JP2013071219A - Connector device and power supply device provided with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily check the state of a battery at hand even if a power tool and the battery are placed apart from each other.SOLUTION: This connector 50 is equipped with: a power tool side connector 51a that is electrically connected to a clipper for gardening; a battery side connector 52a electrically connected to a carry-on piggyback type battery 40; and a display 51c that is provided near the power tool side connector 51a and displays the state of the carry-on piggyback type battery 40. The checking of the display 51c near the power tool side connector 51a, that is, a display 51c on hand enables the easy grasping of the carry-on piggyback type battery 40 even if a carry-on piggyback type battery 40 is held on a piggyback. This eliminates the conventional need of having to unload a battery whenever the state of a battery (large capacity battery) is checked, thus enabling the large improvement of working efficiency.

Description

  The present invention provides a connector device that is provided between an electric tool operated by a user and a battery that drives the electric tool, and electrically connects the electric tool and the battery, and these electric tools, The present invention relates to a power supply device including a battery and a connector device.

  Conventionally, as an electric tool operated by a user, for example, a gardening hair clipper (horticultural tool) used for cutting a plant or a lawn or caring for an orchard is known. This horticultural hair clipper has a housing having a handle portion gripped by a user, and an electric motor as an electric motor is accommodated in the housing. Further, a blade attachment having a fixed blade, a movable blade, and a crank mechanism is attached to the housing. Then, when the user operates the switch to drive the electric motor to rotate, the movable blade moves relative to the fixed blade via the crank mechanism. As a result, the blade attachment is moved along the surface of a plant or the like, so that the trimming operation of the plant or the like is performed.

  As such a gardening hair clipper, there is a cordless type gardening hair clipper which is easy to carry and has excellent operability. This cordless type gardening hair clipper is provided with a battery mounting portion in a housing and operates by mounting a battery pack on the battery mounting portion. When the battery pack needs to be charged due to the use of the garden clippers, the battery pack is removed from the battery mounting portion and charged using a charger.

  Cordless type hair clippers for horticulture are sometimes used in large-area gardens, orchards, etc., and in this case, the use time becomes long. Therefore, the capacity of the standard battery pack is insufficient, and it is difficult to efficiently perform the pruning work or the like. Therefore, power is supplied from a large-capacity battery so that it can be used for a long time. As a technique for driving an electric tool using such a large-capacity battery, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 is known.

  Patent Document 1 describes a back battery-type battery power supply device (large-capacity battery) that can be used for various electric tools (hammer drills, etc.), and is carried by the user and the user's hand. A spiral cord (power cord) is electrically connected to the large capacity battery. Thus, when the user operates the switch of the electric tool, electric power is supplied from the large-capacity battery via the power cord, and thus the electric tool can be driven for a long time.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 64-039240 (FIG. 1)

  By the way, when using a large-capacity battery that can drive a power tool for a long time, the work range can be widened, so that the user can get a sense of security by knowing the remaining battery level, work time, etc. There is a case. However, Patent Document 1 described above describes that a large-capacity battery is provided with a charge state indicator (display unit) such as an LED display, that is, the user is in a state of carrying the large-capacity battery. It is difficult to confirm the display part. Therefore, in order to grasp the battery remaining amount, work time, etc., the user has to take down the large-capacity battery each time, which leads to deterioration of work efficiency.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a connector device that can easily check the state of a battery at hand even if the power tool and the battery are separated, and a power supply device including the connector device.

  A connector device according to the present invention (first invention) is provided between an electric tool operated by a user and a battery that drives the electric tool, and electrically connects the electric tool and the battery. In the connector device, the power tool side connector portion electrically connected to the power tool, the battery side connector portion electrically connected to the battery, and the power tool side connector portion are provided near the battery. The display part which displays the state of (2) is provided, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  In the connector device (second invention) of the present invention, the connector device includes a mounting case mounted on the electric tool, and the mounting case receives a battery state signal transmitted from a wireless transmission unit of the battery. And a display control unit for displaying the state of the battery on the display unit based on the battery state signal received by the wireless reception unit.

  In the connector device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the display control unit displays at least one of remaining amount information, usage time information, temperature information, charging information, and abnormality information as the state of the battery. It displays on the said display part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  A power supply device according to the present invention includes the power tool, the battery, and the connector device according to any one of the first to third inventions.

  According to the connector device (the first invention) of the present invention, the power tool side connector portion electrically connected to the power tool, the battery side connector portion electrically connected to the battery, and the power tool side connector portion. And a display unit for displaying the state of the battery. Therefore, for example, even in a state where the battery is carried, it is possible to easily grasp the state of the battery by checking the display unit near the power tool side connector unit, that is, the display unit at hand. Thereby, it is not necessary to take down the battery every time the state of the battery is confirmed as before, and as a result, the working efficiency can be greatly improved.

  According to the connector device (second invention) of the present invention, the connector device includes a mounting case mounted on the electric tool, and the mounting case receives a battery status signal transmitted from the wireless transmission unit of the battery. Since the wireless receiving unit and the display control unit for displaying the battery state on the display unit based on the battery state signal received by the wireless receiving unit are provided, the battery state is wireless and the power of the power tool is wired. Can send. Thereby, when extending the distance between the connector device and the battery, a general-purpose extension cord (for power supply) can be used.

  According to the connector device (third invention) of the present invention, the display control unit displays at least one of remaining amount information, usage time information, temperature information, charging information, and abnormality information as a battery state. Since the information is displayed on the display unit, the user can easily obtain battery information required by the user by visually observing the display unit.

  According to the power supply device of the present invention, since the power tool, the battery, and the connector device of any one of the first to third inventions are provided, the same effects as the first to third inventions described above can be achieved. it can.

It is a perspective view which shows the gardening clipper with which the connector apparatus was mounted | worn. It is a perspective view which shows a large capacity backpack-type battery (with extension cord). It is a top view which shows the side part of the mounting case which forms a connector apparatus. It is A arrow line view (display part side) of FIG. It is an electrical block diagram of a back battery, and an electrical circuit diagram of a connector device. (A) is a display example of remaining amount information, (b) is a display example of time information, (c) is a figure which shows a display example of temperature information. (A) is the example of a display at the time of charge, (b) is a figure which shows the example of a display at the time of an error.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a gardening hair clipper with a connector device mounted thereon, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a large-capacity back battery (with extension cord), and FIG. 3 is a side of a mounting case forming the connector device. 4 is a plan view showing the part, FIG. 4 is a view as viewed from the arrow A in FIG. 3 (display side), FIG. 5 is an electrical block diagram of the back battery, and an electrical circuit diagram of the connector device, and FIG. A display example of quantity information, (b) is a display example of time information, (c) is a diagram showing a display example of temperature information, FIG. 7 (a) is a display example at the time of charging, and (b) is a table at the time of error. The figure which shows an example is each represented.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a gardening hair clipper (hedge trimmer) 10 as a power tool is a cordless power tool that is convenient to carry and excellent in operability, and is operated by a user. Used to trim the surface of The gardening hair clipper 10 constitutes a power supply device according to the present invention, and includes a main body portion 20 and a blade portion (blade attachment) 30.

  The main body portion 20 includes a housing 21 having a motor housing portion 21a, a handle portion 21b, and a battery mounting portion 21c, and an electric motor 22 serving as an electric motor is housed inside the motor housing portion 21a. The electric motor 22 includes an armature 22a around which a coil (not shown) is wound around an outer periphery. A rotation shaft 22b is fixed through the rotation center of the armature 22a. By supplying a drive current to the coil via a brush and a commutator (not shown), a rotational force (electromagnetic force) is generated in the armature 22a, and the rotary shaft 22b rotates. A speed reduction mechanism (not shown) is provided on the distal end side of the rotation shaft 22b, and the rotational force of the rotation shaft 22b is transmitted to the crank mechanism 33 of the blade portion 30 via the speed reduction mechanism.

  The handle portion 21b is provided with a switch 23 that is operated by a user. By operating the switch 23, a drive current is supplied to the electric motor 22. The handle portion 21b is provided with a lock-off button 24, and no drive current is supplied to the electric motor 22 unless the switch 23 is operated while the lock-off button 24 is pressed. This prevents the switch 23 from being inadvertently operated and operating the gardening clipper 10.

  The battery mounting portion 21c opens toward the rear side (right side in the drawing), and the mounting case 51 of the connector device 50 is mounted in the opening portion. A plurality of connection terminals (not shown) made of a conductive member are provided inside the battery mounting portion 21c, and each of these connection terminals has a power tool side connector portion 51a of the connector device 50 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). A plurality of connection terminals (not shown) provided in () are electrically connected.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the mounting case 51 of the connector device 50 is provided with a latch 51b that is gripped by the user. By gripping the latch 51b, the battery mounting portion 21c is held. The mounting case 51 can be mounted and removed, whereby the gardening clipper 10 and the connector device 50 can be electrically connected and disconnected. The connection shape of the mounting case 51 to the battery mounting portion 21c is the same as the connection shape of the standard battery pack (low-capacity battery) (not shown) to the battery mounting portion 21c. The device 50 can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an attachment body 31 for attaching the blade portion 30 to the main body portion 20 is provided on the base end side (right side in the drawing) of the blade portion 30, and the attachment body 31 includes a plurality of attachment screws. It attaches to the main-body part 20 by (not shown). Further, the base end side of the fixed blade 32 is fixed to the mounting body 31, and a crank mechanism 33 is accommodated in the mounting body 31.

  A movable blade 34 is provided on the fixed blade 32 so as to be relatively movable along the longitudinal direction thereof, and a proximal end side of the movable blade 34 is led into the mounting body 31. A crank mechanism 33 is provided on the base end side of the movable blade 34, and the movable blade 34 reciprocates relative to the fixed blade 32 by the operation of the crank mechanism 33.

  The blade portion 30 includes a chip receiver 35 having a substantially L-shaped cross section, and the chip receiver 35 is fixed to a fixed portion such as a fixed blade 32 by two knob nuts 36. By providing the chip receiver 35 in this manner, the efficiency of the cleaning operation after scooping the cut branches and leaves and finishing the cutting operation can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a back battery (battery) 40 as a large-capacity battery for driving the gardening hair clipper 10 is electrically connected to the battery side connector portion 52 a of the connector device 50. The back battery 40 constitutes a power supply device according to the present invention, and includes a casing 41 formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Inside the casing 41, lithium ions comprising a plurality of battery cells (not shown in detail). A battery 42 is accommodated. In addition, a control unit 43 is provided in the vicinity of the lithium ion battery 42 inside the casing 41, and charging and discharging are performed via a charging socket and an output socket (both not shown) provided in the control unit 43. It is supposed to repeat.

  One end side of the battery cord 44 is electrically connected to the output socket of the control unit 43, and a connector portion 44 a is integrally provided on the other end side of the battery cord 44. The gardening hair clipper 10 is electrically connected to the connector portion 44 a of the battery cord 44 through the connector device 50. Here, the reference numeral 45 in the figure is a general-purpose extension cord for power supply, and the general-purpose extension cord 45 extends the distance between the connector device 50 and the back battery 40 and can be used by the user as needed. Can be added.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the control unit 43 includes a battery state detection unit 43 a that detects the state (voltage, etc.) of the lithium ion battery 42, and the lithium ion battery 42 detected by the battery state detection unit 43 a. A calculation unit 43b that calculates the remaining amount, usage time, temperature, and the like of the lithium ion battery 42 from the state is provided. The control unit 43 is provided with a wireless transmission unit 43c, and the wireless transmission unit 43c transmits a wireless signal (battery state signal) indicating the state of the lithium ion battery 42 to the outside.

  Here, the backpack-type battery 40 may have a charging function, and the battery state detection unit 43a determines whether or not the lithium ion battery 42 is being charged with an AC power supply (100V) connected to the charging socket. May be generated, and the charging information may be transmitted to the wireless transmission unit 43c. Further, the battery state detection unit 43a generates abnormality information such as that the lithium ion battery 42 has reached the end of its life or that the connector device 50 has a poor connection as the state of the lithium ion battery 42, and the abnormality information Is transmitted to the wireless transmission unit 43c.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a shoulder belt 41a and a waist belt 41b are integrally provided in the casing 41 of the backpack-type battery 40, so that even when the user bends forward during work, etc. The back battery 40 is not displaced from the user's back. Each of the belts 41a and 41b is provided with a length adjusting unit (not shown), which can be adjusted according to various physiques of the user.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a connector device 50 is provided between the horticultural hair clipper 10 and the back battery 40 for electrically connecting them. The connector device 50 constitutes a power supply device according to the present invention, and the connector device 50 includes a mounting case 51 and a connector cord 52. That is, the connector device according to the present invention includes the mounting case 51 and the connector cord 52. The mounting case 51 is mounted on the battery mounting portion 21c of the gardening clipper 10, and the mounting case 51 is integrally provided with a power tool side connector portion 51a, a latch 51b, and a display (display portion) 51c.

  One end of a connector cord 52 is connected to the mounting case 51, and a battery-side connector portion 52 a is integrally provided on the other end of the connector cord 52. The battery-side connector portion 52a is electrically connected to the back battery 40 via a general-purpose extension cord 45. Further, one end side of the connector cord 52 is electrically connected to a part of a plurality of connection terminals provided in the electric tool side connector portion 51 a of the mounting case 51. That is, the connector device 50 is configured to electrically connect the gardening clipper 10 and the backpack-type battery 40 to each other.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a control unit 53 is accommodated in the mounting case 51. The control unit 53 includes a wireless reception unit 53a that receives a wireless signal transmitted from the wireless transmission unit 43c of the back battery 40, and a state of the lithium ion battery 42 based on the wireless signal received by the wireless reception unit 53a ( A display control unit 53b for displaying the remaining amount, usage time, temperature, charging information and abnormality information) on the display 51c.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the display 51 c is directed to the connector cord 52 side of the mounting case 51, so that a user using the gardening clipper 10 can place the display 51 c on the upper side of the gardening clipper 10. Can be easily seen. Thus, the display 51c is provided near the power tool side connector portion 51a of the power tool side connector portion 51a and the battery side connector portion 52a that form the connector device 50, and is confirmed (visually) by the user. ) You can do it.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a display mode changeover switch 54 for changing the display content displayed on the display 51c is provided on the lower side of the display 51c in the mounting case 51 in the figure. The display mode changeover switch 54 is operated by the user, and every time the user operates the display mode changeover switch 54, the display modes A to C as shown in FIG. 6 are alternately displayed on the display 51c. It has become.

  Here, the display 51c employs a color liquid crystal display with a backlight so that various information can be clearly and clearly displayed to the user. Hereinafter, the display contents of each display mode A to C will be described.

[Display mode A]
The display mode A is a display content displayed by default when the use of the gardening hair clipper 10 is started, and the remaining amount of the lithium ion battery 42 is displayed as an indicator. Here, the remaining amount of the lithium ion battery 42 is calculated by the arithmetic unit 43b performing arithmetic processing based on the voltage information of the lithium ion battery 42. When the capacity of the lithium ion battery 42 is sufficient, the display control unit 53b displays all indicators including the FULL side indicator, and when the capacity of the lithium ion battery 42 is insufficient, the EMPTY side Only the indicator is displayed. Here, a white portion in the drawing (left side in the drawing) is displayed in green, for example, a dark shaded portion (right side in the drawing) is displayed in red, for example, and a middle hatched portion is displayed in yellow, for example. However, the design and color scheme of the indicator are not limited to those shown in the drawings, and other designs and color schemes may be used.

[Display mode B]
When the display mode changeover switch 54 is pressed once by the user from the state of the display mode A, the display control unit 53b switches to the display mode B. In the display mode B, the usable time of the lithium ion battery 42 is digitally displayed. Here, the usable time of the lithium ion battery 42 is determined based on the voltage information of the lithium ion battery 42, the power consumption information of the tool used (in this case, the power consumption information of the gardening clipper 10), and the like. It is calculated and processed. In addition, you may make it display not only the display of usable time but a usage time (total operation time of the gardening clipper 10).

[Display mode C]
When the user presses the display mode changeover switch 54 once from the state of the display mode B, the display control unit 53b switches to the display mode C. In the display mode C, the temperature of the lithium ion battery 42 is displayed as an indicator. Here, the temperature of the lithium ion battery 42 is calculated and calculated by the calculation unit 43b based on the power load information of the tool used, the usage time information of the tool used, and the like. When the temperature of the lithium ion battery 42 is low, only the cool side indicator is displayed by the display control unit 53b, and when the temperature of the lithium ion battery 42 is high, all indicators including the heat side indicator are displayed. It is supposed to be. Here, a white portion in the drawing (left side in the drawing) is displayed in light blue, for example, a dark shaded portion in the drawing (right side in the drawing) is displayed in red, for example, and a middle shaded portion is displayed in orange, for example. However, the design and color scheme of the indicator are not limited to those shown in the drawings, and other designs and color schemes may be used.

[Charge / Error display]
In addition to the above, when the lithium ion battery 42 is being charged, the display 51c displays a charge as shown in FIG. Specifically, the state of charge of the lithium ion battery 42 is digitally displayed as a percentage. Further, the display 51c displays a warning mark and a warning content (error display) as shown in FIG. 7B when the connector device 50, the general-purpose extension cord 45, or the like has a poor connection. It has become. However, the warning content displayed on the display 51c includes other warning information, for example, that the lithium ion battery 42 has reached the end of its life, an overload state (a state in which a large current flows through the back battery 40 or the electric motor 22). The high temperature state of the back battery 40 and the electric motor 22 may be displayed.

  As described above in detail, according to the connector device 50 according to the present embodiment, the power tool side connector portion 51a that is electrically connected to the gardening clipper 10 and the back battery 40 are electrically connected. The battery side connector part 52a and the display 51c which is provided near the electric power tool side connector part 51a and displays the state of the back battery 40 are provided.

  Therefore, even in a state of carrying the back battery 40, it is possible to easily grasp the state of the back battery 40 by checking the display 51c near the power tool connector 51a, that is, the display 51c at hand. Can do. Thereby, it is not necessary to take down the battery every time the state of the battery (large capacity battery) is confirmed as before, and as a result, work efficiency can be greatly improved.

  Further, according to the connector device 50 according to the present embodiment, the connector device 50 includes the mounting case 51 that is mounted on the gardening clipper 10, and the mounting case 51 includes the wireless transmission unit 43 c of the back battery 40. And a display control unit 53b for displaying the state of the back battery 40 on the display 51c based on the radio signal received by the radio reception unit 53a.

  Therefore, the state of the back battery 40 can be transmitted wirelessly, and the electric power of the gardening clipper 10 can be transmitted by wire. Thereby, when extending the distance between the connector apparatus 50 and the backpack-type battery 40, the cheap general purpose extension cord 45 (for power supply) can be used.

  Furthermore, according to the connector device 50 according to the present embodiment, the display control unit 53b uses at least one of remaining amount information, usage time information, temperature information, charging information, and abnormality information as the state of the back battery 40. Since one of them is displayed on the display 51c, the user can easily obtain information on the back battery 40 required by the user by viewing the display 51c.

  It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a gardening clipper 10 is used as an electric tool (power supply device). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a cordless driver device, circular saw, jigsaw, brush cutter It is also possible to employ other electric tools.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although what was the backpack-type battery 40 carried by a user as a battery (mass capacity | capacitance battery) as a power supply device was shown, this invention is not limited to this, A stationary battery It may be. In this case, it is possible to secure a sufficient working range by electrically connecting a plurality of general-purpose extension cords 45 between the gardening hair clipper 10 and the stationary battery as necessary.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the wireless signal is transmitted from the back battery 40 to the connector device 50. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a signal code for transmitting the battery status signal is provided. A dedicated extension cord (for power supply / signal) provided can also be used. In this case, the display control unit can be provided in the control unit 43 of the back battery 40 and the control unit 53 of the connector device 50 can be omitted.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the display mode switch 54 is provided in the connector apparatus 50 as a power supply device, and it can switch to display mode AC by operating the said display mode switch 54 by a user. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the display modes A to C may be automatically switched every predetermined time (for example, 2.0 sec). In this case, the display mode changeover switch 54 can be omitted, and the connector device 50 can be simplified and reduced in weight.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Garden hair clipper (electric tool, power supply device), 20 ... Main body part, 21 ... Housing, 21a ... Motor accommodating part, 21b ... Handle part, 21c ... Battery mounting part, 22 ... Electric motor, 22a ... Armature, 22b ... Rotating shaft, 23 ... switch, 24 ... lock-off button, 30 ... blade part, 31 ... mounting body, 32 ... fixed blade, 33 ... crank mechanism, 34 ... movable blade, 35 ... tip receiver, 36 ... knob nut, 40 ... backpack Battery (battery, power supply device), 41 ... casing, 41a ... shoulder belt, 41b ... waist belt, 42 ... lithium ion battery, 43 ... control unit, 43a ... battery state detection unit, 43b ... calculation unit, 43c ... wireless transmission 44, battery cord, 44a ... connector, 45 ... general-purpose extension cord, 50 ... connector device (power supply unit) ), 51 ... Installation case, 51a ... Electric tool side connector part, 51b ... Latch, 51c ... Display (display part), 52 ... Connector code, 52a ... Battery side connector part, 53 ... Control unit, 53a ... Wireless receiving part, 53b ... Display control unit, 54 ... Display mode changeover switch

Claims (4)

In a connector device that is provided between a power tool that is operated by a user and a battery that drives the power tool, and that electrically connects the power tool and the battery,
A power tool side connector portion electrically connected to the power tool;
A battery-side connector portion electrically connected to the battery;
A connector device, comprising: a display unit provided near the power tool side connector unit and displaying a state of the battery.   The connector device includes a mounting case mounted on the electric tool, and the mounting case receives a battery reception signal transmitted from a wireless transmission unit of the battery, and the wireless reception unit receives the battery state signal. The connector device according to claim 1, further comprising a display control unit configured to display the state of the battery on the display unit based on the battery state signal.   The display control unit causes the display unit to display at least one of remaining amount information, usage time information, temperature information, charging information, and abnormality information as the state of the battery. Item 3. The connector device according to Item 1 or 2.   A power supply device comprising the electric tool, the battery, and the connector device according to claim 1.

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