IP Library Granted Patent US 10,273,864
Granted Patent B2
US 10,273,864 · App. 15/011,932 · Granted Apr 30, 2019

Engine-driven generator

Inventors: Yuki Takahashi (Wako, JP); Takuo Kase (Wako, JP); Kazuki Shimozono (Wako, JP); Kiyomi Yanai (Wako, JP)
Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
F01P1/06F01P5/06F02B63/044F02B63/048
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,273,864
App. No.
15/011,932
Granted
Apr 30, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An engine-driven generator includes a fuel tank disposed in front of a cooling fan, an air guide space defined between the fuel tank and the cooling fan, an inverter disposed beside a lateral side part of the air guide space, and an air shroud provided between the inverter and the air guide space. The fuel tank is vertically elongated to face a cylinder block of a vertical engine. A storage space having the inverter disposed therein is connected to the air guide space via the air shroud.

Claims (28)

1. An engine-driven generator comprising:

a vertical engine having a cylinder disposed substantially vertically and a crankshaft;

a generator unit provided on a side of the engine from which the crankshaft of the engine projects outwardly;

a cooling fan disposed on a side of the generator unit opposite to the engine for cooling the engine and the generator unit;

a fuel tank disposed on a side of the cooling fan opposite to the generator unit and extending vertically so as to be opposed to the cylinder;

an air guide space defined between the fuel tank and the cooling fan;

an inverter disposed beside a lateral side part of the air guide space for converting a direct-current voltage generated by the generator unit into an alternating-current voltage; and

an air shroud disposed between the inverter and the air guide space and connecting a space in which the inverter is disposed to the air guide space,

wherein the fuel tank includes

a rear wall facing the cooling fan and located in front of the cooling fan to cover an entire area of a front side of the cooling fan, and

a guide protrusion formed on the rear wall to extend along an outer circumference of the cooling fan such that air, which has been guided from the air shroud into the air guide space, is guided by the guide protrusion toward the entire area of the front side of the cooling fan, and an imaginary extension line that extends from the crankshaft in an axial direction of the crankshaft intersects the fuel tank, the rear wall of the fuel tank, and the cooling fan, with the imaginary extension line intersecting with the fuel tank and the rear wall of the fuel tank via the cooling fan,

wherein the guide protrusion includes an outer peripheral edge, at least a portion of the outer peripheral edge of the guide protrusion being curved along a first dimension toward the cooling fan, the outer peripheral edge including

a curved region shaped in a curved form along a second dimension different than the first dimension along a region of the outer circumference of the cooling fan;

a horizontal region horizontally extending inward from an upper end of the curved region; and

an outer vertical region extending vertically downward from a lower end of the curved region, and

wherein, during the cooling fan drawing air, the air passes the inverter, goes into the air guide space through the air shroud, and is directed to the cooling fan by a guide wall of the guide protrusion formed on the rear wall of the fuel tank.

2. An engine-driven generator comprising:

a vertical engine having a cylinder disposed substantially vertically and a crankshaft;

a generator unit provided on a side of the engine from which the crankshaft of the engine projects outwardly;

a cooling fan disposed on a side of the generator unit opposite to the engine for cooling the engine and the generator unit;

a fuel tank disposed on a side of the cooling fan opposite to the generator unit and extending vertically so as to be opposed to the cylinder;

an air guide space defined between the fuel tank and the cooling fan;

an inverter disposed beside a lateral side part of the air guide space for converting a direct-current voltage generated by the generator unit into an alternating-current voltage; and

an air shroud disposed between the inverter and the air guide space and connecting a space in which the inverter is disposed to the air guide space,

wherein the fuel tank includes

a rear wall facing the cooling fan and located in front of the cooling fan to cover an entire area of a front side of the cooling fan, and

a guide protrusion formed on the rear wall to extend along an outer circumference of the cooling fan, the guide protrusion being curved along a first dimension toward the cooling fan and a second dimension different than the first dimension along a region of the outer circumference of the cooling fan, and

wherein, during the cooling fan drawing air, the air passes the inverter, goes into the air guide space through the air shroud, and is directed to the cooling fan by a guide wall of the guide protrusion formed on the rear wall of the fuel tank.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2016
From: TAKAHASHI, YUKI; KASE, TAKUO; SHIMOZONO, KAZUKI; YANAI, KIYOMI
To: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 037958/0973 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2015-065018 · Mar 26, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160281581A1 · Sep 29, 2016
Cited By (10)
US 1,067,289 US 1,083,828 US 1,085,006 US 1,085,007 US 1,085,008 US 1,085,009 US 1,085,010 US 1,085,011 US 1,085,012 US 12,445,061