IP Library Granted Patent US 11,890,944
Granted Patent B2
US 11,890,944 · App. 17/752,787 · Granted Feb 6, 2024

Lithium-ion battery for engine starting

Inventors: Jeffrey M. Zeiler (Wauwatosa, WI); Richard J. Gilpatrick (Whitewater, WI)
Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
B60L1/003A01D34/6818B60L58/10B60W10/26F02N11/0862H01M4/5825H01M10/0525H01M10/46H02J7/0029H02J7/0068H02J7/00302A01D2101/00Y02T10/70Y02T90/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,890,944
App. No.
17/752,787
Granted
Feb 6, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A starter battery system for an air cooled engine rated at less than 50 horsepower. The system includes four lithium iron phosphate cells and a charging circuit configured to be powered by rotation of an air cooled engine. A voltage developed by the charging circuit is applied to the four lithium iron phosphate cells without battery management circuitry provided between the charging circuitry and the four lithium iron phosphate cells. An engine which includes at least one piston, a rotatable crankshaft coupled to the at least one piston, a starter motor configured to selectively initiate rotation of the crankshaft, a lithium-ion battery in electrical communication with the starter motor, the lithium-ion battery having at least one cell, and a charging system configured to be powered by motion of at least one component of the engine. The charging system is configured to continuously apply a voltage potential to the at least one cell while the engine is in a running condition. An engine including at least one piston, a rotatable crankshaft coupled to the at least one piston, a starter motor configured to selectively initiate rotation of the crankshaft, a lithium-ion battery in electrical communication with the starter motor, the lithium-ion battery having four lithium iron phosphate cells, and a charging system configured to be powered by the engine. The charging system is electrically coupled to the lithium-ion battery and configured to charge the lithium-ion battery and no battery management circuitry is provided between the charging system and the lithium-ion battery.

Claims (27)

1. An engine comprising:

at least one piston;

a rotatable crankshaft coupled to the at least one piston;

a starter motor configured to selectively initiate rotation of the crankshaft;

a lithium-ion battery in electrical communication with the starter motor, the lithium-ion battery having at least one iron phosphate cell; and

a charging system configured to be powered by motion of at least one component of the engine;

wherein the charging system is configured to continuously apply a voltage potential to the at least one cell while the engine is in a running condition.

2. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the lithium-ion battery comprises at least three cells.

3. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the lithium-ion battery does not include battery management circuitry.

4. The engine of claim 1 , wherein no cell protection circuitry is provided between the charging system and the lithium-ion battery.

5. The engine of claim 1 , wherein no charge control circuitry is provided between the charging system and the lithium-ion battery.

6. An engine comprising:

at least one piston;

a rotatable crankshaft coupled to the at least one piston;

a starter motor configured to selectively initiate rotation of the crankshaft;

a lithium-ion battery in electrical communication with the starter motor, the lithium-ion battery having lithium iron phosphate cells; and

a charging system configured to be powered by the engine;

wherein the charging system is electrically coupled to the lithium-ion battery and configured to charge the lithium-ion battery;

wherein no battery management circuitry is provided between the charging system and the lithium-ion battery.

7. The engine of claim 6 , wherein the charging system includes an alternator.

8. The engine of claim 6 , wherein no cell protection circuitry is provided between the charging system and the lithium-ion battery.

9. The engine of claim 6 , wherein no charge control circuitry is provided between the charging system and the lithium-ion battery.

10. The engine of claim 6 , further comprising a limiting system configured to limit an output provided to the lithium-ion battery, wherein the output comprises a current and a voltage.

11. The engine of claim 10 , wherein the limiting system comprises a switching system, wherein the switching system is configured to disconnect a connection between the charging system and the lithium-ion battery based on at least one of the current and the voltage.

12. The engine of claim 10 , wherein the limiting system comprises a switching circuit, wherein the switching circuit is configured to modify the output using pulse width modification.

13. The engine of claim 10 , wherein the limiting system comprises a filtering circuit configured to modify a waveform of the output.

14. The engine of claim 10 , wherein the limiting system comprises a zener diode or a metal oxide varistor configured to clamp the at least one of the voltage and the current.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2023
From: ZEILER, JEFFREY M.; GILPATRICK, RICHARD J.
To: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065161/0475 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2023
From: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
To: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLC
Reel/Frame 065190/0495 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15555323
Provisional Application 62129627 · Mar 6, 2015
Related Publication 20220285960A1 · Sep 8, 2022