US6603227B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Small engine vehicle including a generator
Assignee: Briggs and Stratton LLC
•
Filing: 2001-04-16
•
Granted: 2003-08-05
•
Expires: 2021-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A small-engine vehicle including a plurality of wheels, an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft interconnected to drive at least one of the wheels, and a generator. The generator includes a stator having a core disposed next to the engine and a winding disposed on the core. The generator further includes a flywheel-rotor apparatus surrounding at least a portion of the stator and having an aperture that receives the drive shaft. The flywheel-rotor apparatus is operable to magnetically interact with the stator to produce a first high-voltage, alternating-current signal in the winding, and to provide an inertia to the internal combustion engine. The generator further includes power circuitry electrically connected to the winding. The power circuitry receives the high-voltage, alternating-current signal and controllably generates a second high-voltage, alternating-current signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E. Rose, Sr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:22
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K6/00; B60K6/20; B60K6/22; B60K6/26; B60K6/42; B60K6/48; B60K6/485; B60L; B60L50/00; B60L50/30; B60W; B60W10/00; B60W10/04; B60W10/08; H; H02; H02K; H02K7/00; H02K7/18; H02K7/1807; H02K7/1815; B60L2200/00; B60L2200/22; B60L2260/00; B60L2260/10; B60L2260/12; F; F02; F02B; F02B63/00; F02B63/04; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/62; Y02T10/64; Y02T10/70; Y10; Y10S; Y10S903/00; Y10S903/902; Y10S903/903; Y10S903/904; Y10S903/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A small engine vehicle, comprising: a plurality of wheels; an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft interconnected to drive at least one of the wheels; a stator having a core disposed next to the engine and a winding disposed on the core; a flywheel-rotor apparatus surrounding at least a portion of the stator and having an aperture that receives the drive shaft, the flywheel-rotor apparatus being operable to magnetically interact with the stator to produce a first high-voltage, alternating-current signal in the winding, and to provide inertia to the internal combustion engine; power circuitry electrically connected to the winding, the power circuitry receiving the first high-voltage, alternating-current signal and controllably generating a second high-voltage, alternating-current signal, the power circuitry including a regulator that regulates the first high-voltage, alternating-current signal to a high-voltage, direct-current signal, a storage device that stores the high-voltage, direct-current signal, and an inverter that converts the high-voltage, direct-current signal to the second high-voltage, alternating-current signal; and an electrical outlet electrically connected to the power circuitry, the electrical outlet being configured to receive the second high-voltage, alternating-current signal and make the second high-voltage, alternating-current signal available for use by an operator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A small engine vehicle, comprising: a plurality of wheels; an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft interconnected to drive at least one of the wheels; a stator having a core disposed next to the engine and a winding disposed on the core; a flywheel-rotor apparatus surrounding at least a portion of the stator and having an aperture that receives the drive shaft, the flywheel-rotor apparatus being operable to magnetically interact with the stator to produce a first high-voltage, alternating-current signal in the winding, and to provide inertia to the internal combustion engine; power circuitry electrically connected to the winding, the power circuitry receiving the first high-voltage, alternating-current signal and controllably generating a second high-voltage, alternating-current signal, the power circuitry including a regulator that regulates the first high-voltage, alternating-current signal to a high-voltage, direct-current signal, a storage device that stores the high-voltage, direct-current signal, and an inverter that converts the high-voltage, direct-current signal to the second high-voltage, alternating-current signal; and an electrical outlet electrically connected to the power circuitry, the electrical outlet being configured to receive the second high-voltage, alternating-current signal and make the second high-voltage, alternating-current signal available for use by an operator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first high-voltage, alternating-current signal is greater than approximately two hundred volts peak-to-peak.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second high-voltage, alternating-current signal is greater than approximately ninety volts root-mean-square (RMS).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein the second high-voltage, alternating-current signal is between approximately one hundred and one-hundred-thirty volts RMS.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second high-voltage, alternating-current signal is approximately sixty Hertz.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the high-voltage, direct-current signal is between approximately one-hundred-twenty and one-hundred-sixty volts direct current.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first high-voltage, alternating-current signal is greater than approximately three-hundred volts peak-to-peak, wherein the high-voltage, direct-current signal is approximately one-hundred-fifty volts peak-to-peak, and wherein the second high-voltage, alternating-current signal is approximately one-hundred-twenty volts root-mean-square and is approximately sixty Hertz.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flywheel-rotor apparatus includes a plurality of magnets that magnetically interact with the at least one winding.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 8 wherein the magnets include neodymium-iron-boron magnets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the core includes a plurality of laminations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the winding is a high-voltage winding, wherein the stator further includes a second winding, and wherein the flywheel-rotor apparatus magnetically interacts with the stator to produce a low-voltage, alternating-current signal in the second winding.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein the low-voltage, alternating-current signal is less than fifty volts peak-to-peak.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
128 words
A small engine vehicle comprising: a plurality of wheels; an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft interconnected to drive at least one of the wheels; a stator having a core and a winding disposed on the core; a rotor interconnected with the drive shaft, the rotor being configured to magnetically interact with the stator to produce a first high-voltage, alternating current in the winding; power circuitry electrically connected to the winding, the power circuitry being configured to receive the first high-voltage, alternating current and to controllably generate a second high-voltage, alternating current; and an electrical outlet electrically connected to the power circuitry, the electrical outlet being configured to receive the second high-voltage, alternating current and make the second high-voltage, alternating current available for use by an operator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
128 words
A small engine vehicle comprising: a plurality of wheels; an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft interconnected to drive at least one of the wheels; a stator having a core and a winding disposed on the core; a rotor interconnected with the drive shaft, the rotor being configured to magnetically interact with the stator to produce a first high-voltage, alternating current in the winding; power circuitry electrically connected to the winding, the power circuitry being configured to receive the first high-voltage, alternating current and to controllably generate a second high-voltage, alternating current; and an electrical outlet electrically connected to the power circuitry, the electrical outlet being configured to receive the second high-voltage, alternating current and make the second high-voltage, alternating current available for use by an operator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the rotor surrounds at least a portion of the stator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 14 and further comprising: a flywheel interconnected with the drive shaft, the flywheel being configured to provide an inertia to the internal combustion engine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 15 wherein the rotor and flywheel form a flywheel-rotor apparatus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 13 and further comprising: a flywheel interconnected with the drive shaft, the flywheel being configured to provide an inertia to the internal combustion engine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 17 wherein the rotor and flywheel form a flywheel-rotor apparatus.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the power circuitry includes a regulator that regulates the first high-voltage, alternating current to a high-voltage, direct current, a storage device that stores the high-voltage, direct current, and an inverter that converts the high-voltage, direct current to the second high-voltage, alternating current.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the first high-voltage, alternating current is greater than approximately two hundred volts peak-to-peak.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the second high-voltage, alternating current is greater than approximately ninety volts root-mean-square (RMS).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 21 wherein the second high-voltage, alternating current is between approximately one-hundred and one-hundred-thirty volts RMS.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the second high-voltage, alternating current is approximately sixty Hertz.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the first high-voltage, alternating current is greater than approximately three-hundred volts peak-to-peak, and wherein the second high-voltage, alternating current is approximately one-hundred-twenty volts root-mean-square and is approximately sixty Hertz.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
42 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the winding is a high-voltage winding, wherein the stator further includes a low-voltage winding, and wherein the rotor magnetically interacts with the stator to produce a low-voltage, alternating current in the low-voltage winding.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 25 wherein the low-voltage, alternating current is less than approximately fifty volts peak-to-peak.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
51 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 25 wherein the power circuitry includes a first power circuitry, and wherein the vehicle further comprises: a second power circuitry electrically connected to the low-voltage wire, the second power circuitry being operable to receive the low-voltage, alternating current and controllably generate a direct current.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 27 wherein the second high-voltage, alternating current is approximately one hundred twenty volts root-mean-square, and the direct current is approximately twelve volts.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
154 words
A small engine vehicle comprising: a plurality of wheels; an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft interconnected to drive at least one of the wheels; a stator having a core and a winding disposed on the core; a rotor interconnected with the drive shaft, the rotor being configured to magnetically interact with the stator to produce a first high-voltage, alternating current in the winding, the first high-voltage, alternating current being greater than approximately two hundred volts peak-to-peak; power circuitry electrically connected to the winding, the power circuitry being configured to receive the first high-voltage, alternating current and to controllably generate a second high-voltage, alternating current, the second high-voltage, alternating current being between approximately ninety and one hundred thirty volts RMS; and an electrical outlet electrically connected to the power circuitry, the electrical outlet being configured to receive the second high-voltage, alternating current and make the second high-voltage, alternating current available to an operator.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
154 words
A small engine vehicle comprising: a plurality of wheels; an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft interconnected to drive at least one of the wheels; a stator having a core and a winding disposed on the core; a rotor interconnected with the drive shaft, the rotor being configured to magnetically interact with the stator to produce a first high-voltage, alternating current in the winding, the first high-voltage, alternating current being greater than approximately two hundred volts peak-to-peak; power circuitry electrically connected to the winding, the power circuitry being configured to receive the first high-voltage, alternating current and to controllably generate a second high-voltage, alternating current, the second high-voltage, alternating current being between approximately ninety and one hundred thirty volts RMS; and an electrical outlet electrically connected to the power circuitry, the electrical outlet being configured to receive the second high-voltage, alternating current and make the second high-voltage, alternating current available to an operator.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 29 wherein the rotor surrounds at least a portion of the stator.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 29 and further comprising: a flywheel interconnected with the drive shaft, the flywheel being configured to provide an inertia to the internal combustion engine.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 31 wherein the rotor and flywheel form a flywheel-rotor apparatus.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
51 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 29 wherein the power circuitry includes a regulator that regulates the first high-voltage, alternating current to a high-voltage, direct current, a storage device that stores the high-voltage, direct current, and an inverter that converts the high-voltage, direct current to the second high-voltage, alternating current.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
42 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 29 wherein the winding is a high-voltage winding, wherein the stator further includes a second winding, and wherein the rotor magnetically interacts with the stator to produce a low-voltage, alternating current in the second winding.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 34 wherein the low-voltage, alternating current is less than fifty volts peak-to-peak.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
51 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 35 wherein the power circuitry includes a first power circuitry, and wherein the vehicle further comprises: a second power circuitry electrically connected to the low-voltage wire, the second power circuitry being operable to receive the low-voltage, alternating current and controllably generate a direct current.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-08-04 | 2007-02-03 | 2007-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-08-04 | 2011-02-03 | 2011-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-08-04 | 2015-02-03 | 2015-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |