Remote drain and filter arrangement for a portable generator system
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorJohn C. Leisner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A remote drain and filter arrangement for a portable engine-driven generator is disclosed that positions the oil filter and oil drain at a location outside the enclosure of the generator. The arrangement generally consists of an oil filter assembly and oil drain assembly. The oil filter assembly includes an oil filter adapter used to interface with the oil filter and is coupled to the engine via oil conduits. The oil drain assembly includes an oil drain conduit and a flow control device that allows the oil to be drained from a location outside of the enclosure of the generator. A pump can be used to allow for sufficiently longer oil conduits. The invention is retrofittable to current engine-driven generators and can also be incorporated into future designs.
Claims17
A portable engine-driven generator, comprising:
- an electrical power generator;
- an engine coupled to the electrical power generator to drive the electrical power generator to produce electric power;
- an enclosure surrounding both the engine and electrical power generator in an interior volume enclosed by an outer wall;
- an oil filter adapter external to the enclosure, wherein the oil filter adapter comprises a filter interface configured to support an engine oil filter in a filter region external to the enclosure, and the outer wall separates the filter region from the interior volume;
- oil filter conduits extending between the oil filter adapter and the engine;
- and
- an oil drain conduit extending between an engine oil drain of the engine and an external drain disposed in a drain region external to the enclosure, and the outer wall separates the drain region from the interior volume.
A portable engine-driven welder, comprising:
- an electric power generator;
- an engine coupled to the electrical power generator to drive the electrical power generator to produce electric power;
- a welding control system configured to regulate the electric power to produce a welding power;
- an enclosure surrounding both the engine and electrical power generator in an interior volume enclosed by an outer wall;
- and
- an external oil service retrofit kit configured to position an oil service region external to the enclosure, the retrofit kit comprising:
- an external service oil filter adapter configured to support an engine oil filter in a filter region external to the enclosure, and the outer wall separates the filter region from the interior volume;
- oil filter conduits configured to extend through the outer wall between the external service oil filter adapter and the engine;
- and
- an oil drain conduit configured to extend through the outer wall from an engine oil drain of the engine to an external drain at a drain region external to the enclosure, and the outer wall separates the drain region from the interior volume.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.