The present disclosure generally relates to a mounting arrangement for a wireless communication device on or within a control panel of a generator. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a mounting arrangement that allows a circuit board of the wireless communication device to be positioned in a desired location to optimize the transmission path for wireless signals from the antenna of the wireless communication device.
Portable generators have become popular as a source of limited amounts of power for short-term use. For example, portable generators are often connected to homes or businesses to provide power in situations where the normal power source (e.g. utility power grid) fails. Portable generators generally include a prime mover that provides mechanical power through a generator or alternator that includes a rotor that rotates to generate usable electricity. Since the portable generator is located outside of a home, a user or home occupant must monitor the fuel level within the standby generator during extended periods of operation. Typically, the portable generator includes a visible fuel gauge that can be viewed from above the standby generator. This type of fuel monitoring requires the user to be present at the portable generator to determine the fuel level.
The present disclosure generally relates to a mounting arrangement for positioning a wireless communication device within the control panel of a generator. The mounting arrangement allows the wireless communication device to communicate through a metallic front panel of the control panel assembly.
The mounting arrangement of the present disclosure is used to position a wireless communication device with a control panel assembly of a portable generator. The control panel assembly includes a metallic front panel and a rear cover that combine to define a sealed enclosure. The front panel of the control panel assembly includes a transmission cutout, which is a removed portion of the metallic material that forms the front panel.
The mounting arrangement of the present disclosure includes a mounting platform that is formed from a composite material. The composite material provides the required support for a circuit board that includes the wireless transmission device. Specifically, the wireless transmission device includes a wireless antenna that is operable to transmit wireless information from the wireless transmission device and receive wireless control and command signals.
The mounting platform is preferably mounted to a rear surface of the front panel such that the wireless antenna is aligned with the removed transmission cutout. The mounting platform can include a transmission window which is also formed from the composite material. When the mounting platform is attached to the rear surface of the front panel, the transmission window is aligned with the transmission cutout. When aligned, the wireless antenna is able to transmit and receive wireless signals through both the composite transmission window and the transmission cutout formed in the metallic front panel.
The mounting arrangement of the present disclosure can be utilized with a portable generator to transmit information from the portable generator and receive commands/signals used to control the operation of the portable generator. The portable generator includes the control panel assembly including the front panel. The front panel includes the removed transmission cutout which is aligned with the transmission window of the mounting platform. In this manner, the wireless communication device is able to communicate through the front panel formed from metallic material.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the portable generator can include a fuel sensing device. The fuel sensing device includes an electronic sensing arrangement that generates an output signal that is proportional to the level of fuel in a fuel tank. The fuel sensing device further includes a visual indicator that displays the level of fuel in the fuel tank such that the level of fuel can be determined by looking at the visual indicator.
The fuel sensing device further includes a communication wire that is coupled to a wireless communication device such that the wireless communication device can transmit the level of fuel in the fuel tank away from the portable generator. The wireless communication device can be mounted to the rear surface of a control panel assembly.
In one embodiment of the disclosure, the fuel sensing device includes an electronic sensing arrangement that includes a pivoting pendulum that includes a magnet that moves relative to a stationary Hall Effect sensor. The stationary Hall Effect sensor generates an output voltage based upon the position of the magnet, which is indicative of the fuel level. In one embodiment of the disclosure, the output voltage of the Hall Effect sensor is linear relative to the fuel level.
The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the disclosure. In the drawings:
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As shown in
In the embodiment shown in
Referring now to
Referring back to
The mounting platform 42 includes a pair of upper mounting studs 52 that are each received within top mounting openings 54 formed in the circuit board 34. The upper mounting studs 52 are intended to be heat staked to retain the upper portion of the circuit board 34 without the need for any other fasteners. A pair of self-tapping screws 56 are each received within a mount 58 formed near the lower end of the mounting platform 42. In this manner, the wireless circuit board 34 can be securely attached to the mounting platform 42. The configuration of the mounting arrangement for the wireless circuit board 34 can be modified depending upon the desired position and orientation of the circuit board 34, and specifically the position and orientation of the wireless antenna 36. The location and orientation of the wireless antenna 36 can be modified by simply changing the mounting arrangement for the circuit board 34. In addition, the location of the wireless antenna 36 on the circuit board 34 could be modified to change the wireless transmission.
As illustrated in
As can be understood in
As illustrated in
As shown in
Although not shown in the embodiment of
Referring now to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The Hall Effect sensor generates a changing voltage depending upon the location of the permanent magnet 82 relative to the Hall Effect sensor. As the magnet 82 moves due to a changing fuel level, the Hall Effect sensor generates a changing voltage.
Referring back to
Although the FSU 70 provides an output voltage that is linearly related to the fuel level, alternate embodiments are contemplated that could utilize a shaped magnet such that the flux non-linearity cancels out the mechanical non-linearity of the mounting system.
Although the wireless communication device 32, including the circuit board 34 and antenna 36, are shown mounted within the control panel, it is contemplated that the wireless communication device could be combined with the FSU 70 to form a self contained unit that could be retrofit to existing portable generators to provide wireless connectivity for such generators.
As can be understood in the drawing figures, the wireless communication of the fuel level utilizing the Bluetooth communication protocol allows various different application software operating on a smart device to predict different parameters of the portable generator. As an example, application software can be developed to predict the amount of runtime remaining for the portable generator before the fuel is depleted, calculate the amount of fuel left in the fuel tank and monitor the runtime of the standby generator. In addition, since the wireless communication device is in communication with the control circuitry of the control panel, other information, such as the voltage being generated by the generator, the amperage draw on the generator and the frequency of the generator can be wirelessly transmitted to a user.
As can be understood by the above description, the mounting arrangement of the present disclosure allows the orientation of the wireless communication device, and specifically the wireless antenna, to be optimized for each individual type of portable generator.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
The present application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/331,634, filed May 4, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
8816651 | Fell | Aug 2014 | B1 |
10063175 | Frampton | Aug 2018 | B2 |
10181770 | Janscha et al. | Jan 2019 | B2 |
10203373 | Horst et al. | Feb 2019 | B1 |
10319207 | Janscha et al. | Jun 2019 | B1 |
10475319 | Janscha et al. | Nov 2019 | B2 |
20030080906 | Miyasaka | May 2003 | A1 |
20080265844 | Smith et al. | Oct 2008 | A1 |
20110309053 | Baus | Dec 2011 | A1 |
20130187392 | Janscha et al. | Jul 2013 | A1 |
20130293424 | Zhu | Nov 2013 | A1 |
20140091983 | Nakano | Apr 2014 | A1 |
20140174489 | Cottrell | Jun 2014 | A1 |
20140213178 | Wolff | Jul 2014 | A1 |
20140217689 | Rumao | Aug 2014 | A1 |
20140277791 | Lenard | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20150008679 | Janscha et al. | Jan 2015 | A1 |
20150338386 | Chapman, III | Nov 2015 | A1 |
20160365773 | Janscha et al. | Dec 2016 | A1 |
20170309992 | Noori | Oct 2017 | A1 |
20170346365 | Janscha et al. | Nov 2017 | A1 |
20180080392 | Janscha | Mar 2018 | A1 |
20180328816 | Schnell et al. | Nov 2018 | A1 |
20190055884 | Derra | Feb 2019 | A1 |
20190063373 | Markoski et al. | Feb 2019 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
WO-2013112590 | Aug 2013 | WO |
WO-2018183506 | Oct 2018 | WO |
Entry |
---|
U.S. Appl. No. 16/569,282, Janscha et al. |
U.S. Appl. No. 15/991,327, filed May 29, 2018, Janscha et al. |
U.S. Appl. No. 16/498,816, filed Mar. 28, 2018, Janscha et al. |
U.S. Appl. No. 16/567,925, filed Sep. 11, 2019, Willer et al. |
U.S. Appl. No. 62/397,733, filed Sep. 21, 2016 Janscha et al. |
U.S. Appl. No. 62/453,823, filed Feb. 2, 2017, Janscha et al. |
U.S. Appl. No. 62/455,373, filed Feb. 6, 2017, Janscha et al. |
U.S. Appl. No. 62/477,817, filed Mar. 28, 2017, Janscha et al. |
U.S. Appl. No. 62/512,623, filed May 30, 2017, Janscha et al. |
U.S. Appl. No. 62/730,352, filed Sep. 12, 2018, Janscha et al. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20170324145 A1 | Nov 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62331634 | May 2016 | US |