Storage battery unit and connector that can be connected to each other

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11251568-B2
Application number	US-201816627754-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2018
Priority date	Jul 5, 2017
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

A first connector for electrically connecting a first unit power terminal through a third unit power terminal to a power converter for performing conversion between a DC power and an AC power is mounted to a mounting port. In a status in which the first connector is being removed from the mounting port, it is impossible to mount the first connector to the mounting port while the first unit power terminal through the third unit power terminal are inputting and outputting a DC power, and it is possible to mount the first connector to the mounting port while the first unit power terminal through the third unit power terminal are not inputting and outputting a DC power.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A storage battery unit comprising:
a storage battery;
a unit power terminal that inputs and outputs a DC power of the storage battery; and
a mounting port in which a connector is mounted, the connector being configured to electrically connect the unit power terminal and an external power converter for performing conversion between a DC power and an AC power, the connector also including a connector power terminal connected to the unit power terminal,
wherein in a status in which the connector is being removed from the mounting port, it is impossible to mount the connector to the mounting port while the unit power terminal is enabled to input and output a DC power, and it is possible to mount the connector to the mounting port while the unit power terminal is not inputting and outputting a DC power,
wherein the connector includes a first connector surface on which the connector power terminal is provided and a second connector surface provided to a side of the first connector surface and having a connector recess,
wherein the mounting port includes:
a first port surface which faces the first connector surface and on which the unit power terminal is provided; and
a second port surface which faces the second connector surface,

wherein the storage battery unit further comprises a movable piece movable between a position in which the movable piece projects from the second port surface and a position in which the movable piece does not project from the second port surface,
wherein when the connector is mounted to the mounting port, the movable piece is set in the connector recess when the movable piece projects from the second port surface, and
wherein the unit power terminal inputs and outputs a DC power when the movable piece projects from the second port surface, and the unit power terminal does not input and output a DC power when the movable piece does not project from the second port surface.

2. A storage battery unit comprising:
a storage battery;
a unit power terminal that inputs and outputs a DC power of the storage battery; and
a mounting port in which a connector is mounted, the connector being configured to electrically connect the unit power terminal and an external power converter for performing conversion between a DC power and an AC power, the connector also including a connector power terminal connected to the unit power terminal,
wherein in a status in which the connector is being removed from the mounting port, it is impossible to mount the connector to the mounting port while the unit power terminal is enabled to input and output a DC power, and it is possible to mount the connector to the mounting port while the unit power terminal is not inputting and outputting a DC power,
wherein the mounting port includes a switch for operating the storage battery,
wherein in a status in which the connector is being removed from the mounting port, it is possible to mount the connector to the mounting port while the switch is being turned off, and it is impossible to mount the connector to the mounting port while the switch is being turned on, and
wherein in a status in which the connector is being mounted to the mounting port, it is possible to remove the connector from the mounting port while the switch is being turned off, and it is impossible to remove the connector from the mounting port while the switch is being turned on.

3. A connector for electrically connecting the storage battery unit according to claim 1 and an external power converter for performing conversion between a DC power and an AC power, the connector comprising:
a connector power terminal connected to the unit power terminal; and
a housing that houses the connector power terminal and mounted to the mounting port.

4. A connector for electrically connecting the storage battery unit according to claim 2 and an external power converter for performing conversion between a DC power and an AC power, the connector comprising:
a connector power terminal connected to the unit power terminal; and
a housing that houses the connector power terminal and mounted to the mounting port.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Toya Shoichi
• Nakashima Takeshi
• Yamada Yohei
• KASHIKI Chie
• Ito Yoshikatsu

Classifications

• H01M50/574

  Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current · CPC title

• H01M50/296 Primary

  characterised by terminals of battery packs (terminals of batteries H01M50/543) · CPC title

• H01M10/425

  Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00) · CPC title

• H01M16/00

  Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators · CPC title

• H01R13/639 Primary

  Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, {e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap} · CPC title