JP2013191287A - Battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery pack structured so as to share an inner cover to reduce the manufacturing cost thereof.SOLUTION: This battery cover includes an inner cover 30 arranged between a lid member 20 and a cell unit 12, a separator 40 arranged between the plurality of unit cells when the plurality of unit cells are superposed. When the separator 40 is used, the lower part of the unit cell 12 arranged on the lower side of the inner cover 30 is supported by the separator 40, and another cell unit 12 is arranged on the lower side of the separator 40, and the lower part of the cell unit 12 is supported by the case body 11 so that the battery pack 10 having two parallel cell units can be structured, and when the separator 40 is not used, the lower part of the cell unit 12 arranged on the lower side of the inner cover 30 is supported by the case body 11 so that the battery pack 10 having one unit cell can be structured.

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery pack used as a power source for an electric tool or the like.

  Conventionally, a battery pack in which a plurality of batteries are connected in series or in parallel is used as a power source for an electric tool or the like. In such a battery pack, the voltage is determined by the number of batteries connected in series, and the capacity is determined by the number of parallel connections.

  In such a battery pack, there are cases where two or more battery packs having different capacities are required even if the voltage is the same. For example, there are cases where two types of battery packs are desired, for example, when it is desired to increase the capacity and use it for a long time, or when it is desired to use a lightweight battery pack because the capacity may be small.

  When two or more battery packs with different capacities are prepared, the parallel number is changed without changing the series number. Therefore, it is reasonable to change the height of the battery pack without changing the height and width. is there.

  By the way, in a battery pack provided with such a plurality of batteries, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a member (inner cover) for protecting the periphery of the plurality of batteries is required.

JP 2007-149560 A

  However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, since the inner cover has a shape surrounding the plurality of batteries, the shape of the inner cover must be changed when the parallel number of the batteries is changed. I don't get it. For this reason, the inner cover cannot be shared by two or more battery packs having different capacities.

  Then, this invention makes it a subject to provide the battery pack which can reduce manufacturing cost by making an inner cover shareable in the battery pack which changed the parallel number of the batteries.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and is characterized by the following.

(Claim 1)
The invention described in claim 1 is characterized by the following points.

  That is, the battery pack according to claim 1 is a battery pack that is used by being attached to a target device such as a power tool, and a cell unit in which a plurality of cylindrical batteries are arranged in parallel so that the axes are parallel to each other. An outer shell formed by closing an opening of a case main body that accommodates the cell unit with a lid member, an inner cover disposed between the lid member and the cell unit, and a plurality of cell units. A separator disposed between the plurality of cell units when stacked, and when the separator is used, the lower part of the cell unit disposed below the inner cover is supported by the separator. A separate cell unit is provided below the separator, and a lower part of the separate cell unit is supported by the case body so that a two-parallel battery pack can be configured. When not using the data is characterized in that the lower portion of the cell unit which is disposed on the lower side of the inner cover to allow a battery pack of parallel 1 is supported by the case body.

(Claim 2)
The invention described in claim 2 has the following features in addition to the features of the invention described in claim 1 described above.

  That is, a support wall extending downward is provided near the end of the inner cover to protect the cylindrical surface of the battery arranged at the end of the plurality of batteries constituting the uppermost cell unit. The support wall does not protrude from the lower end of the uppermost cell unit when viewed in a direction in which a plurality of batteries constituting the cell unit overlap.

(Claim 3)
The invention described in claim 2 is characterized by the following points in addition to the characteristics of the invention described in claim 2 described above.

  That is, the cell unit is positioned by bringing the support wall of the inner cover into contact with the inner side of the outer shell.

  The present invention is as described above, and since two parallel battery packs and one parallel battery pack can be configured depending on whether or not a separator is used, the inner cover is shared by two battery packs having different parallel numbers. Manufacturing costs can be reduced.

  In this case, it is desirable that the support wall of the inner cover is configured not to protrude from the lower end of the uppermost cell unit when viewed in the direction in which the plurality of batteries constituting the cell unit overlap. With such a configuration, even when the inner cover is used in one parallel battery pack, it is possible to effectively prevent the lower end of the inner cover from interfering with the case body or the like.

  The cell unit may be positioned by bringing the support wall of the inner cover into contact with the inner side of the outer shell. According to such a configuration, since positioning is performed by the support wall of the inner cover that protects the uppermost cell unit, it is possible to effectively suppress backlash of the connection portion at a position close to the connection portion with the target device. it can. Therefore, contact failure between the battery pack and the target device connection portion can be prevented, quality is improved, and stable power supply can be performed.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the electric tool which attached the battery pack. It is an external appearance perspective view of a 2 parallel battery pack. It is a top view of a battery pack. It is an exploded view of 2 parallel battery packs. It is the perspective view which looked at the internal unit of a 2 parallel battery pack from the front, (a) was seen from the front, (b) was the perspective view seen from the back It is the perspective view which looked at the inner cover from the top (a) (b) The perspective view seen from the bottom. It is the perspective view which looked at the separator from the top (a) (b) The perspective view which looked from the bottom. It is the perspective view which looked at the case main body for 2 parallel (a) from the front, (b) The perspective view which looked from the back. It is AA sectional drawing of a battery pack of 2 parallel. It is an external appearance perspective view of the battery pack of 1 parallel. It is an exploded view of the battery pack of 1 parallel. It is the perspective view which looked at the internal unit of the battery pack of 1 parallel from the front (a) (b) and was seen from the back. The perspective view which looked at the case main body for 1 parallel (a) from the front, and (b) the back. It is AA sectional drawing of the battery pack of 1 parallel.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack 10 according to the present embodiment is detachably formed on the electric tool 100. In the example of FIG. 1, an electric rotary tool as the electric tool 100 is taken as an example, but an attachment portion 101 for attaching the battery pack 10 is formed at the lower end portion of the grip of the electric tool 100. The battery pack 10 can be attached so that the lower end surface of the grip and the upper end surface of the battery pack 10 are in contact with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a guide rail portion 21 and a groove 22 that are slidably guided by the mounting portion 101 of the electric power tool 100 are formed on the upper portion of the battery pack 10 according to the present embodiment. By providing the portion 21 and the groove 22, the battery pack 10 can be detachably mounted by sliding it with respect to the mounting portion 101 of the electric power tool 100.

  Further, on the upper surface of the battery pack 10, a stopper 14 that is engaged with an engaged portion (not shown) recessed in the attachment portion 101 of the electric power tool 100 is urged in the protruding direction. The stopper 14 is provided so as to protrude and appear in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the guide rail portion 21 and the groove 22. Thus, when the battery pack 10 is slid to a predetermined position in the direction in which the stopper 14 and the engaged portion are engaged, the stopper 14 is fitted into the engaged portion, and the battery pack 10 is firmly attached to the mounting portion 101. It is supposed to be fixed.

  Note that when removing the battery pack 10 fixed to the attachment portion 101, the latch operation portion 15 may be pushed inward of the battery pack 10. By pushing the latch operation portion 15, the engagement between the stopper 14 and the engaged portion can be released.

  FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the battery pack 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the battery pack 10 includes a cell unit 12 formed by connecting a plurality of batteries 13 in series, a case main body 11 that accommodates the cell unit 12, and a lid member that covers an upper portion of the case main body 11. 20, an inner cover 30 disposed between the lid member 20 and the cell unit 12, a separator 40 disposed between the plurality of cell units 12 when the plurality of cell units 12 are stacked, a cell A control circuit board 50 for controlling the unit 12 is provided.

  The cell unit 12 includes a plurality of cylindrical batteries 13 arranged in parallel so that their axes are parallel. In the present embodiment, four batteries 13 are electrically connected in series as shown in FIG. Configured. In the two parallel battery packs 10 as shown in FIG. 4, two cell units 12 are used, and in the one parallel battery pack 10 as shown in FIG. 11, only one cell unit 12 is used. When a plurality of cell units 12 are used, the plurality of cell units 12 are electrically connected in parallel.

  The case main body 11 is a box-shaped member whose upper part is opened. The case main body 11 is made of a member having a different shape depending on the number (capacity) of the battery packs 10 arranged in parallel. Specifically, a 2-parallel battery pack 10 as shown in FIG. 4 uses a 2-parallel case body A, and a 1-parallel battery pack 10 as shown in FIG. used.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 13, on the inner side surface of the case main body 11, a front support portion 11 a provided to protrude at the front portion, and a rear support portion 11 b provided to protrude in a rib shape at the rear portion, Is formed. The front support portion 11a and the rear support portion 11b are provided over the entire length from the vicinity of the bottom portion of the case body 11 to the vicinity of the upper end thereof in the height direction. In addition, the front support part 11a and the back support part 11b of this embodiment have a shape which inclines outward as it goes upward considering the draft at the time of molding.

  The lid member 20 is a member that covers the upper part of the battery pack 10, and is screwed to the case body 11 to close the opening of the case body 11, and accommodates other members together with the case body 11. It forms the outer shell. On the upper surface of the lid member 20, there are formed a latch port 20 b for projecting the stopper 14 and a terminal cover portion 20 c that covers the connection terminal 51 mounted on the control circuit board 50. In addition, the connection part 51a for connecting with the terminal of the electric tool 100 is formed by the connection terminal 51 mounted on the control circuit board 50 being semi-exposed so as to be connectable inside the slit of the terminal cover part 20c. ing. Thereby, when the terminal of the electric tool 100 enters from the slit of the terminal cover portion 20 c, this terminal is electrically connected to the connection terminal 51 of the battery pack 10.

  The inner cover 30 is a member disposed between the lid member 20 and the uppermost cell unit 12, and protects the upper surface and side surfaces of the uppermost cell unit 12. The inner cover 30 is housed inside the battery pack 10 with the control circuit board 50 placed on the upper surface as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the inner cover 30 includes a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) holding grooves 34 that are open on the lower surface side. The holding groove 34 has a semicircular arc on the top surface, and can hold the cell unit 12 by contacting the outer peripheral upper surface of the battery 13 constituting the cell unit 12. An intermediate protective wall 33 is provided between the holding grooves 34 so as to extend downward. The intermediate protective wall 33 is inserted between the batteries 13 held in the holding grooves 34, whereby each battery 13. Are separated so as not to touch.

  Further, a front support wall 31 is provided to extend downward at the front portion of the holding groove 34 at the front end, and the battery disposed at the foremost end among the plurality of batteries 13 constituting the uppermost cell unit 12. 13 cylindrical surfaces are protected. Thus, the cylindrical surface of the battery 13 disposed at the foremost end is formed so as not to contact the case body 11.

  Further, a rear support wall 32 is provided at the rear portion of the rear end holding groove 34 so as to extend downward, and is disposed at the rearmost end of the plurality of batteries 13 constituting the uppermost cell unit 12. The cylindrical surface of the battery 13 is protected. Thus, the cylindrical surface of the battery 13 disposed at the rearmost end is formed so as not to contact the case main body 11.

  The intermediate protective wall 33 and the rear support wall 32 described above are provided with slits in the intermediate portion as shown in FIG. This slit is for passing the cooling air sent out from the charger when it is attached to the charger (not shown).

  The separator 40 is a member disposed between the cell units 12 provided in an overlapping manner, and protects the lower surface of the upper cell unit 12 in the upper portion and protects the upper surface of the lower cell unit 12 in the lower portion. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the separator 40 has a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) upper holding grooves 43 opened on the upper surface side and a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) lower holding opened on the lower surface side. A groove 44 is provided.

  The upper holding groove 43 has an arc shape at the bottom, and the cell unit 12 can be placed by contacting the lower surface of the outer periphery of the battery 13 constituting the cell unit 12. An upper isolation wall 41 is provided between the upper holding grooves 43 so as to protrude upward. The upper isolation wall 41 is inserted into the slit provided in the intermediate portion of the intermediate protective wall 33 described above, and is separated from the batteries 13 in contact with the intermediate protective wall 33.

  Further, the lower holding groove 44 has a semicircular arc on the top surface, and can hold the cell unit 12 by contacting the outer peripheral upper surface of the battery 13 constituting the cell unit 12. A lower separating wall 42 is provided between each lower holding groove 44 so as to extend downward, and the lower separating wall 42 is inserted between each battery 13 held in each lower holding groove 44. The batteries 13 are separated so as not to contact each other.

  The battery pack 10 according to the present embodiment can selectively configure two parallel battery packs 10 or one parallel battery pack 10 depending on whether or not the separator 40 is used.

  That is, when the two parallel battery packs 10 are configured, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower part of the cell unit 12 disposed below the inner cover 30 is supported by the separator 40, and the separator Another cell unit 12 is disposed below 40, and the lower part of the other cell unit 12 is supported by the case body 11. Since the case main body 11 used at this time is the case main body A for two parallels, the battery pack 10 having a height of two rows is formed as shown in FIG.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the front support wall 31, the rear support wall 32, and the intermediate protection wall 33 of the inner cover 30 are at the top when viewed in the direction in which the plurality of batteries 13 constituting the cell unit 12 overlap. The length of the cell unit 12 does not protrude from the lower end.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the front support wall 31 of the inner cover 30 abuts on the front support portion 11 a of the two parallel case body A, and the rear support wall 32 of the inner cover 30 is behind the two parallel case body A. The cell unit 12 is positioned by coming into contact with the support portion 11b. At this time, the cell unit 12 arranged at the lowermost part is set so as not to contact the two parallel case bodies A.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, sponge tape 16 etc. are stuck on the bottom face of the cell unit 12 arranged at the lowermost part, and the battery 13 constituting the cell unit 12 is fixed so as not to be separated. You may make it buffer and insulate with the bottom face of case main body A.

  On the other hand, when configuring one parallel battery pack 10, the lower portion of the cell unit 12 disposed below the inner cover 30 is supported by the case body 11 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Since the case main body 11 used at this time is the case main body B for one parallel, the battery pack 10 having a height corresponding to one row is configured as shown in FIG.

  At this time, as already described, the front support wall 31, the rear support wall 32, and the intermediate protective wall 33 of the inner cover 30 are the uppermost part when viewed in the direction in which the plurality of batteries 13 constituting the cell unit 12 overlap. The length does not protrude from the lower end of the cell unit 12. Therefore, the structure does not interfere with the bottom surface of the case body 11.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the front support wall 31 of the inner cover 30 abuts the front support portion 11 a of the one-parallel case body B, and the rear support wall 32 of the inner cover 30 is the rear of the one-parallel case body B. The cell unit 12 is positioned by coming into contact with the support portion 11b.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, sponge tape 16 etc. are stuck on the bottom face of the cell unit 12 arrange | positioned at the lowest part, and the battery 13 which comprises the cell unit 12 is fixed so that it may not disperse, and 1 parallel The case main body B may be buffered and insulated from the bottom surface.

  The present embodiment is as described above. Since the two parallel battery packs 10 and the one parallel battery pack 10 can be configured depending on whether or not the separator 40 is used, the two battery packs 10 having different parallel numbers are used as inner parts. The cover 30 can be shared, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, since the support walls 31 and 32 of the inner cover 30 are configured not to protrude from the lower end of the uppermost cell unit 12 when viewed in the direction in which the plurality of batteries 13 constituting the cell unit 12 overlap, the inner cover 30 Even when the battery packs 10 are used in parallel, it is possible to effectively prevent the lower end of the inner cover 30 from interfering with the case body 11 and the like.

  Further, since the cell unit 12 is positioned by bringing the support walls 31, 32 of the inner cover 30 into contact with the inside of the case body 11, the support wall of the inner cover 30 that protects the uppermost cell unit 12. Positioning is performed at 31 and 32, and the play of the connecting portion 20a can be effectively suppressed at a position close to the connecting portion 20a with the electric power tool 100. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a contact failure between the battery pack 10 and the connecting portion 20a between the electric power tool 100, and as a result, quality is improved and stable power supply can be performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which one battery pack 10 is arranged in parallel and the configuration in which two battery packs 10 are arranged in parallel have been described. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and three or more battery packs 10 may be configured.

  For example, when the three parallel battery packs 10 are configured, a three parallel case body is prepared and two separators 40 are used. That is, the first-stage cell unit 12 is arranged below the inner cover 30, and the lower part of the first-stage cell unit 12 is supported by the first-stage separator 40. The second-stage cell unit 12 is disposed in the second-stage cell unit 12, the lower part of the second-stage cell unit 12 is supported by the second-stage separator 40, and the third-stage cell unit 12 is disposed below the second-stage separator 40. And the lower part of the cell unit 12 at the third stage may be supported by the case body 11.

  As described above, when the case main body 11 corresponding to the number of parallel is prepared and the separator 40 is increased or decreased according to the number of parallel, the battery pack 10 of three or more parallels can be configured.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Battery pack 11 Case main body 11a Front support part 11b Back support part 12 Cell unit 13 Battery 14 Stopper 15 Latch operation part 16 Sponge tape 20 Lid member 20a Connection part 20b Latch port 20c Terminal cover part 21 Guide rail part 22 Groove 30 Inner cover 31 Front Support Wall 32 Back Support Wall 33 Intermediate Protection Wall 34 Holding Groove 40 Separator 41 Upper Separating Wall 42 Lower Separating Wall 43 Upper Holding Groove 44 Lower Holding Groove 50 Control Circuit Board 51 Connection Terminal 100 Electric Tool 101 Mounting Portion A 2 Parallel Case body B 1 parallel case body

Claims (3)

A battery pack that is used by being mounted on a target device such as a power tool,
A cell unit in which a plurality of cylindrical batteries are arranged in parallel so that the axes are parallel;
An outer shell body configured by closing an opening of a case main body containing the cell unit with a lid member;
An inner cover disposed between the lid member and the cell unit;
A separator disposed between the plurality of cell units when the plurality of cell units are stacked;
With
When the separator is used, the lower part of the cell unit disposed below the inner cover is supported by the separator, and another cell unit is disposed below the separator. The lower part of the battery is supported by the case body so that two parallel battery packs can be configured.
The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein when the separator is not used, one battery pack can be configured by supporting the lower part of the cell unit disposed below the inner cover with the case body. Near the end of the inner cover, a support wall extending downward is provided to protect the cylindrical surface of the battery arranged at the end of the plurality of batteries constituting the uppermost cell unit,
The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the support wall does not protrude from a lower end of the uppermost cell unit when viewed in a direction in which a plurality of batteries constituting the cell unit overlap.   3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the cell unit is positioned by bringing a support wall of the inner cover into contact with the inner side of the outer shell.

Images