control panel assembly coupled to the frame, comprising;
a control panel having at least one AC outlet coupled to the generator device;
a housing having a battery receptacle therein electrically coupled to the starting device, the battery receptacle configured to receive a cordless power tool battery pack, the battery pack received in the battery receptacle and providing electrical power to the starting device;
a charger assembly including a charger electrically coupled between the battery pack received in the receptacle and the generator device when the internal combustion engine is running to charge the battery pack and electrically decoupled from the battery pack when the internal combustion engine is being started; and
the charger assembly including a base portion coupled to a cage portion, the charger received on the base portion.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable power driven system has a manually movable frame. In one example, an internal combustion engine and a generator device that generates AC power are supported on the frame. The internal combustion engine drives the generator device. An electrically powered starting device is coupled to the internal combustion engine. A control panel is coupled to the frame and includes at least one AC outlet and a battery receptacle that is electrically coupled to the starting device. The battery receptacle is materially the same as a foot of a cordless power tool that receives a battery pack. According to one aspect, the battery pack for the cordless power tool may be permanently mounted in the battery receptacle and provides electrical power to the starting device. The battery receptacle may be contained in an enclosure. The enclosure may provide biasing members urging the battery pack into the battery receptacle.
141 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A portable electrical generator system, comprising:
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a manually movable frame supporting an internal combustion engine that drives a generator device supported on the frame that generates AC power, the internal combustion engine coupled to the generator device; a starting device coupled to the internal combustion engine; and a control panel assembly coupled to the frame, comprising; a control panel having at least one AC outlet coupled to the generator device; a housing having a battery receptacle therein electrically coupled to the starting device, the battery receptacle configured to receive a cordless power tool battery pack, the battery pack received in the battery receptacle and providing electrical power to the starting device; a charger assembly including a charger electrically coupled between the battery pack received in the receptacle and the generator device when the internal combustion engine is running to charge the battery pack and electrically decoupled from the battery pack when the internal combustion engine is being started; and the charger assembly including a base portion coupled to a cage portion, the charger received on the base portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A portable electrical generator system, comprising:
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a manually movable frame supporting an internal combustion engine that drives a generator device supported on the frame that generates AC power, the internal combustion engine coupled to the generator device; a starting device coupled to the internal combustion engine; and a control panel assembly coupled to the frame, comprising; a control panel having at least one AC outlet coupled to the generator device; a housing having a battery receptacle therein electrically coupled to the starting device, the battery receptacle adapted to receive a cordless power tool battery pack for providing electrical power to the starting device when the battery pack is received in the battery receptacle; and a charger assembly substantially enclosed within the control panel and the housing, comprising; a stand alone charger electrically coupled between the battery pack received in the receptacle and the generator device when the internal combustion engine is running to charge the battery pack and electrically decoupled from the battery pack when the internal combustion engine is being started; and a base portion coupled to a cage portion, the stand alone charger received on the base portion and substantially enclosed by the base portion and cage portion. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification