JP2007257980A - Charger - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that air flow is only one direction and heat radiation effect is low when a battery is charged with a conventional charger. <P>SOLUTION: In a charger in which a recessed part 5 for housing a charging battery is installed in a body containing a charging circuit, and a cover covering the recessed part 5 is made capable of opening and closing, a through hole 6 passing through the bottom of the body is installed in at least both end parts of the recessed part to efficiently conduct inflow of air into the inside of the charger. In addition, a cutout part 8 is additionally formed on the side of the case and in the cover 3 to accelerate the flow of air and to enhance heat radiation effect. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mechanism of a charger for charging a secondary battery.

  In recent years, the market for portable electronic devices such as portable audio and digital still cameras has grown rapidly. Meanwhile, rechargeable batteries and chargers for supplying power to portable electronic devices play an important role.

  However, when a rechargeable battery charger is charged for a rechargeable battery, heat from the battery itself and the charging circuit may cause heat to accumulate inside the charger if there is a charger cover for safety reasons. However, there are problems in the deterioration of the life and performance of the battery itself and the securing of a temperature environment where charging is possible.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the conventional method, a step is provided to separate the battery mounting surface of the charger from the secondary battery when the battery is mounted, and a notch is provided on the surrounding side wall to charge the battery. Heat generated between the charger and the secondary battery, which is sometimes generated, is dissipated from the cutout of the side wall (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-149494

  However, in the above conventional configuration, the heat radiation path is only installed as a notch on the side wall, so that the direction of the flow of heat in and out of the heat radiation surface is partially with respect to the heat generation surface while charging the battery. Therefore, the heat dissipation effect was small.

  The present invention solves this problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a charger that can easily dissipate heat generated by charging a secondary battery.

  In order to achieve the above object, a charger according to the present invention is provided with a recess for housing a rechargeable battery in a main body with a built-in charging circuit, and a cover that can open and close the cover, and at least both ends of the recess. In this configuration, a through-hole penetrating the bottom surface of the main body is provided in the part.

  According to the present invention, a through hole is made from the bottom of the charger so that air can be efficiently flowed in and out of the charger. In addition, notches were added to the side and cover of the case to further increase the effect of air flow and increase the heat dissipation effect.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the charger of the embodiment as viewed from the upper surface side. In FIG. 1, 1 indicates a charger. The exterior of the charger 1 includes an upper case 2, a cover 3, and a lower case 4. The upper case 2 is formed with a battery housing portion 5 that is a recess. A battery connecting minus terminal 11 and a plus terminal 12 which are attached to a charging control board are exposed from the hole of the upper case 2 in the battery housing portion 5 and are connected when a rechargeable battery is inserted into the battery housing portion 5. Is possible. The cover 3 has a through-hole 7 for air outflow and a rotating shaft 9, and can be opened and closed around the rotating shaft 9. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the cover 3 is opened.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the charger of the embodiment as seen from the bottom side. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 6 denotes a through hole. The through hole 6 is provided at both ends of the battery housing 5 and passes through the bottom surface of the lower case 4. When the through hole 6 penetrates the bottom surface of the lower case 4, air can flow in and out between the battery insertion portion 5 and the bottom surface side, and when a foreign substance such as water enters the battery insertion portion 5, it moves to the bottom surface side. An outflow is possible.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the battery charger 13 of the embodiment with the rechargeable battery 13 attached and the cover 3 closed. By closing the cover 3, it is possible to cover the battery housing 5. Further, the cover 3 is provided with a through hole 7 in a portion located on the valley between the rechargeable batteries 13a and 13b, 13b and 13c, and 13c and 13d. By providing the through hole 7 on the valley between the rechargeable batteries, it is possible to provide an air inflow / outflow path between the rechargeable battery 13 and the cover 3. Further, the lower case 4 has a notch portion 8 on the side surface of the battery housing portion 5. The notch 8 makes it easy to remove the rechargeable batteries 13a and 13d housed beside the notch 8, and a gap is formed between the cover 3 and the notch 8, so that air flows out. Becomes easy.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing air inflow and outflow during charging in the charger of the embodiment. The flow of air when the rechargeable battery 13 is accommodated in the battery accommodating portion 5 of the charger 1 and the cover 3 is closed and charging is started is shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. Air flows from the bottom surface of the charger 1 through the through hole 6 to the rechargeable battery 13 whose temperature has risen due to charging. The inflowing air passes through the surface of the rechargeable battery 13 and escapes from the gap between the notch 8 on the side of the rechargeable batteries 13 a and 13 d and the battery cover 3 and the through hole 7 of the cover 3. Has the effect of cooling.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the inflow and outflow of water when water is applied to the charger of the embodiment from the upper surface. The flow of water when the rechargeable battery 13 is stored in the battery storage unit 5 of the charger 1 and the cover 3 is closed and water is applied from the upper surface is shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. When water is applied to the charger 1 from the upper surface, the water that has entered the battery housing 5 from the through hole 7 of the cover 3 is drained directly from the through hole 6 that penetrates the bottom surface of the lower case 4 at both ends. There is an effect that the amount of water immersed in the vessel is reduced.

  In order to confirm the above-mentioned effect, a battery charger for charging four AA nickel metal hydride batteries with a capacity of about 2100 mAh at an average current of 750 mA in an environment at an ambient temperature of 25 ° C. was prepared. Charging of the four rechargeable batteries 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d when the through hole 6, the through hole 7 and the notch 8 are provided and when the through hole 6, the through hole 7 and the notch 8 are not provided The surface temperature inside was measured.

  As shown in Table 1, by providing the through hole 6, the through hole 7, and the notch 8 based on the embodiment, the rechargeable battery is compared with the case where the through hole 6, the through hole 7, and the notch 8 are not provided. It can be seen that the surface temperature of 13 is low and the heat dissipation effect is high.

  Although Table 1 describes the case where four rechargeable batteries, for example, AA nickel metal hydride batteries are included, the same effect can be obtained regardless of the number of batteries and the type of batteries used in the charger.

  In addition, although the case material is PPE as an experiment of the heat radiation effect, the same effect can be obtained even when other resin material systems such as ABS and metal systems such as aluminum are used.

The perspective view in the state where the battery of the charger concerning one embodiment of the present invention is not attached. The perspective view seen from the bottom of the charger concerning one embodiment of the present invention The perspective view of the state with which the battery of the charger which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention was mounted | worn. The schematic diagram of the air inflow / outflow state during charge of the charger which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention The schematic diagram of the water inflow / outflow state when the water of the charger which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention has splashed

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Charger 2 Upper case 3 Cover 4 Lower case 5 Battery storage part 6 Through hole 7 Through hole 8 Notch part 9 Rotating shaft 10 Board | substrate 11 Negative terminal 12 Positive terminal 13 Rechargeable battery 13a Rechargeable battery 1
13b Rechargeable battery 2
13c Rechargeable battery 3
13d rechargeable battery 4

Claims (6)

  In the charger that houses the rechargeable battery in the main body containing the charging circuit, and in the charger that can open and close the cover that covers the concave portion, a through hole that penetrates the bottom surface of the main body is provided at both ends of the concave portion. Characteristic charger.   The charger according to claim 1, wherein a through hole is provided in a central portion of the recess.   2. The charger according to claim 1, wherein a through hole is provided at a position between the rechargeable batteries when the rechargeable battery is mounted on the charger.   The charger according to claim 1, wherein a notch is provided on the side of the case.   The charger according to claim 1, wherein a through-hole penetrating the cover portion of the charger is provided.   The charger according to claim 1, wherein a through hole is provided at a position corresponding to the battery between the covers.