Marine outboard electrical generator and assembly method

An electrical generator for generating electrical power output for use by electrical devices on a marine vessel, said electrical generator comprising:

• a housing, said housing having an upper portion and an elongate lower portion depending downward from said upper portion, said housing further including means for removably mounting said housing to a marine vessel;
• an internal combustion engine contained within said housing, said internal combustion engine including a projecting crankshaft, a carburetor fluidly connected to a fuel pump, said fuel pump fluidly connected to a fuel tank, said internal combustion engine further including an air intake and an exhaust port;
• means for generating electrical power connected to said internal combustion engine, said means for generating electrical power including a permanent magnet alternator, said permanent magnet alternator including a rotor and a stator, said rotor fixedly connected to said crankshaft for rotation relative to said stator, said permanent magnet alternator further synchronized to the engine so as to counterbalance periodic vibrational forces generated by piston movement with magnetic forces developed between said rotor and said stator;
• an inverter electrically connected to said permanent magnet alternator, said inverter capable of converting direct electrical current to alternating electrical current;
• power outlet means electrically connected to said inverter for providing means for transmitting electrical power generated by said means for generating electrical power to electrical power consuming devices onboard the marine vessel.

An outboard electrical generator for generating electrical power for use by electrical power consuming devices on a marine vessel, said marine vessel having a hull with a transom, said hull having a waterline disposed along the surface of the body of water supporting the marine vessel when the vessel is loaded as designed, said electrical generator comprising:

• a housing, said housing having an upper portion and an elongate lower portion depending downward from said upper portion, said housing further including bracket means for removably mounting said housing to the transom of a marine vessel;
• an internal combustion engine contained within said housing, said internal combustion engine including a projecting crankshaft and a carburetor fluidly connected to a fuel pump, said fuel pump fluidly connected to a fuel tank, said internal combustion engine further including an air intake and an exhaust port;
• a permanent magnet alternator connected to said internal combustion engine, said permanent magnet alternator including a rotor and a stator, said rotor fixedly connected to said crankshaft for rotation relative to said stator, said permanent magnet alternator further synchronized to the engine so as to counterbalance periodic vibrational forces generated by piston movement with magnetic forces developed between said rotor and said stator;
• an inverter electrically connected to said permanent magnet alternator, said inverter capable of converting direct electrical current to alternating electrical current;
• a control panel mounted to said housing upper portion and electrically connected to said permanent magnet alternator and said inverter, said control panel including power outlet means for transmitting electrical power generated by said permanent magnet alternator to electrical power consuming devices onboard the marine vessel;
• feedback control circuitry means for sensing the electrical load on said generator, said feedback control circuitry electrically connected to a throttle control motor, said throttle control motor connected to said carburetor for increasing and decreasing air and fuel flow to said internal combustion engine in response to electrical load placed on said generator.

An electrical generator for installation on a marine vessel, said electrical generator comprising:

• an internal combustion engine having a projecting crankshaft, an air intake for providing combustion air to said engine, and an exhaust system including an exhaust outlet for discharging engine exhaust;
• means for mounting said internal combustion engine to the transom of a marine vessel such that said air intake is in fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere and said exhaust outlet is disposed below the vessel's waterline;
• a permanent magnet alternator mechanically connected to said crankshaft for producing electrical current;
• and
• electrical output means for supplying an electrical current from said electrical generator to external power consuming devices;
• wherein the internal combustion engine further comprises means for generating a properly timed electrical pulse electrically connected to a spark plug connected to the internal combustion engine.

An electrical generator for generating electrical power output for use by electrical devices on a marine vessel, said electrical generator comprising:

• a housing, said housing having an upper portion and an elongate lower portion depending downward from said upper portion, said housing further including means for removably mounting said housing to a marine vessel;
• an internal combustion engine contained within said housing, said internal combustion engine including a projecting crankshaft, a carburetor fluidly connected to a fuel pump, said fuel pump fluidly connected to a fuel tank, said internal combustion engine further including an air intake and an exhaust port;
• means for generating electrical power connected to said internal combustion engine, said means for generating electrical power including a permanent magnet alternator, said permanent magnet alternator including a rotor and a stator, said rotor fixedly connected to said crankshaft for rotation relative to said stator;
• an inverter electrically connected to said permanent magnet alternator, said inverter capable of converting direct electrical current to alternating electrical current;
• power outlet means electrically connected to said inverter for providing means for transmitting electrical power generated by said means for generating electrical power to electrical power consuming devices onboard the marine vessel;
• and
• means for regulating fuel flow to said internal combustion engine in response to electrical demand, the means for regulating fuel flow including feedback carburetor control for adjusting engine speed in response to electrical load, the feedback carburetor control including
• an electrical throttle control motor connected to a carburetor, and
• feedback control means for sensing the electrical load placed on the electrical generator, said feedback control means controlling said electrical throttle control motor to regulate throttle fuel flow.

An outboard electrical generator for generating electrical power for use by electrical power consuming devices on a marine vessel, said marine vessel having a hull with a transom, said hull having a waterline disposed along the surface of the body of water supporting the marine vessel when the vessel is loaded as designed, said electrical generator comprising:

• a housing, said housing having an upper portion and an elongate lower portion depending downward from said upper portion, said housing further including bracket means for removably mounting said housing to the transom of a marine vessel;
• an internal combustion engine contained within said housing, said internal combustion engine including a projecting crankshaft and a carburetor fluidly connected to a fuel pump, said fuel pump fluidly connected to a fuel tank, said internal combustion engine further including an air intake and an exhaust port, and an ignition spark pulse generator electrically connected to a spark plug;
• a permanent magnet alternator connected to said internal combustion engine, said permanent magnet alternator including a rotor and a stator, said rotor fixedly connected to said crankshaft for rotation relative to said stator;
• an inverter electrically connected to said permanent magnet alternator, said inverter capable of converting direct electrical current to alternating electrical current;
• a control panel mounted to said housing upper portion and electrically connected to said permanent magnet alternator and said inverter, said control panel including power outlet means for providing means for transmitting electrical power generated by said permanent magnet alternator to electrical power consuming devices onboard the marine vessel;
• feedback control circuitry means for sensing the electrical load on said generator, said feedback control circuitry electrically connected to a throttle control motor, said throttle control motor connected to said carburetor for increasing and decreasing air and fuel flow to said internal combustion engine in response to electrical load placed on said generator.