Configurable Adapter for Gas Engine Replacement Settings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas engines used in power equipment are not optimized for specific applications, leading to inefficiencies due to their general-purpose design, making customization difficult and expensive, and they produce harmful emissions and noise.
Innovation Solution
A gas engine replacement device with a configurable adapter that includes a transceiver, user interface, and electronic processor, allowing users to customize settings such as motor speed, thermal overloads, and current limits through a graphical user interface, enabling efficient operation without the need for additional mechanical parts or controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If gas engines are designed as general purpose engines, then they can be plugged into various power equipment, but they are not optimized for particular applications resulting in inefficiencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configurability through software/firmware settings that allow the engine parameters (fuel input, speed reduction/increase, etc.) to be adjusted in real-time based on the specific application requirements. This enables a single general-purpose engine to optimize its performance for different power equipment applications without physical modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters (fuel input rates, gear shift points, speed limits) through configurable settings stored in memory and accessed by a controller. This allows the same engine hardware to operate with different parameter sets optimized for specific applications, resolving the contradiction between versatility and efficiency.
2Productivity
If gas engines are customized to adapt to different applications, then operational efficiency improves, but additional mechanical parts and controls are needed increasing complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical mechanical customization (different carburetors, gear trains, linkages) with electronic/software-based configuration. The controller adjusts engine parameters through electronic signals based on firmware settings, eliminating the need for additional mechanical parts and physical controls for each application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal engine platform with a configurable control system that can adapt to multiple applications through software settings alone. The same physical engine can serve different power equipment applications by loading different configuration parameters, avoiding the need for application-specific mechanical variants.
3Productivity
If gas engines are customized at manufacturing, then they are optimized for specific applications, but the customization process becomes difficult and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures multiple application-specific firmware profiles in the engine's memory during manufacturing, but allows final selection and modification at the point of use. This preliminary preparation of configuration options simplifies both manufacturing (no physical customization needed) and deployment (users can select appropriate profiles).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses software/firmware copies of configuration sets that can be easily replicated and transferred. Instead of customizing physical components for each application, the system copies and loads different parameter sets into the controller's memory, making customization inexpensive and reversible.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If gas engine replacement devices use electric motors, then emissions and noise are reduced, but configuration capabilities must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the same parameter change principle to electric motors as was used for gas engines. The controller adjusts motor operational parameters (current flow, duty cycle, speed limits) based on configurable firmware settings, enabling electric motor replacement devices to maintain full configuration capabilities while eliminating emissions and noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the gas engine control system with an electric motor control system that uses similar electronic/configuration-based approaches. This substitution maintains configurability through software while eliminating the harmful characteristics of combustion engines.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment provides an adapter for configuring device settings of a gas engine replacement device. The adapter includes a transceiver, a user interface, and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to connect the adapter to the gas engine replacement device and generate a graphical user interface showing a plurality of configurable device settings. The electronic processor is also configured to receive user input to choose one or more device settings to configure and receive user input to configure the one or more device setting chosen and generate changed device settings. The electronic processor is also configured to transmit the changed device settings to the gas engine replacement device. The gas engine replacement device is then used to drive power equipment in accordance with the changed device settings.