JP3679284B2 - battery pack - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a battery pack that incorporates a plurality of storage batteries and is used as a power source for an electric tool or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A battery pack is a case for storing multiple storage batteries. A common mounting part for a charger or power tool is formed in a case that houses multiple storage batteries. Positive and negative charging / discharging terminals are electrically connected to the mounting part by mounting to a charger or the like. In the case, a temperature sensing element such as a thermistor or a thermostat that contacts the storage battery, and a substrate that is connected to the communication terminal to form a communication circuit with a charger or the like are provided in the case. Yes.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The above board is placed at a different position from the charging / discharging terminal and communication terminal due to the shape of the mounting part and space restrictions, etc., so it is necessary to assemble each terminal and each board, and the wiring becomes longer. It takes time and effort. In addition, since the temperature sensitive element needs to be separately attached with a tape or the like in order to make contact with the storage battery, the workability is further lowered.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack in which the assembling work of terminals and substrates can be easily performed, the workability related to assembling becomes good, and the temperature sensing element can be easily assembled. It is what.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the case includes a double case of an inner case containing the storage battery and an outer case that houses the inner case and in which the mounting portion is formed. as a structure, is attached to the substrate on an outer surface of the inner case disposed in the mounting portion, said charging and discharging terminal and the communication terminal is provided on said substrate, said temperature sensitive device, through the substrate Then, it is connected to the communication terminal and can be inserted between the storage battery and the inner case through a through hole provided in the inner case .
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof, and the battery pack 1 is a box containing a plurality of storage batteries (hereinafter referred to as “cells”). It has a double structure in which a slightly smaller inner case 13 covering the cell is accommodated. First, the outer case 2 is composed of a lower case 3 in which the inner case 13 is substantially accommodated and an upper case 4 that is attached by screws from above the lower case 3, and serves as a common mounting portion for a charger or electric tool. The upper surface of the case 4 has a base end portion 5 and two parallel slide rails 6 and 6 projecting forward from the base end portion 5 (hereinafter, the base end portion 5 side will be described as the rear in the battery pack 1). And form. The slide rails 6 and 6 have an inverted L-shaped cross section provided with projecting portions 7 and 7 on the outside, respectively, and a base end portion 5 between the slide rails 6 and 6 is parallel to the slide rail 6. Slits 8, 8,... Are formed. Further, a rectangular intake port 9 penetrating the upper case 4 is formed at the center rear of the base end portion 5 in the upper case 4, and a step portion 10 formed between the slide rails 6 and 6 is formed in the front. Exhaust ports 11, 11,... Opening at the boundary are formed. Reference numerals 12 and 12 denote stoppers that come into contact with the charger or the like when the slide is attached to the charger or the like.
[0007]
On the other hand, the inner case 13 is composed of an upper holder 15 and a lower holder 16 made of synthetic resin and attached to the 20 cells 14, 14. It is made of metal and has a belt-like heat sink 22, 22. The upper and lower holders 15, 16 are formed in accordance with the overall shape of the cells 14, 14... To stabilize each cell 14, and the lower end periphery of the upper holder 15 and the upper end periphery of the lower holder 16 are The ribs 17 and 18 are formed along the inner surface shape of the lower case 3 to prevent rattling in the outer case 2 during housing. Also, here, the cells 14, 14,... Are accommodated in the upper and lower holders 15, 16 in the form of being divided into two at half intervals (hereinafter, a group of the divided cells 14, 14,. Cell group)).
[0008]
Further, extending portions 19 and 19 are formed on the front and rear sides of the lower holder 16 so as to protrude upward from the ribs 18 and to be coupled to the upper holder 15. 3 and 5, the longitudinal end portion in the front-rear direction is between the ribs 17 and 18 and the cell 14, and the short end portion in the up-and-down direction is between the extension portion 19 and the cell 14, respectively. It is fixed between the upper and lower holders 15 and 16 by being pinched. Similarly, the heat sinks 22 and 22 provided between the cell groups also have longitudinal end portions between the partition plates 20 and 20 and the cells 14 projecting between the cell groups from the upper and lower holders 15 and 16. The short end portions are nipped and fixed between the extended portion 19 and the cell 14, respectively. In addition, each heat sink 22 becomes uneven | corrugated shape along the outer shape of a cell group, and it contacts with the cell 14,14 ... of each row | line | column, and as shown to FIG. A plurality of four fins 23, 23,... Are formed in parallel with the front end toward the rear, but these fins 23, 23,. Is set so that the heat capacity of the heat radiating plate 22 increases toward the front.
[0009]
Therefore, the cell group is accommodated in a substantially sealed state in the inner case 13, and the outer case 2 has a space around the inner case 13 between the ribs 17 and 18, as shown by hatching in FIG. A space that communicates with the space and penetrates the inner case 13 in the front-rear direction is formed. However, the front and rear portions of the rib 17 are cut away so that these spaces communicate with the intake port 9 and the exhaust port 11 of the upper case 4. Therefore, in the battery pack 1, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 6, the air that has entered from the intake port 9 is divided into left and right, circulates forward, and vents 24, 24 that exit from the exhaust port 11 to the outside, and the inner case The second air passage 25 that penetrates through 13 and moves forward and exits from the exhaust port 11 is branched. The front extending portion 19 is provided with rectifying plates 21 and 21 projecting vertically on both sides of the second air passage 25 so that the air flow flowing through the air passages 24 and 24 and the second air passage 25 is generated. Each guides alone to the exhaust port 11.
In addition, 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, and 28 and 28 are insulated. A hook 30 is provided on the outer case 2 behind the battery pack 1 and is biased upward by a coil spring 29 so that the claw 31 protrudes from the upper case 4.
[0010]
Further, the substrate 32 is screwed to the back of the upper surface of the upper holder 15 by screws 41 (FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIG. 6). On the substrate 32, charging / discharging terminals 33, 33 are arranged on the left and right sides, and are electrically connected to the positive and negative electrodes at both ends of the cell group exposed through the upper holder 15 by the lead plates 34, 34, respectively. Further, between the charge / discharge terminals 33, 33 on the substrate 32, a temperature detection terminal 35 and a connector terminal 36 as communication terminals are respectively arranged to form a communication circuit with the charger. In the housing state in the outer case 2, the charge / discharge terminals 33 and 33 and the temperature detection terminal 35 face the outside through the slits 8, 8... Of the upper case 4, and the connector terminal 36 is exposed forward. It is supposed to be. The charging / discharging terminals 33 and 33 are formed longer than the temperature detecting terminal 35 so that a necessary contact pressure can be obtained when the terminal is mounted on the electric tool.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 2, a thermostat 37 as a temperature sensing element connected to the temperature detection terminal 35 is connected to a lead wire 39 (one lead wire 39 is a lead plate between cells) from the through hole 38 in front of the upper holder 15. In the assembled state to the lower holder 16, it is inserted between the cell 14 and the extending portion 19 in the front to be in close contact with the cell 14. Similarly, the thermistors 42, 42 as temperature sensitive elements connected to the substrate 32 are also suspended downward from the through holes 43, 43 behind the upper holder 15 via the lead wires 44, 44 and assembled to the lower holder 16. In the state, it is inserted between the cell 14 and the extending portion 19 at the rear to be in close contact with the cell 14. In addition, since the inclined surfaces 40 and 45 by the draft at the time of shaping | molding are provided in the inner surface of the extension part 19, the thermostat 37 and the thermistor 42 are pressed to the cell 14 side with insertion of the thermostat 37 and the thermistor 42. Will be.
[0012]
In the battery pack 1 configured as described above, the charge / discharge terminals 33 and 33, the temperature detection terminal 35, and the connector terminal 36 are all arranged on the substrate 32 provided on the upper holder 15, and the thermostat 37 and the thermistor 42 are arranged. Since the temperature detection terminal 35 and the connector terminal 36 are connected to each other via the substrate 32, when assembling to the inner case 13, each terminal is first soldered to the substrate 32 and the charge / discharge terminal 33 is also connected. , 33 are spot welded to the lead plate 34, and lead wires 39, 44 connecting the thermostat 37 and the thermistor 42 are also soldered to the substrate 32 through the through holes 38, 43 so that the substrate 32 is If the holder 15 is screwed with the screw 41, all the terminals and wires are unitized together with the substrate 32 and the upper holder 15. After that, if the upper holder 15 is attached from the upper side of the cell group, the thermostat 37 and the thermistor 42 are inserted between the cell 14 and the extending portion 19 and automatically fixed. Finally, when the upper holder 15 is assembled to the extending portion 19 and the lead plates 34 and 46 are spot welded to the cells 14 respectively, the assembly and electrical connection of the inner case 13 are completed.
Of course, in addition to the above order, this assembly can be changed such that the upper holder 15 is first assembled to the lower holder 16 and then the substrate 32 is screwed and the lead plates 34 and 46 are finally spot welded. is there.
[0013]
As described above, according to the embodiment, the substrate 32 is disposed in the upper case 4 serving as the mounting portion, and the charge / discharge terminals 33, 33, the temperature detection terminal 35, and the connector terminal 36 are provided on the substrate 32. Since the thermostat 37 and the thermistor 42 are connected to the respective terminals via the substrate 32, lead wires such as the respective terminals and the thermostat 37 can be connected to the substrate 32 in advance to form a unit. Therefore, the work of assembling the terminals and the board is simplified and the workability is improved.
Further, the thermostat 37 and the thermistor 42 are inserted between the cell 14 and the lower holder 16 through the upper holder 15 and are brought into close contact with the cell 14 when the unitized upper holder 15 is assembled to the lower holder 16. Since it has a structure, an extra work such as sticking the thermostat 37 or the like to the cell 14 with a tape becomes unnecessary, and the workability is further improved.
[0014]
The position of the substrate is not limited to the above form, and can be changed to the center or the end of the upper holder 15 according to the shape of the upper case 4. In the above embodiment, a slide mounting structure using slide rails 6 and 6 is adopted for mounting the battery pack. However, the battery pack insertion portion is inserted into the recessed portion of the charger or the handle of the electric tool. The present invention is also applicable.
Furthermore, the inclined surfaces 40 and 45 that press the thermostat 37 and the thermistor 42 to the cell side by insertion into the lower holder 16 use the draft angle as it is in the above embodiment to streamline the configuration. The slope may be tight only at the place. Of course, when there is no draft, only the inclined surface can be newly formed.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, 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. As a result, each terminal and temperature sensitive element can be connected to the substrate in advance to form a unit. Therefore, the work of assembling the terminals and the board is simplified and the workability is improved. In addition, the case has a double structure , a substrate is attached to the outer surface of the inner case, and the temperature sensitive element can be inserted between the storage battery and the inner case through a through-hole provided in the inner case. Extra work such as sticking to the cell becomes unnecessary, and workability related to assembly of the temperature sensitive 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 a battery pack.
FIG. 3 is a cross-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 the upper case and the 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 .... Intake port, 11 .... Exhaust port, 13 .... Inner case, 14 .... Cell, 15 .... -Upper holder, 16-Lower holder, 22-Heat sink, 23-Fin, 24-Air passage, 25-Second air passage, 32-Board, 33-Charge / discharge terminal, 35 -Temperature detection terminal, 36-Connector terminal, 37-Thermostat, 39-Lead wire, 40, 45-Inclined surface, 41-Screw, 42-Thermistor.

Claims (1)

A case for housing a plurality of storage batteries is formed with a mounting portion to another electrical device, and the mounting portion includes a charging / discharging terminal and a communication terminal electrically connected to the other electrical device, In each case, the battery pack is provided with a temperature sensing element that contacts the storage battery, and a substrate that is connected to the communication terminal and forms a communication circuit with the other electrical device,
The case has a double structure of an inner case that houses the storage battery and an outer case that houses the inner case and the mounting portion is formed . is attached to the outer surface, provided with the charging and discharging terminal and the communication terminal on the substrate, the temperature sensitive device, connected to the communication terminal through the substrate, Toru provided in said casing A battery pack characterized in that it can be inserted between the storage battery and the inner case through a hole .

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