US 12,291,091 B2
User-scalable power unit including removable battery packs
Jeffrey Zeiler, Pewaukee, WI (US); Robert John Koenen, Pewaukee, WI (US); Jacob Schmalz, Milwaukee, WI (US); Albert Liu, Dongguan (CN); Nick Zeidler, Brookfield, WI (US); Scott Funke, New Berlin, WI (US); and David Procknow, Elm Grove, WI (US)
Assigned to Briggs & Stratton, LLC, Wauwatosa, WI (US)
Filed by Briggs & Stratton, LLC, Wauwatosa, WI (US)
Filed on Mar. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/128,548.
Application 18/128,548 is a division of application No. 17/387,337, filed on Jul. 28, 2021, granted, now 11,642,952.
Application 17/387,337 is a division of application No. 16/323,408, granted, now 11,820,218, previously published as PCT/US2017/046213, filed on Aug. 10, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/501,302, filed on May 4, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/420,614, filed on Nov. 11, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/373,018, filed on Aug. 10, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0234432 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. B60K 1/04 (2019.01); A01D 69/02 (2006.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.01); B60L 53/80 (2019.01); B60L 58/22 (2019.01); H01M 10/42 (2006.01); H01M 10/44 (2006.01); H01M 50/213 (2021.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01); H02J 7/14 (2006.01)
CPC B60K 1/04 (2013.01) [A01D 69/02 (2013.01); B60L 50/66 (2019.02); B60L 53/80 (2019.02); B60L 58/22 (2019.02); H01M 10/4257 (2013.01); H01M 10/441 (2013.01); H01M 50/213 (2021.01); H02J 7/0016 (2013.01); H02J 7/0024 (2013.01); H02J 7/0025 (2020.01); H02J 7/0045 (2013.01); H02J 7/0063 (2013.01); B60K 2001/0416 (2013.01); B60K 2001/0455 (2013.01); B60K 2001/0466 (2013.01); B60L 2200/42 (2013.01); B60Y 2200/124 (2013.01); B60Y 2200/15 (2013.01); B60Y 2200/223 (2013.01); H01M 2010/4271 (2013.01); H01M 2220/20 (2013.01); H02J 7/14 (2013.01); H02J 7/1423 (2013.01); H02J 7/1438 (2013.01); Y02T 10/70 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A riding lawn mower comprising:
a pair of rear drive wheels;
a pair of front wheels;
a deck positioned between the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear drive wheels;
a rotatable cutting blade;
a plurality of battery packs removably coupled to the riding lawn mower and structured to provide power to the riding lawn mower, each battery pack graspable and removable by a user; and
a battery management system configured to control a plurality of switching elements associated with the plurality of battery packs, wherein the plurality of switching elements are movable between an open position and a closed position to control a current flow from each of the plurality of battery packs to the riding lawn mower, wherein the battery management system is configured to maintain a balanced state of charge between the plurality of battery packs by reducing a current drawn from one of the plurality of battery packs having a lowest state of charge, wherein the current drawn from one of the plurality of battery packs is reduced by selectively moving one or more of the plurality of switching elements to the open position, and wherein the battery management system comprises a master battery management system configured to issue control commands to a plurality of slave battery management systems, wherein each of the plurality of slave battery management systems is configured to internally control operation of one of the plurality of battery packs,
wherein the plurality of battery packs sequentially provide power to the riding lawn mower.