JP3780906B2

JP3780906B2 - Charger

Info

Publication number: JP3780906B2
Application number: JP2001337779A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 智雅西河; 新喜大津; 信宏高野; 卓央荒舘
Original assignee: Hitachi Koki Co Ltd
Current assignee: Koki Holdings Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-11-02
Filing date: 2001-11-02
Publication date: 2006-05-31
Anticipated expiration: 2021-11-02
Also published as: JP2003143766A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、充電装置に関し、詳しくは各種機器、コードレス電動工具等の電池駆動機器の電源として用いられる電池パックを充電するための充電装置に関するものである。以下電池駆動機器をコードレス電動工具（以下電動工具という）として説明する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
近年、電動工具に給電するための電池として、ニッケルカドミウム電池やニッケル水素電池が広く利用されている。この種の電池を充電する場合、電池が発熱し、電池の劣化が進行することにより、充電中に電池から水素ガスが発生し、電池パックの抜き差しによる充電端子部のアークにより水素ガスに引火したり、あるいは発生した水素ガスが電池パック内に溜まり、そのまま電動工具に装着すると、電池パック内の水素ガスが電動工具内に入り、電動工具内のモータやスイッチ等のアークにより水素ガスに引火するなどの問題があった。特に、ニッケル水素電池においては、電池内部には水素が充填されているので、上記問題が発生し易くなる。
【０００３】
また、充電時間を削減するために充電電流を大きくする傾向があるが、充電器が発熱し、動作不良を起こすといった問題も発生する。
【０００４】
これら問題を解決する従来例としては、電池パック内部にサーミスタ等の感温素子を設置し、充電中に所定温度に達したところで、充電電流を小さくするなどの対策を行っている。
【０００５】
また、電池パックの突出部が配設される側の面に通気口を設け、該通気口と対向する充電器の面に送気口を設け、充電器内の送風ファンにより、電池パック内部に風を吐出させて電池パック内の電池を冷却している。
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上記のように、充電電流を小さくといった対策では、充電時間が増加するといった問題が生じる。
【０００７】
また、前記冷却風を吐出する充電器においては、電池パックを充電器に装着した状態で、電池パック上面に風穴が設けられているため、ゴミ等の進入により、電池パック内部でのショート等が考えられる他、充電器内部には対流を発生させないため、充電器の温度上昇が問題となる。
【０００８】
本発明の目的は、上記した従来技術の欠点を無くし、電池パック内ばかりでなく充電器内も冷却できるようにすることである。
【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的は、電池パックの突出部を設けた側の面に対し、電池パック内に空気を取り入れるための通気口と、電池パックから空気を送り出すための通気口を設け、充電器における前記電池パックの空気取り入れ用通気口と対向する位置に充電器送気口を設けると共に、前記電池パックの空気送り出し通気口と対向する位置に充電器吸気口を設け、さらに充電器における前記電池パックの空気取り入れ用通気口と対向する位置と前記電池パックの空気送り出し通気口と対向する位置以外の位置に充電器空気取り入れ口と充電器空気吐き出し口を設け、充電器に電池パックを装着した状態において、前記充電器空気取り入れ口から、充電器送気口、電池パックの空気取り入れ用通気口及び空気送り出し用通気口、充電器吸気口更に充電器空気吐き出し口を介する流路を設け、該流路内に１個以上の送風ファンをを配置し、流路内の電池及び充電器内の発熱部品を強制対流冷却することにより達成される。
【００１０】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下本発明の一実施形態を示す図１を参照して説明する。
【００１１】
電池パックは本体枠を形成する電池パックハウジング１内に電池セル２、電池セル押さえ８、接触端子３、１次隙間１６、２次隙間１７、３次隙間１８が設けられ、電池パックハウジング１には、空気取り入れ通気口４と空気送り出し通気口５が設けられている。
【００１２】
また、充電器本体枠を形成する充電器ハウジング６内には送風ファン７、充電ターミナル９、基板１０、発熱部品群１１が設置され、充電器ハウジング６には、空気取り入れ口１２、送気口１３、吸気口１４、空気吐き出し口１５が設けられている。
【００１３】
送風ファン７によって空気取り入れ口１２より取り込まれた空気は、送気口１３から電池パックの空気取り入れ通気口４を介して１次隙間１６へ流れ込んだ後電池セル２の隙間を介して２次隙間１７へ流れ込み、更に、電池セルの隙間を通り３次隙間１８へ流れ込む。空気が電池セルの隙間を通過する際には、電池セル２の熱を奪い効率よく冷却を行う。３次隙間１８へ流れ込んだ空気は電池パックの空気送り出し通気口５から充電器の吸気口１４を介して充電器内に取り込まれ、発熱部品群１１を冷却した後に充電器の空気吐き出し口１５から流れ出す。
【００１４】
図２は本発明の他の実施形態を示す。基本的構造は図１と同じであるが、充電器の吸気口１４下部にリブ１９を追加して風路を形成している。これにより、充電器の吸気口１４を介して充電器内に取り込まれた空気は、接触端子３と充電ターミナル９部へ送られた後に発熱部品群１１へ送られる。接触端子３と充電ターミナル９は接しておりまた、接触端子３と電池セル２は一体となっていることから熱が伝導し、接触端子３と充電ターミナル９を冷却することで、電池セル２の熱を奪うことができる。
【００１５】
【発明の効果】
以上のように本発明によれば、電池セル及び充電器内部の発熱部品を冷却することができ、温度上昇による電池及び充電器の動作不良をなくすことが可能となるほか、充電ターミナル及び接触端子を冷却させることで、電池セルを更に冷却することができる。
【００１６】
また、本発明による流路構造では、開口部が電池パックの上面に設けられていないため、ゴミ等の侵入を極力抑えることが可能となる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明充電装置の一実施形態を示す断面図
【図２】本発明充電装置の他の実施形態を示す断面図
【符号の説明】
１は電池パックハウジング、２は電池セル、３は接触端子、４は電池パックの空気取り入れ通気口、５は電池パックの空気送り出し通気口、６は充電器ハウジング、７は送風ファン、８は電池セル押さえ、９は充電ターミナル、１０は基板、１１は発熱部品群、１２は充電器の空気取り入れ口、１３は充電器の送気口、１４は充電器の吸気口、１５は充電器の空気吐き出し口、１６は１次隙間、１７は２次隙間、１８は３次隙間、２０はフィルタである。[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a charging device, and more particularly to a charging device for charging a battery pack used as a power source for battery-driven devices such as various devices and cordless electric tools. Hereinafter, the battery-driven device will be described as a cordless power tool (hereinafter referred to as a power tool).
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, nickel cadmium batteries and nickel metal hydride batteries have been widely used as batteries for supplying power to power tools. When charging this type of battery, the battery generates heat and the deterioration of the battery progresses, so that hydrogen gas is generated from the battery during charging, and the hydrogen gas is ignited by the arc at the charging terminal when the battery pack is inserted or removed. If the generated hydrogen gas accumulates in the battery pack and is attached to the power tool as it is, the hydrogen gas in the battery pack enters the power tool and ignites the hydrogen gas by the arc of the motor, switch, etc. in the power tool. There were problems such as. In particular, in a nickel metal hydride battery, the above problem is likely to occur because the battery is filled with hydrogen.
[0003]
Further, although there is a tendency to increase the charging current in order to reduce the charging time, there is a problem that the charger generates heat and causes malfunction.
[0004]
As a conventional example for solving these problems, a temperature sensitive element such as a thermistor is installed in the battery pack, and measures such as reducing the charging current are taken when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature during charging.
[0005]
In addition, a vent is provided on the surface of the battery pack where the projecting portion is disposed, an air supply port is provided on the surface of the charger facing the vent, and the air blower fan in the charger allows the battery pack to enter the battery pack. Wind is discharged to cool the battery in the battery pack.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the measure of reducing the charging current causes a problem that the charging time increases.
[0007]
Further, in the charger that discharges the cooling air, a wind hole is provided on the upper surface of the battery pack in a state where the battery pack is mounted on the charger. In addition, since no convection is generated inside the charger, the temperature rise of the charger becomes a problem.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to cool not only the inside of the battery pack but also the inside of the charger.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The object is to provide a vent for taking air into the battery pack and a vent for sending air out of the battery pack on the side of the battery pack where the protruding portion is provided. A charger air inlet is provided at a position opposite to the air intake vent of the battery pack, a charger inlet is provided at a position opposite to the air outlet vent of the battery pack, and the air intake of the battery pack in the charger is further provided. In a state where the charger air intake port and the charger air outlet port are provided at a position other than the position facing the air vent for the battery and the position facing the air outlet vent of the battery pack, and the battery pack is attached to the charger, From the charger air intake, the charger air inlet, the air intake vent for the battery pack, the air outlet vent, the charger intake, and the charger air exhaust Was flow path through the mouth provided, it is achieved by placing one or more air blowing fan in the flow path, to forced convection cooling of the battery and the heat generating components within the charger in the flow path.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0011]
The battery pack is provided with a battery cell 2, a battery cell holder 8, a contact terminal 3, a primary gap 16, a secondary gap 17, and a tertiary gap 18 in a battery pack housing 1 that forms a main body frame. The air intake vent 4 and the air delivery vent 5 are provided.
[0012]
A blower fan 7, a charging terminal 9, a substrate 10, and a heat generating component group 11 are installed in the charger housing 6 that forms the charger main body frame. The charger housing 6 has an air intake port 12 and an air supply port. 13, an air inlet 14 and an air outlet 15 are provided.
[0013]
The air taken in from the air inlet 12 by the blower fan 7 flows into the primary gap 16 from the air inlet 13 via the air intake vent 4 of the battery pack, and then passes through the gap of the battery cell 2 to the secondary gap. 17, and further flows into the tertiary gap 18 through the gap between the battery cells. When air passes through the gaps between the battery cells, the battery cells 2 are deprived of heat and cooled efficiently. The air flowing into the tertiary gap 18 is taken into the charger from the air outlet vent 5 of the battery pack through the inlet 14 of the charger, and after cooling the heat generating component group 11, from the air outlet 15 of the charger. Flows out.
[0014]
FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The basic structure is the same as in FIG. 1, but a rib 19 is added below the inlet 14 of the charger to form an air passage. Thereby, the air taken into the charger through the inlet 14 of the charger is sent to the contact terminal 3 and the charging terminal 9 and then sent to the heat generating component group 11. The contact terminal 3 and the charging terminal 9 are in contact with each other, and since the contact terminal 3 and the battery cell 2 are integrated, heat is conducted and the contact terminal 3 and the charging terminal 9 are cooled, so that the battery cell 2 You can take away heat.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the heat generating components inside the battery cell and the charger can be cooled, and the malfunction of the battery and the charger due to the temperature rise can be eliminated. By cooling the battery cell, the battery cell can be further cooled.
[0016]
Further, in the flow channel structure according to the present invention, since the opening is not provided on the upper surface of the battery pack, it is possible to suppress the entry of dust and the like as much as possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the charging device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the charging device of the present invention.
1 is a battery pack housing, 2 is a battery cell, 3 is a contact terminal, 4 is an air intake vent of the battery pack, 5 is an air outlet vent of the battery pack, 6 is a charger housing, 7 is a blower fan, and 8 is a battery Cell holder, 9 is a charging terminal, 10 is a board, 11 is a heat generating component group, 12 is an air intake port of the charger, 13 is an air supply port of the charger, 14 is an intake port of the charger, and 15 is air of the charger. A discharge port, 16 is a primary gap, 17 is a secondary gap, 18 is a tertiary gap, and 20 is a filter.

Claims

Providing a protrusion with a contact terminal on the outer surface of a battery pack containing a plurality of storage batteries, providing a mounting recess with a charging terminal in the charger, and mounting the protrusion in the mounting recess, A charging device for charging,
The battery pack is provided with a vent for taking air into the battery pack and a vent for sending air from the battery pack on the side of the battery pack where the protruding portion is provided. A charger air inlet is provided at a position facing the air vent, a charger air inlet is provided at a position facing the air delivery vent of the battery pack, and an air intake vent of the battery pack in the charger is provided. A charger air intake port and a charger air discharge port are provided at a position other than a position opposed to the air delivery vent of the battery pack and the charger air intake port in a state where the battery pack is mounted on the charger. From the charger air inlet, the air intake vent for the battery pack and the vent vent for the battery pack, the charger inlet, and the air passage through the charger air outlet. Only, the charging apparatus being characterized in that disposed one or more of the blower fan in the flow path.

The charging device according to claim 1, wherein a heat generating component in the charger is disposed in the flow path.

The charging device according to claim 1, wherein a charging terminal in the charger is disposed in the flow path.

The charging device according to claim 1, wherein a contact terminal on an outer surface of the battery pack is disposed in the flow path.