Patent Abstract:
A gas powered internal combustion engine in which the gas is provided from the gas phase of a pressurized liquid gas in an liquified petroleum gas container and in which the liquified petroleum gas container is rigidly mounted adjacent to the internal combustion engine at a preselected angle to be in conductive heat transfer relationship to the internal combustion engine and in vibration receiving relationship to the internal combustion engine whereby the liquified gas in the liquified petroleum gas container is heated and vibrated and the effective surface area thereof is thereby increased. A pressure regulator is provided for receiving the gas from the liquid petroleum gas bottle regulating the pressure of the gas transmitted to the internal combustion engine and at least one flexible hose is connected to the pressure regulator for transmitting the gas therethrough.

Full Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 12/655,121, filed Dec. 24, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,656,884 which is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 12/455,407 filed Jun. 3, 2009 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,703,430, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 12/221,869, filed Aug. 6, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,730,868, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 11/702,381 filed Feb. 6, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,424,886, and is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 12/655,144 filed Dec. 24, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,874,275 which is a continuation of Ser. No. 12/455,790 filed Jun. 8, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,739,996, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 12/221,869, filed Aug. 6, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,730,868, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 11/702,381 filed Feb. 6, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,424,886. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a gas powered internal combustion engine which may be utilized to drive a variety of devices and may be utilized in one application as an emergency power source for generating electrical power. As utilized herein the term “gas” refers to a fluid in the gas state as a product which is emitted from a fluid in the liquid state which is stored under pressure and as contained, for example, in an LPG: Liquefied Petroleum Gas, commonly known as propane, container, or butane or the like. As utilized herein, the terms gas state, liquid state and fluid are used in the technical sense. That is, fluid is defined to mean a substance that can fill the volume of the container in which it is placed and includes both gas state and liquid state of the substance. “Gasoline” is used herein to define the liquid hydrocarbon based fuels generally used to power the engines of automobiles, trucks and the like. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are many applications where a portable source of power is desired. These applications include the operation of many rotary devices such as portable gardening tools including hedge trimmers, weed cutters, small chain, reciprocating or rotating saws, and the like. Such devices are used while the user thereof is mobile. These devices are often driven by a small internal combustion engine using gasoline as the energy source and having a small tank for the gasoline as part of the equipment and providing a rotary output through a rotating drive shaft driven by the internal combustion engine to drive the particular device. As such, they require the storage of gasoline for the continued operation thereof in order to periodically refill the small gasoline tank. However, the storage of gasoline is highly restricted as to the type of container in which it may be stored, the places where it may be stored, the amount that may be stored and the environmental conditions under which it may be stored. 
     Another application of portable sources of power is in the field of devices that, while portable, are generally stationary during use. This field of devices includes portable electric generators utilized for emergency power or to provide electrical energy in locations where other electrical energy is not available. Many of these portable electrical power generators are driven by an internal combustion engine. The larger types of these portable electric power generators as carried in emergency vehicles of various types utilize gasoline or diesel powered engines with comparatively large storage supplies of the gasoline or diesel oil. Such devices are, of course, large and cumbersome and not adapted to be a readily portable device that may be easily carried by one person and transported from location to location. 
     However, there is a demand for an electric power generator that is small and light enough to be moved by one person from location to location and still provide a moderate amount of electrical power. These small electrical power generators are often driven by a small, light weight internal combustion engine. In this class of small, light weight internal combustion engine driven electrical generators it is often desired to store such device, either permanently or temporarily in the home, garage, vehicle or other location and also to store a comparatively large amount of fuel for use therein. In the situation of an electrical power outage in a residence, a small electrical power generator may be utilized to power a radio, recharge a cell phone or other such device, power a hot plate for cooking, provide illumination or for other desired activities. Other uses of a small internal combustion engine drive electrical generator are in campsites, on boats which do not have any other type of electrical power, and may other purposes. 
     The internal combustion engine that have heretofore been proposed for these small internal combustion engine driven electrical generators have been single cylinder, two cycle, engines in which the compression has been in the cylinder located in the crankcase thereof. 
     To meet these desiderata it is necessary that the fuel to power the internal combustion engine be of the type and in the condition that it may be stored in virtually any desired amount at the storage location of the engine powered electrical generator. The use of LPG is one type of fuel that may be utilized in an internal combustion engine in place of the gasoline or diesel to power the internal combustion engine that is utilized to drive the electrical generator, or other engine driven device. The LPG containers are pressurized so that the gas therein is converted to the liquid state and, as such, has an amount of fluid in the gas state above the vertically top level of the fluid in the liquid state. 
     One type of LPG storage bottle that has been proposed to provide power for these small internal combustion engine driven devices is a small container holding approximately 1 to 2 pounds of LPG contained in the bottle. These bottles have heretofore been utilized in various camping applications and are widely available. 
     In some of the prior art configurations, an LPG container was utilized and the LPG container required a particular rotational orientation about the long axis thereof in order to feed the gas therefrom because of a generally right angle bended feed tube in the container through which the gas flows to regions external the LPG container. Such a configuration limits the utility of such a device. 
     One very well known brand of such LPG bottles is the small LPG containers which are generally known to the public as Coleman Bottles. The Coleman Bottles are on the order of three and one half inches in diameter and on the order of seven and one half inches in axial length and contain about one to two pounds of the LPG. The Coleman Bottles come equipped with a standard threaded adapter for ready threading into a utilizing device and do not have any preferred orientation of rotation about the long axis thereof with respect to the device into which it is threaded. The adapter has an internal disconnect coupling for appropriate connection into a matching disconnect coupling which allows the flow of gas from the bottle when connected and prevents the flow of gas therefrom when disconnected. The Coleman Bottles are also provided with a built in pressure relief valve for safety in the event of over pressurization. The Coleman Bottles contain such a limited amount of LPG that a plurality of such bottles generally may, within the present laws and regulations, be stored in the home, in the garage or carried in a vehicle thus making them attractive as a substitute for use in many gasoline or diesel oil powered applications. However, the gas flow rate of the gas from the LPG in a Coleman Bottle is limited because of the comparatively small surface area of the LPG from which the gas is generated. In the event that too high a gas flow rate is demanded from the LPG in a Coleman Bottle, the LPG will freeze and thus effectively end the generation of the gas at usable flow rates from the LPG. Consequently, despite the attractiveness of the Coleman Bottles for use in many devices, the use of the Coleman Bottles has generally been limited to very low power requirement applications and have not been adapted for use in providing the energy for powering an internal combustion engine utilized to drive an electrical generator or other portable engine driven devices. 
     Thus, there has long been a need for a suitable arrangement in which a standard, readily available Coleman Bottle is utilized in an application in which power sufficient to drive a small electrical generator or other small portable engine driven devices is demanded. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved portable internal combustion engine driven device in which the engine is powered by LPG. 
     It is another object of the present device to provide an improved portable internal combustion engine driven device in which the engine is powered by LPG and the LPG is in a container having a comparatively small amount of LPG. 
     It is another object of the present device to provide an improved portable internal combustion engine driven device in which the engine is powered by LPG and the LPG is in a container having a comparatively small amount of LPG and the LPG container may be rotated about its axis to any desired position for operation and does not require a particular rotational position about its axis for operation. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved portable internal combustion engine driven device in which the engine is powered by LPG and the LPG is in a container having a comparatively small amount of LPG and in which a comparatively large and continuous flow of gas from the LPG in the container is obtainable. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved portable internal combustion engine driven device in which the engine is powered by LPG and the LPG is in a container having a comparatively small amount of LPG and the mounting of the LPG container with respect to the internal combustion engine allows a comparatively large and continuous flow of gas from the LPG in the container 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide mounting structure for the components of an improved portable internal combustion engine driven device that will minimize or eliminate deleterious effects of differential vibrations between the components thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above and other objects of the present invention are achieved, in a preferred embodiment thereof, in an internal combustion engine driven device which for purposes of describing this embodiment may be an electrical energy generator. The internal combustion engine may be a four stroke, two stroke with appropriate oil injection, single cylinder air or liquid cooled engine, though larger types of engines may be utilized as desired for particular applications. The internal combustion engine may have an inertial or pull type starter to initiate operation thereof and such engines are readily available. The cylinder of the internal combustion engine is contained in a crankcase and the movement of the piston in the cylinder drives a crankshaft which is connected to the device to be driven such as the electrical generator. The combustion of the gas-air mixture in the cylinder of the internal combustion engine generates heat which heats the cylinder and crankcase of the engine. Further, the operation of the engine also vibrates the engine and all the structure associated with therewith. 
     The engine has a carburetor in which the gas is mixed with air to provide the explosive mixture that is introduced into the cylinder. The engine is provided with a spark plug to initiate the combustion of the gas-air mixture in the cylinder. 
     In accordance with the principals of the present invention a mounting plate is adjacent the crankcase of the engine and is coupled thereto. The mounting plate receives both heat from the crankcase and is vibrated by the vibration of the engine. 
     The gas provided to the carburetor is gas from the LPG contained in a Coleman Bottle arrangement of one or more Coleman Bottles. The Coleman Bottle type LPG container (whether called a Coleman Bottles or sold under any other brand name) in the arrangement is mounted on the mounting plate connected to the crankcase of the internal combustion engine to be in heat transfer and vibration transfer relationship thereto in a preferred orientation with respect to the horizontal. The Coleman Bottle may be of the configuration illustrated in U.S. design patent D295886. The Coleman Bottles may contain, in the smaller versions thereof, liquified petroleum gas on the order of 14 to 16 ounces. Such size LPG containers are the general type preferred for usage in the embodiments of the present invention. The preferred orientation is with the long axis of the Coleman Bottle LPG container at an angle of between 14° and 16°, with 15° being desired, for the present configuration of the Coleman Bottles. This angular orientation provides the very unusual and unexpected result of maximizing the gas flow and preventing the flow of liquid LPG from the Coleman Bottles. Since the Coleman Bottles are not filled to the top of the bottle with the LPG but have a predetermined and generally uniform from bottle to bottle volume of gas above the top surface of the LPG The selected angular orientation of the Coleman Bottles with respect to the horizontal is such that the surface area of the LPG is maximized but the outlet of the Coleman Bottles is vertically above the top surface of the LPG. Such orientation of the Coleman Bottles not only maximizes the usable surface area of the LPG from which the gas state is generated but also prevent the flow of LPG in the liquid state therefrom. The preferred angular orientation with respect to the horizontal may be selected for other LPG containers which may be utilized in other applications to achieve the unusual and novel configuration for evaporation of the gas from the liquid LPG. The Coleman Bottles have the additional advantage of being free from any requirement for a particular rotational position about its long axis for operation. That is, for the Coleman Bottles mounted as described herein, the Coleman Bottles may be in any rotational position about its axis and still provide operation. 
     The above described mounting of the Coleman Bottles on the mounting plate to be in thermal transfer relationship thereto for receiving heat as generated in the cylinder of the internal combustion engine as well as receiving vibration therefrom uniquely allows the continuous flow of larger amounts of gas from the LPG to thereby allow the powering of larger internal combustion engines and demand devices. The heat transferred to the Coleman Bottles heats the LPG contained therein to increase the evaporation of gas therefrom. The heat thus transferred to the LPG tends to keep the temperature of the liquid LPG above the freezing point even though comparatively larger amounts of gas are evaporated therefrom. The direct transfer of heat from the engine to the Coleman bottle and thus to the LPG therein has a dual benefit: the heat keeps the LPG from freezing and aids in cooling the internal combustion engine during the operation thereof. The transmittal of vibration of the Coleman Bottle by the operation of the engine also agitates the LPG to thus increase the effective surface area thereof thereby allowing even greater flow of gas therefrom and the agitation also helps in preventing the LPG from freezing. 
     The internal combustion engine has a rotating crankshaft that is driven by the operation of the piston in the cylinder and the crankshaft is connected to any desired device that is to be powered. For purposes of explanation of the principles of the present invention, the preferred embodiment of the invention is described and shown herein as having an electric generator driven by the internal combustion engine. However, many other devices may be driven by the internal combustion engine in structure incorporating the principles of the present invention. 
     The generator is driven by the internal combustion engine and provides electrical power. The electrical power may be alternating current and/or may also be direct current. Suitable receptacles for allowing plug in connection at the receptacles to electric powered devices are provided. 
     In order to provide even greater flow of gas, two or more Coleman Bottles may be mounted on the internal combustion engine and connected together to provide a single gas flow outlet therefrom. 
     In some applications of the preferred embodiment of the present invention it may be desired to utilize other gas powered devices of the type commonly used in many outdoor camping applications and the like. Such gas operated illumination, cooking, heating and similar devices generally have a built in pressure or flow regulator. A separate gas flow outlet tube may be provided from the Coleman Bottle to allow attachment and operation of these devices either independently or simultaneously with the operation of the electric generator. 
     In other applications of the present invention, gas powered internal combustion engine may be utilized to power such diverse implements as various gardening tools such as leaf blowers, edge trimmers, mowers, and the like as well as other devices where a safe, portable source of power is required. 
     In some applications of the present invention it has been found that the vibration to which the liquified petroleum gas container is exposed during operation of the internal combustion engine may cause damage to the liquified petroleum gas container to which a rigid hose is utilized for connecting the liquified petroleum gas container to the pressure regulator or to any other component of the system. In an embodiment of the present invention that overcomes the problem of vibration induced damage to the liquified petroleum gas container and/or the hose connection at the output thereof, there is provided in this embodiment a flexible hose for conducting the liquified petroleum gas from the liquified petroleum gas container to the a component of the system. In one variation of this embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an outlet conduit which is a flexible hose having a first end thereof connected to a connector on the outlet of the liquified petroleum gas container to minimize the damaging effect of vibration and the second end of the outlet conduit flexible hose may be connected to, for example, a pressure regulator which is mounted on the internal combustion engine, for example on the carburetor thereof. 
     In another variation of this embodiment of the present invention, the pressure regulator is not mounted directly on the internal combustion engine. In this variation of the embodiment an outlet conduit, which may be a flexible hose is connected between the connector on the outlet connection of the liquified petroleum gas container and the pressure regulator and a delivery conduit is connected between the pressure regulator and the internal combustion engine. The pressure regulator in this embodiment is considered to be “line mounted” since the pressure regulator may, if desired, only be connected to the outlet conduit and the delivery conduit. For the embodiment where the outlet conduit is a flexible hose, the delivery conduit may be a rigid tube. Alternatively, if the outlet conduit is a rigid tube, the delivery conduit may be a flexible hose. In another variation of this embodiment, both the outlet conduit and the delivery conduit may be a flexible hose. 
     If the pressure regulator were to be connected directly to the connector at the outlet connection of the liquified petroleum gas container, only a delivery conduit which may be a flexible hose is connected between the pressure regulator and the internal combustion engine for example to the carburetor thereof. 
     According to the principles of the present invention, there are three basic variations on the location of the pressure regulator in relation to the liquified petroleum gas bottle and the carburetor, or other gas input on the engine:
         1. The pressure regulator is mounted on or very closely coupled to the connector attached to the outlet connection of the liquified petroleum gas bottle;   2. The pressure regulator is mounted on or closely coupled to the internal combustion engine, for example to the carburetor thereof; and,   3. The pressure regulator is line mounted between the internal combustion engine and the liquified petroleum gas bottle.       

     The selection of the use of flexible hoses between the pressure regulator and the internal combustion engine and/or between the pressure regulator and the liquified petroleum gas bottle for each variation as above set forth depends on the characteristics of the overall system and the vibration produced in the various components during the operation of the internal combustion engine. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The above and other embodiments of the present invention may be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar elements throughout and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a semi-schematic sectional illustration of a Coleman Bottle useful in the practice of the present invention, 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of an LPG arrangement having three individual LPG containers connected together which is useful in the practice of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the mounting of the internal combustion engine to the LPG container; 
         FIG. 4A  is an exploded diagram of an alternate LPG container and mounting; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial sectional view of the LPG bottle of the present invention as installed in a structure according to the principles hereof; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention for an engine driven portable emergency electric power generator; 
         FIG. 7  is a left side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a right side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is rear view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in 
         FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention as utilized in a trimmer; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention as utilized in a blower; 
         FIG. 12  is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention, and, 
         FIG. 14  is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawing and in particular  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is illustrated in  FIG. 1  a block diagram of a preferred embodiment, generally designated  10 , of a portable gas powered internal combustion engine arrangement and in  FIG. 2  there is illustrated a semi schematic representation of a preferred LPG container  12  as utilized in the embodiment  10 . In the LPG container  12  shown in  FIG. 2 , which in preferred embodiments of the present invention is a Coleman Bottle or similar storage container, there is a liquefied gas under pressure indicated at  14  and also gas phase  16  as evaporated from the liquified gas  14 . The gas  16  flows from the LPG container  12  through a conduit indicated at  18 . Since the pressure of the gas  16  in the LPG container  12  is much greater than is desired for use in the embodiment  10 , the gas flow through conduit  18  is directed to a pressure regulator  20 . The pressure regulator  20  regulates the pressure of the gas  16  flowing therethrough to a value on the order of 0.217 psi to 0.365 psi which is the range of pressures that can be utilized for the internal combustion engine  22  as described below, though higher or lower pressures of the gas may be utilized as desired for particular applications. 
     The gas  16  may also be directed to flow from the conduit  18  through conduit  19  to an auxiliary gas powered device  21  such as an illumination device, cooking device or the like. Such devices are well known and in general have a built in pressure regulator or flow control to regulate the pressure or flow of the gas  16  to a value that compatible with the device  21 . 
     The gas  16  flowing from the pressure regulator  20  is directed through a delivery conduit  23  into a carburetor  24  that is part of the internal combustion engine  22 . The carburetor  24  has an air intake as indicated at  26 . The carburetor  24  mixes the gas  16  with the air and provides the mixture to the cylinder  28  of the internal combustion engine  22  in a manner well known. The internal combustion engine  22  has a rotating output shaft  30 . In the embodiment  10  the rotating output shaft drives an electric generator  32 . The electric generator  32  provides electric energy as indicated at  34  and may be, for example in the power range of 300 to 1000 watts though larger power generators may be utilized in other applications. The electric energy may, if desired, be directed to provide 12 volt DC current as indicted at  36  or may be passed into an invertor  38  for conversion to 120 volts AC, 60 cycle as indicted at  40 . 
     As noted above, the internal combustion engine  22  may be a four stroke, or two stroke with appropriate oil injection, air or liquid cooled engine, though in other applications a larger engine may utilized as desired. During the operation of the internal combustion engine  22 , the combustion of the gas  16  and air mixture therein in the cylinder thereof generates heat and also vibrates the engine  22 . As described below in greater detail, these two factors which are always occurring during the operation of an internal combustion engine are uniquely and advantageously utilized in the operation of the various embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates in schematic representation, a typical LPG container  12  such as a Coleman Bottle. The LPG container  12  may be of the type manufactured by various entities and may come in a variety of sizes. In general, such LPG containers are provided with a built in safety pressure relief valve  42  to allow the venting of the gas  16  in the event that the pressure thereof exceeds a predetermined value. In the embodiment  10  the LPG container  12  as shown schematically in  FIG. 1  may be comprised of a plurality of individual LPG containers joined together to discharge gas  16  through a single outlet such as conduit  18 .  FIG. 3  schematically shows three LPG containers  12   a ,  12   b  and  12   c  joined together by a manifold  18 ′ to discharge gas  16  through the single conduit  18 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of the assembly of the LPG bottle  12  and the internal combustion engine  22 . The carburetor  24  is mounted on the side of the cylinder  28  atop the crankcase  44 . There is provided a spark plug  46  which provides the spark required to ignite the gas/air mixture that is received in the cylinder  28  from the carburetor  24  to drive the output shaft  30 . An inertia or recoil type starter  48  is provided to start the operation of the internal combustion engine  22 . 
     A front plate  50  is mounted on the crankcase  44  by bolts  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   c  and  52   d . The front plate  50  is provided with a connector  56  that is adapted to engage the output connection  12 ′ of the LPG tank  12 . A mounting bracket  58  is rigidly connected to the crankcase  44  of the internal combustion engine  22  and to the front plate  50  by bolts  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c  and  60   d  to be in heat receiving and vibration receiving relationship to the internal combustion engine  22 . The mounting bracket  58  has a strap  62  which is provided with an over center fastener  64  and the strap  62  is adapted to receive the LPG container  12  therein for snug retention in the cavity  66  when the over center fastener  64  is closed. As noted above, when the LPG container  12  is mounted in the cavity  66  the connector  56  of front plate  50  engages the output connection  12 ′ to allow the flow of gas  16  through the conduit  18  and/or  19 . 
     Since there may be some variation in the size of LPG containers depending on the amount of LPG stored therein and the size desired by a particular manufacturer thereof,  FIG. 4A  shows an LPG container  12 A that may be utilized in the embodiment  10  as shown in  FIG. 4 . An adapter  70  is provided which has a cavity  72  therein and the walls  72 ′ of the cavity  72  are adapted to provide a snug fit on the LPG container  12 A. The outer walls  74  of the adapter  70  are substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the LPG tank  12  so that there is a tight fit in the cavity  66  of the mounting bracket  58 . 
     The output shaft  30 , in the embodiment  10  is, as described above in connection with  FIG. 1 , connected to the electric generator  32 . However, as described below in connection with other embodiments of the present invention, the output shaft  30  may be connected to any desired type of device that requires a drive engine for operation. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the mounting of the LPG tank  12  in preferred embodiments of the present invention. In  FIG. 5 , the arrow  74  represents the direction of gravity and the horizontal direction as indicated by the line  76  is perpendicular to the direction of gravity  74 . As is well known, the latent heat of vaporization of the gas  16  from the liquified gas  14  tends to cool the liquified gas  14  and if too much gas  16  is produced, the liquified gas  14  will freeze to a solid state. Further, the gas  16  is evaporated from the surface  14 ′ of the liquified gas  14 . Therefore, it is desired to tend to maximize the surface area of the liquefied gas  14  so that the maximum amount of gas  16  may be provided from a given size LPG container. However, the more gas  16  that is evaporated from the liquified gas  14 , the greater is the chance that the liquified gas  14  will freeze to the solid state and thus end the evaporation of significant amounts of gas  16 . In the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the LPG container  12  is mounted at an angle A to the horizontal and the angle A has been found to be on the order of 12° to 16° with a preferred angle of 15° for the conventional Coleman Bottle LPG container and provides in the angular range that will prevent any liquified gas  14  from entering the conduit  18  even when the container  12  is full. The mounting bracket  58  is preferably fabricated from a high heat transfer material such as aluminum so that the maximum amount of heat is transferred by conduction from the engine  22  through the mounting bracket  58  to the wall of the LPG container  12  and thus to the liquified gas  14  because of the direct rigid mounting of the mounting bracket  58  on the internal combustion engine  22 . The heat thus transferred to the LPG container  12  from the engine  22  counteracts the latent heat of vaporization and tends to prevent the freezing of the liquified gas  14 . Further, the vibration of the internal combustion engine  22  agitates the surface  14 ′ of the liquified gas  14  thereby increasing the surface area to an amount greater than would occur without the vibration. Such agitation increases the surface area  14 ′ of the liquified gas  14  and the conduction of heat to the liquified gas  14  tends to increase the amount of gas  16  that may be generated from the liquified gas  14  for a given size and configuration of the LPG. However, for LPG containers of a different configuration than the Coleman Bottles, a different angular relationship of the LPG container may be required to maximize the surface area of the liquified gas  14  but still prevent the discharge of liquid into the conduit  18  even when the LPG container is full. The use of conductive heat transfer from the engine  22  to the mounting bracket  50  also helps cool the internal combustion engine. 
     As noted above, in the embodiment  10  the output shaft  30  of the internal combustion engine  22  is connected to an electric generator  32 .  FIGS. 6 through 9  illustrate the configuration of an embodiment  10  that is small and convenient to carry. As shown on  FIG. 6  which is a front view of the embodiment  10  there is a case  80 , partially broken away for clarity, in which the internal combustion engine  22  and electric generator are contained. The recoil starter  44  is provided with a pull  44 ′ for operation thereof in a well known manner. As shown in  FIG. 6  there is provided a handle  82 , partially broken away, for convenient lifting and carrying of the embodiment  10 . Feet  84  may be provided on the bottom portion  82 ′ of handle  82  for the support of the embodiment  10  on any desired surface. 
     As shown most clearly on  FIG. 7 , the output electrical energy generated by the electrical generator  32  is provided in both 120 volt AC at dual socket  90  and two 12 volt DC outlets as indicated at  92 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment  100  of the present invention as utilized to power an trimmer  102 . As shown on  FIG. 10 , there is provided an internal combustion engine  22  powered by gas from an LPG container  12  and the internal combustion engine  22  rotates an output shaft  30 ′ to rotate the trimmer. Thus, the internal combustion engine and LPG container replace the gasoline powered engine and gasoline tank often utilized in such applications. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment  110  of the present invention in which an internal combustion engine  22  powered by the gas from an LPG container  12  drives a fan  112  to provide a leaf blower  114 . In embodiment  110  the internal combustion engine  22  and LPG bottle  12  replace the gasoline powered internal combustion engine and gasoline storage tank often utilized in such applications. 
     In some applications of the principles of the present invention, it has been found that excessive vibration generated by some engines and/or usage of the device over long periods of time and/or the relative movement between the internal combustion engine and the LPG bottle may cause a crack or other damage to the liquified gas storage bottle due to relative movement between the liquified gas storage bottle and the internal combustion engine. As noted above, the front plate  50  of the embodiment  10  as shown on  FIG. 4 , is rigidly mounted on the internal combustion engine  22  and the front plate  50  has a connector  56  that engages the output connection  12 ′ of the liquified petroleum gas tank  12 . 
     In order to eliminate the cracking or other damage to the LPG bottle  12  caused by the relative movement and the excessive vibration/long usage, the rigid mounting of the LPG tank  12  to the connector  56  on the front plate  50  may be eliminated and the LPG tank  12  may be rigidly supported, as described above, on the mounting plate  58 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment  140  of this arrangement. As shown thereon, there is a liquified gas storage bottle  112  which may be the same as the LPG bottle  12  described above and is provided with an output connection  112 ′ similar to the outlet connection  12 ′ that engages a connector  156  which may be similar to the connector  56  described above. In the embodiment  100 , the connector  156  is only connected to the outlet connection  112 ′ and is not mounted on any other structure. An outlet conduit  118  is connected to the connector  156  to direct the flow of gas away from the LPG bottle  112  to a pressure regulator  120  for ultimate use in an internal combustion engine  122 . In the embodiment  140 , pressure regulator  120  is mounted on the internal combustion engine  122 . The outlet conduit  118  is a flexible hose such as metal flex hose, rubber hose, plastic reinforced hose or other material that will prevent damage from relevant movement between the LPG bottle  112 ′ and the internal combustion engine  122 . 
     A delivery conduit  123  is connected between the pressure regulator  120  and the engine  122  to direct the flow of gas into the internal combustion engine  122  and may be fabricated from a rigid conduit or a flexible hose as desired for any particular application. The delivery conduit  123  may be a flexible hose or a rigid tube depending on the particular application. The flexible delivery conduit  123  and/or the outlet conduit  118  prevents damage due to relative movement between the LPG bottle  112  and the internal combustion engine  122 . 
     In a variation of the embodiment  140 , the pressure regulator  120  may be line mounted between the LPG bottle and the internal combustion engine  122 . In such an arrangement either the outlet conduit  118  or the delivery conduit  123 , or both, may be flexible hose and the other conduit may be a rigid tube as may be selected for particular applications. The flexible delivery conduit  123  and/or the flexible outlet conduit prevents damage due to relative movement between the LPG bottle  112  and the internal combustion engine  122 . 
     In another embodiment of the present invention  160  shown in block diagram form on  FIG. 13 , the LPG bottle  112  has the output connector  112 ′ engaging the connector  156  and the pressure regulator  120  is connected to the connector  156  and is free of connection to other structure. In this embodiment  160 , the delivery conduit  123  between the pressure regulator  120  and the internal combustion engine  122  is a flexible conduit such as the flexible conduit  118  described above. The flexible delivery conduit  123  prevents damage due to relative movement between the LPG bottle  112  and the internal combustion engine  122 . 
     In another embodiment  180  of the present invention shown in  FIG. 14 , the pressure regulator is mounted on or closely coupled to the internal combustion engine  122 , for example at the carburetor thereof, so that there is no relative movement between the pressure regulator  120  and the internal combustion engine  122  but the pressure regulator  120  is spaced from the liquified petroleum gas bottle  112 . In this embodiment, the outlet conduit  118  is preferably a flexible hose. The flexible outlet conduit  118  prevents damage due to relative movement between the LPG bottle  112  and the internal combustion engine  122 . 
     As described above, there is provided by the present invention a convenient and safe internal combustion engine driven by the gas generated from the liquefied gas in an LPG container and in which the amount of gas to be drawn from the liquefied gas in the LPG is maximized by having the LPG container rigidly connected to the internal combustion engine for both direct conductive heat transfer from the internal combustion engine to the LPG to overcome the cooling due to the latent heat of evaporation of the liquefied gas and to have the internal combustion engine vibrate the LPG container to increase the effective surface area of the liquefied gas. The liquefied gas may be, for example, propane, butane or the like as packaged by many manufactures in various shapes and sizes of LPG containers. The preferred embodiments of the present invention utilize a flexible hose to connect various components such as the pressure regulator to the liquified petroleum gas bottle and/or the pressure regulator to the internal combustion engine depending upon the particular application, so as to prevent damage to the components due to relative movement therebetween caused by operation of the internal combustion engine or other factors. 
     Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the various Figures of the drawing, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, those skilled in this art will appreciate that the embodiments discussed above are exemplary of the present invention and they are not, however, intended to limit the scope of the claims herein. Many other substances and techniques, different from those discussed above, can be used as equivalents of the structural components disclosed to provide an equivalent function.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8