Auxiliary energy circuit for battery-powered power tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12021378-B2
Application number	US-202318341240-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2023
Priority date	Jul 25, 2018
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

A power tool comprising a power tool housing, an auxiliary power source, a user input for user control of power tool operation, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a control signal from the user input, control the power tool in response to the control signal, receive, from a sensor, a signal indicative of an operational characteristic of the power tool, and selectively provide energy from the auxiliary power source to a load of the power tool based on the operational characteristic of the power tool.

First claim

We claim:

1. A power tool comprising:
a power tool housing;
an auxiliary power source;
a user input for user control of power tool operation;
a controller configured to:
receive a control signal from the user input,
control the power tool in response to the control signal,
receive, from a sensor, a signal indicative of an operational characteristic of the power tool, and
selectively provide energy from the auxiliary power source to a load of the power tool based on the operational characteristic of the power tool.

2. The power tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mode selector configured to select an operational mode of the power tool;
wherein the controller is configured to selectively provide the energy from the auxiliary power source to the load of the power tool based on the operational mode of the power tool.

3. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary power source includes an ultra-capacitor.

4. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary power source is integrated within the power tool housing.

5. The power tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
a battery pack interface configured to receive a battery pack;
wherein, to selectively provide the energy from the auxiliary power source to the load of the power tool, the controller is configured to connect the auxiliary power source in series with the battery pack interface.

6. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein:
the load of the power tool is a motor that is coupled to an output driver; and
the operational characteristic is one selected from a group consisting of a motor speed, a motor rotational position, a motor current, and a trigger pull percentage.

7. The power tool of claim 6 , wherein the auxiliary power source is configured to receive charging energy from regenerative braking during operation of the power tool.

8. A method for supplying additional energy to a power tool, the power tool including a power tool housing, the method comprising:
receiving, by a controller, a control signal from a user input for user control of power tool operation;
controlling, by the controller, the power tool in response to the control signal;
receiving, from a sensor, a signal indicative of an operational characteristic of the power tool; and
selectively providing, by the controller, energy from an auxiliary power source to a load of the power tool based on the operational characteristic of the power tool.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
selecting, using a mode selector, an operational mode of the power tool; and,
selectively providing the energy from the auxiliary power source to the load of the power tool based on the operational mode of the power tool.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary power source includes an ultra-capacitor.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary power source is integrated within the power tool housing.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein selectively providing the energy from the auxiliary power source to the load of the power tool includes connecting the auxiliary power source in series with a battery pack interface.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the operational characteristic is one selected from a group consisting of a motor speed, a motor rotational position, a motor current, and a trigger pull percentage.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein, selectively providing energy from an auxiliary power source to a load of the power tool includes closing a first switch, closing a second switch, and opening a third switch.

15. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving, by the auxiliary power source, charging energy from regenerative braking during operation of the power tool.

16. A power tool system comprising:
an auxiliary power source; and,
a power tool including:
a power tool housing;
a battery pack interface configured to receive a battery pack;
a user input for user control of power tool operation; and,
a controller configured to:
receive a control signal from the user input,
control the power tool in response to the control signal, and
selectively provide energy from the auxiliary power source to a load of the power tool based on an operational characteristic of the power tool.

17. The power tool system of claim 16 , further comprising:
a mode selector configured to select an operational mode of the power tool;
wherein the controller is configured to selectively provide the energy from the auxiliary power source to the load of the power tool based on the operational mode of the power tool.

18. The power tool system of claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary power source includes an ultra-capacitor.

19. The power tool system of claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary power source is integrated within the battery pack.

20. The power tool system of claim 16 , wherein:
the load of the power tool is a motor that is coupled to an output driver; and
the operational characteristic is one selected from a group consisting of a motor speed, a motor rotational position, a motor current, and a trigger pull percentage.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Varian William
• Subramanian Aditya
• Jipp Ryan B
• Sheeks Samuel

Classifications

• H02J7/865

  Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply (H02J7/50 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/933

  the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters · CPC title

• H02J7/855

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

• H02K7/145 Primary

  Hand-held machine tool · CPC title

• H02J7/345

  using capacitors as storage or buffering devices · CPC title