Patent ID: 8633606

Claim:
An assembly for generating electrical and thermal energy, comprising: a supporting structure; a cogeneration device carried by said supporting structure and comprising: (a) a combustion engine supplied with fuel; (b) an electric generator driven by said combustion engine; and (c) at least one heat exchanger to heat a fluid for a thermal appliance using heat produced by said combustion engine; storage batteries to maintain continuity of an electrical power supply during start-up of said electric generator and during load transients; wherein said supporting structure comprises a base resting on a floor, and a compartment on top of said base; wherein said cogeneration device is housed in said compartment; and wherein when said storage batteries are housed in said base, electrical connectors that are electrically coupled to said storage batteries automatically come into surface contact with electrical contacts positioned within said base to form an electrical connection between said storage batteries and said electrical contacts.