The present invention relates to a chainsaw of the type using a rechargeable battery pack.
Disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2011-136541 is a battery operated chainsaw of the type which comprises a body housing, an elongated guide bar projecting forward from the body housing, a saw-chain mounted to the periphery of the guide bar, and an electric motor driving the saw-chain along the guide bar. The body housing is provided at its rear portion with a detachable battery pack for supply of electric power to the motor. The chainsaw is provided with a top handle located on the upper portion of the body housing and extending in a fore-and-aft direction above the guide bar, and a front handle across the top handle and extending in a left-and-right direction. The top handle is provided at its interim portion with a gripe portion to be grasped by an operator and with a trigger switch located under the gripe portion.
In use of the chainsaw, an operator grasps the top handle by his right hand and holds the front handle by his left hand. When the trigger switch is operated by the right hand of the operator to activate the electric motor, the saw-chain is driven by operation of the motor for rotation around the guide bar and is brought into contact with the log for cutting.
In the chainsaw, the electric motor is supplied with electric power from the single battery pack mounted to the rear portion of the body housing. The battery pack is, in general, in the form of a large size battery pack of high voltage (for instance, 36V) for driving the high power motor. The large size battery pack of high voltage is, however, expensive and limited only for use in the chainsaw. In other words, the large size battery pack may not be used as a source of electricity for other work apparatus such as electric power tools. In this respect, it is assumed to utilize a plurality of small size battery packs adapted for use in electric power tools as the source of power supply for chainsaws in order to avoid necessity for having various kinds of battery packs. However, if the battery packs were not mounted on an appropriate place of the body housing, the chainsaw would be inclined in a left-and-right direction to deteriorate operability of the chainsaw. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a battery operated chainsaw superior in operability, in which a plurality of small size batteries are used as a source of power supply.
According to the present invention, the object is accomplished by providing a chainsaw of the type which comprises a body housing, an elongated guide bar projecting forward from the body housing, a saw-chain mounted to a periphery of the guide bar for rotation, an electric motor mounted within the body housing for rotating the saw-chain along the periphery of the guide bar, a top handle extending in a fore-and-aft direction on the upper portion of the body housing above the guide bar and being provided at its interim portion with a gripe portion grasped by an operator, a plurality of rechargeable battery packs detachably mounted on the body housing as a source of power supply to the electric motor, the battery packs being adaptable for use as a source of power supply to electric power tools, wherein a center of gravity of the chainsaw observed from the back side is positioned in an extent of two times of lateral width of the gripe portion at both sides of a vertical centerline of the gripe portion, preferably in an extent of the same width as the lateral width of the gripe portion.
As in the chainsaw, the battery packs are arranged in such a manner that a center of gravity of the chainsaw observed from the back side is positioned in an extent of two times of lateral width of the gripe portion at the both sides of a vertical centerline of the gripe portion, preferably in an extent of the same width as the lateral width of the gripe portion, the chainsaw is not apt to be inclined in a left-and-right direction when the gripe portion of the top handle was grasped by an operator to hold the chainsaw. This is useful to reduce fatigue of the operation.
In the chainsaw, it is preferable that the center of gravity of the chainsaw observed from the back side is offset in a left-and-right direction from the vertical centerline in the extent described above. With such arrangement of the center of gravity, the chainsaw is slightly inclined in the left-and-right direction to enhance operability of the chainsaw. In the chainsaw, it is also preferable that the center of gravity of each battery pack is positioned in the extent described above.
In the chainsaw, it is also preferable that the battery packs are arranged in such a manner that the center of gravity of the chainsaw observed from the side of the chainsaw is positioned in an extent of 100 mm at both the front and rear sides from a vertical straight line passing through an immediately rear position of the trigger switch. This is useful to prevent the chainsaw from being largely inclined when the top handle was grasped by the operator to hole the chainsaw. This means that it is unnecessary to strongly grasp the gripe portion and that fatigue of the operator is reduced.
In the case that the chainsaw is provided with two battery packs, it is preferable that each center of gravity of the two battery packs is positioned at left and right sides of a vertical centerline extending from the gripe portion to adjust balance of the chainsaw in a left-and-right direction.
In the case that a plurality of battery packs is mounted to the bottom of the body housing, it is preferable that the center of gravity of the chainsaw is positioned at an upper side of an extent of battery packs observed from a vertical direction. With such arrangement of the battery packs, the chainsaw is retained in place without falling down when the battery packs were grounded to place the chainsaw on the ground.
In the case that a plurality of battery packs is mounted to a lower portion the body housing in such manner that the center of gravity of the chainsaw is positioned between the lower portion of body housing and battery packs grounded in a condition where the chainsaw was placed on the ground. With such arrangement of the battery packs, the chainsaw is retained in place without falling down.
Preferably, the chainsaw is provided with a protector member formed to cover the battery packs when the chainsaw is placed on a horizontal support place. The protector member is useful to avoid damage caused by contact with the ground.
In the chainsaw, it is preferable that the battery packs are arranged in parallel to facilitate operation of an operator for attachment or removal. In the case that the battery packs arranged in parallel with a space more than 15 mm, each battery pack can be easily grasped for attachment or removal. In the case that the volume of each battery pack is more than 200 cm3, the space between the battery packs arranged in parallel is determined to be 15 mm for reducing the space occupied by the battery packs.
In the chainsaw, it preferable that a plurality of attachments is provided for mounting the battery packs. The battery packs each includes a casing containing a plurality of cells therein, an electric connector provided on one-side wall of the casing, and a pair of rails arranged at opposite sides of the electric connector. The attachment is provided with a pair of guide rails for engagement with the rails of the battery pack. The rails of the battery pack are slideably engaged with the guide rails of the attachment to facilitate mounting operation of the battery packs. The battery packs each have a hook retractably projected, while that attachment is provided with a latch to be engaged with the hook. When the hook of the battery pack is brought into engagement with the latch of the attachment, the battery pack is fixed in place to the attachment. In the case that the attachment is provided with a resilient member for biasing the battery pack along the guide rails in a removal direction, the battery pack is removed from the attachment under biasing force of the resilient member when the hook is disengaged from the latch. The attachment may be provided with a batter pack container enclosing the periphery of the battery pack and having an insert opening formed to permit insertion of the battery pack along the guide rails and outward movement of the battery pack caused by biasing force of the resilient member when the hook is disengaged from the latch.
In the chainsaw, the battery packs are electrically connected in series with the electric motor to cause high output power. When the battery packs are electrically connected in parallel with the electric motor, activation of the electric motor is maintained for a long period of time
In the drawings:
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a chainsaw in accordance with the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The attachment 24 is provided with an inward concaved latch portion 24c to be engaged with a hook 36 of battery pack 31. When engaged with the latch portion 24c, the hook 36 restricts slide movement of the battery packs 31 along the guide rails 24b, 24b.
The battery packs 31 each are used as a source of power supply for electric motor 23 and charged by a charger (not shown). The battery packs 31 can be adapted to use a source of power supply for electric power tools such as an electric power driver, an electric power cutter. In this embodiment, the nominal voltage of the battery pack 31 is 18V, and the two battery packs 31, 31 are connected in series with the electric motor 23.
As shown
The upper wall of casing 32 shown in
In the chainsaw 10, a set of two rechargeable battery packs 31, 31 adapted to use in electric power tools is utilized as the source of power supply 30 for electric motor 23. Accordingly, it is not needed to hold different kinds of battery packs for use in the chainsaw 10 and the electric power tool.
The center of gravity G of the chainsaw is determined in consideration with respective positions of heavy articles such as the electric motor 23, oil tank 16, guide bar 21, battery packs 31 and the like. If the center of gravity G is in an unsuitable position, the operability of the chainsaw is deteriorated.
When an operator grasped the gripe portion of the chainsaw with his right hand to hold the chainsaw, he operates the trigger switch with his right hand forefinger to activate the electric motor. Accordingly, the weight of the chainsaw is supported mainly by the middle finger of his right hand. In the present invention, the battery packs 31, 31 are weight balance of the chainsaw in a fore-and-aft direction and a left-and-right direction is obtained at a position P. immediately rear of the trigger switch 13.
In the chainsaw 10, the width of body housing 11 including the motor containing portion 11a is 220 mm, and the width of body housing 11 without the motor containing portion 11a is 140 mm. As shown in
In the chainsaw 10, the center of gravity G observed from the back side is located at a position P immediately rear side of trigger switch 13 and offset to the left side of the front handle 14 in an extent R (R1, R2) from the vertical centerline Cw. With such arrangement, the center of gravity G of the chainsaw 10 is positioned between both hands of the user in a condition where the top handle was grasped by his right hand and the front handle was grasped by his left hand. This is useful to reduce fatigue of the operator. Alternatively, the center of gravity G observed from the back side is located at the position P and offset to the right side of the front handle 14 in the extent R (R1, R2).
In the chainsaw, the fore-and-aft length of the body housing 11 with the battery packs 31, 31 is 300 mm, and the width of the body housing 11 without the battery packs is 250 mm. As shown in
When the chainsaw is used for cutting the tree, log and the like, the guide bar 21 is directed upward at its distal end and compressed to the log from the upper slant side. In this embodiment, the center of gravity G of the chainsaw observed from the side is positioned at the rear side in the fore-and-aft extent Rf from the vertical straight line L passing the back position P of trigger switch 13. Thus, when the gripe portion 12 was grasped by an operator, the guide bar 21 of chainsaw 10 is directed slightly upward at its distal end. This is useful to reduce the load acting on the operator in working for cutting the tree, log and the like.
As shown in
In the chainsaw 10, the two battery packs 31, 31 are arranged vertically in parallel. This is useful to enhance operability for detachment of the battery packs, when compared with arrangement of the battery packs spaced to one another. In the case that the volume of battery pack 31 is 540 cm3 more than 200 cm3, it is preferable that the space between two battery packs 31, 31 is determined less than 15 mm. In this embodiment, the space between the battery packs 31, 31 is determined to be 5 mm for reducing the space occupied by the battery packs.
In the chainsaw 10, two attachments 24, 24 for the battery packs 31, 31 are mounted to the back portion of body housing 11. The battery packs 31, 31 each are composed of a casing 32 containing therein battery cells 33, an electric connector 34 provided on a peripheral wall of casing 34, and a pair of rails 35, 35 arranged at opposite sides of the electric connector 34. The attachments 24, 24 each are provided thereon with a pair of guide rails 24b, 24b to be brought into engagement with the pair of rails 35, 35. With such arrangement, the pair of rails 35, 35 of battery pack 31 can be mounted to the guide rails 24b, 24b of attachment 24 by slide movement to facilitate mounting operation of the battery packs to the attachment 24.
The battery pack 31 has a hook 36 retractably projected, while the attachment 24 is provided with a latch portion 24c to be engaged with the hook 36. When the hook 36 of battery pack 31 is brought into engagement with the latch portion 24c, the battery pack is fixed in place to the attachment 24. This is useful to enhance operability for mounting the battery packs 31 to the attachment 24.
Hereinafter, modifications of the chainsaw using a set of two battery packs will be described. In the following description, modification different from the embodiment of chainsaw 10 will mainly be described.
Modification 1
In a modification 1 of the chainsaw shown in
The attachment 24 is provided with a resilient member 26 biasing outward the battery packs 31 from the container 25. When it is desired to remove the battery packs, the release button 36a is pushed to disengage the hook 36 from the latch portion 24c. Thus, as shown in
Modification 2
As shown in
With such arrangement of the battery packs, each center of gravity G2 is positioned at left and right sides of the vertical centerline Cw in a condition where the center of gravity G of the chainsaw is in the extent described above. This is useful to ensure balance of the chainsaw in a left-and-right direction. In this modification 2, the battery pack container 25 and resilient member 26 may be provided as in the modification 1.
Modification 3
As shown in
With such arrangement of the battery packs 31, 31, the space between the opposed side walls can be determined to be more than 15 mm, thereby to facilitate removal of the battery packs. Thus, the operability for detachment of the battery packs is enhanced. The same useful effect as in the modification 2 is obtainable. In this modification 3, the battery pack container 25 and resilient member 26 may be provided as in the modification 1.
Modification 4
As shown in
Modification 5
As shown in
As in the modification 1, the body housing 11 is provided with a battery pack container 25 enclosing the periphery of battery pack 31. As described above, the container 25 is useful to prevent adherence of contaminant and to cover a portion of the battery packs exposed to ground when the chainsaw is placed on the support surface S. The container 25 is also useful to prevent damage of the battery packs caused by impact. It is preferable that the battery pack container 25 is made of thick sheet metal. In this modification 5, the resilient member 26 may be provided within the battery pack container 25 as in the modification.
Modification 6
As shown in
Modification 7
As shown in
Modification 8
As shown in
Although in the chainsaw described above, the two battery packs 31. 31 are electrically connected in series with the electric motor 23 for supply of high power, the two battery packs 31, 31 may be electrically connected in parallel with the electric motor 23 for supply of power for a long period of time. A control circuit may be provided to select the series connection or the parallel connection to the electric motor 23.
Although in the chainsaw 10, a battery pack of nominal 18V is used as the battery pack, a battery pack larger or smaller in size than the battery pack may be used. Although in the above embodiment, two battery packs of the same volume and the same weight are used, another battery pack of different volume and different weight may be used in an appropriate combination.
Although in the above embodiments, various arrangements of the battery packs are illustrated, the arrangement of the battery packs is not limited to the foregoing embodiments. For example, one of the battery packs 31 may be mounted to the left side wall of the body housing 11 under the hand-guard 15, while the other battery pack may be mounted to the right side wall of the body housing 11.
In the case that a plurality of battery packs 31 is electrically connected in series, it is preferable to provide a battery controller for controlling each voltage of the battery packs. In the case that a battery controller and a motor controller are united to reduce the number of component parts, the occupation space and required wiring, the same microcomputer may be adapted to control operation of the electric motor 23 and voltage of the battery packs 31.
As shown in
In the case that the two battery packs 31, 31 in the chainsaw are connected in series, the electric motor 23 would not be activated if one of the battery packs was damaged or fully discharged. It is, therefore, preferable to provide an indicator of remaining power of each battery pack 31. The indicator is in the form of an indication panel 40 indicating an amount of remaining power or charge of each battery by plural bars. Preferably, the indication panel 40 is positioned to be visually recognized by the user when the battery packs are mounted in place.
In the case that as shown in
In the case that as shown in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2013-018674 | Feb 2013 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2014/052272 | 1/31/2014 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2014/119733 | 8/7/2014 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country |
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2011-136541 | Jul 2011 | JP |
2011-161602 | Aug 2011 | JP |
2011-218510 | Nov 2011 | JP |
Entry |
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International Search Report for PCT/JP2014/052272 having a mailing date of May 13, 2014, along with an English-language translation thereof. |
Extended European Search Report for EP 14745892.1 dated Feb. 8, 2016. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20150375416 A1 | Dec 2015 | US |