US 11840970

An analysis of United States Patent 11,840,970 reveals the following details regarding the invention and its legal status.

Title: Dual fuel generator with remote regulator

Assignee: Champion Power Equipment Inc

Inventors: Mark J. Sarder, Aleko D. Sotiriades, James J. Dehn, Leigh Jenison

Filing Date: September 30, 2022

Issue Date: December 12, 2023

Abstract: The patent describes a generator and an off-board fuel delivery system. The generator is designed to run on multiple fuels, including a gaseous fuel from a pressurized source. A fuel regulator system, located separately from the generator, controls the pressure of the gaseous fuel in two stages. The first stage reduces the pressure, and the second stage further regulates it to a desired level for the generator's operation.

Overview of Independent Claims:

This patent has five independent claims which form the core of its legal protection. In plain language, they are:

• Claim 1: This claim protects a dual fuel generator system that includes the generator itself, which has an engine that can run on both liquid and gaseous fuels, and a separate, off-board fuel regulator system. This regulator system has two parts: a primary regulator that connects to the pressurized gas source and a secondary regulator connected to the primary one. The system also includes a mechanical fuel valve that allows a user to switch between the two fuel types.

• Claim 12: This claim focuses on the generator unit within the system. It describes a dual fuel generator with its engine and alternator housed inside a casing. A key feature is that the generator housing is free of any pressure regulator. The system relies on an external, two-stage fuel regulator system to control the gaseous fuel pressure. A mechanical valve on the generator allows the user to select the fuel source.

• Claim 20: This claim covers the combination of a dual fuel generator and a remote fuel regulator system. The generator has a specific valve for the gaseous fuel inlet. The external fuel regulator system, with its primary and secondary regulators, is designed to connect to this valve. A mechanical fuel valve on the generator controls which fuel—liquid or gas—is supplied to the engine.

• Claim 34: This claim describes the overall system with an emphasis on the fuel delivery process. It specifies a dual fuel generator and an off-board, two-stage fuel regulator system. A mechanical fuel valve is used to switch between liquid and gaseous fuels. When operating on gas, the fuel is delivered to the generator at the precise pressure set by the external secondary regulator.

• Claim 44: This claim is directed at the dual fuel generator itself. It details a generator with an alternator and a dual-fuel engine, along with the necessary liquid and gaseous fuel lines. A crucial aspect of this claim is that the generator is explicitly "free from any gaseous fuel pressure regulator," meaning it is designed to be used with an external system. A mechanical valve is included to select between the fuel sources.

A search of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for 2026 did not yield any information regarding litigation involving patent 11,840,970. This does not definitively mean no litigation exists, as the available search tools may not be comprehensive.