UNIVERSAL, RETROFITTABLE POWERHEAD FOR SMALL GASOLINE ENGINE POWER IMPLEMENTS

A universal powerhead apparatus (12) which is securable to a frame portion (14) of a land vehicle (10, 84, 88), pump or other tool to replace an existing internal combustion engine of the device without requiring significant modification to the frame portion of the device. The powerhead apparatus (12) includes an electric motor (26) and a universal mounting plate (16) which is secured to a portion of the motor. The universal mounting plate (16) has a footprint substantially similar to that of a specific make and displacement of internal combustion engine which the apparatus (12) is intended to replace. The overall footprint of the apparatus (12) is also similar to the specific make and displacement of a gasoline powered engine which it is designed to replace. The apparatus (12) can be secured directly to a frame portion of a land vehicle (10, 84, 88), tool or pump in either a horizontal or vertical orientation to thus enable it to be used as a power source for vehicles requiring a horizontally disposed output shaft as wellas vehicles requiring a vertically disposed output shaft. The apparatus (12) may be assembled to the land vehicle (10, 84, 88), tool or pump in a factory or retrofitted to replace a specific make and displacement of gasoline powered engine. In one preferred embodiment, the apparatus (12) is powered by at least one battery (25) disposed within a housing (20) thereof. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the apparatus (12) is powered directly from an AC power source. The use of the apparatus (12) completely eliminates the undesirable emissions produced by internal combustion engines and the periodic maintenance typically associated with such engines. Appareil servant de bloc-moteur universel (12) apte à être solidarisé du châssis (14) d'un véhicule terrestre (10, 84, 88), d'une pompe ou d'un autre engin, pour y remplacer le moteur à explosion existant du dispositif sans qu'il soit nécessaire d'apporter des modifications importantes au châssis du dispositif. Cet appareil (12) comprend un moteur électrique (26) et une plaque de montage universelle (16) solidaire d'une partie du moteur. La plaque de montage universelle (16) présente des caractéristiques d'encombrement qui correspondent à celles du moteur à explosion, d'un modèle et d'une cylindrée particuliers, que l'appareil (12) doit remplacer. Les caractéristiques d'encombrement globales de l'appareil (12) sont également similaires à celles du moteur à essence d'un modèle et d'une cylind