Patent Application
20240149424
The present invention relates to a dual voltage battery pack and a power tool system.
Battery pack as a rechargeable power source is increasingly used for supplying power for outdoor tools, especially for cordless power tools. It's very convenience to use Lithium-ion batterie pack as an energy source to drive a motor of the power tool because the battery pack can be removed from the tools and rechargeable by an external charging device. Because the motor of the cordless power tool has a rated voltage and need to be driven by corresponding battery pack which can output the corresponding voltage, and different cordless power tools have different rated-voltage motors, so a plurality of battery packs which can supply different voltages for corresponding tools need to be carried when the worker operates different cordless power tools in the outdoors. It's very inconvenient for the operator because of the larger load caused by the battery packs.
Therefore, there is a requirement to provide an improved battery pack and a power tool system to overcome the problems described above.
The present invention provides a battery pack which can output two different voltages and a power tool system.
In order to achieve the object, the present invention provides a battery pack comprising a housing having a socket located thereon and two battery cell groups received in the housing, each battery cell group having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, the socket having a plurality of terminals received therein, the terminals including four conductive terminals respectively and electrically connected to corresponding electrode of two battery cell groups, two battery cell groups being switched between isolated state and series connected state to output two different voltages through two conductive terminals with different polarities being disconnected or connected to each other, and the two conductive terminals with different polarities being respectively connected to two battery cell groups.
In an exemplary embodiment, the two conductive terminals with different polarities are adjacent and separate to each other, and two battery cell groups are isolated with each other in the battery pack and output a low voltage.
In an exemplary embodiment, the two conductive terminals with different polarities are adjacent and connected to each other, and two battery cell groups are connected with each other in series in the battery pack and output a high voltage.
In an exemplary embodiment, four conductive terminals are arranged adjacent to each other, and the two conductive terminals with different polarities are located in the middle, and two adjacent conductive terminals located on two sides have same polarity.
In an exemplary embodiment, four conductive terminals are arranged adjacent to each other, and two conductive terminals with different polarities are located on one side of the four conductive terminals, and two adjacent conductive terminals which are located in the middle have same polarity.
In an exemplary embodiment, the two conductive terminals with different polarities each defines a contacting arm, and the contacting arms of the two conductive terminals with different polarities are close but separate to each other.
In an exemplary embodiment, two battery cell groups are switched from isolated state to series connected state to output a high voltage through changing the connection of two contacting arms from separate state to connected state.
In an exemplary embodiment, two battery cell groups are in series connected state and output a high voltage when the contacting arms of the two conductive terminals are connected to each other.
In an exemplary embodiment, the two conductive terminals with different polarities each defines a contacting arm, and the contacting arms of the two conductive terminals with different polarities are directly connected to each other through two contacting arms abutting with each other.
In an exemplary embodiment, two battery cell groups are switched from series connected state to isolated state to output a low voltage through changing the connection of two contacting arms from electrical connected state to electrical isolated state.
In an exemplary embodiment, two battery cell groups are in isolated state and output a low voltage when the contacting arms of the two conductive terminals are isolated from each other.
In an exemplary embodiment, the two conductive terminals with different polarities each further defines a pair of main arms located on one side of the contacting arm, and the main arms are in idle state when the contacting arms of the two conductive terminals abutting with each other.
The present invention also provides a power tool system comprising: a high rated-voltage power tool having a first male plug; a low rated-voltage power tool having a second male plug; and a battery pack supplying power to the high or low rated-voltage power tool connected thereto, the battery pack including a housing having a socket located thereon and two battery cell groups received in the housing, the socket defining a plurality of terminals received therein, the terminals including four conductive terminals, each battery cell group defining a positive electrode and a negative electrode respectively and electrically connected to corresponding conductive terminal, two battery cell groups being switched between isolated state and series connected state through two conductive terminals with different polarities being disconnected or connected to each other, and the two conductive terminals with different polarities being respectively connected to two battery cell groups, and the battery pack outputting a low voltage through connecting two battery cell groups in parallel when the second male plug being connected to the socket and a high voltage through connecting two battery cell groups in series when the first male plug being connected to the socket.
In an exemplary embodiment, two conductive terminals with different polarities are adjacent and separate to each other, and two battery cell groups are isolated with each other in the battery pack.
In an exemplary embodiment, the second male plug has four contacting terminals corresponding to four conductive terminals of the battery pack, and the four contacting terminals are respectively and electrically connected to corresponding four conductive terminals when two cell groups are connected with each other in parallel.
In an exemplary embodiment, the first male plug has one connecting terminal simultaneously and electrically connected with the two conductive terminals with different polarities and two conducting terminals respectively connected with corresponding conductive terminal of another two conductive terminals of the socket, and two battery cell groups are connected to each other in series through the connecting terminal simultaneously connecting one of the two conductive terminals with different polarities to the other of two conductive terminals with different polarities.
In an exemplary embodiment, the connecting terminal of the first male plug is simultaneously and electrically connected to the two conductive terminals with different polarities through two opposite sides thereof.
In an exemplary embodiment, the two conductive terminals with different polarities are adjacent and connected to each other, and two battery cell groups are connected with each other in series in the battery pack.
In an exemplary embodiment, the first male plug of the high rated-voltage power tool has two conducting terminals respectively and electrically connected to corresponding conductive terminals of the rest two conductive terminals in the four conductive terminals, and the conductive terminals with different polarities are disengaged when the first male plug is assembled to the socket.
In an exemplary embodiment, the second male plug of the low rated-voltage power tool has two contacting terminals and an insulating rib located in the middle of two contacting terminals, and each contacting terminal defines a pair of contacting arms branched at the end thereof for connecting with corresponding conductive terminal of the socket, and the insulating rib is inserted into the connected two conductive terminals of the socket to electrically isolate these two conductive terminals, and two cell groups are connected with each other in parallel when the insulating rib of the second male plug is clamped by the two conductive terminals with different polarities.
In an exemplary embodiment, four conductive terminals are arranged adjacent to each other, and the two conductive terminals with different polarities are located in the middle, and two adjacent conductive terminals located on two sides have same polarity.
In an exemplary embodiment, four conductive terminals are arranged adjacent to each other, and two conductive terminals with different polarities are located on one side of the four conductive terminals, and two adjacent conductive terminals which are located in the middle have same polarity.
In an exemplary embodiment, two conductive terminals with different polarities defines a gap formed therebetween, and the connecting terminal is inserted into the gap for simultaneously and electrically connecting the two conductive terminals with different polarities together.
In an exemplary embodiment, the second male plug has an insulating rib located in the middle of four contacting terminals, and the insulating rib is inserted into two conductive terminals in the middle to electrically isolated these two conductive terminals.
The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.
It is also to be noted that, in order to avoid obscuring the invention in unnecessary detail, the structures and/or processing steps only closely related to the aspects of the present invention are shown in the drawings and the other details having little relationship with this invention is omitted.
In addition, it should be noted that the terms “comprising”, “including”, or any other variants are intended to encompass a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or device that comprising a plurality of elements includes not only those elements but also the elements that are not explicitly listed, or the elements that are inherent to such a process, method, item, or device.
Referring to
Referring to
The conductive terminals 111, 112, 113, 114 respectively connected to the positive and negative electrodes of two battery cell groups 102, 103 through a circuit board (not shown) are used to achieve the electrically connection between the battery pack 100 and the corresponding power tool when connected to the corresponding male plug 120, 130, so as to achieve the power supplying function of the battery pack 100 for the power tool. Two conductive terminals 111, 112 are respectively and electrically connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the first battery cell group 102. The other two conductive terminals 113, 114 are respectively connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the second battery cell group 103. Specifically, the conductive terminal 111 is electrically connected to the positive electrode of the first battery cell group 102. The conductive terminal 112 is electrically connected to the negative electrode of the first battery cell group 102. The conductive terminal 113 is electrically connected to the positive electrode of the second battery cell group 103. The conductive terminal 114 is electrically connected to the negative electrode of the second battery cell group 103.
Six terminals 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 are configured with two different structures. The communicating terminal 115, the charging terminal 116 and two conductive terminals 111, 114 are configured with same structure. The rest two conductive terminals 112, 113 have same structure but different with that of the communicating terminal 115. Each of the communicating terminal 115, the charging terminal 116 and two conductive terminals 111, 114 has two contacting arms to clamp corresponding contacting terminal of the first or second male plug 120, 130. Two conductive terminals 112, 113 are symmetrically arranged in the middle of six terminals and each has one contacting arm for contacting with corresponding contacting terminal of the first or second male plug 120, 130.
Specifically, the conductive terminals 114, 112, 113, 111 are disposed in the body 104 from left to right. Two conductive terminals 111, 114 are respectively disposed at the opposite sides of two conductive terminals 112, 113. Specifically, the conductive terminal 114 is disposed at the left side of the conductive terminal 112. The conductive terminal 111 is disposed at the right side of the conductive terminal 113. The conductive terminal 112 is disposed at the left side of the conductive terminal 113. Two conductive terminals 112, 113 are close to each other. The contacting arms of the conductive terminals 112, 113 are close but separate with each other. The first and second battery cell groups 102, 103 are isolated with each other in the battery pack 100.
Due to the layout of these four conductive terminals 114, 112, 113,111, the contacting arms of the conductive terminals 112, 113 are easily and mechanically connected or disconnected to each other. Therefore, the battery cell groups 102, 103 are easily switched between two states through the contacting arms of the conductive terminals 112, 113. One state is that two battery cell groups 102, 103 are connected with each other in series to output a high voltage. The other state is that two battery cell groups 102, 103 are connected with each other in parallel to output a low voltage.
Specifically, when the contacting arms of two conductive terminals 112, 113 are connected to each other, two battery cell groups 102, 103 are connected in series and the battery pack 100 can output a high voltage for the high rated-voltage power tool connected thereto. When the contacting arms of two conductive terminals 112, 113 are isolated or disconnected with each other, two battery cell groups 102, 103 are isolated with each other and the battery pack 100 can output a low voltage for the low rated-voltage power tool connected thereto.
In this embodiment, the conductive terminal 111 is the first positive terminal 111, the conductive terminal 112 is the first negative terminal 112, the conductive terminal 113 is the second positive terminal 113 and the conductive terminal 114 is the second negative terminal 114. The second negative terminal 114, the first negative terminal 112, the second positive terminal 113 and the first positive terminal 111 are disposed on the battery pack 100 from left to right. In this embodiment, the communicating terminal 115 is located at the left side of the second negative terminal 114 and the charging terminal 116 is located at the right side of the first positive terminal 111. The first negative terminal 112 and the second positive terminal 113 are selectively disconnected or connected in two different mechanical connection states. In one state, the two battery cell groups 102, 103 are connected with each other in series for outputting a high voltage. In another state, the two battery cell groups 102, 103 are connected with each other in parallel to output a low voltage.
Referring to
Four male conducting terminals 121, 122, 123, 124 are respectively connected to the communicating terminal 115, two conductive terminals 114, 111 and the charging terminal 116 through clamped by corresponding two arms of corresponding terminals of the socket 110 when the first male plug 120 is inserted into the socket 110. Specifically, when the first male plug 120 is inserted into the socket 110 of the battery pack 100, the male conducting terminal 121 is clamped by two contacting arms of the communicating terminal 115. The male conducting terminal 122 is clamped by two contacting arms of the conductive terminal 114. The male conducting terminal 123 is clamped by two contacting arms of the conductive terminal 111. The male conducting terminal 124 is clamped by two contacting arms of the charging terminal 116. The connecting terminal 125 is clamped together by the contacting arms of the conductive terminals 112, 113, so as to electrically connect the negative electrode of the first battery cell group 102 to the positive electrode of the second battery cell group 103. Therefore, the first and second battery cell groups 102, 103 are connected with each other in series and the battery pack 100 outputs a high voltage for the high rated voltage power tool through the negative conductive terminals 114 and the positive conductive terminal 111 thereof.
Specifically, when the first male plug 20 of the high rated-voltage power tool is connected to the socket 110 of the battery pack 100, only the electrical connections formed between the male conducting terminal 121 and the communicating terminal 115, the male conducting terminal 122 and the conducting terminal 114, the male conducting terminal 123 and the conducting terminal 111 are achieved between the first male plug 20 and the socket 110 of the battery pack 100. Specifically, the electrical connection formed between the male conducting terminal 122 and the conducting terminal 114 is used to transfer the communication between the battery pack 100 and the high rated-voltage power tool. The electrical connections formed between two sets of terminals, for example, the male conducting terminal 122 and the conducting terminal 114, the male conducting terminal 123 and the conducting terminal 111 are used to supply power from the battery pack 100 to the high rated-voltage power tool. The connecting terminal 125 is only used to electrically connected the conducting terminal 112 to the conducting terminal 113 in the battery pack 100, so as to make two battery cell groups 102, 103 connected with each other in series. No electrical connection between the battery pack 100 and the high rated-voltage power tool is achieved by the connecting terminal 125 and two conducting terminals 112, 113. The connecting terminal 125 is only used to achieve the electrical connection between two battery cell groups 102, 103.
The charging terminal 116 is used when the battery pack 100 is connected to an external power source for charging, and it doesn't work when the battery pack 100 is connected to the power tool, so that the charging terminal 116 and the male conducting terminal 124 only have a mechanical connection but not an electrical connection. The cooperation of the male conducting terminal 124 and the charging terminal 116 can enhance the mating strength between the first male plug 120 and the battery pack 100. Correspondingly, the first male plug 120 can be provided with only three first male terminals 121, 122, 123, and without the male conducting terminal 124.
Referring to
The second male terminals configured with two different type include four contacting terminals 131, 132, 133, 134 which are corresponding to six terminals of the battery pack 100. Four contacting terminals 131, 132, 133, 134 are disposed in the main housing 135 from left to right. Two contacting terminals 131, 134 have same structure and each defines only one contacting arm respectively clamped by two contacting arms of corresponding communicating terminal 115 or charging terminal 116. The function of the contacting terminals 131 is same with that of the conducting terminal 121 of the first mal plug 120 which is described above. The function of the contacting terminal 134 is same with that of the conducting terminal 124 of the first male plug 120 which is described above.
Two contacting terminals 132, 133 have same structure which is different with that of the contacting terminals 131, 134 and each defines a pair of contacting arms 1321, 1322, 1331, 1332 corresponding to conductive terminals 114, 112, 113, 111. Specifically, the contacting terminal 132 is configured with a pair of contacting arms 1321, 1322 branched at the end thereof. The contacting arm 1321 is clamped by two contacting arms of the conductive terminal 114 and the contacting arm 1322 is connected to the contacting arm of the conductive terminal 112. The contacting terminal 133 also defines two contacting arms 1331, 1332 branched at the end thereof. The contacting arm 1331 is electrically connected to the contacting arm of the conductive terminal 113 and the other contacting arm 1332 is clamped by two contacting arms of the conductive terminal 111. The contacting terminal 132 is simultaneously connected with two conductive terminals 114, 112 and the contacting terminal 133 is simultaneously connected with two conductive terminals 112, 111 when the second male plug 130 is connected to the socket 110.
Therefore, the electrical connection between the socket 110 and the second male plug 130 is achieved together by the contacting arms of the conductive terminal 114 clamping one contacting arm 1321 of the contacting terminal 132, the contacting arm of the conductive terminal 112 connecting with the other contacting arm 1322 of the contacting terminal 132, the contacting arm of the conductive terminal 113 contacting with one contacting arm 1331 of the contacting terminal 133 and the contacting arms of the conductive terminal 111 clamping the other contacting arm 1332 of the contacting terminal 133. Due to the structures of two contacting terminals 132, 133 of the second male plug 130 and the conductive terminals 114, 112, 113, 111 of the socket 110, the first battery cell group 102 and the second battery cell group 103 are connected with each other in parallel, the battery pack 100 output a low voltage to the low rated-voltage power tool through the electrical connections between the conducting terminals 114, 112,113, 111 of the socket 110 and two contacting terminals 132, 133 of the second male plug 130.
Specifically, the contacting arm 1322 of the contacting terminal 132 is closed to the contacting arm 1331 of the contacting terminal 133. The insulating rib 136 is located between the contacting arm 1322 of the contacting terminal 132 and the contacting arm 1331 of the contacting terminal 133 and separate these two contacting terminals 132 and 133, so as to prevent the contacting terminals 132, 133 from circuit shorting. The insulating rib 136 has a length longer than that of the contacting arms 1322, 1331.
In this embodiment, two conductive terminals 112, 113 are isolated with each other in the battery pack 100, so that two battery cell groups 102, 103 are isolated with each other. When the first male plug 120 of the high rated-voltage power tool is assembled on the socket 110 of the battery pack 100, the connecting terminal 125 of the first male plug 120 is clamped by corresponding contacting arms of two conductive terminals 112, 113, the conducting terminal 122 of the first male plug 120 is clamped by two contacting arms of the conductive terminal 114, and the conducting terminal 123 is clamped by two contacting arms of the conductive terminal 111, so that the conductive terminals 114, 112, 113, 111 are connected with each other in series, two battery cell groups 102, 103 of the battery pack 100 are connected with each other in series, therefore, the battery pack 100 outputs a high rated-voltage for the high rated-voltage power tool through the connection between the socket 100 and the first male plug 120. The battery cell groups 102. 103 can be switched between isolated state and series connection state when disconnecting or connecting the socket 110 of the battery pack 100 to the first male plug 120 of the high rate-voltage power tool. When the second male plug 130 of the low rated-voltage power tool is assembled on the socket 110 of the battery pack 100, the contacting terminal 133 of the second male plug 130 is simultaneously connected with two conductive terminals 111, 113, the contacting terminal 132 is simultaneously connected with two conductive terminals 112 and 114, so that two conductive terminals 111, 113 are connected in parallel and two conductive terminals 112, 114 are connected in parallel. Therefore, two battery cell groups 102, 103 are connected with each other in parallel and the battery pack 100 outputs a low voltage for the low rated-voltage power tool. The battery cell groups 102, 103 can be switched between isolated state and parallel connection state when disconnecting or connecting the socket 110 of the battery pack 100 to the second male plug 130 of the low rated-voltage power tool.
Referring to
Referring to
In the second embodiment, two conductive terminals 212, 213 are connected with each other in the battery pack 200, so that two battery cell groups 202, 203 are connected with each other in series in the battery pack 200. When the first male plug 230 of the high rated-voltage power tool is assembled on the socket 210 of the battery pack 200, the conducting terminal 232 is clamped by two contacting arms of the conductive terminal 214, the conducting terminal 233 is clamped by two contacting arms of the conductive terminal 211, so that the conductive terminals 214, 212, 213, 211 are connected to each other in series through the conductive terminal 212 being connected with the conductive terminal 213, two battery cell group 202, 203 are connected with each other in series. Therefore, the battery pack 200 outputs a high voltage for the high rated-voltage power tool through the connection between the socket 210 and the first male plug 230. When the second male plug 220 of the low rated-voltage power tool is assembled on the socket 210 of the battery pack 200, the contacting terminal 222 is simultaneously connected with two conductive terminals 214, 212, and the contacting terminal 223 is simultaneously connected with two conductive terminals 213, 211, and the insulating rib 225 is simultaneously connected with two auxiliary arms 2122, 2131 and separated the connection between two conductive terminals 212, 213. So that the conductive terminals 214, 213, 212, 211 are connected with each other in parallel through the contacting terminals 222, 223. Therefore, two battery cell groups 202, 203 are connected with each other in parallel and the battery pack 200 outputs a low voltage for the low rated-voltage power tool. Two battery cell groups 202, 203 can be switched between series connection state and parallel connection state when disconnecting or connecting the socket 210 of the battery pack 200 to the second male plug 220 of the low rated-voltage power tool.
The second male plug 320 of the low rated-voltage power tool in the third embodiment has similar structure with the first male plug 120 of the high rated-voltage power tool in the first embodiment, except that the contacting terminal 322 of the second male plug 320 in the third embodiment is formed as a whole by integrating tow conductive terminals 122, 123 of the first male plug 120 in the first embodiment. Therefore, when the second male plug 320 of the low rated-voltage power tool (not shown) is connected to the socket 310 of the battery pack 300 in the third embodiment, the contacting terminal 322 is simultaneously connected with two conductive terminals 314, 313 at the same time through two contacting arms of the conductive terminal 314 clamping one contacting arm of the contacting terminal 322 and two contacting arms of the conductive terminal 311 clamping the other contacting arm of the contacting terminal 322. So that two positive electrodes of two battery cell groups 302, 302 are connected with each other in parallel. The connecting terminal 323 of the second male plug 320 is simultaneously connected with two conductive terminals 312, 313. So that two positive electrodes of two battery cell groups 302, 302 are connected with each other in parallel. Such that two battery cell groups 302, 302 are connected with each other in parallel when the second male plug 320 of the low rated-voltage power tool is assembled on the socket 310 of the battery pack 300. And the battery pack 300 can output a low voltage for the low rated-voltage power tool through connecting the socket 310 to the second male plug 320. Two battery cell groups 302, 302 can be switched between isolated state and parallel state through disconnecting or connecting the battery pack 300 to the low rated-voltage power tool. The contacting terminal 321 is clamped by two contacting arms of the communicating terminal 315. The contacting terminal 324 is clamped by two contacting arms of the charging terminal 316, referring to
Referring to
Referring
Referring to
In summary, the battery pack of the present invention comprises two sets of battery cells and four conductive terminals respectively connected to the two sets of battery cells, two of four conductive terminals are provided with different mechanical connected states formed therebetween. And two sets of the battery cells in the battery pack are isolated or serially connected with each other through these two conductive terminals with different polarity being disconnected or connected with each other. Two sets of the battery cells are always isolated with each other when these two conductive terminals having same polarity. A contacting terminal disposed on a male plug of a high rated-voltage power tool can change the mechanical connection state of two different polarity conductive terminals from isolated state to series connected state. An insulating rib disposed on a male plug of a low rated-voltage power tool can change the mechanical connection state of two different polarity conductive terminals from series connected state to isolated state. Two set of battery cells can be connected with each other in series or in parallel through the electrical connections formed between four conductive terminals of the battery pack and the conducting or contacting terminals of the high or low rated-voltage power tool when the high or low rated-voltage power tool connected to the battery pack. The battery pack output different voltages through switching the connection between two set of battery cells caused by the electrical connection formed between four terminals and the conducting or contacting terminals of corresponding power tool. so that the battery pack is widely used.
Although, the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the invention is limited only by the accompanying claims.
In the claims, the term “comprises/comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means or elements may be implemented by e.g. a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. The terms “a”, “an”, “first”, “second” etc., do not preclude a plurality. Reference signs in the claims are provided merely as a clarifying example and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any way.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201811425584.1 | Nov 2018 | CN | national |
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/697,402, filed Nov. 27, 2019 (pending), which claims the priority of CN Application Serial No. 201811425584.1, filed on Nov. 27, 2018, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16697402 | Nov 2019 | US |
| Child | 18416963 | US |
