JP2001143677A - Battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery pack that can simply carry out an assembling work in relation to terminal and circuit board. SOLUTION: In an inner case 13 within an outer case 2, a circuit board 32 is fastened to an upper rear surface of an upper holder 15 with screws 41. Charging and discharging terminals 33, a temperature detecting terminal 35, and a connector terminal 36 are disposed on the circuit board 32, thermostat 37 and thermistors 42 are connected to the temperature detecting terminal 35 and the connector terminal 36 through the circuit board 32, respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery pack containing a plurality of storage batteries and used as a power source for a power tool or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a battery pack, a case for accommodating a plurality of storage batteries is provided with a common mounting portion for a charger and a power tool, and the mounting portion is electrically connected to a charging device or the like by a positive or negative connection. A charging / discharging terminal and a communication terminal are provided, while a temperature-sensitive element such as a thermistor or a thermostat in contact with the storage battery and a substrate connected to the communication terminal to form a communication circuit with a charger or the like. Are provided.

[0003]

The above-mentioned board is arranged at a position different from the charging / discharging terminal and the communication terminal due to the shape of the mounting portion and space restrictions, etc. In addition to the necessity, the length of the wiring becomes long and it takes time. In addition, the work of attaching the temperature-sensitive element to the storage battery with a tape or the like in order to make it contact with the storage battery is also required separately, so that the workability is further reduced.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack in which the work of assembling the terminals and the substrate can be easily performed and the workability in assembling is improved.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the substrate is arranged in the mounting portion, and the charging / discharging terminal and the communication terminal are connected to the substrate. And the temperature sensing element is connected to the communication terminal via the substrate. Claim 2
In addition to the object of claim 1, the invention described in claim 1 further includes a substrate mounted on an outer surface of the inner case, in which the storage battery is further housed in the inner case, in order to facilitate assembly of the temperature-sensitive element. Can be inserted between the storage battery and the inner case through the inner case.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof,
Although it is a box body containing a plurality of storage batteries (hereinafter, referred to as “cells”), here, it has a double structure in which an inner case 13 that is slightly smaller and covers cells is accommodated in the outer case 2.
First, the outer case 2 is a lower case 3 in which the inner case 13 is substantially fitted.
And an upper case 4 attached with screws from above the lower case 3
On the upper surface of the upper case 4 serving as a common mounting portion for a charger and a power tool, a base end portion 5 and a front portion from the base end portion 5 (hereinafter, the base end portion 5 side in the battery pack 1 (Described as a rear side) are formed. This slide rail 6,6
Has an inverted L-shape in cross section provided with overhanging portions 7, 7, respectively, and a proximal end 5 between both slide rails 6, 6 has
The slits 8, 8... Parallel to the slide rail 6 are formed. Further, a square-shaped intake port 9 penetrating the upper case 4 is formed at the center rear of the base end portion 5 of the upper case 4, and a stepped portion 10 formed between the slide rails 6, 6 is formed forward. Exhaust ports 11, 11,... Opening at the boundaries are formed. Reference numerals 12 and 12 denote stoppers that come into contact with the charger or the like when the slide is mounted on the charger or the like.

On the other hand, the inner case 13 includes an upper holder 15 and a lower holder 16 made of synthetic resin, which are attached to 20 cells 14, 14,... , 16 are provided between the metal strips. The upper and lower holders 15, 16
The cells 14 are formed in conformity with the overall shape of the cells 14 so that the stability of each cell 14 is ensured. The inner peripheral shape of the lower case 3 is formed between the lower peripheral edge of the upper holder 15 and the upper peripheral edge of the lower holder 16. Are formed to prevent rattling in the outer case 2 during storage. In this case, the cells 14, 14,... Are housed in upper and lower holders 15, 16 in the form of being divided into two at intervals of half (hereinafter, a group of the divided cells 14, 14,. Cells ").

Further, ribs 18 are provided before and after the lower holder 16.
Extension 1 projecting upward and coupled to upper holder 15
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the heat radiation plates 22, 22 on the outer side of each cell group have longitudinal ends in the longitudinal direction between the ribs 17, 18 and the cell 14. In between, the short ends in the up-down direction are clamped between the extending portion 19 and the cell 14, respectively, so that they are fixed between the upper and lower holders 15, 16. Similarly, the radiator plates 22, 2 provided between the cell groups
2 also has a longitudinal end between the cells 14 and the partition plates 20, 20 protruding from the upper and lower holders 15, 16 between the cell group,
The short ends are respectively held and fixed between the extending portion 19 and the cell 14. Each radiator plate 22 has an uneven shape along the outer shape of the cell group, makes uniform contact with the cells 14, 14,... In each row, and has an outer surface as shown in FIGS. A plurality of four fins 23 are formed parallel to each other with their front ends aligned.
Is set so that, except for the upper one, the lower three are gradually lengthened so that the heat capacity of the radiator plate 22 increases as going forward.

Therefore, the cell group is housed in the inner case 13 in a substantially sealed state, and the outer case 2 has a space surrounding the inner case 13 between the ribs 17 and 18 as shown by oblique lines in FIG. And a space penetrating the inner case 13 back and forth in communication with the space, but the front and rear portions of the rib 17 are cut off, and these spaces communicate with the intake port 9 and the exhaust port 11 of the upper case 4. The battery pack 1
As shown by arrows in FIG. 6, the air that has entered from the intake port 9 divides right and left and wraps forward, and penetrates through the ventilation paths 24, 24 that go out of the exhaust port 11 to the outside, and the inner case 13 to reach the front. The second ventilation path 25 that goes out from the exhaust port 11 to the outside is branched and formed. In addition, the front extending portion 19 includes the rectifying plates 21, 21 in the vertical direction on both sides of the second ventilation path 25.
The airflow flowing through the ventilation paths 24, 24 and the second ventilation path 25 is independently guided to the exhaust port 11. 26 is a rubber sheet laid between the lower surface of the inner case 13 and the inner surface of the lower case 3, 27 and 27 are sponge sheets laid between the cell group and the lower holder 16.
Reference numerals 8 and 28 denote insulating plates, and a hook 30 is provided on the outer case 2 behind the battery pack 1 so as to be urged upward by a coil spring 29 and to protrude the claws 31 from the upper case 4.

In addition, the substrate 3 is located behind the upper surface of the upper holder 15.
2 is screwed with a screw 41 (FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIG. 6). On the substrate 32, left and right charging / discharging terminals 33, 33 are provided.
Are arranged, and the upper holder 1 is
The cells are electrically connected to the positive and negative poles at both ends of the cell group exposed through five. Further, between the charge / discharge terminals 33, 33 on the substrate 32, a temperature detection terminal 35 as a communication terminal and a connector terminal 36 are respectively disposed to form a communication circuit with the charger. In the housed state in the outer case 2, the charging / discharging terminals 33, 33 and the temperature detecting terminal 35 face the outside via the slits 8, 8,... Of the upper case 4, and the connector terminal 36 is exposed forward. It is supposed to. Note that the charging / discharging terminals 33, 33 are formed longer than the temperature detecting terminal 35 so that a necessary contact pressure can be obtained when the charging / discharging terminal 33 is mounted on the power tool.

As shown in FIG. 2, a thermostat 37 as a temperature sensing element connected to the temperature detecting terminal 35 is connected to a lead wire 39 through a through hole 38 in front of the upper holder 15 (one lead wire 39 is connected between cells). Is connected to the lower lead plate 46), and is inserted between the cell 14 and the front extending portion 19 in a state of being assembled to the lower holder 16 so as to be in close contact with the cell 14. Similarly, thermistors 42, 42 as temperature sensing elements connected to the substrate 32 also
From the through holes 43, 43 behind the upper holder 15, lead wires 44,
In a state of being assembled to the lower holder 16, it is inserted between the cell 14 and the rear extending portion 19, and is brought into close contact with the cell 14. Since the inclined surfaces 40 and 45 are formed on the inner surface of the extending portion 19 by draft at the time of molding, the thermostat 37 and the thermistor 4 are inserted with the insertion of the thermostat 37 and the thermistor 42.
2 is pressed toward the cell 14 side.

The battery pack 1 configured as described above
Indicates that the charging / discharging terminals 3 are provided on the substrate 32 provided on the upper holder 15.
3, 33, a temperature detection terminal 35, and a connector terminal 36 are all disposed, and the thermostat 37 and the thermistor 42 are connected via the substrate 32 to the temperature detection terminal 35 and the connector terminal 3.
Therefore, when assembling to the inner case 13, the terminals are first soldered to the substrate 32, and the lead plates 34 are spot-welded to the charging / discharging terminals 33, 33, respectively. Lead wires 39 and 44 connecting thermostat 37 and thermistor 42 also have through holes 38 and 4.
3 and soldered to the substrate 32,
Is screwed to the upper holder 15 with the screw 41, and all the terminals and wirings are unitized with the substrate 32 and the upper holder 15. After that, if the upper holder 15 is attached from above the cell group, the thermostat 37 and the thermistor 42 are connected to the cell 14.
And the extension portion 19 are inserted and fixed automatically. Finally, the upper holder 15 is assembled to the extending portion 19, and the lead plates 34, 46 are spot-welded to the cell 14, respectively.
The assembly and the electrical connection of the inner case 13 are completed. Of course, in this assembling, in addition to the above sequence, the upper holder 15 is first assembled to the lower holder 16 and then the substrate 32 is screwed,
Finally, the order can be changed, for example, by spot welding the lead plates 34, 46.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, the substrate 32 is disposed in the upper case 4 serving as a mounting portion, and the charging / discharging terminals 3
3 and 33, a temperature detecting terminal 35 and a connector terminal 36 are provided on a substrate 32, and a thermostat 37 and a thermistor 4 are provided.
2 is connected to each terminal via the substrate 32, so that each terminal and a lead wire such as a thermostat 37 can be connected to the substrate 32 in advance to form a unit. Therefore, the work of assembling the terminals and the substrate is simplified, and the workability is improved.
The thermostat 37 and the thermistor 42 are inserted between the cell 14 and the lower holder 16 over the upper holder 15 to be in close contact with the cell 14 when the unitized upper holder 15 is assembled to the lower holder 16. Due to the structure, extra work such as attaching the thermostat 37 or the like to the cell 14 with a tape is not required, and the workability is further improved.

Note that the position of the substrate is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be changed to the center or the end of the upper holder 15 in accordance with the shape of the upper case 4. In the above-described embodiment, a slide mounting structure using the slide rails 6, 6 and the like is adopted for mounting the battery pack. However, a structure in which the insertion portion of the battery pack is inserted into the recess of the charger or the handle of the power tool is used. The present invention is also applicable. Further, the inclined surfaces 40 and 45 for pressing the thermostat 37 and the thermistor 42 toward the cell side by inserting the thermostat 37 and the thermistor 42 into the lower holder 16 use the draft angle as it is to rationalize the configuration. Only the location may be steep. Of course, when there is no draft, only the inclined surface can be newly formed.

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the substrate is arranged on the mounting portion, the charging / discharging terminal and the communication terminal are provided on the substrate, and the temperature-sensitive element is provided via the substrate. By connecting to the communication terminal, each terminal and the temperature-sensitive element can be connected to the substrate in advance to form a unit. Therefore, the work of assembling the terminals and the substrate is simplified, and the workability is improved. According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, when the storage battery is further housed in the inner case, the substrate is mounted on the outer surface of the inner case, and the temperature-sensitive element is stored in the storage battery through the inner case. By inserting the thermosensitive element into the cell using a tape, extra work such as attaching the thermosensitive element to the cell with a tape is not required, and workability in assembling the thermosensitive element is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a battery pack.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the battery pack with the upper case removed.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the battery pack with an upper case and an upper holder removed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an inner case.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Battery pack, 2. Outer case, 5. Base end, 6. Slide rail, 9. Inlet, 11. Exhaust, 13. Inner case, 14. Cell, 15. · Upper holder, 16 · · · Lower holder, 22 · · · Heat sink, 23 · · · Fins, 24 · · · Ventilation path, 25 · · · Second ventilation path, 32 · · ·
Substrate, 33 ... Charge / discharge terminal, 35 ... Temperature detection terminal, 36 ... Connector terminal, 37 ... Thermostat,
39 lead wires, 40, 45 inclined surfaces, 41 screws, 42 thermistors.

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 5H020 AA01 AS06 AS16 CC06 CC12 DD02 DD20 5H030 AA06 AS06 AS12 FF22 5H031 AA08 AA09 CC05 CC09 KK01 KK08

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A case for accommodating a plurality of storage batteries, a mounting portion for another electric device is formed, and the mounting portion has a charging / discharging terminal and a communication terminal electrically connected to the other electric device. A battery pack provided with a temperature-sensitive element in contact with the storage battery, and a substrate connected to the communication terminal to form a communication circuit with the other electric device. Wherein the substrate is arranged in the mounting portion, the charge / discharge terminal and the communication terminal are provided on the substrate, and the temperature-sensitive element is connected to the communication terminal via the substrate. Battery pack. 2. A storage device in which a storage battery is further housed in an inner case, wherein a substrate is attached to an outer surface of the inner case so that a temperature-sensitive element can be inserted between the storage battery and the inner case through the inner case. Item 7. The battery pack according to item 1.