IP Library Granted Patent US 9,500,117
Granted Patent B2
US 9,500,117 · App. 14/035,469 · Granted Nov 22, 2016

Cooling system for air-cooled engine

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,500,117
App. No.
14/035,469
Granted
Nov 22, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An air-cooled internal combustion engine includes an engine block, a blower assembly including a blower housing and a fan, and a static cover. The static cover includes multiple air intake openings and is configured to prevent user access to a moving component of the engine. The blower housing is configured to at least partially direct air to the engine block. The fan is configured to move air into the blower assembly through the air intake openings when rotating in a first direction in a cooling mode and to move air out of the blower assembly through the air intake openings when rotating in an opposite second direction in a debris-removal mode.

Claims (39)

1. An air-cooled internal combustion engine, comprising:

a crankshaft;

a first cylinder;

a blower assembly including a blower housing and a fan; and

a static cover including a main body aligned with the crankshaft, a first arm extending from the main body and aligned with the first cylinder, and a plurality of air intake openings, wherein a first subset of the air intake openings is formed through the main body and a second subset of the air intake openings is formed through the first arm, and wherein the static cover is configured to prevent user access to a moving component of the engine;

wherein the fan is configured to move air into the blower housing through the air intake openings; and

a second cylinder, wherein the static cover includes a second arm extending from the main body and aligned with the second cylinder and wherein a third subset of the plurality of air intake openings is formed through the second arm,

wherein the fan is configured to move air into the blower housing through the air intake openings when rotating in a first direction in a cooling mode and to move air out of the blower housing through the air intake openings when rotating in an opposite second direction in a debris-removal mode.

2. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the first subset of the air intake openings is located above the crankshaft and the second subset of the air intake openings is located above the first cylinder.

3. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the main body includes a top surface and a side surface extending from the top surface; and

wherein the first subset of air intake openings is formed through the top surface and the side surface.

4. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 3 , wherein the first arm includes an arm top surface and the second subset of air intake openings is formed through the arm top surface.

5. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the first arm includes an arm top surface and the second subset of air intake openings is formed through the arm top surface.

6. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the first arm includes a first arm top surface and the second subset of air intake openings is formed through the first arm top surface; and

wherein the second arm includes a second arm top surface and the third subset of air intake openings is formed through the second arm top surface.

7. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the static cover is formed as a unitary component.

8. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second fan configured to move air into the blower housing through the air intake openings when rotating in a first direction in a cooling mode and to move air out of the blower housing through the air intake openings when rotating in an opposite second direction in a debris-removal mode.

9. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the fan is coupled to the crankshaft for rotation with the crankshaft.

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

a rotating screen coupled to and driven by the crankshaft.

11. An air-cooled internal combustion engine, comprising:

a crankshaft;

two cylinders comprising a first cylinder and a second cylinder;

a static cover including a main body aligned with the crankshaft, a first arm extending from the main body and aligned with the first cylinder, a second arm extending from the main body and aligned with the second cylinder, and a plurality of air intake openings, wherein a first subset of the air intake openings is formed through the main body, a second subset of the air intake openings is formed through the first arm, and a third subset of the air intake openings is formed through the second arm, and wherein the static cover is configured to prevent user access to a moving component of the engine; and

two fans, wherein a first fan is located between the first arm and the first cylinder and is configured to move air into the air intake openings when rotating in a first direction in a first fan cooling mode and to move air out of the air intake openings when rotating in an opposite second direction in a first fan debris-removal mode, and wherein a second fan is located between the second arm and the second cylinder and is configured to move air into the air intake openings when rotating in a first direction in a second fan cooling mode and to move air out of the air intake openings when rotating in an opposite second direction in a second fan debris-removal mode.

12. An air-cooled internal combustion engine, comprising:

a crankshaft;

a cylinder;

a blower assembly including a blower housing and a fan; and

a static cover including a main body aligned with the crankshaft, an arm extending from the main body and aligned with the cylinder, and a plurality of air intake openings, wherein a first subset of the air intake openings is formed through the main body and a second subset of the air intake openings is formed through the arm, and wherein the static cover is configured to prevent user access to a moving component of the engine;

wherein the fan is configured to move air into the blower housing through the air intake openings when rotating in a first direction in a cooling mode and to move air out of the blower housing through the air intake openings when rotating in an opposite second direction in a debris-removal mode.

13. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 12 , further comprising:

a second fan configured to move air into the blower housing through the air intake openings when rotating in a first direction in a cooling mode and to move air out of the blower housing through the air intake openings when rotating in an opposite second direction in a debris-removal mode.

14. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 12 , wherein the first subset of the air intake openings is located above the crankshaft and the second subset of the air intake openings is located above the cylinder.

15. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 12 , wherein the main body includes a top surface and a side surface extending from the top surface; and

wherein the first subset of air intake openings is formed through the top surface and the side surface.

16. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 15 , wherein the arm includes an arm top surface and the second subset of air intake openings is formed through the arm top surface.

17. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 12 , wherein the arm includes an arm top surface and the second subset of air intake openings is formed through the arm top surface.

Assignments (9)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2021
From: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
To: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLC
Reel/Frame 057042/0247 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2021
From: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
To: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLC
Reel/Frame 055402/0410 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 053885/0211 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2020
From: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLC
To: KPS CAPITAL FINANCE MANAGEMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 053850/0192 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2020
From: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053838/0046 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054617/0331 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2020
From: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053287/0487 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2019
From: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 050564/0916 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2013
From: SULLIVAN, RYAN A.; JOHNSON, GARY S.
To: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031437/0032 →