Patent Application
20250178455
Generators provide power in off-grid applications and/or remote areas where the power grid cannot be easily accessed. Generators can be powered by gasoline, LP, hydrogen, or any other fuel commonly used to generate power. During the conversion of potential chemical energy to electricity, a combustion engine is typically used to burn the fuel and convert this to electrical energy. When operating, a combustion engine is known to create vibrations through the quick revolutions of the crankshaft of the engine and other components. Depending on the method for attaching the generator to the vehicle being used, these vibrations can be transferred from the generator to the vehicle to produce a number of undesirable results such as noise, unsettling vibrations for passengers/guests, and damage to vehicle components (both mechanical and electrical) from excessive vibrations.
These drawings illustrate certain aspects of some of the embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be used to limit the disclosure.
Embodiments are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Embodiments disclosed herein provide a mounting system for attaching a generator to a vehicle (motorized) or trailer (towable). An exemplary mounting system contains a pair of horizontal cradle members which bolt into the bottom of the generator, and a pair of vertical cradle members which attach to the horizontal cradle members. A top cradle member attaches to each vertical cradle member and provides a flat surface for mating with the mounting surface on the vehicle or trailer. One or more tabs extend downwardly on the inner side of top cradle member to provide apertures for mounting bolts while the outer side of the top cradle member contains an outer rib.
The top cradle members 300 each include one or more apertures 320 to accept mounting bolts so that the mounting system 500 and generator 10 can be fastened to a stable surface on the a vehicle, generally so that the mounting system 500 and generator 10 can hang from a surface above (sometimes the floor of an RV, the bed of a work truck, or the roof of a storage/tool compartment). In a preferred embodiment, a vibration isolator 400 may be connected between the top cradle member 300 and the vertical cradle member 200, as described in further detail below.
An alternative method for removing the generator 10 from the mounting system (after removing the bolts 50) would be to remove the bolts 75 which secure the horizontal cradle members 100 to the vertical cradle members 200 and separate the horizontal cradle members 100 from the vertical cradle members 200 which completely frees the generator 10 from the mounting system 400 allowing it to not only be lifted vertically but also slide horizontally now that the vertical cradle members 200 have been removed.
Another method for removing the generator 10 from the mounting system 400 would be to first remove bolts 75, in order to separate the vertical cradle members 200 and top cradle members 300 from the horizontal cradle members 100. Once members 200/300 are removed, the generator bolts 50 can be removed and the horizontal cradle members 100 separated from the generator 10.
Using this orientation, note that each top cradle member 300 and vertical cradle member 200 has a side that faces the outside (i.e., the outer side) and a side that faces the inside (i.e., the inner side). Further note that each top cradle member 300 preferably contains at least one tab 310 that extends downwardly and is positioned on the inner side of each top cradle member 300.
The top cradle member 300 preferably contains a top mounting plate 330 that is generally flat, generally horizontal, and adapted to meet with the mounting surface on the vehicle or trailer once the mounting bolts are secured through the apertures 320. An outer rib 350 preferably extends downwardly from the top plate 330 on the outer side of the top cradle member 300. The outer rib 350 is preferably substantially vertical.
It has been discovered that the embodiments of the mounting system described and shown herein provide significant and unexpected reduction in the vibrations transferred from the generator to the mounting system and eventually to the mounting surface of the vehicle or trailer.
It should be noted that while bolts are shown for connecting the cradle members, this could also be achieved by welding the pieces together and could achieve the same result. As used herein, the term ‘bolt’ means any rigid elongate member with a circular cross-section and does not necessarily require the use of any threads or nuts or fastener head.
Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
For the sake of brevity, only certain ranges are explicitly disclosed herein. However, ranges from any lower limit may be combined with any upper limit to recite a range not explicitly recited, as well as ranges from any lower limit may be combined with any other lower limit to recite a range not explicitly recited, in the same way, ranges from any upper limit may be combined with any other upper limit to recite a range not explicitly recited. Additionally, whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling within the range are specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to set forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range of values even if not explicitly recited. Thus, every point or individual value may serve as its own lower or upper limit combined with any other point or individual value or any other lower or upper limit, to recite a range not explicitly recited.
Therefore, the present embodiments are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the present embodiments may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Although individual embodiments are discussed, all combinations of each embodiment are contemplated and covered by the disclosure. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
Having shown and described various embodiments of the disclosure, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to affect the disclosure and still be within the scope of the claimed invention. Additionally, many of the elements indicated above may be altered or replaced by different elements which will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed invention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated by the scope of the claims.
This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/604,376 filed on Nov. 30, 2023 which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63604376 | Nov 2023 | US |
