Portable power source

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11271415-B2
Application number	US-201916411291-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2019
Priority date	May 18, 2018
Publication date	Mar 8, 2022
Grant date	Mar 8, 2022

Abstract

A portable power source. The portable power source includes a housing, a first battery pack support configured to receive a first removable and rechargeable battery pack, a second battery pack support configured to receive a second removable and rechargeable battery pack, an inverter within the housing, and an alternating current power outlet. The inverter is configured to receive output power from the first removable and rechargeable battery pack and the second removable and rechargeable battery pack. The inverter is configured to produce an alternating current power output. The alternating current power outlet is configured to receive the alternating current power output from the inverter. The inverter is configured to be disabled when the first removable and rechargeable battery pack is received in the first battery pack support and the second removable and rechargeable battery pack is not received in the second battery pack support.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable power source comprising:
a housing;
a first battery pack support configured to receive a first removable and rechargeable battery pack;
a second battery pack support configured to receive a second removable and rechargeable battery pack;
an inverter within the housing, the inverter configured to receive output power from the first removable and rechargeable battery pack and the second removable and rechargeable battery pack, the inverter configured to produce an alternating current power output; and
an alternating current power outlet configured to receive the alternating current power output from the inverter,
wherein the inverter is configured to be disabled when the first removable and rechargeable battery pack is received in the first battery pack support and the second removable and rechargeable battery pack is not received in the second battery pack support, and
wherein the inverter is configured to be enabled when the first removable and rechargeable battery pack is not received in the first battery pack support and the second removable and rechargeable battery pack is received in the second battery pack support.

2. The portable power source of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third battery pack support configured to receive a third removable and rechargeable battery pack; and
a fourth battery pack support configured to receive a fourth removable and rechargeable battery pack.

3. The portable power source of claim 2 , wherein the inverter is configured to be enabled when the first removable and rechargeable battery pack is not received in the first battery pack support, the second removable and rechargeable battery pack is received in the second battery pack support, the third removable and rechargeable battery pack is received in the third battery pack support, and the fourth removable and rechargeable battery pack is received in the fourth battery pack support,
wherein the inverter is configured to be disabled when the first removable and rechargeable battery pack is received in the first battery pack support, the second removable and rechargeable battery pack is received in the second battery pack support, the third removable and rechargeable battery pack is not received in the third battery pack support, and the fourth removable and rechargeable battery pack is received in the fourth battery pack support.

4. The portable power source of claim 1 , further comprising a first handle support member, a second handle support member, and a handle.

5. The portable power source of claim 4 , wherein the handle includes an open position and a closed position.

6. The portable power source of claim 5 , wherein, when the handle is in the closed position, the first removable and rechargeable battery pack is able to be removed from the first battery pack support.

7. The portable power source of claim 6 , wherein, when the handle is in the open position, the first removable and rechargeable battery pack is prevented from being removed from the first battery pack support.

8. The portable power source of claim 4 , wherein the handle is rotatable between a locked position where the first handle support member and the second handle support member are not movable with respect to one another, and an unlocked position where the first handle support member and the second handle support member are movable with respect to one another.

9. The portable power source of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user interface that includes:
a direct current power outlet,
the alternating current power outlet, and
one or more indicators.

10. The portable power source of claim 9 , wherein the one or more indicators include a wireless connection indicator.

11. The portable power source of claim 9 , wherein the user interface further includes a fuel gauge associated with the first removable and rechargeable battery pack and the second removable and rechargeable battery pack.

12. The portable power source of claim 1 , wherein the first battery pack support includes an interface movable with respect to the housing between an extended position and a retracted position.

13. The portable power source of claim 1 , wherein a maximum continuous output power of the portable power source is between approximately 1600 W and approximately 2700 W.

14. The portable power source of claim 1 , wherein a maximum peak output power of the portable power source is between approximately 3000 W and approximately 4200 W.

15. A portable power source comprising:
a housing;
a first battery pack support configured to receive a first removable and rechargeable battery pack;
a second battery pack support configured to receive a second removable and rechargeable battery pack;
a third battery pack support configured to receive a third removable and rechargeable battery pack;
a fourth battery pack support configured to receive a fourth removable and rechargeable battery pack;
an inverter within the housing, the inverter configured to receive output power from the first removable and rechargeable battery pack, the second removable and rechargeable battery pack, the third removable and rechargeable battery pack, and the fourth removable and rechargeable battery pack, the inverter configured to produce an alternating current power output; and
an alternating current power outlet configured to receive the alternating current power output from the inverter,
wherein the inverter is configured to be disabled when the first removable and rechargeable battery pack is received in the first battery pack support, the second removable and rechargeable battery pack is received in the second battery pack support, the third removable and rechargeable battery pack is received in the third battery pack support, and the fourth removable and rechargeable battery pack is not received in the fourth battery pack support,
wherein the inverter is configured to be enabled when the first removable and rechargeable battery pack is not received in the first battery pack support, the second removable and rechargeable battery pack is received in the second battery pack support, the third removable and rechargeable battery pack is received in the third battery pack support, and the fourth removable and rechargeable battery pack is received in the fourth battery pack support.

16. The portable power source of claim 15 , further comprising:
a user interface that includes:
the alternating current power outlet, and
one or more indicators.

17. The portable power source of claim 16 , wherein the one or more indicators include a wireless connection indicator.

18. The portable power source of claim 15 , further comprising a handle that includes an open position and a closed position,
wherein, when the handle is in the open position, the first removable and rechargeable battery pack is prevented from being removed from the first battery pack support.

19. A portable power source comprising:
a housing;
a first battery pack support configured to receive a first removable and rechargeable battery pack;
a second battery pack support configured to receive a second removable and rechargeable battery pack;
a third battery pack support configured to receive a third removable and rechargeable battery pack;
a fourth battery pack support configured to receive a fourth removable and rechargeable battery pack;
an inverter within the housing, the inverter configured to receive output power from the first removable and rechargeable battery pack, the second removable and rechargeable ba

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Mueckl Gareth
• Nowalis Dean W
• Rosenbecker Jay J
• Tesch Benjamin
• Matthews Michael A
• Kachar Amanda M
• Hansen Dalton F

Classifications

• H02J7/855

  with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery · CPC title

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/82

  Control of state of charge [SOC] · CPC title

• H02J7/70 Primary

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J7/65

  against overtemperature · CPC title