IP Library Granted Patent US 11,692,506
Granted Patent B2
US 11,692,506 · App. 17/748,689 · Granted Jul 4, 2023

Cooling system for air-cooled engine

Inventors: Ryan A. Sullivan (West Bend, WI); Gary S. Johnson (Hales Corners, WI)
Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
F02F7/007F01P1/00F01P1/02F01P5/02F01P5/043F01P11/12F02B75/007F02B75/22F02B2075/1808
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,692,506
App. No.
17/748,689
Granted
Jul 4, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An air-cooled internal combustion engine including a crankshaft rotating about a crankshaft axis, a first cylinder having a first cylinder head, a second cylinder having a second cylinder head, and a blower assembly. The blower assembly includes a blower housing, a first fan, and a second fan. The first fan is positioned proximate the first cylinder and the second fan is positioned proximate the second cylinder. The first fan and the second fan are each received within the blower housing.

Claims (54)

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

a crankshaft rotating about a crankshaft axis;

a first cylinder having a first cylinder head;

a second cylinder having a second cylinder head; and

a blower assembly including a blower housing, a first fan, and a second fan;

wherein the first fan is positioned proximate the first cylinder and the second fan is positioned proximate the second cylinder, the first fan and the second fan each being received within the blower housing; and

wherein the first fan and the second fan are structured to move air into the blower housing when rotating in a first direction in a cooling mode and to move air out of the blower housing 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 cylinder and the second cylinder arranged in a V-twin configuration; and

wherein the first fan is positioned above the first cylinder and the second fan is positioned above the second cylinder.

3. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the first fan comprises a first fan axis of rotation at an angle relative to the crankshaft axis and the second fan comprises a second fan axis of rotation at an angle relative to the crankshaft axis.

4. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the first fan comprises a first electric motor and the second fan comprises a second electric motor;

wherein the first electric motor is controlled by a first controller and the second electric motor is controlled by a second controller.

5. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 1 , wherein the first fan comprises a first electric motor and the second fan comprises a second electric motor;

wherein the first electric motor and the second electric motor are controlled by a single controller.

6. An air-cooled internal combustion engine comprising:

a crankshaft rotating about a crankshaft axis;

a first cylinder having a first cylinder head;

a second cylinder having a second cylinder head;

a blower assembly including a blower housing, a first fan, and a second fan; and

a static cover including a main body, 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 plurality of air intake openings is formed through the main body, a second subset of the plurality of air intake openings is formed through the first arm, a third subset of the plurality of air intake openings is formed through the second arm; and

wherein the first fan is positioned proximate the first cylinder and the second fan is positioned proximate the second cylinder, the first fan and the second fan each being received within the blower housing.

7. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 6 , wherein the second subset of the plurality of air intake openings is located above the first cylinder, and the third subset of the plurality of air intake openings is located above the second cylinder.

8. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 6 , wherein the main body includes a top surface and a side surface extending from the top surface; and

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

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

10. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 6 , wherein the static cover is formed as a unitary component.

11. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 6 , further comprising a rotating screen coupled to and driven by the crankshaft.

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

a crankshaft rotating about a crankshaft axis;

a cylinder;

a user input device; and

a blower assembly including a fan and a blower housing having one or more openings;

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

wherein the user input device is configured to allow a user to control the fan between the cooling mode and the debris-removal mode.

13. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 12 , wherein the fan rotates about a fan axis of rotation at an angle relative to the crankshaft axis.

14. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 12 , wherein the fan rotates about a first fan axis independent of the crankshaft axis, and wherein the fan comprises fan blades driven by an electric motor.

15. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 13 , wherein the fan comprises fan blades driven by an electric motor, wherein the electric motor is controlled by a controller, wherein the controller is configured to operate the fan in the debris-removal mode for a first time and operate the fan in the cooling mode for a second time different than the first time.

16. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the fan in the debris-removal mode for the first time and operate the fan in the cooling mode for the second time based on an input from at least one of a sensor, a timer, or the user input device.

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

a crankshaft rotating about a crankshaft axis;

a first cylinder having a first cylinder head;

a second cylinder having a second cylinder head; and

a blower assembly including a fan and a blower housing having one or more openings;

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

18. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 17 , wherein the first cylinder and the second cylinder arranged in a V-twin configuration.

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

a crankshaft rotating about a crankshaft axis;

a cylinder; and

a blower assembly including a fan and a blower housing having one or more openings;

wherein the fan includes a first fan and a second fan,

wherein the first fan is coupled to the crankshaft and the second fan comprises fan blades driven by an electric motor, and

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

20. The air-cooled internal combustion engine of claim 19 , further comprising a rotating screen coupled to and driven by the crankshaft.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2023
From: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 062729/0725 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2022
From: SULLIVAN, RYAN A.; JOHNSON, GARY S.
To: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059963/0468 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2022
From: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
To: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLC
Reel/Frame 060130/0220 →