Power tool and battery pack for selective power supply to battery pack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10946508-B2
Application number	US-201515122766-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2015
Priority date	Mar 6, 2014
Publication date	Mar 16, 2021
Grant date	Mar 16, 2021

Abstract

The invention relates to a power tool and battery pack assembly including a battery pack (18) for connection with the power tool (1) to provide power for the operation of the power tool (1) when connected thereto. The battery pack (18) includes a plurality of power cells and connection means (40, 42) are provided to allow the selective supply of power at least a first or second voltage level to the power tool (1) from the battery pack (18).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A power tool system comprising:
a first power tool having a first motor configured to operate at a first voltage and a first group of connection portions;
a second power tool having a second motor configured to operate at a second voltage lower than the first voltage and a second group of connection portions of which mechanical configuration is different from the mechanical configuration of the first group of connection portions; and
a battery pack configured to be connectable to the first power tool and the second power tool, the battery pack having a plurality of groups of power cells and a third group of connection portions, each group of power cells having a plurality of power cells connected in series,
wherein the first and third groups of connection portions are configured so that, when the battery pack is connected to the first power tool, the third group of connection portions mechanically interacts with the first group of connection portions in a first form of mechanical interaction and the plurality of groups of power cells are connected in series to provide the first voltage to the first power tool, and
wherein the second and third groups of connection portions are configured so that, when the battery pack is connected to the second power tool, the third group of connection portions mechanically interacts with the second group of connection portions in a second form of mechanical interaction different from the first form of mechanical interaction and the plurality of groups of power cells are connected in parallel to provide the second voltage to the second power tool.

2. The power tool system according to claim 1 ,
wherein at least one of the third group of connection portions is located so as to mechanically connect to one of the first group of connection portions in the first form of mechanical interaction, and
wherein the at least one of the third group of connection portions is located so as not to mechanically connect to any one of the second group of connection portions in the second form of mechanical interaction.

3. The power tool system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second, and third groups of connection portions comprises a plurality of electrical terminals.

4. The power tool system according to claim 2 ,
wherein each of the first, second and third groups of connection portions comprises a plurality of electrical terminals,
wherein at least one of the electrical terminals of the third group of connection portions is located so as to mechanically connect to one of the electrical terminals of the first group of connection portions in the first form of mechanical interaction, and
wherein the at least one of the electrical terminals of the third group of connection portions is located so as not to mechanically connect to any one of the electrical terminals of the second group of connection portions in the second form of mechanical interaction.

Assignees

• Koki Holdings Co Ltd

Inventors

• Bakker Rients

Classifications

• H01M50/269

  Mechanical means for varying the arrangement of batteries or cells for different uses, e.g. for changing the number of batteries or for switching between series and parallel wiring (methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance H01M6/50, H01M10/42) · CPC title

• H01M50/55

  on the same side of the cell · CPC title

• H01M50/209

  adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/216 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M50/247

  specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers · CPC title

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title